Aquaride CEO Nasser Mahmoud poses with the jetcars. Pic: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula
Doha: Speed, luxury cars and water – not an everyday sight, but Doha beaches now have a new fast car on its waters thanks to Aquaride Qatar.
Qatar offers a range of fun and tourism activities from the traditional to the modern. However, cruising along the pristine blue waters of WestBay Beach to Grand Hyatt and the Lusail Marina, the sports car boat is an experience like no other, and it is the first in Qatar.
The vehicle’s design looks like Ferrari and Chevrolet Corvette, giving it an undeniable sporty look with space for two occupants. There are no doors, so the driver and passenger climb over the side into the cockpit. The controls are similar to a sports car with a steering wheel and a pedal to accelerate.
The car has passenger and driver seats, cup holders, and the engine is 300 HP Supercharged with break and reverse systems.
Nasser Mahmoud, Founder and CEO of Aquaride, also an actor, was born and brought up in the country, and according to him, he hopes to have more of these cars on Doha’s waters.
“It is beautiful,” Mahmoud told The Peninsula. “The experience is a change of scenery for our customers. It’s a change of activity. This gives you adrenaline because you are driving on water. It is a new experience, and I am proud to bring it here to Doha,” he added.
Mahmoud opened Aquaride just before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, aiming to offer the fastest and most advanced jetcars in the world.
According to him, the patronage was great during the tournament.
“During the World Cup, it was busy, and even now, the weather is windy, and people are still coming. The patronage has been mixed, locals and residents alike, but during the World Cup, many fans from Mexico, Saudi, and Argentina tried their hands at it. There has been patronage from every category so far,” Mahmoud said.
For QR800, customers get 30 minutes in the cars; for QR1,300, they get an hour. An original QID or international passport copy is required, and customers have to sign a standard contract to take the car. The staff also gives some safety tips and a life jacket and tells them where to go and where not to because some places are not allowed.
With four cars at his disposal, Mahmoud said he hopes to expand with new products never seen before in Doha in the coming months. However, the budding entrepreneur urged authorities to continue enabling young business people like himself and make getting permits and approval faster.
“It has been great since we opened, I love it, and everyone loves it. There have been challenges, yes, but it is the fun of it. The ups are way more than the downs. We are expanding in different designs; some products will arrive soon, and none is present in Qatar. I said when we opened, we’ll only offer the best to our customers,” he concludes.
