Qatar’s scorching summers are no secret, with temperatures often soaring well above 45°C. But in true Qatari fashion—where innovation meets luxury—the country has found a way to redefine outdoor living. Welcome to the world of outdoor air-conditioned spaces, where you can enjoy parks, shopping boulevards, dining areas, and cultural strolls without sweating through your shirt.
From air-cooled jogging tracks and misted walkways to high-end shopping streets with built-in climate control, Qatar is pioneering a lifestyle that allows residents and visitors to embrace the outdoors year-round. Whether you’re planning a casual evening walk, a family outing, or a luxury shopping spree, these futuristic open-air destinations blend comfort, culture, and coolness in the most literal sense.
Al Gharafa Park
By the end of 2021, Qatar gifted its residents and citizens the first-ever park with air-conditioned jogging, cycling, and pedestrian tracks. This phenomenal park is situated in Al Gharafa on an area of about 50,000 square meters to serve around 3000 daily visitors of all age groups. It is simply known as ‘’Al Gharafa Park’’, and is very close to Al Gharafa Sports Club and Thani Bin Jasim Stadium.
Al Gharrafa park with its strategic facility of air-conditioned tracks encourages the citizens and residents to choose a more active and healthier lifestyle even during the hotter months of the year. The park is beautiful, with ample greenery and trees providing a healthy environment for a fresh breath of air away from the bustle of the city.
AlHazm Mall - Outdoor Area
The Arabic term Al Hazm translates into “the higher grounds” in the Qatari dialect. AlHazm mall is a landmark of unprecedented pure luxury rising in the heart of Doha. This hand-crafted architectural regal venue pays tribute to Italy’s timeless classiness and Arabia’s finest hospitality.
Alhazm offers the ideal blend of high-end fashion boutiques, trendy restaurants, and cafés. Take a luxurious stroll in air-conditioned outdoor spaces of the mall. All the cafes and restaurants have outdoor seating and you’ll see most of the people sitting outdoors due to the cool outdoors. To conclude this mall in one word it would be – Luxury. The mall also has huge underground parking.
Timings:
- Saturday – Thursday from 09:00 am till 12:00 am
- Friday from 10:00 am till 12:00 am
The mall is situated in Al Markhiya. If you wish to live in this well-kept and modern area.
21 High Street - Katara Cultural Village
Developed and managed by Ali Bin Ali Holding, ‘The Ultimate Outdoor Shopping Destination’ made its debut in March 2019. 21 High Street is the ultimate outdoor shopping destination that also houses the popular luxury department store – Galeries Lafayette. The street is where retail meets and celebrates art & culture along with fine dining. With a series of features, some of which are the first of their kind in Qatar, 21 High st offers a unique outdoor shopping experience with a regulated, cool, comfortable outdoor environment to enjoy throughout the year.
Oxygen Park
Oxygen Park adds a giant splash of green to the desert city. It is built as a multi-purpose public recreational space of Education City by Qatar Foundation. The 130,000 square meter Oxygen Park acts as a green lung in Education City, inviting students and visitors alike to refresh.
A 1.6-kilometer running track winds its way around cooled, partially enclosed tunnels and covered walkways and the grounds contain sports pitches, a play garden, and walking tracks.
The path and running tracks are embedded in the topography to create an exciting training ground with looping tracks, cooled tunnel segments, and steep hills. The night-time lighting scheme and refreshing water features provide an attractive setting for evening sports activities and individual workouts during cooler hours of the day. Mondays and Tuesdays are ladies-only days at the park!
Lusail Boulevard
Lusail Boulevard in Downtown Lusail will be a dynamic, diverse, and unique shopping, commercial and residential destination. It will have a contemporary urban architecture and cosmopolitan high-street lifestyle feel – along a 1.3km avenue of pedestrian-friendly air-cooled walkways, extending to the iconic towers of Al Sa’ad Plaza. Its public realm, size, and buildings are modeled after the Avenue des Champs-Élysées; an international experience brought to life by prestige retail, leisure, and cultural activities with a GFA of 250,000 sqm.
Across the destination, a wide range of shopping and food outlets offers residents and visitors unique high-street lifestyle and leisure experiences. The commercial district’s urban plan is meticulously designed for pedestrian street shopping and dining, facilitating mobility through its connection to underground car parking, which will provide 2,000 parking spaces. Lusail Boulevard’s four tram stations will connect Downtown Lusail’s epicenter to the rest of Lusail and the city’s main tram stations.
The apartments in the city are located in several modern towers that have high-end amenities: swimming pools, gyms, a children’s play area, dedicated coffee shops, and breathtaking views of the futuristic Lusail Marina Promenade.
West Walk
Ready for the longest outdoor cooling promenade in Qatar? West Walk on Al Sidr street, Al Waab will be the new cool and chilled-out retail, entertainment, and food destination throughout the year. Experience an amazing way of life with a luxury apartment at West Walk – within walking distance of offices, restaurants, cinemas, entertainment, a shopping mall, and almost everything you desire. West Walk will be a place where you can drive-thru or walk around to enjoy the cool environment. The promenade will feature shopping areas, cinemas, playgrounds, fitness centers, hotels, cafes & restaurants, and residential and office spaces.
Crystal Walk, Gewan Island
A stunning new tourist destination in Qatar that promises an unforgettable experience. Stretching 450 meters and fully air-conditioned, this unique walkway features the largest collection of crystals in the world, stunning crystal sculptures, and lush tropical landscaping. With its upcoming opening in November 2024, the Crystal Walk is set to redefine outdoor leisure and luxury in Qatar.
Souq Waqif
The newest addition to Doha’s outdoor air-conditioned hotspots, Souq Waqif, has just installed cooling vents along the main street. Shops line both sides, so now you can shop for souvenirs, sip coffee at a café, or snap a pic with the iconic golden thumb — all while staying cool.
But honestly, Souq Waqif has always been a cool destination. Its architectural features keep the market’s alleyways naturally cool, but now it’s really the place to explore no matter the time of year.
