Residents yearn for a splash as pool shortage grips Doha

A SEVERE dearth of swimming pools is felt in Doha as Qatar’s population rises every month and people, forced by the summer heat and humidity to stay indoors, want to adopt a health regime that suits the local weather.

Pools at the five-star hotels and recreational clubs are full to capacity, while their timings are not suitable to a large section of the residents, they say.

“I had been looking around to see if any swimming pool is available. But I have stopped trying,” said an expatriate of 10 years, resignedly. “There’s no point in wasting time,” he added.