Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Al Enna Project was officially launched by National Tourism Council (NTC) and its partners this weekend. The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior officials from NTC as well as the public and private sector partners involved in the project.

Al Enna is a tourism development project that aims to enhance the winter camping experience in Qatar, protect the environment, and ensure public safety. It is spearheaded by NTC with the support of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, the Ministry of Interior, the Public Works Authority Ashghal, Qatar Olympic Committee, Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation, Batabit, Mawater, Katara Hospitality, and QSports.

Omar al-Jaber, NTC representative and Al Enna Project official spokesperson, commented: "We are honored by HE the Prime Minister's patronage and HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment's support of this initiative. While this is a pilot project, our work is ongoing with the various partners, camping ground owners, and businesses to continuously improve the camping and desert experience. Developing the Sealine and Inland Sea regions while enhancing the desert experience there supports our efforts to deliver tourism products and services that raise Qatar's profile as an attractive winter tourism destination."

Starting Point: Al Seef Beach Area

Visitors to Al Enna can begin their experience at Al Seef – a Sealine beach area which has been developed to accommodate 15,000 people, with sufficient amenities (including showers) and a giant screen on which main activities are displayed. The beach area includes 30 food and beverage outlets, beach cabins and chairs which can be rented and a children’s play area. The beach is fully staffed with security personnel, lifeguards, technicians, and other support staff. Al Seef is operated and managed by Sealine Beach Resort, while Qatar Olympic Committee is providing sporting activities including beach football, beach volleyball, and basketball.

Dedicated quad-biking and drag racing tracks

Beyond the beach, visitors can rent quad-bikes and ATVs in a 300,000 square meter space designed to provide safe and integrated experiences for biking fans. The area features eight biking tracks catering to riders of different abilities and requirements: one for ladies, four for beginners and children, one for intermediate-level bikers, one for advanced-level bikers, and one for professionals. The latter will host contests and challenges organised by Batabit (Qatar Centre for Motorcycles).

The Batabit zone has 32 restaurants and cafes, with full water and electricity amenities, air conditioning, and flooring. It also offers a variety of services in the form of 28 motorcycle rental shops, complete with parking spaces, a fuel supply zone, storage areas, power supply, and fire extinguishers.

Adjacent to this area is the Mawater zone, which is built to host spectator drag races, ensuring the safety of both contestants and viewers.

NTC had previously signed a memorandum of understanding with the General Directorate of Traffic, providing a framework for the regulation of quad-bike renting to make the practice more safe. Under the regulations, the use of quad bikes outside the designated tracks is not permitted.

Authentic Desert Experiences at the Heritage Zone

The final zone is Al Mashab (the bonfire) where all cultural and heritage activities are to be organised during weekends throughout the camping season. The zone contains 10 tents that the public can rent to enjoy an authentic desert experience, complete with traditional cuisine, a view of the bonfire and family entertainment inspired by Qatari heritage.

Director of Festivals and Tourism Events at NTC, Mashal Shahbik, commented: "We have drawn from the extensive experience gained from the various festivals and nation-wide events organized over the past decade to develop new experiences that cater to all tastes and celebrate Qatar's history as well as the special nature of the Sealine and Inland Sea areas.”

To ensure campers are well-serviced, a "Souq" area has been set up with 25 stores offering various camping supplies, groceries, technical services, mobile phones, and motorcycle spare parts.

Visitors to Sealine can now travel easily among the various parts of the project thanks to a 1.5 km road that Ashghal has paved from Al Shalihat Roundabout to the end of the family beach. The road has two lanes in both directions and includes parking spaces and service areas.

Source: Press Release

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Leena Chung

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