Take a look at how the element of water continues to shape Qatari society through tourism, marine conservation and shipbuilding.
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00:00The country was really, you know, made its name with the oil and gas industry, and they're
00:05really showing it off here.
00:06In the beginning, we wanted to preserve our maritime history because we have a large maritime
00:12heritage.
00:13Hello, and welcome to Qatar 365 with me, Laila Humaira.
00:20On this episode, we dive into how water is a central part of Qatari life, whether it's
00:26luxury living by the sea or the country's rich maritime heritage that's been steering
00:32its strong and steady growth.
00:34But first, Adel Haleem makes a splash at the newest and largest water park in Qatar with
00:40a slick twist.
00:43Plenty of high-speed twists, turns, and of course, splashes are on offer at Muriel Water
00:49Park.
00:50But this isn't just any old water wonderland.
00:53The park pays homage to Qatar's history of oil and gas discovery while illustrating its
00:58love for the sea.
00:59Muriel was conceived by the government as an opportunity to really show off the oil
01:06and gas industry.
01:08And what they've done here is developed a park that really is influenced by that theme.
01:15I've been involved with a lot of parks, a lot of water parks, a lot of theme parks.
01:19This is one of the most intensely themed parks that I've ever been seen or been involved
01:23with.
01:24It's an amazing park.
01:25And here, size really does matter.
01:28Located on the northern side of Kataifan Island, Muriel is spread across a massive 160,000
01:34square meters.
01:36Walking around the grounds, there's a clear, rusty feel, and the park's general manager
01:40says that is completely intentional.
01:43If you're on an oil site, they pour concrete.
01:45They never let it set.
01:46So you see tire tracks and footprints.
01:49Walk around the park, you see that everywhere.
01:51So a lot of sites are old.
01:53They have rust everywhere.
01:55They've added rust to all these brand new towers here.
01:58So from a guy who's run a lot of old parks, we try to get rid of the rust.
02:01Here I see it everywhere, but it really helps with the theming.
02:04From Oily the mascot to the names on the rides, oil and gas is a central theme running throughout
02:10the theme park.
02:11There are 69 attractions in total, but none bigger than the iconic Rig 1938, named after
02:18Qatar's first oil rig.
02:20There are 53 slides spread across six acres here at the Muriel Water Park.
02:24One of the major highlights is this 85-meter high water slide, billed as the tallest in
02:29the world.
02:31We call it Rig 1938.
02:34That is the year where oil, petrol has been discovered in Qatar.
02:39So it is like a learning history for people who don't know Qatar.
02:44Come for some fun in the water, leave with a history lesson.
02:48Every square meter has been cleverly designed to embody the foundation of Qatar's economic
02:53growth.
02:54While exiting the water park, you exit through here.
02:57So we have everything with our logo, Muriel Water Park.
03:01Muriel's guest experience manager says one of the park's many unique features is the
03:05payment method.
03:06We have what is called a cashless system.
03:10So basically it is a wristband that we provide to the guests.
03:14Inside they are loaded with money, and inside they can use it since the whole water park
03:19is cashless.
03:20We've got smaller kids, bigger kids, the big adult slides the kids can go on, obviously
03:27a giant wave pool, and the most expensive water slide in the world is that turning,
03:31that slide bill.
03:32Really?
03:33That one?
03:34Yeah, it costs about $10 million now if you want to buy one, U.S., so it's quite the attraction.
03:41He's referring to Rapid Refinery, the Middle East's first-ever hybrid ride.
03:45Described as part water slide, part Ferris wheel raft adventure, where slides rotate
03:51instead of remaining fixed.
03:53Bill Lentz believes once the park cements itself as a family-friendly entertainment
03:57destination, it will not only be an anchor to draw people to Kataifan Island, but also
04:02make a big splash for the country's tourism industry.
04:06This park is a destination all by itself.
04:09It's going to be a reason families, a lot of families that will travel through Doha
04:12or travel to other places in the world, it's going to give those families a reason to stop,
04:17spend a day or two here, and experience this park.
04:20And that's going to really, it's going to help, I believe, the whole country from a
04:23tourism standpoint.
04:24It's really going to make a big difference.
04:29Whale sharks, dugongs, mangroves, and corals, just some of the flourishing flora and fauna
04:36being preserved by Marine Conservation in Qatar.
04:40Spearheading that mission is Jasim Lari, who leads the Department of Marine Wildlife at
04:45the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
04:48And I caught up with him here at the National Museum of Qatar to find out how his passion
04:54for nature turned into a lifelong professional pursuit.
04:59Jasim, firstly, can you explain what biodiversity means within the context of Qatar's ecological
05:08landscape?
05:09In terms of Qatar, of course, biodiversity means simply, in like simple words, all forms
05:14of life, micro and macro, flora and fauna.
05:19We have certain species that can build a structure, you know, physical structure, we call it a
05:25natural habitat or an ecosystem, and also the associated biota in combating climate
05:32change.
05:33Now, as you mentioned, Qatar has a number of marine species that are pretty abundant
05:37in its waters, with the government efforting many initiatives to preserve these animals.
05:42Can you tell us why these animals are so special to Qatar?
05:46Qatar, located in a subtropical region, so we have a high species richness, but in terms
05:53of abundance, maybe it's not quite so.
05:56Although there are some exceptions, like the whale shark, you know, whale shark in Qatar.
06:02Whale sharks, they aggregate in the northeast, and their number can reach up to 600, which
06:07is the largest aggregation in the world.
06:11So like an example, because of the importance of Hawksbill sea turtle, for the environment
06:17and for biodiversity, we initiated a project that goes back to 2003.
06:23So we are talking here about more than 20 years in making and hard work to conserve
06:29Hawksbill because they are critically endangered species.
06:32So what's been some of the most surprising findings in your research over the last few
06:36years?
06:37There is like, I would say, some misconception, Leila, that, you know, the desert environment
06:44or harsh environment doesn't sustain biodiversity, right?
06:49Is it true?
06:50Maybe it won't be as, you know, in terms of abundance, similar to tropical, for example,
06:56right?
06:57But what has amazed me, really, the species richness in Qatar, in the marine environment,
07:05we have different families of corals, different species of seagrasses, right?
07:11More than 20 species of seabirds, more than 60 species of cartilaginous fishes, 33 species
07:22of sharks.
07:23I mean, look at this number, you know, so I've been really amazed of the species richness
07:28we have within, you know, the state of Qatar.
07:33With more than 560 kilometers of shoreline and serene turquoise waters, Qatar has long
07:39been called the pearl of the Arabian Peninsula.
07:43It was from those shores that these magnificent dhow boats sailed for centuries.
07:49And while ship designs have rapidly modernized, the country is preserving the art of dhow making
07:55to keep the tradition alive.
07:57I got to learn more about these special boats that have steered and shaped Qatar's cultural
08:03and economic identity over the years.
08:06I wanted to preserve our maritime history because we have a large maritime heritage.
08:15Ahmed Jassim al-Sayikh has always been fascinated with dhow boats.
08:20It began when he was 14 years old, living close to the shore and surrounded by shipbuilders
08:26and seafarers.
08:28He's been designing dhows for nearly three decades now, but the significance of the ships
08:33goes back centuries.
08:36The old ships were very important to the Qatari people because they were used to feed the fish.
08:49They would dive into the pearls and travel from place to place.
08:54Today, dozens of these boats are still sailing, sprinkled across Qatar's waters, embracing
09:01a new life.
09:03Instead of pearl diving, tourism has now become its main purpose.
09:08While the boats may all look similar to some, there are at least five types of dhow boats
09:13with slightly different features.
09:16Ahmed's workshop also makes miniature models of the boats for gifting and educating.
09:21The engineers that construct these dhow boats use centuries-old techniques passed down from
09:26generation to generation.
09:29Some modern methods of shipbuilding are still applied to improve productivity, but the completion
09:34of a dhow boat can take years.
09:37And while the work is laborious, all the effort goes into ensuring that the art of dhow making
09:43continues even as modernity thrives.
10:00One particular traditional method that Ahmed still uses is the way he chooses the wood
10:06that forms the base of the boat.
10:10A strong base is important to build a sturdy ship, just like the foundations of dhow making,
10:16which Ahmed is hoping to nurture in the next generation.
10:40We have many goals.
10:42One of them is to open a miniature school for the next generation to learn.
10:49Another goal is to build a strong base for the next generation to learn.
10:59And as far as Ahmed is concerned, he hopes to continue preserving his cultural heritage
11:05in all shapes and sizes for as long as he can.
11:10I feel proud when I see the things that we have designed,
11:15that we have honoured, that we have brought down to the sea,
11:18and the old shape.
11:20I feel proud that I have tried to preserve it as much as I could.
11:31Well, it's clear that Qatar, with its rich maritime history, will continue its connections
11:36to the world's major shipping routes, but also attract more tourists to its shores
11:41with exhilarating water activities.
11:44We hope you've had a splashing time, but we've come to the end of the episode.
11:48For more, check out euronews.com and connect with us through our hashtag.
11:52Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next time on Qatar 365.