Over the past two decades, the fabric of Doha has been altered, as Qatar is considered to be one of the most rapidly developing nations in the world. The architecture and urbanism are evolving enormously, with new settlements, expanding infrastructure, and various architectural patterns deployed. Moreover, in the era of globalization, cities of the Arabian Peninsula are competing to place themselves in the international context, and it could be argued that in this milieu the Qatari government utilizes the high-quality urban interventions as a developing tool in this rivalry. This trend can be observed in the requalification of the historic centre of Doha that involved massive destruction of traditional heritage observed during the 1980s through to the present day. This discussion focuses on Souq Waqif, a traditional open market which has been revitalized for the public, and Msheireb Downtown Doha, an adjacent new development with reverence to Qatari history and culture. This paper investigates the role of urban design in reconstructing the historic centre of Doha and examining the local attitudes regarding what constructs an attractive, global, and emerging urban centre, addressing the cultural, socio-economical and physical impact of these projects with reference to different approaches to revitalization.
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