{"id":1075,"date":"2025-04-16T10:50:55","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T10:50:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/?p=1075"},"modified":"2025-04-22T12:00:48","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T12:00:48","slug":"the-venice-of-the-middle-east-is-a-hidden-gem-thats-32c-in-april","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/16\/the-venice-of-the-middle-east-is-a-hidden-gem-thats-32c-in-april\/","title":{"rendered":"The \u2018Venice of the Middle East\u2019 is a hidden gem that\u2019s 32\u00b0C in April"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
Would you confuse this pocket of the Middle East for Venice? (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Venice<\/a> is a jewellery box of a city, with winding canals, Gothic buildings, and elegant waterfront caf\u00e9s.<\/p>\n

The \u2018City of Masks\u2019 is both unique and quintessentially Italian<\/a>. But a version of its iconic attractions can also be found on another continent, over 3,000 miles away.<\/p>\n

Just like Venice, the Pearl Qatar<\/a> is a man-made island.<\/p>\n

Located near Doha<\/a>\u2019s upscale West Bay District, it touts itself as a slice of Europe<\/a> in the Middle East<\/a>. It\u2019s not Venice, but it\u2019s certainly trying to be.<\/p>\n

Interest in lesser-known alternatives to popular destinations has soared in recent years, as cities such as Barcelona and Amsterdam<\/a> try to tackle soaring visitor numbers.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, Venice announced it would double its controversial tourist tax<\/a> for last-minute day-trippers who book less than four days in advance.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tSign up to The Getaway newsletter\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Last year, the city also limited tourist group sizes to 25 people. <\/p>\n

With these measures in mind, Metro<\/strong> investigates what the \u2018Venice of the Middle East\u2019 is all about \u2014 and whether it\u2019s worth a longer journey from the UK.<\/p>\n

A taste of Europe<\/h2>\n

Three years after Dubai\u2019s<\/a> extravagant Palm Jumeirah islands began construction in 2001, a former pearling site in Qatar got a serious glow-up<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Taking cues from its former life, the residential island was designed to look like a string of pearls, complete with apartment towers, Mediterranean-style marinas, <\/a>villas, hotels and a designer shopping outlet.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
The \u2018Venice of the Middle East\u2019 is located in Qatar\u2019s \u2018Pearl Island\u2019 (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It all sounds very Puerto Ban\u00fas, the millionaire\u2019s playground of Spain<\/a>, but efforts were made to add a sense of history and culture to the Pearl\u2019s crowning glory, the Qanat Quartier.<\/p>\n

The Venetian-inspired district is set along a network of canals, where it\u2019s more common to hop in a water taxi than it is to order an Uber<\/a>. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s an influencer\u2019s paradise: ice cream-coloured townhouses, a mini version of the Rialto Bridge, and endless gelato shops.<\/p>\n

Hordes of content creators can be found at Volume Cafe, a maze-like establishment consisting of a gothic library, an Italian-style bakery, and a Venetian patio overlooking the turquoise canals.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a hidden gem, according to TikTok<\/a> <\/strong>(we\u2019re not convinced).<\/p>\n

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@qatarliving<\/a> <\/p>\n

The must visit place in the Pearl, Qatar Comment down if you\u2019ve been here! \ud83d\ude0d #volumecafe<\/a> #qatar<\/a> #mustvisit<\/a> #qatarliving<\/a><\/p>\n

\u266c original sound \u2013 Qatar Living\u00ae<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The menu has everything from tiramisu to crushed cookies and eggs benedict. Considering the surroundings, prices are relatively cheap. While a cappuccino will set you back 24 Qari Riyal (\u00a35), the crushed cookies come in at 50 Qari Riyal (\u00a310.41).<\/p>\n

Each February, the neighbourhood comes to life for an annual carnival, where tourists can enjoy stage shows and outdoor cinemas.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tVenice alternatives closer to home\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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Is Qatar a little too far away? If you\u2019re looking to contribute to sustainable tourism, but Venice has always been on your bucket list, try these European alternatives.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The \u2018Venice of the Algarve\u2019<\/a> is an \u2018understated\u2019 destination with flights from just \u00a328<\/p>\n

\u2022 This \u2018underrated\u2019 town<\/a> is just an hour from Venice and flights are \u00a328<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Metro <\/strong>hasn\u2019t had a chance to visit Pearl Island just yet, but there\u2019s lots of praise for it over on TripAdvisor.<\/p>\n

One traveller named Elindi described it as \u2018amazing\u2019 but \u2018comical\u2019, having visited Venice in Italy.<\/p>\n

\u2018The canals, restaurants and boats really do give the Venice vibe. It was great seeing it through the lens of Qatar,\u2019 she added.<\/p>\n

Another reviewer named Adrian said: \u2018Walked around Qanat Quartier, and it seriously felt like a mini Venice, with cute little bridges, colourful buildings, and a friendly atmosphere.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"A\t<\/div>
Temperatures in Qatar are hot, often reaching 42\u00b0C in the summer \u2013 the \u2018winter\u2019 months offer some relief, averaging at a comfortable 24\u00b0C (Picture: Getty Images)\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Others said while it\u2019s not comparable to the real Venice, it was nice to \u2018discover something different.\u2019 <\/p>\n

They also said the district was \u2018very clean and well-kept, with attention to every detail.\u2019<\/p>\n

Other Pearl Island attractions<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re in the market for luxury, Porto Arabia is a must-visit. <\/p>\n

Another district within The Pearl, it\u2019s a prominent landmark known for high-end properties, upscale shops, restaurants, and cafes. <\/p>\n

From the marina, you also get an unspoiled view of the Persian Gulf.<\/p>\n

Another standout is the Medina Centrale, a Mediterranean-inspired town square nestled within the island and features gardens, plazas, and plenty of restaurants.<\/p>\n

How to get to Pearl Island<\/h2>\n

Flights to Doha don\u2019t come cheap. One-way fares from London Gatwick<\/a> with Qatar Airways start from \u00a3561. British Airways<\/a> and Pegasus also operate routes out of Heathrow<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019re there, it\u2019s cheaper. From Hamad International Airport, the journey to Pearl Island is 30-40 minutes. <\/p>\n

A taxi or Uber typically costs around \u00a36-\u00a38.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tOvertourism in Venice\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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Each year, Venice attracts an estimated 30 million visitors, with as many as 120,000 popping over the day. For comparison, Venice is home to just 55,000 permanent residents.<\/p>\n

Over the years, the city has taken a variety of measures to reduce tourism.<\/p>\n

In 2021, the Italian government banned cruise ships over 25,000 gross tons from entering the Giudecca Canal, which leads to the historic city centre. Years before, in 2015, the Mayor of Venice authorised fines of \u20ac500 (\u00a3428) for noisy, wheeled suitcases in the centre.<\/p>\n

Similarly, loudspeakers for guides have been banned, and a \u2018smart\u2019 city system has been implemented. The Smart Control Room is used to monitor and manage certain aspects of the city, including tourist flows, tracking footfall and optimising public transportation.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Would you confuse this pocket of the Middle East for Venice? (Picture: Getty Images) Venice is a jewellery box of a city, with winding canals, Gothic buildings, and elegant waterfront caf\u00e9s. The \u2018City of Masks\u2019 is both unique and quintessentially Italian. But a version of its iconic attractions can also be found on another continent, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1077,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1075","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1075"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1075\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1081,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1075\/revisions\/1081"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1077"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}