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For most of the 20th century Qatar was a British protectorate, gaining independence in 1971, after which it became embroiled in territorial disputes with its neighbours and suffered civil strife, with the Emir being ousted by his son in a coup.
In 1989 the country started issuing tourist visas, heralding a new era of opening its doors to visitors.
Tourism, despite the establishment of glitzy hotels, has still to take off in a big way, hampered as it is by the risky security situation in the Middle East. Qatar labours under a high threat of indiscriminate terrorist attacks against Western interests.
Whether visiting for business or pleasure (or a combination of the two), most travellers use the capital, Doha, as their base. Doha, formerly a quaint and busy pearl fishing village, is today one of the most important cities in the Middle East, a major trading centre. It has a large British and American expatriate population (the Al Udeid air base was headquarters for the US invasion of Iraq in 2003), which has moulded the city into an interesting blend of eastern and western culture and architecture.
Tourists tend to spend their time on the Doha Corniche, a palm-fringed public promenade that extends for four miles (7km) along the seafront, lined with five and six-star resort hotels, restaurants, shops, beaches and recreational areas. A short boat ride from the Corniche is Palm Tree Island, a great escape full of fun family amenities and a first class seafood restaurant. Doha also has its equivalent of Disney World: the Kingdom of Aladdin Theme Park is in the West Bay area. A major attraction for visitors is shopping, whether it is in traditional markets (souqs) or the plethora of massive ultra-modern malls that fill the city centre.
Those wanting to explore outside the city can undertake excursions to interesting towns, fishing villages, beautiful beaches, camel races, luxury resorts and the Almaha Sanctuary at Shahaniya where the near-extinct Arabian Oryx is being protected. The Oryx is the origin of the legend of the unicorn, and is Qatar's national symbol, flying high on the tails of Qatar Airways jetliners
Time
GMT +3
Electricity
Electrical current is 240/415 volts AC; 50Hz. Round pin plugs with grounding and rectangular blade plugs are in use.
Language
Arabic is the official language, but English is widely used.
Health
No vaccinations are a requirement for entry to Qatar, but it is recommended that visitors be up to date with routine vaccinations. Modern medical care and medicine is available in Doha. Doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for medical services, and treatment is expensive; it is advisable for travellers to hold comprehensive medical insurance. Traveller's diarrhoea is a risk, therefore visitors should drink bottled water and avoid under-cooked food and unwashed fruit and vegetables, particularly outside of the hotels and resorts.
Tipping
A service charge of 10% is usually added to hotel and restaurant bills in Qatar, in which case tipping is not necessary. However if there is no service charge a 10% tip is appreciated. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip.
Safety
Most visits to Qatar are trouble free, but the country, like most in the Gulf region, is rated as being under high threat of indiscriminate terrorist attacks against Western interests. The most recent event was a suicide bomb blast in Doha in March 2005, in which a British national was killed. Visitors should therefore be vigilant in public places. There is a low incidence of crime, but women are advised to take care when travelling alone at night.
Customs
Qatar is an Islamic state, which prohibits drinking alcohol in public other than at licensed hotel restaurants and bars. Religious customs should be respected, particularly during the month of Ramadan when eating, drinking and smoking in public are forbidden by Muslim law. Intimacy between men and women in public can lead to arrest, and homosexuality is illegal. Visitors should dress modestly and respect local customs. The right hand should be used for everything, including eating and the giving and receiving of things, as the left is considered unclean. The import of pornographic material, non-Islamic religious material, alcohol or pork products is prohibited.
Business: Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world, and has had good trade relations with the West dating back to the 19th century. However it is still advisable to abide by the cultural practices of the locals in business. In Qatar a personal style of business is favoured and relationships are built on over time. The Arabic greeting of 'Salaam Aleikum' is advisable instead of 'Hello' and politeness helps to build strong relationships. Shaking hands is the norm between men. Men and women are to dress appropriately in suits, with particular attention paid to conservative attire for women, although it is unlikely that local women will be encountered in business due to the male-dominated nature of its society, and visiting businesswomen will undoubtedly be subjected to chauvinism. The giving of gifts is appreciated and often reciprocated, but unnecessary. Business cards should be printed in both English and Arabic on the alternate side. Dates in documents should be detailed in both Gregorian dates and the Hijrah date. Maintaining eye contact is important. Patience is a virtue in all meetings and often the meetings will appear to be quite sociable events with the potential for unrelated interruptions. Business hours are generally 8am to 7pm Saturday to Thursday with varied times taken for prayers throughout the day and a long lunch break. Friday is the day of rest.
Communications
The international direct dialling code for Qatar is +974, and the outgoing code is 0, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 027 for South Africa). City/area codes are not necessary. There are numerous Internet cafes in Doha, charging QR10 per hour online. The country is well covered by the Q-Tel GSM 900/1800 mobile phone network.
Duty Free
Travellers to Qatar do not have to pay duty on tobacco products and perfume for personal use. Alcohol may not be imported under any circumstances. Prohibited items include wild birds, without an import authorisation from Ministry of Agriculture and Municipal Affairs (MMAA).
Health
No vaccinations are a requirement for entry to Qatar, but it is recommended that visitors be up to date with routine vaccinations. Modern medical care and medicine is available in Doha. Doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for medical services, and treatment is expensive; it is advisable for travellers to hold comprehensive medical insurance. Traveller's diarrhoea is a risk, therefore visitors should drink bottled water and avoid under-cooked food and unwashed fruit and vegetables, particularly outside of the hotels and resorts.
Climate
The sun shines virtually every day in Qatar, and rainfall is almost non-existent, averaging about three inches (80mm) a year, this falling only in winter. Summers are sizzling hot by day, and warm at night, temperatures often hitting the 104°F mark (40°C) or above. Winters are only slightly cooler by day, but can be very chilly at night.
Visa & Passport
Entry requirements for Americans: United States citizens with a valid passport may obtain a visa on arrival, allowing for a 21-day tourist visit, or seven-day business visit. Business visas require 48 hours notice.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: British passport holders whose passports are endorsed, British Citizen' may obtain a visa on arrival, allowing for a 21-day tourist visit, or seven-day business visit. Business visas require 48 hours notice. Holders of other British passports are permitted 14-day tourist visas (24-hour notice) or seven-day business visas.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadian citizens with a valid passport may obtain a visa on arrival, allowing for 21-day tourist visit, or seven-day business visit. Business visas require 48 hours notice.
Entry requirements for Australians: Australians with a valid passport may obtain a visa on arrival, allowing for 21-days- tourist visit, or seven-day business visit. Business visas require 48 hours notice.
Entry requirements for South Africans: South Africans with a valid passport obtain a visa on arrival, allowing for 14-day tourist visit; applications must be submitted to airport immigration at least 24 hours before arrival. A seven-day business visa is also available on arrival, but requires 48 hours notice.
Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealanders with a valid passport may obtain a visa on arrival, allowing for 21-day tourist visit, or seven-day business visit. Business visas require 48 hours notice.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish citizens with a valid passport may obtain a visa on arrival, allowing for 21-day tourist visit, or seven-day business visit. Business visas require 48 hours notice.
Passport/Visa Note: Visitors on tourist visas must use Qatar Airways to enter the country. Visitors should have tickets or documents for return or onward travel and sufficient funds to cover their stay, as well as proof of reserved hotel accommodation and a major credit card or a minimum of US$1,400 if on a tourist visa. All require passports valid for at least six months (if there is no country representation in Qatar). Those arriving with visas for Oman do not require an additional visa for Qatar.
Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travellers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate. |
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