Qatar

Qatar, one of the wealthiest countries in the Middle East, will immediately turn your summer holiday into a luxurious five-star vacation.
Qatar is the perfect place for you to enjoy a luxurious holiday with your partner or family. In the capital, Doha you will find breath-taking skyscrapers, such as the Doha Corniche, sumptuous malls, and the Souq Waqif, the local marketplace where you will find all sorts of goods, from jewelry made of gold and precious stones, clothes and even a range of exotic animals.
Doha, Qatar.  “nDesigned by prize winning architect Jean Nouvel the National Museum of Qatar otherwise known as The Desert Rose in the capital Doha

 

Qatar is the perfect place for you to enjoy a luxurious holiday with your partner or family. In the capital, Doha you will find breath-taking skyscrapers, such as the Doha Corniche, sumptuous malls, and the Souq Waqif, the local marketplace where you will find all sorts of goods, from jewelry made of gold and precious stones, clothes and even a range of exotic animals. If you like art, you can visit one of the many museums present in the country such as the National Museum of art of the Islamic Museum of art. Incredible mosques with modern architecture can be found all over the capital with the most popular one being Imam Abdul Wahhab Mosque. If, on the other hand, you want to discover the traditional architecture of Qatar, make sure to visit one of their many fortresses, the most famous being Al Zubara fort situated in the north of Qatar.

City Skyline and buildings – Doha , Qatar

 

 

Qatar is a peninsula situated in the Middle East, more specifically in the Arabian Peninsula. In the south, it borders Saudi Arabia while the rest of its lands is surrounded by the Persian Gulf. Its capital, Doha has a population of about a million people and is located in the east of the country on the coast of the Persian Gulf. Eighty percent of the Qatari population is concentrated in the capital and its close surroundings. Close to the capital you will find the only airport in the country, Hamad International. Apart from the capital, Qatar is composed of little villages and towns. The country also consists of many islands of which the most famous is Halul about 56 miles east of Doha. The whole of Qatar is surrounded by an astonishing coral reef that can be explored throughout the year. Most of the land of Qatar is flat with the highest peak being at only 338 feet. In addition, there are no rivers, permanent water curses or natural lakes in the whole country, however, many man-made water lakes can be found.

 

Desert safari in Qatar. Traveler man rides a camel on sand dunes of beach at Khor al Udaid in the Persian Gulf. Tourist enjoys a camel ride at sunset sunrays, a popular tour in the Middle East, Arabian Peninsula

 

Qatar is characterized by a desert climate. Being such a small and flat country, there are no huge differences in climate within the country. Two main seasons can be found in the country: a cool season from December to February and a warm season from April to October. November and March are considered transitional months and are rather warm. Summers are extremely warm with temperatures frequently reaching 42-43 °C. Winters are way more enjoyable with temperatures ranging from 14 °C to 25 °C. It’s better to avoid the months of June, July and August as temperatures can be extremely hot and your time outside will be extremely limited. Being a desert country, rain is basically inexistent with only a few showers during the winter months.

This image is a vector illustration

 

There are two plug types that can be found in Qatar: type D and type G. The former is characterized by three round pins in a triangular configuration while the latter has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. Qatar operates on a frequency of 50 Hz and on a 240 V supply voltage.

Traditional Arabian Breakfast, Arabian Gulf, Kuwait, KSA, Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, & Middle East. Includes “Ash” type of green vegetables, herbs and chickpeas mash, chickpeas, Fava beans, Iranian bread, mint, cucumber, tomato, white onion, and red tea.

 

The typical food of Qatar is machboos. It consists of rice cooked with a mix of spices and meat ranging from chicken, lamb, and even camel. It can also be served with fish or shrimps instead of meat. Another must-try is madhruba. This dish will for sure leave you with a full belly! To prepare it, Qatari creates a mixture of milk, butter, rice, and cardamom and puts it on low fire until all the ingredients will be perfectly amalgamated. Some types of meat such as chicken are stewed along with mashed beans. If you want to try a typical dessert, don’t miss the luqaimat, deep-fried dumplings dipped in a sweetener such as honey or syrup. The dough of luqaimat is made from sugar, milk, butter, flour, and a few spices like saffron and cardamom. It’s usually prepared during Ramadan and consumed in the evening as soon as the sunset is on the horizon. 

Arab family sitting on sofa chair at home enjoying the time with white background

 

Choosing your clothes for Qatar may seem tricky. The country is frequently hot, however, its population is extremely conservative and shorts and tiny tops are not allowed. Luckily, tourists here are not obliged to cover their hair however, there are still rules that need to be followed. Make sure to always cover your shoulders and wear trousers, shorts or skirts that reach your knees. This rule must be adhered to when in public spaces, however, in your hotel or resort you will be free to wear whatever you like. Remember that in the evening the temperatures drop quickly. Don’t forget a nice pair of sunglasses and sunscreen to protect yourself from the hot weather. As a general rule, opt for loose pieces of clothes and avoid skinny jeans.

Qatar riyal bills

 

The official currency of Qatar is the Qatari riyal (QR). One Qatari riyal is about 0.02 pounds. Bargaining is common practice in this country and you are expected to negotiate the prices in the souqs. Even though malls have fixed prices it’s always worth it to negotiate prices in small shops. Credit cards are normally accepted, and ATMs can be found all over the country. You’re not expected to tip in bars, taxis and hotels, however, a 10 percent tip can be appreciated in restaurants. 

Arabic alphabet texture

 

Arabic is the official language of Qatar and there are two main dialects present in the country: standard Arabic and native Gulf Arabic. The second most used language in the country is English due to the colonial era when Qatar was under British rule. Although, not officially, English is widely accepted as a second language and you will be able to explore the capital and the main tourist attractions without problems. 

Festival of To hunt with hawks lbirtha Heritage in South Qatar, Qatar, December 2013

 

Even though in the past, Qatari used to be one of the poorest countries in the world, making most of its revenue through the pearling and fishing industry, nowadays the country has moved to more lucrative businesses. In fact, Qatar has an incredible source of petroleum and natural gases that make 70 percent of the government revenue. Qatar has the third biggest proven natural gas reserve in the world and, because of this, in a few years, Qatar has moved from being one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the richest. 

Qatari culture is strongly influenced by Bedouins. The local dry climate made it fundamental for these populations to rely on the sea for water usage. For this reason, the sea and the activities related to it are a constant theme in local literature and folklore themes. Nowadays Qatar has the highest portion of expats in the world and here you will find people from all the five continents. 

It may puzzle you at first but photographs here are not always well accepted. For security reasons, many public buildings cannot be photographed. It’s also considered very rude to take pictures of people before asking permission. There are also a number of rules that apply to alcohol. Being drunk in public can be punished with imprisonment.

Qatar passport on the Qatari flag, the Arab Gulf State

 

Traveling to Qatar for a short period of time is extremely easy. You will automatically get a visa waiver of the duration of 30 days on your arrival. If you wish to extend your stay you can request an extension to the Ministry of Interior before your visa expires. Make sure to do so in time or otherwise you will be fined. Although the tourist stay is normally only 30 days, your passport will still need a validity of six months on arrival in the country.

Introduction
Doha, Qatar.  “nDesigned by prize winning architect Jean Nouvel the National Museum of Qatar otherwise known as The Desert Rose in the capital Doha

 

Qatar is the perfect place for you to enjoy a luxurious holiday with your partner or family. In the capital, Doha you will find breath-taking skyscrapers, such as the Doha Corniche, sumptuous malls, and the Souq Waqif, the local marketplace where you will find all sorts of goods, from jewelry made of gold and precious stones, clothes and even a range of exotic animals. If you like art, you can visit one of the many museums present in the country such as the National Museum of art of the Islamic Museum of art. Incredible mosques with modern architecture can be found all over the capital with the most popular one being Imam Abdul Wahhab Mosque. If, on the other hand, you want to discover the traditional architecture of Qatar, make sure to visit one of their many fortresses, the most famous being Al Zubara fort situated in the north of Qatar.

Location and Geography
City Skyline and buildings – Doha , Qatar

 

 

Qatar is a peninsula situated in the Middle East, more specifically in the Arabian Peninsula. In the south, it borders Saudi Arabia while the rest of its lands is surrounded by the Persian Gulf. Its capital, Doha has a population of about a million people and is located in the east of the country on the coast of the Persian Gulf. Eighty percent of the Qatari population is concentrated in the capital and its close surroundings. Close to the capital you will find the only airport in the country, Hamad International. Apart from the capital, Qatar is composed of little villages and towns. The country also consists of many islands of which the most famous is Halul about 56 miles east of Doha. The whole of Qatar is surrounded by an astonishing coral reef that can be explored throughout the year. Most of the land of Qatar is flat with the highest peak being at only 338 feet. In addition, there are no rivers, permanent water curses or natural lakes in the whole country, however, many man-made water lakes can be found.

 

Climate and weather
Desert safari in Qatar. Traveler man rides a camel on sand dunes of beach at Khor al Udaid in the Persian Gulf. Tourist enjoys a camel ride at sunset sunrays, a popular tour in the Middle East, Arabian Peninsula

 

Qatar is characterized by a desert climate. Being such a small and flat country, there are no huge differences in climate within the country. Two main seasons can be found in the country: a cool season from December to February and a warm season from April to October. November and March are considered transitional months and are rather warm. Summers are extremely warm with temperatures frequently reaching 42-43 °C. Winters are way more enjoyable with temperatures ranging from 14 °C to 25 °C. It’s better to avoid the months of June, July and August as temperatures can be extremely hot and your time outside will be extremely limited. Being a desert country, rain is basically inexistent with only a few showers during the winter months.

Electricity and Plug
This image is a vector illustration

 

There are two plug types that can be found in Qatar: type D and type G. The former is characterized by three round pins in a triangular configuration while the latter has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. Qatar operates on a frequency of 50 Hz and on a 240 V supply voltage.

Cuisine
Traditional Arabian Breakfast, Arabian Gulf, Kuwait, KSA, Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, & Middle East. Includes “Ash” type of green vegetables, herbs and chickpeas mash, chickpeas, Fava beans, Iranian bread, mint, cucumber, tomato, white onion, and red tea.

 

The typical food of Qatar is machboos. It consists of rice cooked with a mix of spices and meat ranging from chicken, lamb, and even camel. It can also be served with fish or shrimps instead of meat. Another must-try is madhruba. This dish will for sure leave you with a full belly! To prepare it, Qatari creates a mixture of milk, butter, rice, and cardamom and puts it on low fire until all the ingredients will be perfectly amalgamated. Some types of meat such as chicken are stewed along with mashed beans. If you want to try a typical dessert, don’t miss the luqaimat, deep-fried dumplings dipped in a sweetener such as honey or syrup. The dough of luqaimat is made from sugar, milk, butter, flour, and a few spices like saffron and cardamom. It’s usually prepared during Ramadan and consumed in the evening as soon as the sunset is on the horizon. 

Clothing and Dress
Arab family sitting on sofa chair at home enjoying the time with white background

 

Choosing your clothes for Qatar may seem tricky. The country is frequently hot, however, its population is extremely conservative and shorts and tiny tops are not allowed. Luckily, tourists here are not obliged to cover their hair however, there are still rules that need to be followed. Make sure to always cover your shoulders and wear trousers, shorts or skirts that reach your knees. This rule must be adhered to when in public spaces, however, in your hotel or resort you will be free to wear whatever you like. Remember that in the evening the temperatures drop quickly. Don’t forget a nice pair of sunglasses and sunscreen to protect yourself from the hot weather. As a general rule, opt for loose pieces of clothes and avoid skinny jeans.

Currency
Qatar riyal bills

 

The official currency of Qatar is the Qatari riyal (QR). One Qatari riyal is about 0.02 pounds. Bargaining is common practice in this country and you are expected to negotiate the prices in the souqs. Even though malls have fixed prices it’s always worth it to negotiate prices in small shops. Credit cards are normally accepted, and ATMs can be found all over the country. You’re not expected to tip in bars, taxis and hotels, however, a 10 percent tip can be appreciated in restaurants. 

Language
Arabic alphabet texture

 

Arabic is the official language of Qatar and there are two main dialects present in the country: standard Arabic and native Gulf Arabic. The second most used language in the country is English due to the colonial era when Qatar was under British rule. Although, not officially, English is widely accepted as a second language and you will be able to explore the capital and the main tourist attractions without problems. 

Culture and customs
Festival of To hunt with hawks lbirtha Heritage in South Qatar, Qatar, December 2013

 

Even though in the past, Qatari used to be one of the poorest countries in the world, making most of its revenue through the pearling and fishing industry, nowadays the country has moved to more lucrative businesses. In fact, Qatar has an incredible source of petroleum and natural gases that make 70 percent of the government revenue. Qatar has the third biggest proven natural gas reserve in the world and, because of this, in a few years, Qatar has moved from being one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the richest. 

Qatari culture is strongly influenced by Bedouins. The local dry climate made it fundamental for these populations to rely on the sea for water usage. For this reason, the sea and the activities related to it are a constant theme in local literature and folklore themes. Nowadays Qatar has the highest portion of expats in the world and here you will find people from all the five continents. 

It may puzzle you at first but photographs here are not always well accepted. For security reasons, many public buildings cannot be photographed. It’s also considered very rude to take pictures of people before asking permission. There are also a number of rules that apply to alcohol. Being drunk in public can be punished with imprisonment.

Passport and visa information
Qatar passport on the Qatari flag, the Arab Gulf State

 

Traveling to Qatar for a short period of time is extremely easy. You will automatically get a visa waiver of the duration of 30 days on your arrival. If you wish to extend your stay you can request an extension to the Ministry of Interior before your visa expires. Make sure to do so in time or otherwise you will be fined. Although the tourist stay is normally only 30 days, your passport will still need a validity of six months on arrival in the country.

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