The Doha Zoo lies just 15 minutes out of Doha city on the Salwa Road, in the industrial area near the Equestrian Club. Situated in 42 acres of lush gardens, the zoo houses over 1,500 animals covering some 150 species. The zoo, divided into sections for each mammal species, with giraffes, lions, tigers, Oryx, elephants, baboons, zebra etc, is very well maintained and with the help of the trainers often have live shows. The collection of birds is quite impressive; they were brought in from all different parts of the world.

The zoological gardens, with plenty shade from the trees and children's playground, makes for an excellent family day out with a picnic. An information office, child care rooms and a restaurant are other facilities available. The entrance fees are QR2 for children below nine and QR5 for adults.

The New Zoo

The new zoo an extension of the current one, currently under progress, will cover an area of 72 hectares. Showcasing several rare and new animals, it has been designed to become an educational and entertainment centre for families. It will have special parks for children and families, a mosque, a craft village, Arab and African pre-historic exhibits, ecology exhibits, a tropical rain forest with special light and sound effects, an electronic museum for natural history, a centre for information and research and a marine world, among other facilities.