The dhow harbour at Al Wakrah is one of the few places near Doha where you can see traditional wooden boats in a working context. The dhow — a broad-hulled, lateen-rigged wooden vessel that has plied the waters of the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean for centuries — is the maritime symbol of the region, and the harbour here has both restored and working examples moored along the corniche.
The best time to visit is early morning, when fishermen are returning with the catch and the light is good for photography. The combination of the wooden hulls, the old buildings of the restored waterfront, and the open water of the Gulf makes this one of the more atmospheric spots in Qatar. It is the kind of place that reminds you what the Peninsula looked like before the oil.