Fairmont Doha

"Character is revealed in times of crisis." (Quote: Helmut Schmidt, former German Chancellor) This also applies to institutions, such as hotels. Two weeks in Doha during a completely senseless war was not on my bucket list for 2026. Nevertheless, it happened, and crises are simply part of the general risk of life. Spending this time in a high-quality hotel like the Fairmont in Doha can certainly be considered a stroke of luck. And observing how the host reacts to crises is a valuable moment to decide whether you intuitively made the right choice. (I discussed my ups and downs during this time directly on-site. I recommend this to every traveler, no matter where.) The Fairmont Doha, as well as the neighboring Raffles, are iconic in Qatar. The building, its location directly on the Arabian Gulf, the spacious rooms/suites, and public areas are exceptionally well-appointed and embody the opulent lifestyle of the region without being vulgar. Treat yourself to one of the suites, which are still relatively affordable in Doha. The selection of restaurants in both hotels is diverse and varied (except during Ramadan). My recommendations: SYRA on the 7th floor of the Fairmont. It features a verdant terrace with a beautiful view and, upon request, a wide selection of shisha. THE DOME (Lobby Restaurant): Afternoon tea in hotels is a popular social event for locals. Mingle with them, observe the social scene, and enjoy a fine selection of pastries. DRINKS: Don't miss the spectacular bar at the Raffles. Ask about it in the lobby; I won't reveal any more here. Important to know: Doha is not Dubai. Doha is far more understated, quieter, and largely avoids sensationalism. You won't find a "Mallorca of the Gulf" here! We know that crises won't stop us from traveling. I personally have tried to gain a better understanding of Qatar and the Gulf region. Conclusion: It's complicated, but still worthwhile.

Amazing experience Thanksfoe all the teams

I had a very disappointing experience with the finance department at Fairmont Doha. After checking out on January 30th, I was owed a refund of QAR 4,100. For 45 days, I was repeatedly lied to and told that the money had already been sent to my bank. However, I have now obtained proof that the refund was only actually swiped on their machine on March 12th—meaning they held my money for a month and a half without processing it, despite their claims. It is unacceptable for a luxury brand like Fairmont to provide such misleading information and demonstrate such a lack of financial integrity. If you are due any money back, be prepared for a long and exhausting fight. I am still waiting for the ARN (Acquirer Reference Number) and for the funds to actually reach my account. Very unprofessional management of guest funds. Confirmation No: 506429324

What a week it has been. We checked into the **Fairmont Doha** for one night on 27 February while transiting to LHR — and somehow that turned into an entire week. Despite everything that was going on, the team at the hotel was nothing short of amazing. Every member of staff continued to deliver the highest standard of care and hospitality throughout our stay. A special mention to Duncan, who was an absolute gem. His optimism and calm demeanour provided real reassurance during the difficult time. Also a big shout out to Chef Mussa, who was constantly checking in and some delicious food. Thank you to the entire team for looking after us so well. We will definitely be back for a proper visit when things are a little calmer. Bim Borishade

We had a good stay at Fairmount, staying during Ramadam and the hotel was busy but quiet also. The hotel is beautiful and its like being in a posh cruise ship, note: the lifts are brilliant. The staff are friendly, but we unfortunately our stay was somewhat affected by issues. Firstly with the room (which we booked a sea view) and instead had a side and building site view (Qatar is a great country, but out impression is it is still being built). This room issue was resolved and we were eventually moved to a lovely, but expected 'sea view room'. Beautiful view across Lusail also, showing the daunting and quirky high rise buildings. They did leave a lovely birthday cake for my wife (we went as a belated birthday trip). We had issues with the coffee machine, which was resolved fairly promptly by an engineer. We had issues with room service (we needed to request drinks in the room due to Ramadan), which was perfectly fine, had we not had to constantly call and remind them about this (never turning up and no communication), when we did finally get the drinks two after, the drinks were brought without anything to open them with! Denied entry via the promenade, despite exiting via this method, and asking if we could come back through that way. The security staff told us to walk further and round the front of the hotel. Not great service. On the positive side, the facilities are very good (reception, pool/s, gym, restaurants), the hotel is clean and the location is great. The gold club team are superb! So helpful and friendly, and the service was brilliant! We stayed for 3 days which was sufficient time, and allowed us to experience the quality of the hotel and Lusail, and appreciate what it had to offer. I would rate this hotel, service and our stay at the Fairmont a 7.5/10. It requires refining and the general service requires work, but the hotel, style and its location is superb.