My Visit to Old Doha Port Miniature City and Fereej Al Hitmi History

 

Recently, I visited Old Doha Port after work, and it turned out to be a very peaceful and interesting experience.

One of the most attractive parts of the visit was the miniature display of old and modern Doha. It beautifully shows the city’s development, with detailed models of buildings, roads, and the port area. Seeing the full city in a small-scale model gives a unique perspective on how Doha has grown over time.

As a site engineer, I found it especially interesting to observe the structure and planning reflected in the miniature. It highlights how design and development have transformed the city from traditional roots into a modern urban landscape.

While exploring the area, I also came across information about Fereej Al Hitmi, a historic neighborhood in old Doha.

It was originally a residential area connected to the Al Hitmi family from the Al Bin Ali tribe. The traditional houses here were designed facing the coastline and reflected the lifestyle of that era. They included features such as summer and winter majlis spaces for gatherings, Habs for seating at the entrance, Dakka for resting, and Madbasa used for storing dates and producing date syrup.

The neighbourhood was also close to the sea, where boat-building workshops were active. Small fishing boats called “dingi” and larger boats used for pearl diving and trade were commonly made there. This shows how closely life in old Doha was connected to the sea and traditional occupations.

In the early 1970s, with the oil boom in Qatar, the area started transforming rapidly. Many old houses were replaced by modern buildings as the city developed.

Today, the history of Fereej Al Hitmi is preserved near the National Museum of Qatar, keeping the memory of old Doha alive for visitors and residents.

This visit gave me a better appreciation of how Doha has evolved from a traditional coastal settlement into the modern city it is today. I will continue sharing more simple food spots, places, and experiences from my daily life in Doha.