Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel

Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel is a five-star hotel and conference venue in the West Bay area of Doha, Qatar. The property occupies a prominent coastal setting overlooking the Persian Gulf and is associated with the development of Doha's modern Corniche and Al Dafna business district. It is operated under the Sheraton Hotels and Resorts brand, which is part of Marriott International, although the property's ultimate ownership is not identified in the supplied reference material. The hotel opened on 22 February 1982 at a ceremony attended by Qatar's ruler, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani. Its opening was broadcast on national television and marked the arrival of a highly visible international-style hospitality landmark in Doha. The building was designed by American architect William Pereira and constructed on a specially created island formed from reclaimed land. Its distinctive pyramid-like silhouette, grand atrium, and coastal location gave it an architectural and symbolic role beyond that of a conventional hotel. The atrium, known as the majlis, was conceived as a large social gathering space and helped connect the property with regional traditions of hospitality. The hotel's construction reportedly involved advanced engineering techniques for its period. It was built by an American company with financial support from the Qatari government, according to the referenced account. The development helped demonstrate the potential of reclaimed coastal land and was followed by the growth of Al Dafna, a central business district also developed on dredged land during the 1980s. In this sense, the hotel became part of Doha's broader urban transformation rather than an isolated tourism project. The property is described as having 371 rooms, nine restaurants, and 26 conference rooms. Its convention facilities include an auditorium capable of accommodating more than 1,000 people, making the hotel suitable for diplomatic meetings, corporate gatherings, scientific conferences, and large social events. It has hosted meetings connected with the World Trade Organization, Arab regional organizations, and international scientific activity. In 2007, it hosted QFIRST, identified in the reference material as the First Conference for Expatriate Arab Scientists. The hotel's conference role was especially visible in 2020, when it hosted the Doha peace conference associated with negotiations concerning the withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan. This event reinforced the property's position as a venue for high-level diplomatic and international meetings. Its location, scale, and established convention infrastructure have made it one of Doha's recognizable hospitality and events landmarks. Architecturally, the pyramid form has also influenced cultural interpretations of the surrounding area. British-Pakistani artist Shezad Dawood and Qatari architect Fatma Ibrahim Al Sehlawi drew on the building's shape in creating the Doha Modern Playground at Al Masrah Park. The reference material presents the hotel as a symbol of Doha's Corniche development and as an example of the city's use of ambitious architecture, reclaimed land, and international hospitality infrastructure to support its emergence as a regional business and conference center.

Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel opened on 22 February 1982 in Doha, Qatar. Its inauguration was attended by Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani and was televised nationally, giving the project considerable public visibility. The hotel was designed by American architect William Pereira and built on a purpose-created island made from reclaimed land. Its construction formed part of Doha's early modern coastal development and demonstrated the use of substantial engineering works to create new urban and hospitality space. The building's pyramid-like form and large internal atrium distinguished it from the surrounding governmental architecture. The atrium, called the majlis, functioned as a major social gathering area and gave the hotel a spatial character associated with Arabian hospitality. The property soon became a recognizable feature of the Doha Corniche and an emblem of the city's transition toward a more internationally oriented business and tourism economy. The hotel's development also intersected with the creation of Al Dafna, a central business district developed on additional dredged land during the 1980s. The hotel therefore helped establish a commercial and events-oriented urban zone on Doha's previously undeveloped waterfront. The referenced account states that the project was built by an American company and subsidized by the Qatari government, although it does not identify the property's ultimate owner or provide a complete financial history. Over time, the hotel developed into both a luxury accommodation property and a significant convention center. Its reported inventory includes 371 rooms, nine restaurants, 26 conference rooms, and an auditorium able to accommodate more than 1,000 people. These facilities have supported international meetings, scientific seminars, trade-related gatherings, diplomatic events, and large social functions. The hotel has hosted meetings associated with the World Trade Organization and events connected with Arab regional organizations. In 2007, the property hosted QFIRST, described in the source material as the First Conference for Expatriate Arab Scientists. In 2020, it was the venue for a Doha peace conference linked to negotiations concerning the withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan. These events illustrate the hotel's continuing use as a high-capacity venue for international and diplomatic activity rather than solely as a leisure hotel. The building has also had a cultural influence beyond its commercial function. British-Pakistani artist Shezad Dawood and Qatari architect Fatma Ibrahim Al Sehlawi used the hotel's pyramid geometry as an inspiration for the Doha Modern Playground at Al Masrah Park. The property remains associated with the Sheraton Hotels and Resorts network and is described as a five-star hotel in the West Bay area overlooking the Persian Gulf.

• 2020

  Doha peace conference hosted

  [1]Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel hosted a Doha peace conference associated with negotiations over the withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan.

• 2007

  QFIRST conference hosted

  [1]Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  The property hosted the First Conference for Expatriate Arab Scientists, referred to in the source material as QFIRST.

• 1982

  Hotel inaugurated in Doha

  [1]Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  Sheraton Doha was inaugurated on 22 February in a ceremony attended by Qatar's ruler, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani. The opening was broadcast on national television.

A luxury international hotel and major conference venue combining coastal accommodation, extensive event infrastructure, and a landmark architectural identity in Doha.

• Accommodation · 1982

  Guest rooms and hotel accommodation

  The hotel provides luxury accommodation in Doha's West Bay area, with a reported inventory of 371 rooms. Its coastal setting overlooking the Persian Gulf and association with the Sheraton network form the core of its lodging proposition.

• Hospitality · 1982

  Restaurants and food-and-beverage venues

  The property includes nine restaurants and related food-and-beverage facilities. These venues support in-house guests as well as visitors attending meetings, conferences, and social functions.

• Events and business services · 1982

  Convention and meeting facilities

  The convention operation comprises 26 conference rooms and an auditorium reported to hold more than 1,000 people. The facilities are used for international meetings, scientific seminars, corporate events, diplomatic gatherings, and large-scale social occasions.

• 2020

  Sheraton Grand Doha hosts Doha peace conference[1]Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The hotel served as the venue for a Doha peace conference connected with negotiations over the withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan.

• 2007

  QFIRST conference held at Sheraton Doha[1]Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The property hosted the First Conference for Expatriate Arab Scientists, identified in the reference material as QFIRST.

1. 1Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotelen.wikipedia.org