David Beckham soaked up Qatar in just 48 hours—exploring the winding spice markets of Souq Waqif, checking out local street art, cooking tacos, camping in the desert and sightseeing around Doha by motorbike. It’s all part of a new stopover holiday campaign launched by Qatar Tourism that aims to show how the destination can be a great stopover break for all visitors.
Through this new campaign, Qatar Tourism seeks to raise awareness of the destination’s stopover packages, which are on offer from Qatar Airways.
Accompanied by local personalities during his journey through Qatar, Beckham discovered a country of countless surprises. “Qatar has surprised me with a wide range of great experiences you can have in just 48 hours,” said Beckham in a press statement. “The people are warm and welcoming, and it is a great place to spend a few days.
“The people of Qatar are really passionate about their culture and the mix of modern and traditional creates something really special,” he added. “I saw so much during my trip from spice markets to museums to enjoying a ride on my motorbike, which was one of the highlights.”
With the chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group’s chief executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, adding in a press statement: “It has been a pleasure to welcome David to Qatar, where he has immersed himself in the culture and experienced first-hand the warm hospitality of the people. I encourage the millions who transit through Qatar every year to follow in David’s footsteps and create their own exciting adventure and memories. We have something for everyone at incredible value, whether it’s sun sea sand, rich heritage and culture, surprising nature, or a modern and fun city break.”
Have clients who want to explore Qatar just like Beckham? Here’s what the former soccer player was up to during those adventure-filled 48 hours…and these are the locals he was rubbing shoulders with:
- Chef Noor Al Mazroei, chef at Rosado Cafe, took David on a tour of the spice market in Souq Waqif
- Saad Ismail Al Jassim, one of Qatar’s last legendary pearl divers, gave David a lesson in the country’s historic primary industry of pearling, before the discovery of oil and gas
- Abdulaziz Yousef, a Qatari artist, showed David around Souq Waqif’s Art Centre
- Chef Aquiles Chaves, a visiting chef and television personality from Mexico, helped David cook tacos fused with Qatari flavours
- Sheikha Reem Al Thani, director of exhibitions at National Museum of Qatar, accompanied David as he explored one of Qatar’s most iconic museums
- Khalid & Majid, Qatari falcon trainers, greeted David at a desert camp near Khor Al Adaid, also known as the Inland Sea
- Saeed Al Sulaiti, Qatari motorcycle champion, rode with David around The Pearl-Qatar, a man-made island with shops, hotels and colorful residential neighborhoods
- Hamida Issa Al Kuwari, a Qatari filmmaker, guided David through Katara Cultural Village, Qatar’s go-to destination for art, food and culture
- Khalid Al Hamadi, dhow & Qatari marine expert, accompanied David aboard a traditional wooden dhow boat
For more information, visit qatarairways.com/stopover. For more information on Qatar as a whole, visit visitqatar.com.
