The torch is expected to arrive at the Al Shamal Port at approximately 14:30 on a traditional dhow from Bahrain, said the official website of the Doha Games.

Following its arrival in Qatar, nearly 1,000 Qatari residents representing 67 nationalities will carry the torch through Al Zubara, Dukhan, the Inland Sea, Al Wakra, Al Khor and finally the city of Doha over seven days, culminating at the Khalifa Stadium on December 1 to mark the opening ceremony of the 15th Asian Games.

"The arrival of the Doha 2006 Torch will be first taste of celebrations that residents of Qatar will experience over the coming weeks," said Sharif Hashisho, director of Ceremonies and Cultural Events of the organizing committee.

The relay's first stop was the Indian capital of New Delhi, which hosted the first Asian Games in 1951. It then made stopovers at South Korea, the Philippines, Japan, China, Macao of China, Hong Kong of China, Indonesia, Thailand, Iran, Oman, the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain before returning to Qatar.

Nearly 2,500 torchbearers carried the flame for a distance of up to 500 meters each during its international run. It was carried across land, sea and air and traveled by various means of transport, including trains, bicycles, motorbikes, camels, horses, trams, rowing boats, dhows, canoes, cable cars, roller blades, skis, dragon boats, classic cars and ferries.