Qatar Tourism, in collaboration with Discover Qatar, has announced the return of Whale Shark tours for the 2025 season.
Operated by Discover Qatar, the tours promise a unique adventure aboard a premium catamaran, led by expert marine guides. Guests will enjoy a truly immersive and informative journey, learning about the migratory patterns, biological characteristics and ecological importance of whale sharks in the marine ecosystem. Running until September, this year’s season invites explorers to witness these gentle giants, which measure up to 20 feet, feeding in the warm, plankton-rich waters of the Al Shaheen Marine Zone, approximately two and a half hours from Ruwais Port. Qatar remains one of the few destinations globally offering a dedicated programme to study and safeguard whale sharks. Qatar’s northern waters host one of the world’s largest aggregations of whale sharks. The Whale Shark Tours aim to promote ecotourism by allowing guests to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat, while ensuring minimal disturbance to the marine environment. The tours also provide educational insights into whale shark behaviour and Qatar’s conservation efforts to protect these endangered animals. Since its inception in 2022, the tour has welcomed over 1,200 guests, with sightings of more than 600 whale sharks during a single excursion.