Sharq Village & Spa, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel

What the classifiers highlight

Built away from central Doha as a replica Qatari village, complete with a sheikh's Royal Villa and courtyard-linked houses, this resort seats guests with Arabic coffee and dates in a palatial lobby. Forbes counts 174 rooms starting at 517 square feet, 23 spa treatment rooms drawing on Thai and Balinese tradition, and the Arabic buffet at Al Liwan.