Qatar may not have the stunning sand dunes that are dotted throughout the United Arab Emirates, but this sprightly thumb in the Arabian Gulf has its spots of natural beauty. Naturally, (or I guess, not naturally at all actually), you need access to a 4x4 truck or SUV to see this spot, which lurks hidden from the Dukhan Highway.

Near the oil town of Dukhan is a spectacular canyon formed by gypsum deposits and ancient coral reefs. On a Thursday morning, this spot is empty. Nearby is an old film set through which you can wander. As much as I was intrigued by Doha, I loved my 45 minutes or so that we spent here with the adorable golden retriever mix, Poppy. It was a  sublime break from the bustle and commerce of Qatar’s capital.

Enjoy the pictures of the Qatar desert. Special thanks to Amy Bambridge, a UK expat who generously took me here last week. This ranked highly as a bright spot during my travel to the Middle East, and was the best spontaneous desert safari around.

Just wear plenty of SPF sunscreen!

Just wear plenty of SPF sunscreen!

An hour from Doha but a world away

An hour from Doha but a world away

This outcrop offers stunning views of the Qatar Desert

This outcrop offers stunning views of the Qatar Desert

The gypsum and ancient coral formations are stunning

The gypsum and ancient coral formations are stunning

Poppy loves the desert, too

Poppy loves the desert, too

About The Author

Leon Kaye

Leon Kaye is the founder and editor of GreenGoPost.com and its advisory division, GGP Media. Contact him to discuss how he can work with your organization or event. His focus is making the business case for sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). He writes for San Francisco-based Triple Pundit, Inhabitat and now The Guardian, for which he writes about corporate responsibility, water, and green building. He has also written for AIA's Architect Magazine. Leon works out of Fresno and Silicon Valley, California, and when he has free time, he enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking, weightlifting, and planning his next trip to one of the 60 countries he has visited. He has an MBA from USC's Marshall School of Business and is also a proud graduate of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) and Cal State-Fresno.