West Bay Lagoon
District in Doha, Qatar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
West Bay Lagoon, also known as Leqtaifiya (Arabic: لقطيفية; also spelled as Legtaifiyah, Legtaifiya or Al Qutaifiya) is a district of Doha, the capital city of Qatar. Spanning from the Doha Corniche to West Bay Lagoon, the area has villas on one side, and low rises on the other. The district is well known for its luxurious waterfront villas, which are some of the most expensive in the country. It is one of the few freehold areas in Doha where non-Qataris can purchase property.[2]
Leqtaifiya
لقطيفية West Bay Lagoon | |
|---|---|
District | |
Aerial view of West Bay Lagoon in 2024 | |
  Leqtaifiya Location within Doha  Leqtaifiya Location within Qatar | |
| Coordinates: 25°21′30″N 51°30′29″E | |
| Country |  Qatar |
| Municipality | Doha |
| Zone | Zone 66 |
| District no. | 105 |
| Area | |
• Total | 8.6 km2 (3.3 sq mi) |
Together with Onaiza and Al Qassar, it makes up Zone 66 which has a total population of 22,024.[3]
Etymology
The district's official name, Leqtaifiya, is a derivative of a plant known locally as qataf (Limonium axillare) which is found abundantly in the area.[4]
History
West Bay Lagoon was built on land that was reclaimed in the 1970s and 1980s after extensive dredging. As part of a masterplan by the Qatari government, the entire area, which came to be known as West Bay, was to be developed as Qatar's new business center, with West Bay Lagoon containing a bulk of the housing.[5] At its greatest distance, the district extends 2 km away from the Persian Gulf. There are several artificial lagoons in the district.[6]
During the 2006 Asian Games, temporary seating for 500 spectators was provided for the water sports taking place in the lagoon, including kayaking, rowing and canoeing competitions.[7]
On 9 September, 2025, Israel launched an airstrike on Doha, targeting a Hamas meeting which was taking place in a residential complex near Wadi Rawdan Street in West Bay Lagoon. Six people were killed.[8]
Transport
The Legtaifiya metro station is located here and is part of Doha Metro's Red Line North.[9]
Education
The following schools are located in West Bay Lagoon (Leqtaifiya):
| Name of School | Curriculum | Grade | Genders | Official Website | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abi Haneefa Model Boys School | Independent | Kindergarten – Primary | Male-only | N/A | [10] |
| Kingdom Kindergarten | International | Kindergarten | Both | N/A | [11] |
| Newton International Kindergarten | International | Kindergarten | Both | Official website Archived 2018-02-20 at the Wayback Machine | [12] |
Gallery
Al Qutaifiya Lagoon
Residences in West Bay Lagoon
Aerial view of West Bay Lagoon
View of West Bay Lagoon from the Grand Hyatt Hotel
