Al Farkiya Beach, Al Khor

Overview

Al Farkiya Beach is the family beach of Al Khor, a fenced public beach on the Farkeh coast on the south-eastern side of the town, about 50 km north of Doha. You will also see it signposted or written as Al Farkiah, Farkeh Coast or simply Al Khor Family Beach. It runs for roughly 1,350 metres along a calm, shallow bay, with shaded seating, a play area, toilets and showers set back from the sand.

It is not a wild beach and it isn’t trying to be one. What it offers is an easy, clean and well-organised place to spend a long afternoon by the water with children, away from the crowds of the Doha beaches. The water stays shallow a long way out, which is exactly what parents of small children want, and the setting has a quiet, local feel. Most of the people you meet here are families from Al Khor and the north.

It suits families, groups of friends with children, and anyone combining a trip to Al Khor’s mangroves or corniche with a picnic and a paddle. It is a family beach, so it is not the place for single visitors or groups of men, and on certain days it is reserved for women and young children only (see below). If you want surf, deep water or snorkelling, look elsewhere.

History and background

Al Khor is one of Qatar’s oldest towns. According to oral tradition, members of the Al Muhannadi tribe settled here around the mid-18th century after finding fresh water at a spring later known as Ain Hleetan. The name means “creek” in Arabic, and until the mid-1900s the town was usually called Khor Al Shaqiq. Like the rest of the coast, it lived from pearl diving and fishing in summer and herding in the interior in winter, and it became one of the most important pearling ports in the north.

The shoreline south of the old town has long been a place where local families go to the sea, and many beach houses line the coast around Al Khor. The beach at Farkeh was later developed by the municipality as a dedicated, fenced family beach with proper facilities, part of a wider effort to make the town’s roughly 8 km of seafront more usable for residents.

The biggest recent change came before the FIFA World Cup 2022, when Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor hosted the opening match. The Ministry of Municipality closed Al Farkiya Beach from the end of August to the end of October 2022 for restoration and beautification, and reopened it that November as one of eight renovated beaches. The works added shaded areas, walkways, play areas and kiosks for light meals and drinks, and space for volleyball, football and sand games. The ministry describes the beach as covering about 146,000 square metres.

What to see and do

1. Paddle in the shallows

   The defining feature of Al Farkiya is how shallow the water is. Visitors describe walking out 50 metres or more and still being only waist-deep, even at high tide. That makes it a relaxed place for toddlers and young children to splash about, and a poor choice for serious swimming. The seabed is mostly sandy but has muddy and stony patches in places, so water shoes are a good idea.

2. Set up a family picnic

   Picnics are what most people come for. There are shaded benches and eating areas behind the beach, and you can bring your own food and cool box. Visitors have also reported barbecue stands. Get there early on busy days if you want one of the shaded spots, or bring your own sunshade and mat.

3. Let the children loose on the play areas

   The playgrounds and children’s play areas are a big part of the appeal for families. They sit close to the sand, so older children can move between the water and the play equipment while you keep an eye on both.

4. Beach games

   Since the 2022 renovation the beach has space for volleyball, football and sand games. Bring your own ball and net. Late afternoon, when the sun is lower, is the best time for anything energetic.

5. Watch the light change over the bay

   The beach looks out over the calm, shallow water of the Al Khor coast, with mangroves visible along the shoreline. As the day ends the water turns silver and pink, and the flat bay reflects the sky. It is a peaceful place to sit with a flask of karak as the sun goes down.

6. Walk the promenade

   Walkways run along the back of the beach, and they make an easy evening stroll with a pushchair once the heat drops. The beach stays open late, and in the cooler months it is pleasant well into the evening.

Opening hours and rules

Al Farkiya is a free public family beach run by the Ministry of Municipality through the Al Khor and Al Thakhira municipality. The published opening hours are 7am to midnight. In 2020 the ministry reserved Sundays and Wednesdays for women and children under 10 only, from 7am to 10pm, with families welcome on the other days, and current listings still show this arrangement. Rules and times can change, particularly in Ramadan and during works, so check before a long drive.

As a family beach, it is intended for families; groups of men on their own should expect to be turned away. Dress modestly on and off the sand. For women, a burkini or swimwear with a cover-up is the norm here, and men should wear shorts that reach the knee rather than briefs.

How to get there

Al Farkiya is around 53 km from Doha, roughly 40 to 50 minutes by car depending on traffic.

1. From Doha, take the Al Khor Coastal Road (Route 1A) north past Lusail and Simaisma, or use Al Shamal Road and turn off for Al Khor.
2. As you approach Al Khor, look for the brown tourist signs for Farkeh Coast or Al Farkiya Beach and follow them towards the sea.
3. The beach has its own car park beside the fenced entrance. For navigation, use the coordinates 25.6782, 51.5383.

The road is paved all the way, so any car will do. Parking is free. There is no bus or metro to the beach. A taxi or ride-hailing car from Doha is possible, but it can be hard to find one for the return trip, so arrange a pick-up time in advance or plan to drive.

Best time to visit

The beach season is roughly October to April. On winter afternoons the air is warm, the water is cool but manageable, and the sand is comfortable to sit on. From May to September the heat and humidity are extreme in the middle of the day. Summer visits are best very early in the morning or in the evening, when many local families come after sunset.

The tide changes the beach noticeably. At low tide the water retreats a long way and you walk over damp sand and shallow pools. At high tide there is more water to paddle in close to the shore, which is better for young children. Check a tide table for Al Khor if you are planning around a swim.

Weekends (Friday and Saturday) and public holidays are the busiest times, especially in the late afternoon. On a weekday it can be almost empty. Remember that Sundays and Wednesdays are for women and children under 10 only.

Tips for your visit

• Check the day. Sundays and Wednesdays have been reserved for women and children under 10. Families are welcome on the other days.
• Bring your own food and drinks. There are kiosks, but visitors have found them closed at quiet times. Al Khor has supermarkets and restaurants a few minutes away.
• Pack water shoes. Parts of the seabed are stony or muddy, and shells can be sharp.
• Watch small children closely. The water is shallow, but do not assume there is a lifeguard on duty.
• Bring shade. The shaded benches fill up on weekends; a pop-up sunshade gives you more choice of spot.
• Use the bins or take rubbish home. The beach is kept clean, and it stays that way when visitors do their part.
• Keep noise down. This is a family beach in a small town. Loud music and drones will not be welcome.
• Bring insect repellent in the evening. Some visitors mention flies and insects near the water.

What to bring

• Picnic food, plenty of water and a cool box
• Sunscreen, hats and a sunshade or umbrella
• Water shoes for everyone
• Modest swimwear and a change of clothes
• Towels and a beach mat
• Beach toys, a ball or a volleyball net
• A bag for your rubbish

Combine it with nearby places

Purple Island (Jazirat Bin Ghanim). Al Khor’s mangrove island is a short drive away. Cross the wooden footbridge, spot crabs in the creeks and climb the low limestone hills where people made purple dye more than 3,000 years ago.

Al Thakira mangroves. Just north of Al Khor, guided kayak tours paddle through the densest mangrove channels in Qatar. A morning paddle and an afternoon at the beach make a full, easy day.

Al Khor Corniche. The town’s seafront promenade runs for about a kilometre beside the fishing harbour, with green areas, cafés and views of the dhows. Three historic stone watchtowers, the Al Khor Towers, stand along this coast.

Al Bayt Stadium. The tent-shaped stadium that hosted the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 is in Al Khor, and its striking outline is worth a detour on the way home.

Frequently asked questions

Last checked October 2026. Hours, fees and access can change, so confirm with the official source before you go.