Season guide · Doha · Qatar
Doha in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: km2bp @ Mapillary.com, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Mild, sunny days in the low to mid-20s and cool evenings; National Day and the sports calendar make it the busiest season. Expect highs up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 6 rainy days across December–February. December–February are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 14°C (57°F) to 24°C (75°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 6
- Sea
- 19°C (66°F) to 22°C (72°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22°C (72°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 2 | 10.7 h | 4/5 |
| February | 23°C (73°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 2 | 11.3 h | 4/5 |
| December | 24°C (75°F) | 16°C (61°F) | 2 | 10.6 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 23°C (73°F) against a yearly 33°C (91°F), and 6 of the year's roughly 10 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- February: National Sport Day — public holiday with free sports events across the city (second Tuesday of February)
- February: Qatar Open — men's and women's tennis tournaments (usually February)
- December: Qatar National Day — celebrations, fireworks and heritage events (18 December)
- December: Darb Al Saai — National Day heritage festival with family activities (usually in the days before 18 December)
Make the most of the weather
Museum · Corniche
Museum of Islamic Art
I.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Views
Waterfront · Corniche
Doha Corniche
Walk the stretch from MIA Park to the Sheraton Park in the early evening, then take the Red Line back from West Bay.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Kids
- After dark
Experience · Corniche
Dhow cruise on Doha Bay
Traditional wooden dhows moored along the Corniche take passengers out into Doha Bay for short trips with views of the West Bay towers and the Museum of Islamic Art.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes to 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
- After dark
Park · Aspire Zone
Aspire Park
Visit from late afternoon in the cooler months, when local families gather around the lake.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
Day trips in winter
- Khor Al Adaid (Inland Sea) (About 1.5 hours each way by 4x4) — In the far south-east of Qatar, tall sand dunes run straight down to a tidal inlet of the Gulf, with Saudi Arabia visible across the water.
- Zubarah (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — The UNESCO-listed ruins of an 18th-century pearl-trading town on the north-west coast, with excavated streets, houses and a harbour, next to the restored square fort of Al Zubarah.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Doha?
Yes: December–February are among the best months. Mild, sunny days in the low to mid-20s and cool evenings; National Day and the sports calendar make it the busiest season.
+What is the weather like in Doha in winter?
Highs of up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 6 rainy days over the season.