Architectural trip to Qatar and the Emirates
DOHA, DUBAÏ & ABU DHABI 2024
Join us in this trip guided by architects and proposed by Artchitectours.
From Sunday 14 to Saturday 20 January 2024
Envied, praised, contested, vilified, Qatar, Doha and The Emirates, Abu Dhabi and Dubai arouse admiration or rejection, but never leave indifferent.
Everything has been said, and often anything, about the fate of the hundreds of thousands of workers employed in the construction of these cities of the future, about Qatar’s past involvement in the financing of terrorist organizations, about the lifestyle, authoritarianism and megalomania of these petro-monarchies.
Qatar, for its part, has been in the spotlight, and rather to its credit, because of the recent soccer World Cup and not so much because of strong suspicions of corruption.
Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai may be political dwarfs, but they are real financial powerhouses.
Since the late 1990s, thanks to the oil and gas bonanza, architecture has made a killing, rubbing shoulders with the sublime and the ugly.
During this architectural journey, you will have the opportunity to form your own opinion and discover extraordinary architecture.
Doha by day, Qatar.
Doha by day, Qatar.A look at your journey:
Click to download the Trip Programme
Travel Itinerary
DAY 1: Sunday, January 14, 2024 – Country of origin – Doha
DAY 2: Monday, January 15, 2024 – Doha
DAY 3: Tuesday, January 16, 2024 – Doha – Abu Dhabi
DAY 4: Wednesday, January 17, 2024 – Abu Dhabi
DAY 5: Thursday, January 18, 2024 – Abu Dhabi -Dubai
DAY 6: Friday, January 19, 2024 – Dubai
DAY 7: Saturday, January 20, 2024 – Dubai – Home Country
DAY 1: Sunday, January 14, 2024
Country of origin – Doha
Welcome to Qatar!
Your guide will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel, the 5-star Hilton West Bay Doha.
Hilton West Bay Doha, Qatar.
Doha de noche, Qatar.
Doha de noche, Qatar.Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 2: Monday January 15, 2024 – Doha
After breakfast, departure to discover Doha and its highlights.
Doha by day, Qatar.
Doha by day, Qatar.In the morning, we will visit the National Museum (Jean Nouvel) and the Museum of Islamic Art.
Lunch to introduce the participants.
Museo nacional (Jean Nouvel), Doha, Qatar.
Museo nacional (Jean Nouvel), Doha, Qatar.
Islamic Art museum, Doha, Qatar.After lunch, visit to the Mhseireb Museum with the Company House.
Information on the history of the discovery and exploitation of oil will be presented.
Afterwards, a pleasant stroll through the Waqif souk will bring the day to an end.
DAY 3: Tuesday January 16, 2024 – Doha – Abu Dhabi
After breakfast and check out, you will enjoy a deeper discovery of Doha and its architecture: the Lusail Stadium by Fosters and Partners or the artificial island “The Pearl“:
Lusail Stadium, Doha, Qatar.
"The Pearl" Island, Doha, Qtar.
"The Pearl" Island, Doha, Qtar.Katara, the cultural village with its theatre and amphitheatre, as well as the woman-designed Katara Mosque and the Golden Mosque.
Katara Mosque, Doha, Qtar.
After lunch, you will visit the Al Janoub Stadium, designed by AECOM and Zaha Hadid, and then transfer to the airport for your flight to Abu Dhabi.
Hotel W Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
Upon arrival in Abu Dhabi, transfer to the spectacular W Yas Island hotel, built in the middle of the F1 circuit and with stunning night lighting. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 4: Wednesday January 17, 2024 – Abu Dhabi
After breakfast, depart Yas Island for Saadiyat Island, where we will visit the cultural district and see the site of the future Guggenheim National Museum and the House of Abraham.
Then discover and visit the interior of the famous Louvre Abu Dhabi, with the full story of its design and construction.
Detail of the geometric roof of the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Louvre of Abu Dhabi.
Louvre of Abu Dhabi.After lunch, we will pass through Reem and Maryah Islands, Qasr Al Hosn and Abu Dhabi’s famous Corniche to visit the Etihad Towers and its breathtaking view of Qasr Al Watan, the Presidential Palace and the famous 7* Emirates Palace Hotel.
Grupos de Torres Etihad, Abu Dhabi.This beautiful day ends with a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, very beautiful at sunset.
Gran Mezquita Sheikh Zayed, Abu Dhabi.
Gran Mezquita Sheikh Zayed, Abu Dhabi.Return to the hotel, free dinner and overnight.
DAY 5: Thursday January 18, 2024 – Abu Dhabi – Dubai
Masdar City, Dubai by Norman Foster.
Masdar City, Dubai by Norman Foster.After breakfast and check out, drive to the future Masdar City, a city in the making that is 100% CO2 neutral. Departure to Dubai via the highway linking the two city-states.
Dubai Marina.While enjoying a leisurely lunch, you will start your arrival in Dubai with a 3-hour cruise to discover Dubai Marina, Bluewater Island, the Jumeirah Palm, the spectacular and iconic Burj Al Arab Hotel and the Dubai Sheikhs Palace from a different perspective.
Palm Jumeirah, Dubai.
Palm Jumeirah, Dubai.Then, from the water, you take to the sky! for a breathtaking view of the Jumeirah Palm.
Aerial view of Jumeirah Palm, Dubai.
Aerial view of Jumeirah Palm, Dubai.Visit “The View Palm” for information on the dredging and construction of this artificial island.
Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai.
Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai.Your day will end with the sunset from Bluewaters Island and the huge Ain Dubai Ferris wheel.
Transfer to your hotel, the impressive Melia Hotel, designed by Zaha Hadid inside and out.
Melia Hotel, Dubai.DAY 6: Friday January 19, 2024 – Dubai
After breakfast, your day begins with a meeting that will leave a lasting impression. You will have the unique opportunity to interact with members of Besix, the builder of the Burj Khalifa Tower, among others.
Burj Khalifa Tower, Dubai.
Burj Khalifa Tower, Dubai.
Besix has contributed to the splendour of Dubai and the presentations of its interviewees will amaze you.
We will then visit the Mohamed Bin Rashid Solar Park Innovation Centre and take a walk through the sustainable city. Here you will learn how important innovation and sustainability have become in Dubai.
"Mall of The Emirates" Centro Comercial de los Emiratos, Dubai.
You will have lunch and enjoy the views of the magnificent Burj Al Arab, which you will also visit afterwards. In the late afternoon, you can stroll through the Mall of The Emirates and its incredible Ski Dubai or reach the top of the Burj Khalifa (optional).
Torre Burj Khalifa de noche, Dubai.
Torre Burj Khalifa de noche, Dubai.This beautiful day will end with dinner with an ideal view of the now famous “dancing fountains” at the foot of the Burj Khalifa.
Dancing Fountains, Dubai.
After dinner, transfer to the hotel and overnight.
DAY 7: Saturday January 20, 2024 – Dubai – Country of origin
From the past to the future.
After breakfast and check out, we will take a trip to the future with a visit to the Museum of the Future.
Museum of the Future, Dubai.
Afterwards, transfer to the old town, where you will have lunch in a traditional restaurant, before exploring this interesting area on foot.
Dubai Creek.Your trip will end with a sunset cruise on the Dubai Creek with snacks…
Sunset on the creek in Dubai.
Dubai by night.Transfer to Abu Dhabi and flight back to Europe or your orígin country by your own means.
Day 7: With the option of travelling to the heart of the Emirates
Return to the hotel, free dinner and accommodation.
Day 8 (Optional ): “Journey to the heart of the Emirates”
After breakfast, check out and depart for your “Journey to the heart of the Emirates”.
Return in the late afternoon and transfer to Abu Dhabi for your flight back to Europe or your home country.
(Option price in the “not included” section).
Abu Dhabi Desert.
Abu Dhabi desert under the full moon.
As with all pre-planned trips, and given the specialised nature of this trip, the visits and meetings listed above are subject to change.
Highlights of the trip
- Exceptional 5* hotels in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
- The new city of Lusai, the 2021 World Cup stadiums, the Pearl of Doha.
- The exterior and interior of the famous Louvre de Abu Dhabi.
- Discover Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, the future 100% green city.
- A unique cruise for an unprecedented approach to
- Careful lunches in selected places.
- A sunset cruise…
- A meeting with the builder of the Burj Khalifa.
- A French-speaking architect-guide who has been travelling in the Emirates for more than 10 years and has a good experience in architectural tours.
- And small details, such as fresh water on the buses…
YOUR HOTELS:
DOHA HILTON
ABU DHABI YAS HOTEL
DUBAï MELIÀ
- DepartureSunday 14
- Return TimeSaturday 20
- IncludedAccommodation in double room with breakfast at Hilton West Bay5* in Doha, YAS Hote5* in Abu Dhabi, Melia Hotel 5* in Dubai (or similar).Flights Doha/Abu Dhabi, Dubai/Doha in Y class.Assistance on arrival in Doha and departure from Dubai.Be accompanied by a French-speaking guide specialised in architecture throughout your stay.Local transfer by air-conditioned luxury coach.Access to the places or buildings mentioned in the programme.All lunches and dinners mentioned in the programme.All local taxes.All administrative costs.
- Not IncludedInternational flight from the country of origin to Dubai and from Dubai to the country of origin.Meals and drinks not mentioned in the programme.Tips for guides and drivers.The VAT.Any expenditure not listed.Any additional costs resulting from events beyond our control (airline strikes, weather delays, terrorist attacks, etc.).Option day 8 : Journey to the heart of the Emirates. Double room: 595€/Single room supplement : 95€. * The price includes: Car + driver, picnic, drinks, one additional night's accommodation at the Meliá 5* hotel, transfer from the hotel to the airport on the 8th.
- Maps
