Heritage & Forts in Qatar

Al Zubarah Fort is open, with a free ticket booked through Qatar Museums. Al Rakiyat Fort and Barzan Towers are temporarily closed, while Al Thaqab Fort and Umm Salal Mohammed Fort are not open to the public and can only be seen from outside.

Yes, Qatar Museums made heritage sites free in 2023, but you still need to book a ticket online. It has usually opened Saturday to Thursday 9am–5pm and Friday 12.30–5pm.

Not all of them. Qatar Museums has temporarily closed several heritage sites, including Al Jassasiya Rock Carvings, Al Rakiyat Fort and Barzan Towers, so check the Qatar Museums website before you drive.

Yes, Al Zubarah Archaeological Site became Qatar's first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. It preserves the remains of an 18th-century pearling and trading town, with the 1938 fort beside it.

Cover shoulders and knees, and wear closed shoes on gravel sites such as Al Zubarah. Non-Muslims are generally welcome at mosques such as Al Ruwais Mosque outside prayer times in modest dress, and women should cover their hair if they go inside.

Not without permission. Flying a drone in Qatar requires registration and approval from the civil aviation authority, and heritage sites and events can have their own restrictions.