The Spider

This 9m tall spider, called "Maman" (mother) is at the Center of the Qatar National Convention Center. (The eggs in her egg sac are made of marble.) Inevitably it became the central meeting point, and backdrop for demonstrations. Not that demonstrations were tolerated...two young Arab activists unfurled a banner criticising the Qatari government and were promptly ejected and put on a plane back home.

Some people found her creepy. Not me - I came to the conclusion that every building ought to have a giant spider at its center.