A man walks through the air-conditioned outdoor path at the Umm Al Seneem Park, in Doha, Qatar, July 13, 2025. (Photo by Nikku/Xinhua)

DOHA, July 15 (Xinhua) -- In mid-July, the streets of Doha are nearly empty under the blazing midday sun, with only cars navigating through the searing heat.

Temperatures in the Qatari capital routinely exceed 40 degrees Celsius, and the air is heavy with humidity, amplifying the suffocating heat. For residents, the long and scorching summer remains the hardest season to withstand.

Qatari officials said that current conditions are still within the typical seasonal range. "There has been no unusual rise in temperatures in the country," Abdullah Al-Mannai, director of the Meteorology Department at the General Authority of Civil Aviation in Qatar, told Xinhua.

"While rising global temperatures may apply to other parts of the world, here in the Gulf, high heat and humidity are perfectly natural and expected at this time of year," Al-Mannai said.

Despite its familiarity, the intense heat imposes real burdens on daily life and urban functions. Growing awareness of climate change has placed renewed attention on how societies are adapting to such extreme weather conditions.

In recent years, Qatar has begun integrating cooling strategies into its urban planning, transforming city infrastructure in a sweeping experiment to maintain livability under extreme temperatures.

One prominent example is Umm Al Seneem Park, home to one of the world's longest outdoor air-conditioned walking and jogging tracks. The 1.143-km loop is cooled by a sophisticated cooling system. When Xinhua visited the park, residents strolled along the shaded paths, enjoying what one described as "true outdoor freedom in the summer."

Such projects are no longer novelties. Across Qatar, "cooling zones" have emerged in outdoor areas of Place Vendome Mall, West Walk and Katara Cultural Village's 21 High Street. Thanks to the shading and cooling infrastructure, the "breathable corridors" provide people with comfort during summer.

While still limited in scale, these innovations are quietly reshaping how people move through the city during the hottest months. But maintaining "freedom of movement" in summer comes at a steep cost.

While facilities like Umm Al Seneem Park provide relief in specific areas, the majority of the country remains constrained by the summer heat. Families rely heavily on private cars. Outdoor activities become rare and cultural or sporting events are moved indoors.

Krishna, a local resident who did not share her family name, said her life in summer revolves around air-conditioning. "I brought the children to spend a whole day of fun and learning without worrying about the heat or the sun's impact on their health," she said, referring to her visit to the Qatar Toy Festival in the air-conditioned venue this year.

However, Qatar's heat adaptation model, built on high-tech infrastructure and significant energy consumption, raises pressing global concerns about sustainability.

Qatar, one of the world's richest countries by GDP per capita, can afford these capital-intensive solutions.

As the world gets hotter, Qatar's experience reveals both the possibilities and contradictions of adapting to extreme heat. The nation's approach may offer inspiration, but it also raises a sobering question: How can humans stay cool without relying on energy-intensive systems? ■

People walk through the air-conditioned outdoor path at the Umm Al Seneem Park, in Doha, Qatar, July 13, 2025. (Photo by Nikku/Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 13, 2025 shows a general view of the air-conditioned outdoor path at the Umm Al Seneem Park, in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Nikku/Xinhua)

People walk through the air-conditioned outdoor path at the Umm Al Seneem Park, in Doha, Qatar, July 13, 2025. (Photo by Nikku/Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 13, 2025 shows a general view of the air-conditioned outdoor path at the Umm Al Seneem Park, in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Nikku/Xinhua)