Capital: Doha
Time zone: GMT + 3
Telephone services: Country Code: 974
Outgoing Code: 0
Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 999
Tourist information: Ministry of Tourism and Culture, PO Box 1836, Doha, Qatar Tel: 831 333 Fax: 831 518.
Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket and sufficient funds for stay are required. Requirements may be subject to short term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.
Visa information: Required by all except: Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate will be required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving from infected areas
Other Health Risks: Cholera, Rabies
Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.
Currency: Qatar Riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams All credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. US dollars and pound sterling are the preferred CURRENCY in travellers cheques
ATM availability: Over 30 locations.
Cost of living: Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world. Accommodation is hotel-based only, ranging from international to standard.
Languages: Arabic. Some English may be spoken
Weather: Summers (June – Sept) are very hot with low rainfall. Spring and autumn are warm and pleasant
Electricity: 240/415 volts AC, 50 Hz.
Post: Up to a week to Europe.
Transport: ROAD: Conditions can be poor when it rains. TAXI: Have black and yellow number-plates and are metered. CAR HIRE: Available from hotels and at the airport. DOCUMENTATION: A 90 day temporary driving permit will be granted on presentation of a national driving licence or IDP.
Special information: Because of the situation of global and regional insecurity at present, travellers should exercise extreme
caution and make only necessary journeys to this country. If you intend to travel depite this advice you should be aware that Qatar is more liberal than Saudi Arabia but not as liberal as Dubai or Bahrain. Extra care has to be taken on the roads. It is important to respect Muslim traditions and local customs – dress modestly and behave courteously. There is heavy censorship of pictorial material. Men should not remove shirts in public. Strict Muslim rules apply to all women. Single women may find they are unwelcome in some restaurants and hotels but problems are unlikely for single women in the international hotels. Women should cover shoulders. Swimware is acceptable at hotel pools and on beaches away from the city. Women should dress conservatively and only travel in the back seat when taking a taxi.