QATAR
Qatar (Dawlat al-Qatar) is an emirate of the Arabian Peninsula, which occupies the entire peninsula of Qatar in the Persian Gulf. Qatar is bordered on the south by Saudi Arabia and has for capital the city of Doha. The territory of Qatar is a flat sandy and rocky desert, the highest point of the country is Qurayn Abu al Bawl (103 metres). The economy of Qatar is based mainly on the exploitation of oil and natural gas. Important is the industry of the country (refinery, petrochemical complex, steel, cement), other activities are fishing (dried fish, oysters), farming (sheep, camels, cattle), and agriculture (fruits, vegetables).
CLIMATE IN QATAR
Summer (June to September) is extremely hot and intensely humid. Winter is cooler with occasional rainfall. Spring and autumn are warm and pleasant.
Required Clothing
Lightweight cottons and linens are recommended during summer months but avoid wearing silk, which sticks to the skin with the humidity. A cardigan is useful for over-cooled malls in the summer and a jacket is a must for cooler evenings during the winter. If you intend to take a camping trip in spring or autumn, you’ll be glad of an extra layer of clothing at night.
VISA INFORMATION FOR TOURISTS
Visitors should have tickets and documents for return or onward travel and sufficient funds to cover their stay. If on a tourist visa, visitors should have proof of confirmed hotel reservation and a minimum of US$1,400 or a major credit card. Those without diplomatic representation in Qatar require passports valid for at least six months upon arrival. If holding visa for Oman an additional visa for Qatar is not required.
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.
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 (48-hour notice).
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.
Australians: Australians 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.
South Africans: South Africans with a valid passport can 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.
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.
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.
TRAVEL ATTRACTIONS AND THINGS TO DO IN QATAR
I you are wondering what to do in Doha? Here is few ideas, which we’ll add to as times goes on.
Markets: visit the wholesale markets: buy dates and spices in the Omani market, or veg and fresh fish in the veg and fish markets. Then wander over to the animal markets (avoiding the slaughter house) and gawp at the camels, or look at the falcons in the bird markets...
Sailing/windsurfing: join the sailing club (temporary membership is available), or hire boats from the Regatta Sailing Academy.
Sand boarding/skiing: ring a tour company (see numbers at bottom) and book a sand boarding trip.
Dune and wadi bashing: if you drive past Messaieed towards Sealine on a Friday you will see quads for hire along the side of the road. Alternatively, hire a quad from sealine beach resort or go in a four wheel drive with a tour company – the safest alternative. (If you go in a rented car remember insurance is not valid off-road).
Take a dhow trip round Doha bay – boats are available along the Corniche and trips cost a few riyals.
Shopping: Visit the souks: buy Qatar pearls in the Gold Souk or sniff at the spices, browse the antiques and admire the falcons in Souk Wakif. Or go to the malls – you can buy anything in City Centre Shopping Mall, or head upmarket with Landmark or Blue Saloon.
blokarting
Check out the mangrove swamps in Al Wakra and Al Thakira.
Scuba diving: ring Pearl Divers or Doha Sub-aqua club.
Jet-skiing – can be rented from Sealine beach resort
Horse riding. You can ride horses at the Sealine Beach Resort, or take lessons at Al Shaqab Riding or at the racing and equestrian club’s training.
Comedy: go to the Laughter Factory in The Ramada and see international comedians.
Check out the bars and clubs. At Rydges you’ll find non-stop sport at the roof-top bar, or you could go to Garvies European Club for a wilder experience. The Qube is currently Doha’s newest nightclub, located in a stand-alone building at The Ramada Hotel, with a separate area for women and couples upstairs.
Saunter along the Corniche in the evening, enjoying the fresh breeze coming off the sea. Or buy fresh fish straight off the boats
Motor-racing – Losail Racing circuit saw both GP racing and the world super-bike racing last year, although they won’t be holding any more races until 2007.
Camel racing - visit the camel racing stadium in Shahaniyya, and either watch the camels in training and have a camel ride or watch the races (starting after the Asian Games)
Horse racing – usually takes place every Friday at the Racing and Equestrian Club off Al Furousiya St. It’s not just free – you can also win prizes.
Golf: play a round of gold at the Doha golf club. Although joining is expensive, the gold club is open to non-members, as is the Doha Golf Restaurant. Even if you don’t play golf, both the course and the clubhouse make for a refreshing change of scene from the surrounding desert.
Eat seafood at the Dhow restaurants while watching the lights reflect off the bay. Drive along The Corniche till you get to the Dhow harbour. Turn left and the dhow restaurants are at the end of the jetty. The fishing dhows are also worth a look and some photos.
Parasailing
Natural History – The Qatar Natural History Group organise trips on the last Friday of every month to places of interest around Qatar, for a charge of Q10 per vehicle. They also arrange lectures and distribute an e-newsletter – which is a lot more than a newsletter, containing pictures and information about Qatar..
Ice skating – It’s not very traditional, but how many people can say they have been ice-skating in the desert? There’s an ice-skating rink at the bottom of City Centre shopping mall.
Swimming – provides a welcome relief from the heat. All the major hotels have swimming pools, while at sea line you can swim in either of the two pools or the fenced-off swimming area of the beach.
Alternatively, go to a beach and swim for free. Al-Wakra beach is close to Doha and has good access and parking. Wear flip-flops – many of the beaches contain broken glasses and sting rays and stone fish both live in Qatar waters. (Don’t be too scared of sea creatures– in two years of living here I haven’t heard of one incident while swimming. Jet skis are far more dangerous).
The Inland Sea – ring a tour company and book a trip to the Khor Al Adaid - also known as The Inland Sea. (It is only accessible by four wheelers).
Kitesurfing– there is an active kitesurfing club (40 members from 20 different nationalities) with qualified instructors.
Football - drag yourself along to a local football game, and listen to the Arabic football chants shouted to the sound of drums. There are ten football teams in Qatar (the Al Sadd team is probably the best), and what their supporter lack in numbers they up for with enthusiasm.
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