For many of us, the name ‘Qatar’ conjures up images of the ultramodern, sky-scraping skyline of its capital city, Doha, backed by the desert dunes and the sparkling blue of the Persian Gulf. Holidays in Qatar may be synonymous with luxury, home to one of the finest hotel and restaurant scenes in the world, with plenty of world class malls and ambitious museums that have seen years of investment, but Qatar is so much more. Steeped in tradition, with a deep cultural and artistic heritage, among the modernity it is still easy to catch glimpses of a bygone world, one of fishermen in their wooden dhows, of herds of camels in the desert and haggling in the old alleyways of the souqs.

Most visitors to Qatar spend their time in capital Doha. Here, you can make the most of the miles of beautiful beaches, visit innovative and immersive museums like the Qatar Foundation and Museum of Islamic Art. The shopping malls offer a place to cool off and find designers and big names. For the more active, there are water sports to partake in, nature to explore – mangroves, the inland sea – and desert adventures to embark on. There is no better way to experience the other side of this rapidly developing nation, than a spectacular sunset over the sand dunes.