Moving to a new city is always overwhelming, particularly if you don’t know anyone, but as a country filled to the brim with expats, there are plenty of people in the same boat.
Whether your social group has migrated home, you’re fresh off the plane, or just want to expand your circle, here’s how to make friends in Doha.
How to make friends in Doha: Creative classes
Love to paint, or always wanted to learn? Find like-minded friends at a class and pick up a new skill along the way at these spots.
Embrace Doha
When you move to a new city, it’s always exciting to learn more about the local culture, and you can do just that at Embrace Doha. The cultural house runs educational workshops on topics including sadu weaving and bakhoor mixing, and foodies can even join walking tours around the souq. Upcoming events are shared on Instagram @embracedoha.
embracedoha.com.
Hobby House Qatar
Want to learn anything and everything? Then you should definitely be following Hobby House Qatar, which organises pop-up classes across the city. Attendees at recent events have learned hand embroidery, resin tray creation, geometric pattern painting and soap making, and you can keep an eye out for the latest events on Instagram @hobbyhouseqatar.
hobbyhouseqatar.com.
Paint the Town
You don’t have to be the next Picasso to join Paint the Town’s events, which are all about making fun art, rather than fine art. The paint and sip evenings involve copying a picture while enjoying a bite to eat, and are an excellent way to make friends. Find out about the next session on Instagram @paintqatar.
paintqatar.com.
Qatart Community
If you’re already a skilled crafter, you should consider joining the Qatart Community. During the winter months, the group organises monthly markets at Katara Cultural Village to sell their wares, as well as workshops at Katara Art Studio. You can find out more about membership by emailing qatart@gmail.com.
@qatartcommunity.
How to make friends in Doha: InterNations and Meetup
There are tonnes of social groups going on in Doha, the only problem is finding them. Luckily for us, the website InterNations and the app Meetup group are here to make your life a lot easier.
Whether you want to network with other entrepreneurs or just find someone who enjoys brunching, there’s a group for you. And if you can’t find one to suit your interests, you can always set up your own.
#2 Qatar Book Club
We don’t know what happened to the #1 Qatar Book Club, but the #2 Qatar Book Club is second to none in our eyes. Meet-ups happen on the last Wednesday of every month, and recent books going up for discussion include Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk, and The Trial by Franz Kafka.
On Meetup.
Doha Bowling Group
Whether you’re just getting started or can hit a strike with your eyes closed, you can find someone to hit the alley with if you join the Doha Bowling Group. Meetups are regularly held at the Qatar Bowling Centre, and you’ll be a pro in no time at all.
On InterNations.
Doha French Conversation Meetup
Parlez-vous Français? The best way to learn, or retain, a language is to speak it, and you can find fellow French speakers here. And if French isn’t your language of choice, start your own group – Doha is a very multicultural city, so you’re bound to find someone to chat away with.
On Meetup.
Doha Mystery Cheap Eats Group
If you’re not afraid of trying new cuisines, you should definitely join this group on InterNations. You’ll visit places you’ve never thought to pop into and discover dishes you’ll wish you tried earlier, and hopefully make some foodie friends along the way.
On InterNations.
Doha Writers Forum
Working on your novel, or really into poetry? You can get invaluable feedback on your work from fellow writers in this group, which hosts meetings twice a month.
On Meetup.
How to make friends in Doha: Ladies only
Sorry lads, these are strictly for women only.
Tuesday Ladies Group
Founded way back in 1976, Tuesday Ladies Group is one of the oldest social groups in the city. As the name would suggest, gatherings happen on Tuesdays, with meetups taking place at the Radisson Blu on alternating weeks between September and June. The group also organise plenty of other activities for members, like group exercise work outs or cooking classes.
tuesdayladiesgroup.com.
Girl Gone International
First founded way back in 2010, Girl Gone International now has groups in 160 cities around the globe, with the Doha edition launching in late 2020. Events are held monthly, and include brunches, after-work happy hours and ladies’ nights.
facebook.com/groups/ggidoha.
Qatar Expat Women
This huge Facebook group has nearly 20,000 members, and regularly hosts events like coffee shop meetings, luncheons and more. It’s also a great source of information for newbies – these women are more than happy to give recommendations for hair salons, gyms, and basically anything you need when you’re just getting set up.
facebook.com/groups/556199204481820.
Women’s Circle
The Sheraton Grand Doha launched this networking group back in October 2021, and has hosted monthly meet-ups ever since. Events so far this year have included a painting session with Paint the Town and a panel on female-led filmmaking, and you can join the group through LinkedIn.
linkedin.com/groups/9091648.
How to make friends in Doha: Sports clubs
If you’re a creature of habit, you’ll naturally end up running into the same folks at the gym who you can befriend, but you can also join a social sports club.
Doha Bay Running Club
Running might be an individual sport (unless you’re taking part in a relay, that is), but that doesn’t mean your runs have to be lonely. The Doha Bay Running Club organise meet-ups on basically every day of the week, including a conversational run followed by coffee on Saturdays which is perfect for beginners.
facebook.com/groups/196883743667814.
Doha Golf Club
Even if you’ve never played a round of golf in your life, you can make friends at Doha Golf Club. The club hosts ladies mornings throughout the week for both beginner and intermediate golfers, and you can also take out a social membership which gives you access to the clubhouse and a discount on food and beverages.
dohagolfclub.com.
Doha Rugby Football Centre
Having been founded in 1974, the Doha Rugby Football Centre is one of the oldest groups in Doha. There are teams for men, women and kids, and no experience is necessary to join. Training started up again in August, so you shouldn’t hesitate to join ASAP.
doharfc.com.
Qatar GAA
Irish expats can keep playing football and hurling by joining the Qatar GAA. First founded in 2004, this group is as much about the socialising as it is the sports side of things, and you’re bound to find a welcoming community here once you join.
qatargaa.qa.
…And everything else
Country groups
Nobody knows how it feels to move to a new city better than your fellow countrymen, and there are lots of Facebook groups dedicated to expats living in Qatar. They’re usually pretty easy to find, but some of the bigger ones include ANZIQ – Australians and New Zealanders in Qatar, British expats in Qatar and South Africans in Qatar.
facebook.com.
Dune Riders Club
Got a 4×4 and want to put it to the test out in Qatar’s desert? Then you need to join the Dune Riders Club, which regularly hosts trips out on the sand. If you’re a newbie, you can join the desert introduction drive which is held on the first Friday of every month.
facebook.com/groups/duneridersclub.
The Doha Players
Want your moment in the spotlight? Then you should consider joining The Doha Players, a theatre group first founded back in 1954. Even if you get stage fright, you can always help back stage or even direct and produce the next production.
@thedohaplayers.
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