Qatar is a relatively new tourist spot (it’s only been issuing tourist visas since 1989), but travelers boarding flights to Qatar arrive in a country full of lavish new hotels, ancient architecture and some of the best scenery in the Middle East. Historically a country that kept to itself, Qatar witnessed the money that tourism brought its neighboring destinations and decided to open its doors to travelers.
Qatar’s capital city Doha is less traveled and remains a quiet location in the Middle East. Travelers heading to Doha should visit the National Museum before heading back to their resort towns. The museum is located inside the palace of former ruler Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohammed and boasts a large aquarium and Qatar artifacts that tell the story of this quiet country.
Today, Qatar has become a popular Middle East tourist destination thanks to the five-star hotels and tax-free shopping available to travelers. As the country boasts its tourism industry, new hotels and attractions are constantly being built and cheap flights to Qatar are always available.
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The sun shines virtually every day in Qatar, and rainfall is almost non-existent, averaging about three inches a year, this falling only in winter. Summers are sizzling hot by day, and warm at night, temperatures often hitting the 104 degree (F) mark or above. Winters are only slightly cooler by day, but can be very chilly at night.
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Peak season:
The best time to visit is between October and April (remember that Ramadan occurs between October and December and is followed by Eid a-Fitr). Winter-sun lovers and divers should note that the sea is coolest in December and January.
The Eid al-Adha, when Muslims make the haji (a pilgrimage to Mecca) is held around March.
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There is only one airport, Doha International Airport, although a new airport is being built to the east of DIA.
The Qatar Transport Company (Arabic name is Mowasalat) operates taxis, known as Karwa, throughout Doha, the capital. The taxis can be booked in advance or hailed from the street or at a taxi rank.
The best way to get around Qatar is by car, either 4X4 or with a car and driver. Cars can be rented easily at the airport (Avis, Hertz, Sixt, Thrifty, Budget, Europcar, Mustafawi) and taxis are a cheap option too. As befits an oil-producing nation, petrol is inexpensive.
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- The warm waters of the Arabian Gulf are a draw for divers. Visibility is generally 65-100ft, but the best months are between July and September. This is when land temperatures are at their hottest (up to 122 degrees) however. Some of the best dive sites are Kalbuh, Fahal Island, Cemetery Bay, and the Dimaaniyat Islands. There is an abundance of marine life: sharks, dolphins, turtles, grouper, coral and sea anemones among others.
- The protected (it was very nearly extinct) Arabian Oryx, a type of antelope, lives on a farm in Shahaniya. The animal is probably the closest thing to a unicorn. Falconry is the ancient sport of the Bedouin. The birds were used to hunt game in the past – they can fly faster than 62 miles per hour – but it is still an important sporting activity. The hunting season extends from October to March.
- Desert safari in a 4X4 can be a white-knuckle ride as the drivers weave their way through the sand dunes. This is one way of getting to the beautiful inland sea, which is an inlet of the Arabian Gulf that runs along the border. It almost cuts Qatar off from the Saudi Arabian Peninsula.
- In Doha, take a turn around the Corniche, a 4 mile-long stretch of coastline by the Arabian Gulf. Doha’s souk is small, but still worth a look.
- Take a dhow (traditional boat) to Palmtree Island, a man-made island in the bay of Doha.
- Al Zubara Fort in the north west looks like the type of place to have French Legioniers patrolling around. It was built in 1938 and is considered to be Qatar’s best-preserved fort. It was in operation until the middle of the 1980s, and is now a regional museum housing pottery and other artifacts.
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Doha (DOH) is 5 miles southeast of the city.
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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 $1,400 if on a tourist visa. All require passports valid for at least six months. Those arriving with visas for Oman do not require an additional visa for Qatar.
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United States citizens with a valid passport may obtain a visa on arrival, allowing for a 21-day tourist visit (QAR55), or seven-day business visit (QAR100). Business visas require 48 hours' notice.
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