Dunes by the sea
Tall barchans right behind the beach.
Jaseem Hamza — CC BY 3.0 · Paul Trafford — CC BY 2.0 · Paul Trafford — CC BY 2.0 · Jaseem Hamza — CC BY 3.0 · Paul Trafford — CC BY 2.0
Sealine Beach is a free public beach on Qatar's south-east coast, south of Mesaieed in Al Wakrah municipality. A wide band of pale sand backed by tall dunes, it is one of the country's favourite day trips, known for camel rides, dune bashing and sunsets. Mesaieed grew from a tanker terminal set up on an empty shore in 1949. The dunes to its south are barchans, crescent-shaped dunes that the shamal wind keeps slowly on the move. In 2022 the environment ministry released 18 Arabian oryx, Qatar's national animal, into a fenced reserve at Sealine. Sealine is among the most sought-after winter camping areas, and in January 2025 and again in 2026 it hosted Sealine Season, three weeks of concerts, fireworks and desert activities. Most people come to swim, picnic or barbecue; the environment ministry asks visitors not to light fires directly on the sand. Washrooms, kiosks and parking sit just off the beach, and weekends get busy. Along the dunes, operators offer camel rides and rent out quad bikes and buggies at their own prices. The coast faces east, so the sun sets behind the dunes: climb one in the late afternoon. The beach is about 56 km by road from Souq Waqif in central Doha and 41 km from Souq Al Wakrah. A paved road reaches the public car park; the soft sand beyond it needs a 4x4. Come between November and March, as summer heat often reaches 40 °C. Khor Al Adaid, the Inland Sea, lies about 34 km south-west in a straight line.
Tall barchans right behind the beach.
Offered along the dunes; wear a helmet on a quad.
Climb one away from vehicle tracks.
Sealine Beach Road, south of Mesaieed
A public bus links Hamad International Airport with Mesaieed town, but the beach lies further south, so take a taxi or ride-hailing car and agree the ride back before you go. A 4x4 tour from Doha is the other option, and the safest way onto the dunes if you have never driven on soft sand.
The environment ministry's seasonal camping permits, for 25 October 2026 to 20 April 2027, are booked on its website or Bee'ah app and go to Qatari citizens aged 25 and over. Others may pitch a simple tent for a short stay, per local guides, or book a night at a desert camp run by a tour operator.