Membership Collective Group has opened The Ned Doha in Qatar, marking the brand’s third hotel and members’ club and its first location in the Middle East.
Spread across five floors within the former site of the Ministry of Interior, The Ned Doha comprises 90 bedrooms and suites, seven public restaurants, a pool and club lounge, a health club with spa, salon, and fitness centre and a new 775m2 event space for large-scale conferences, events, and receptions.
Originally designed in the 1960s by Lebanese architect William Sednaoui, the unique brutalist-style building has been redesigned by David Chipperfield Architects Berlin with interiors by Soho House Design. Since the property is one of the most historically important in the destination, all renovations and design touch points were implemented in line with Qatar’s noble mission to preserve, modernise, and repurpose its significant buildings.
The property’s newest and most notable architectural attribute is an outstanding podium that surrounds the building and creates relaxed and inviting public spaces abundant with shade, lots of greenery and unobstructed views of the Al Corniche Waterfront.
Guests are greeted by contemporary sculptures, a water feature, and a striking concrete pergola, and enter to the building’s seventies-inspired interiors with terrazzo flooring, silk drapery, marble furniture and woven and mirrored fabric headboards.
Drawing ingenuity from The Ned’s original address in London, there is a live performance stage beneath an atrium surrounded by a collection of restaurants and rich green marble sourced from the Greek island of Tinos.
The bedrooms range from Cosy to Large, each with balconies offering views of the city or Arabian Gulf, and many of which feature original coffered concrete ceilings that have been thoughtfully restored.
Cosy bedrooms feature writing desks and curated drinks cabinets, while Medium bedrooms in three styles, Palace, Park and Sea, feature glass chandeliers, silk-covered ottomans, dining areas for two and balconies with city, park, or sea views, respectively. Large bedrooms feature corner seating areas, curated drinks cabinets, period vanity desks, silk-covered ottomans, and balconies with sea and city views. Guest bathrooms are marble-clad, with walk-in rainforest showers in Cosy and Medium bedrooms, plus freestanding claw-foot bathtubs in Large bedrooms.
The accommodation offering also includes 12 suites, ideal for lengthier stays and larger parties. Palace View suites are positioned in the corners of the original building and feature two floor-to-ceiling glass walls, double aspect balconies overlooking Doha and the Arabian Gulf, and separate living areas with L-shaped sofas. Corniche suites have separate lounges with a sofa, coffee table and dining for four, and two balconies with expansive views. Park View suites feature double aspect balconies with sunset views over Al Bidda Park, dining areas for up to six guests, and large sofas. Noteworthy details for the suites include mirrored headboards, reflective surfaces, walk-in wardrobes with dressing tables, period walnut coffee tables and wingback armchairs, bathrooms with free-standing bathtubs and walk-in showers, and separate powder rooms for guests.
The Ned Doha offers seven restaurants open to all, read Supper’s overview here.
The members’ club experience plays out in two settings; on the ground floor, sits Ned’s Club Pool, an area with private cabanas, terrazzo flooring, and green and white striped daybeds.
On the rooftop meanwhile, Ned’s Club Upstairs is a lounge with a warm wood palette, touches of gold, statement furniture, and unparalleled views of the West Bay and the Amiri Diwan, the seat of rule of Qatar. A private room is available for entertaining on the rooftop, seating up to 12 guests.
Ned’s Club members also get access to all members-only spaces in The Ned London and The Ned NoMad, as well as invitations to exclusive parties and creative events worldwide.
Situated on the top floor with panoramic views of the city is Ned’s Club Spa, offering members and hotel guests a menu of treatments using skincare brands such as Cowshed, as well as sauna, steam room, and traditional Hammam. The health club is also home to Ned’s Club Gym, a fitness and studio space with state-of-the-art equipment, a wide range of classes ranging from Zumba to kickboxing, and a separate, private gym space for women.
The new Corniche Hall event space, accessible by its own private, separate entrance, invites groups for large-scale conferences, social occasions, and events. The 775m2 venue caters up to 600 people for a standing reception, arranged around a landscaped courtyard. The space is lit with height-adjustable chandeliers as well as bathed in natural daylight and features a balcony with access to additional outdoor event space.
Also available for private hire is the balcony overlooking the main stage, which accommodates up to 40 guests for a standing reception.
The Ned Doha celebrates local and regional creativity with an extensive collection of original artworks created by close to 100 artists, more than half of whom are based in Doha and nearly three quarters of whom are female. Commissioned for the property by Wadha Al-Aqeedi and Elina Sairanen, the co-founders of Mathqaf, the collection features more than 350 works in a diverse array of media such as textile, painting, and sculpture, and covers a wide range of themes including identity, history, culture, globalisation, and ecology. Many of the artists drew inspiration from the modernist building and its important location.
“Five years after launching The Ned in London, we are excited to be open in Doha. We are honoured to occupy one of the city’s most architecturally significant buildings, comprising of a hotel, multiple restaurants, and its own private members’ club” says Gareth Banner, Group Managing Director, The Ned. “We’re look forward to delivering a distinct experience to our guests and members, welcoming them to stay, connect, eat and have a good time.”
