Due to open near Doha in 2028, this massive new waterfront development is part theme park, part resort and very much built for your weekend plans.

If you’re picturing a few rollercoasters and a food court, you’re going to need to think bigger. Qatar’s upcoming Land of Legends, currently in the works in Simaisma, about half an hour north of Doha, isn’t being pitched as your standard theme park. The official line calls it a major entertainment destination, but in reality, it sounds closer to a full-on lifestyle playground, spread across a sizeable 650,000sq/m.

Yes, there will be rides. And themed zones, seven of them, inspired by the travels of Ibn Battuta, designed to pull you into different worlds rather than just shuffle you from queue to queue. But that’s only one part of the picture.

What’s interesting is everything around it. The project folds in hotels that are actually part of the experience, not just somewhere to crash after a long day. Two are already confirmed, the Kingdom and Music hotels, with a combined capacity of around 1,000 rooms. You’ll be able to stay inside the whole setup, meaning this is less ‘pop in for a few hours’ and more ‘book a couple of nights and settle in’.

There’s also a strong focus on spectacle. Plans mention the region’s first moving theatre, alongside an 80-metrehigh adventure mountain with water attractions, plus canals, waterfront walkways and large-scale shows, the kind of place where you wander as much as you plan.

And then there’s the setting. Land of Legends sits within the wider Simaisma coastal development, a huge stretch that’s set to include marinas, resorts and leisure spots. In other words, this isn’t a standalone attraction dropped in the desert, it’s part of a much bigger attempt to create a new go-to hangout just outside the city.

The numbers back up the ambition: around USD3 billion in investment and a target of roughly two million visitors a year once it opens, currently expected in 2028. For anyone in Doha, it could end up reshaping what a weekend looks like. Less mall, more mini-escape, without needing to get on a plane. ✤

GO: VISIT WWW.GCO.GOV.QA FOR MORE INFORMATION.