Qatar

People

Qatar is a Muslim country and Islam plays an integral role in daily life. Prayers take place five times per day: at dawn (Fajr), around midday (Duhr), in mid-afternoon (A’asr), at sunset (Maghrib) and about two hours after sunset (‘Esha). The exact timing varies each day according to the sun’s position. Qatari ladies will not shake hands with men, and many men will not shake a lady’s hand as a gesture of respect. As in all Middle Eastern countries, showing overt affection and intimacy in public is frowned upon.
During the Islamic month of Ramadan, visitors are expected to refrain from eating, drinking and smoking in public places during the daylight hours out of respect to those who are fasting.  Hotels continue to cater to guests by opening restaurants that are out of the public’s view.
Attitudes towards dress in Qatar are relaxed, but visitors (men as well as women) are expected to show respect for local culture by avoiding excessively revealing clothing in public. It is generally recommended for men and women to ensure their shoulders and knees are covered. Those who wish to enter mosques will have to cover their hair as well.

Language

Home to around a hundred nationalities, Qatar is a melting pot of cultures with numerous languages being spoken. Being an Arab country, the official language is Arabic, but English is commonly spoken at all public places.

History

Little is known of Qatar’s history before the 18th century, when the region’s population consisted largely of Bedouin nomads and there were only a few small fishing villages. Qatar’s modern history begins conventionally in 1766 with the migration to the peninsula of families from Kuwait, notably the Khalifah family. Their settlement at the new town of Al-Zubārah grew into a small pearl-diving and trade center. In 1783 the Khalifah family led the conquest of nearby Bahrain, where they remained the ruling family throughout the 20th century. Following the departure of the Khalifah dynasty from Qatar, the country was ruled by a series of transitory sheikhs, the most famous of whom was Raḥmah ibn Jābir al-Jalāhimah, known particularly for his maritime warring with the Khalifah family and their associates.

Qatar came to the attention of the British in 1867 when a dispute between the Bahraini Khalifah, who continued to hold some claim to Al-Zubārah, and the Qatari residents escalated into a major confrontation, in the course of which Doha was virtually destroyed. Until the attack, Britain had viewed Qatar as a Bahraini dependency. It then signed a separate treaty with Mohammed ibn Thani in 1868, setting the course both for Qatar’s future independence and for the rule of the Thani dynasty, who until the treaty were only one among several important families on the peninsula.

Currency

The Qatari riyal is the only currency used in the country and can be obtained through ATMs which are widely available in malls, hotels and around Doha. The Qatari Riyal (QR) is pegged against the US Dollar at QAR 3.64

Weather

In Qatar, the summers are long, hot, and partly cloudy and the winters are comfortable, dry, windy, and mostly clear. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 58°F to 106°F and is rarely below 51°F or above 112°F.
The best times of year to visit Qatar are from late September to early May.

Health Requirements

COVID PROTOCOL
Please check the US Embassy in Qatar’s website for the latest entry requirements, including covid protocol:
https://qa.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

GENERAL
Yellow fever is not present in Qatar; no yellow fever inoculation proof is required.

Visa Requirements

US citizens do not require any prior visa arrangements and can obtain a 30 day visa waiver upon arrival to Qatar at no cost.

Tipping & Porterage

Tipping is appreciated in Qatar.
Generally, a tip of 10-15% at restaurants, in hotels and for guides is recommended.
Africa Answers provides tipping guidelines with final documents.

Credit Cards

Credit cards are widely accepted in Qatar. Visa and Mastercard are preferable to American Express.

Money

The Qatari riyal is the only currency used in the country and can be obtained through ATMs which are widely available in malls, hotels and around Doha.

The Qatari Riyal (QR) is pegged against the US Dollar at QAR 3.64

Electrical Appliances

The standard voltage is 240 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. Plug points are the same as in the UK. To use electric appliances made for the range of 100 V - 127 V (as is in the US), travelers needs a voltage converter or a combined power plug adapter/voltage converter.

Africa Answers recommends taking a Universal Travel Adaptor which combines a voltage converter and plug adaptors in one device. These can be obtained online or at a luggage or travel goods store.

Water

The World Health Organization estimates that 99% of Qatar has access to drinkable tap water. However, bottled water is widely consumed in Qatar with plenty of local and imported brands widely available.