Last Updated on October 22, 2023

The Qatar Peninsula in the Persian Gulf is quickly growing into a desert adventure sports heaven with several incredible dunes for sand surfing, dune bashing and camel riding.

In 2022, the country has become somewhat (in)-famous as the controversial host of the FIFA World Cup, but when it comes to attracting sports enthusiasts, it is best to stick to desert activities in Qatar.

The so-called “Inland Sea” is the most popular spot for sandboarding, with majestic sandhills facing the Arabian Sea.

Qatar is also one of the few places where you can experience sandboarding on singing dunes, of which only a handful exist in the entire world.

If you are visiting or living in Qatar, you can’t miss the experience of going on a desert safari tour with sandboarding.

Dune bashing near Khor al Udaid, Qatar. Photo courtesy of Christine und Hagen Graf.

Khor Al Adaid (Inland Sea)

Khawr al Udayd, (Arabic: خور العديد‎; also spelled Khor al Adaid and Khor al-‘Udeid) is a settlement and inlet of the Persian Gulf located in Al Wakrah Municipality in southeast Qatar, on the border with Saudi Arabia. It is known to local English speakers as the “Inland Sea“.

Khawr al Udayd is a true hidden gem with sand dunes spilling into the waters of the Arabian Sea.

The dunes here make for some incredible sandboarding rides with spectacular views and one of the most suggestive adventure spots in the country.

Khor Al Adaid is sited about an hour’s drive south of Doha.

Top Sandboarding Tours


Singing Sand Dunes in Qatar. Photo Courtesy of Peter.

Singing Sand Dunes

Qatar is one of the few countries in the world where you can find “singing” or “booming” sand dunes, a rare natural phenomenon that causes the shifting sand of the dunes to make a very audible sound.

The dunes “sing” on very windy days when the sand is completely dry, so it’s best to avoid visiting the place when the weather is humid and for a few weeks after rain.

Sandboarding on these dunes can also facilitate this acoustic phenomenon as it causes sand particles to vibrate. There a group of crescent-shaped sand dunes located approximately 40 km south-west of Doha.


Best Desert Safari in Doha

We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance. Activities covered may change based on your destination and country of residence.


Sandboarding in the Middle East


Leave a Reply