Zekreet and Film City, Qatar

Overview

The Zekreet peninsula lies about 80 km west of Doha, just north of Dukhan. It is a landscape of white limestone ridges, flat-topped mesas and mushroom-shaped rocks shaped by wind. Film City sits near its northern tip at Ras Abrouq. It is a walled replica village with towers, a mosque and palm trees, built as a set for an Arabic television series.

Go for the scenery, the photography and the sense of space. Note that Film City has been closed to casual visitors for long spells in recent years. Since 2024 it has opened as the hub of the Brouq winter season, run by Visit Qatar, with markets, food and performances. Outside the season, expect to see it from the gates only. The rock formations, coast and nearby Richard Serra sculpture remain open land.

History and background

People have lived around Zekreet for centuries. Archaeologists have dated Zekreet Fort, near the village, to the late 18th or early 19th century. The modern village grew after oil was found at nearby Dukhan in 1936, when a small harbour was built in Zekreet Bay to land equipment for the oil company.

Film City was built on the peninsula as a set for the Arabic TV drama Eyaal Al Theeb (Sons of Wolves). Its sand-coloured walls, towers, mosque and square copy a traditional fortified Gulf settlement. After filming ended the set was left standing. It became a popular off-road stop, but it has no formal conservation status and the buildings are exposed to wind and sand.

From December 2024 Visit Qatar began using Film City as the centre of a winter desert programme at Ras Abrouq, next to the Our Habitas resort. The 2025–26 Brouq season ran from late November 2025 into early 2026.

What to see at Zekreet / Film City

1. Film City

   Walk through a mock Arabian village with towers, gates, a mosque and palm trees. During the Brouq season it becomes a souq with food stalls, crafts and live shows. At other times access is often restricted.

2. Mushroom rocks

   A few kilometres north-west of Film City, wind has cut soft rock away beneath harder caps. The result is a field of mushroom-shaped limestone pillars. Admire them without climbing on them, as they are fragile.

3. Limestone escarpments

   White cliffs, mesas and shallow valleys run across the peninsula. They look especially dramatic in low sun and make the area one of Qatar's most photographed desert landscapes.

4. Brouq winter season

   Visit Qatar's winter programme at Ras Abrouq adds markets, cafés, art, camel and horse rides, stargazing and glamping. Dates, prices and activities change each year, so check before planning around it.

5. Richard Serra's sculpture

   Four giant steel plates by Richard Serra stand in a line across the Brouq Nature Reserve, a short drive south of Film City. It is free and open, and worth pairing with any Zekreet visit.

6. Zekreet coast

   The peninsula's northern and western shores offer quiet, undeveloped beaches and calm, shallow water. There are no facilities, so bring shade, water and everything you need.

How to get to Zekreet / Film City

Tips for your visit

• Check Visit Qatar before you go. Film City is often closed outside the winter Brouq season.
• Fill your fuel tank and buy water and snacks before leaving the highway.
• Use a 4×4 for the tracks; the ground is rocky, bumpy and unpredictable.
• Carry a charged phone and an offline map, as signal can be weak.
• Do not climb on the mushroom rocks; they erode easily.
• Pack sun protection even in winter; there is little shade on the peninsula.

Facilities

Frequently asked questions