Changing face of Doha (Thematic Photographic)

Yesterday, when I was in my meeting, we got talking about the amount of demolition & construction work was happening in Doha at the moment. I walking around the day prior, I had noticed that a lot of the buildings were being demolished in a sort of revival type fashion.

Doha, which is not that big a city, is built along the shores of the Corniche. On one side is a 'New' Doha, whilst on the other, the side that I am currently staying on, is the 'Old'. When viewing across the Corniche and the harbour from the office yesterday afternoon, it is really such a stark difference between the two! The far side, full of multi story, glass and steel towers, whilst on this side, it is filled with stone, brick and concrete buildings, most of which are lucky to be under two or three stories. There are a few to the exception and these are mainly Hotels.

So I thought, I would grab, where I could, a few photos of some of the works in progress. There was many MANY more, but in the limited time I had, and the workman at the gates or nearby (and me not wanting to offend anyone and be thrown in jail!), I managed these two sites. The first is an old Hotel, which I understand had been closed for many years as it was seen by the Royal Family, 'too close' to the Palace, and wanted it closed/removed. I guess they got their wish:

Old Hotel, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

At first, I thought it was under repair after a bomb had hit it (and thought I got the wrong flight and ended up in Kuwait or Afghanistan, but no, I was in Doha! The second I was walking past, and all I could see was a dust cloud (of sorts) as I approached. Oddly, opposite there was a new hotel (or apartment's maybe) being constructed, and all of the dust was going into it. I pitied the painters on the inside with windows open!

Changing face of Doha, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

So, today is my last FULL day here, and the day is mine. I have been trying to catch up with a friend here, who I met in Feb when I was here, but time schedules have not been the best, so maybe another time. So I went across to the 'New' Doha and here is what the construction is like:

Doha New Construction, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Doha New Construction, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

It is also the Eid Holiday, which is a very big event. The papers FULL PAGE ADVERTISMENTS, are all congratulating as per the following:

On the happy occasion of

EID AL FITR

We extend our congratulations to

Eid Holiday, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

His Highness The Emir

Skeikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani

His Highness The Heir Apparant

Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani

and the people of Qatar

So I suppose I had better send my congrats to them as well, just to keep on their good side...

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Written Inc.: Thematic Photographic 67 - Urban