A general view of the Barahat Msheireb in Qatar.
Msheireb downtown, a historical leisure destination is witnessing a large number of tourists as FIFA World Cup 2022 is underway in its round 16 matches.
As per reports, over 2.45 million people attended the group stage matches while enjoying the leisure attractions Qatar has to offer.
In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula, Manager of PR and Communications at the Msheireb Properties Maryam Al Jassem said: Msheireb Downtown Doha has always been an attractive tourist and cultural destination. We were receiving visitors from across the world, and now during the world cup, the number is incredibly increasing. Of course, the world cup is a global tournament. It is a catalyst to bring more numbers, and we are pleased with that.”
The downtown city unearths the Qatari culture and tradition and is a remarkable place that enables visitors to experience the country’s hospitality as the numbers keep ramping up. Al Jassem said that “Msheireb Properties came up with the Msheireb Downtown Doha project in 2010 to shift the paradigm in urban living” adding that it is an innovative way to encourage the tourists to socialise and respect the culture while enjoying the activation, latest eco-friendly technologies and other attractions in the city.
As the tourists pave the way to an extraordinary setting in the Middle East’s breathtaking hub to watch the global sporting event, various fans zone are also situated on giant screens or in VIP areas and features the Valentino exhibition. The city also anticipates flourishing even after the World Cup to highlight Qatar as a tourist spot highlighting the traditional values of the region. She said: “The World Cup was a great opportunity for us to share with the world what Msheireb Downtown Doha has to offer for tourists. We are excited about more global events that Qatar is going to host and we are eager to provide memorable experiences for all visitors in years to come.”
Maryam Al Jassem (left), Manager of PR and Communications at the Msheireb Properties and Martin Schnider, General Manager of Mandarin Oriental Doha.
‘We wanted to create a sustainable and smart city that meets the demands of future generations, but at the same time carries the DNA of the Qatari heritage and cultural language,” She added.
The enthralling leisure place is also a social hub of commercial, residential, and retail industries. With more than 3 hotels, 300 retail outlets, and over 193,000 km of commercial spaces, the city makes it a mind-boggling destination for tourists visiting from all around the world.
Speaking to The Peninsula, Martin Schnider, General Manager of Mandarin Oriental Doha, one of the 5-star hotels in the Msheireb downtown area, said: “The location of the hotel is a very historical one and I think it is very close to the heart of Doha. Being a part of a historical place, a lot of guests are surprised to see this futuristic local traditional architecture of the Middle East, which was planned to have the vision when they built this hotel and surroundings so that’s very unique.”
As more than 1.5 million visitors have entered the country, the majority of tourists have booked their place to visit and explore the ancient site.
Talking on the sidelines of the frequent visits to the hotels, Schnider said: “People are here for the World Cup. They might be invited by companies or certain associations to experience this one-time event, the World Cup 2022. Aside from that, it will be a mixture of leisure, business, and also domestic.”
The award-winning hotel year-on-year provides mesmerising facilities to cater to the guests and members including a broad range of international eateries, cake shops, ice-cream outlets, spa treatments, banquet facilities, and all-day dining options. “I think the location we have is very unique and we are very proud to be a part of history. The hotel itself is not a huge tower. It is built based on traditional Middle Eastern architecture feel that makes us different,” he said.
With tourists exploring and flooding Mshiereb city, Qatar is destined to be a sought-after country worth visiting as he added: “I see this as a long-term project and a vision that Qatar will be a top tourism destination in the Middle East.”
