By : Fazmina Samat
Time flies too quickly. It feels like just yesterday that 2016 was the “present,” but in January 2026, it will officially be remembered as something from a decade ago.
2016 was a wild year that gave us unforgettable global trends, political shake-ups, and even major milestones right here in Qatar. Let’s rewind and relive the moments that defined that year:
The World was obsessed with :
Pokémon Go: Streets, parks, and malls everywhere were packed with people chasing virtual Pokémon.
Fidget Spinners: The little toy that spun its way into everyone’s hands.
The Dabbing Craze: From kids to athletes, everyone was striking the dab.
Bottle Flip Challenge: Landing a water bottle upright was suddenly the peak of skill.
The Mannequin Challenge: Entire groups freezing mid-action while Rae Sremmurd played in the background.
PPAP Song: “Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen” was stuck in every head across the globe.
Noteworthy headlines that were unforgettable
Donald Trump was elected President of the United States.
Brexit became a reality as the UK voted to leave the EU.
Zika virus dominated global health discussions.
The iPhone 7 was launched, introducing water resistance and removing the headphone jack.
Scary Clown Pranks spread fear and memes worldwide.
The Rio Olympics brought unforgettable moments to sports fans.
Milestones in Qatar
Sheraton Park officially opened, becoming a favourite leisure spot.
Qatar hosted the UCI Road World Championships, putting cycling in the spotlight.
Sara Masoud made history as Qatar’s first-ever female Paralympic medalist.
Snapchat introduced filters, changing how everyone shared moments in Doha and beyond.
Hamad International Airport launched its indoor trainline, easing passenger movement.
Mall of Qatar finally opened, cementing itself as a landmark shopping destination.
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