Transfer in Qatar: what to do, what to try, how to behave

Benefits for Qatar Airways passengers

For connections of 5 to 12 hours, you can get a voucher for a free Doha sightseeing tour.

Buses with a capacity of up to 33 people depart 4 times a day. Check-in starts at 6:00 and seats are usually sold out quickly. Contact the Doha City Tour desk in Hall B, between Mont Blanc and WH Smith.

The duration of the tour is 2 hours and 45 minutes and is conducted in English. The itinerary includes attractions such as:

• Katara Cultural Village;
• Souq Waqif Market;
• Museum of Islamic Art.

Some passengers are given a free hotel room on a long connection.

Two criteria must be met to qualify:

• the connection in Doha from 8 to 24 hours is involuntary, i.e. there are no Qatar Airways flights you can take earlier;
• the itinerary does not include Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah.

Whether you will be provided with a room also depends on the class of service and fare. We recommend to clarify the information in advance by contacting the representative of the airline.

Do you need a visa to go to the city?

Citizens of Ukraine do not need a visa, they get a free stamp at the airport, allowing them to stay in the country for up to 30 days. The requirements are minimal: a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry and a ticket for a flight from Qatar.

Citizens of countries with which Qatar does not have visa-free entry agreements, buying tickets on Qatar Airways flights, can apply for a transit visa free of charge (for connections of 5 hours or more).

You can book a hotel in Qatar with a discount of up to -65% on the website.

Is it worth it for unaccompanied girls to go out in the city?

Since Qatar is a Muslim country, many people are concerned about this issue. But, in fact, there is no reason to worry:Qatar is one of the five safest countries in the world, and tourists have nothing to fear, regardless of gender. The maximum that you can provoke (for example, appearing in the city center in short shorts) - a remark. If you do not want to use public transportation, call a cab, it is relatively inexpensive here.

Transportation in Doha

The most convenient way for tourists to move around the capital is a cab (locals prefer personal cars).

Alternatively, rent a car (from €25 per day). You will need a credit card, a copy of your passport and a national or international driver's license. It is more profitable to follow the rules, the fines are very high: talking on a cell phone while driving, for example, will cost the violator €45, and passing on red light - €660.

Public transportation is represented only by buses - clean, new, air-conditioned. A trip within the city costs from €1 to €4, depending on the distance.

From Hamad International airport to the center can be reached by cab in 30 minutes. The second option is one of the city buses that connect the airport with different parts of Doha.

Currency and its exchange

The national currency is the Qatari riyal, exchange rate as of 11.06.2024: 100 QAR = €25.6. At the airport or any bank branch you can withdraw riyals from your card if necessary (cards are in use, cash may be needed only in the markets). ATMs are usually available in two languages: Arabic and English.

You can buy riyals in banks, exchange offices at the airport and city center, and in some hotels.

What to see in Doha

If you are in the capital for just a day, the best way to get acquainted with the city will be an organized tour or rent a car with a driver. Here are the main sights you can't miss:

• Embankment. The pedestrian zone with the length of 7 kilometers stretches along the bay, from here you can see skyscrapers, the building of the Museum of Islamic Art and other interesting city buildings.

• Pearl-Qatar is an artificial island with an area of about 4 million m². It is home to expensive boutiques (Roberto Cavalli, Alexander McQueen, Giorgio Armani, Kenzo, Balenciaga and others) and restaurants serving Italian, Lebanese, French, American, Japanese and other cuisines.

• Katara Cultural Village (West Bay Lagoon area) is an ethno-village with theaters, cinemas and galleries exhibiting the works of Qatari artists. In the evenings, musicians and dance groups perform here, and sometimes there are workshops on traditional crafts. Entrance is free and the complex is open 24 hours a day.

• Museum of Islamic Art (Corniche). It houses masterpieces created over 14 centuries: paintings, ceramics, manuscripts, textiles. The museum often hosts temporary exhibitions, for which you need to buy a ticket, while the permanent exhibitions are free of charge.

• Mathaf Museum of Contemporary Art. The collection contains about 6,000 objects reflecting trends in Islamic art from 1840 to the present day.

For those who will stay in Doha for a few days and are ready to leave the capital, we recommend visiting:

• Al Zubarah, a restored 18th-century fort that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located 106 kilometers from the capital, on the northwestern coast of the country. Once this settlement was considered one of the most important centers of navigation and trade in the Persian Gulf.

• Khor Al Adaid is a natural reserve with a unique ecosystem 60 kilometers from Doha. It is interesting because it is one of the few places on the planet where the sea meets the desert. To get here, you will have to overcome sand dunes.

• Dahl Al Misfir Cave is 40 meters deep and its walls emit a faint phosphorescent glow. It takes 45 minutes by car to get here from Doha.
• Desert. If time is short, you can sign up for one of the express tours that start from the airport twice a day: at 9:00 and 14:00. The duration of the tour is 2.5 hours and the cost is 250 QAR per person. You will be organized a private safari on the sand dunes in the vicinity of the capital.

Where to swim

There is sea in Doha, but there are few public beaches, most of them belonging to hotels. One of the most popular is Katara Beach on the territory of Katara Cultural Village. Be taught that swimming after sunset is prohibited. Women should be in shorts and a T-shirt, men also need to wear shorts, in swimming trunks or bikinis to be on the beach is not allowed. Water activities are available: riding on gondolas, kayaks, "bananas" and catamarans, water skiing, wakeboarding, parasailing and others, there is a play area for children.

What to try in Doha

Local cuisine incorporates elements of Indian, Iranian, Syrian, Palestinian, North African - you are sure to find something interesting. Here are a few dishes worthy of gourmet attention:

• machboos - spicy rice with seafood or meat;
• hummus - an appetizer made of chickpeas with sesame paste (tahini), olive oil and lemon juice;
• ghuzi - whole roasted lamb with rice and nuts;
• motabel - appetizer of eggplant, garlic and tahini;
• birani - rice with chicken or lamb meat.

For dessert serve local fruits, halwa or Umm Ali layer cake.

Where to eat in Doha

If budgets are tight, street food stands with sandwiches, shawarma and falafel can help. At Al Adhamiyah Iraqi Restaurant in Souq Waqif Market, for example, a kebab costs from €9 and a salad from €4.

There are also establishments of international chains in Doha: McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut and others. They are concentrated at the intersection of Doha's C-Ring and Salwa Road, in shopping centers.

The vast majority of Doha residents are expats, so national cuisines of many countries are represented here. For example, in Yee Hwa (Al-Kinana Street, Doha Downtown Hotel Apartments) you can taste Japanese and Korean delicacies, Yum Yum (Al Ghanim Street, K108 Hotel) specializes in French cuisine, and New York Steakhouse (Al Wahda Street, West Bay City Center) - on American cuisine.

Among the top echelons are Market by Jean-Georges (W Hotel, West Bay), whose chef has three Michelin stars, and Gordon Ramsay (St. Regis, West Bay), which was named Best Romantic Restaurant in 2013.

Alcohol

Tourists can only buy alcohol in one of the licensed clubs, hotels and bars. It is expensive - a glass of beer costs from €10. You need to have a photo ID with you, as they only pour for those over 21.

Here are a few popular bars in the capital:

• Trader Vic's (Hilton Hotel Westbay). In addition to cocktails and wines, it serves light snacks (tacos, fried shrimp, chicken kebab, sandwiches, burgers, salads) and second courses (steaks, seafood and fish, lamb meat). You can see the sea from the windows and Pearl-Qatar Island from the nearby pier.
• Irish Harp (1 Al Corniche St). On the menu: beer appetizers, burgers and main courses. Regular parties are held here, and admission is often free for girls.

Alcoholic beverages are not sold in supermarkets, it is forbidden to consume them on the streets and to be there in a drunken state (violators are subject to strict sanctions, up to deportation). It is also not allowed to bring alcohol into the country, if you are transiting through Doha, it must remain in your luggage at the airport.

How to dress for public places

The state religion is Islam, practiced by 77% of the country's population. There are no tourists in too revealing outfits on the streets, but out of respect for local traditions it is worth dressing modestly: long skirts or dresses without deep cleavage are recommended for girls, pants and a shirt for men. Some establishments have a dress code, and you may not be allowed in shorts, a T-shirt and sandals.

If you decide to visit a water park or swim in the pool, the bathing suit should also be closed.

What language to speak

The official language is Arabic, but many residents of the capital speak English. In the service sector, mostly foreigners from India and other countries work, and they must speak English.

Where to go shopping

Doha is home to one of the largest shopping centers in Qatar - City Centre Mall (4th Street). It is located 25 minutes from the airport and is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00 (24:00). It features popular international and local brands, with a total of 350 stores on 5 floors. There is also a cinema, bowling alley, skating rink, 38 restaurants, entertainment center for children, bank branches and exchange offices, beauty salons.

Practical tips

• Take antipyretics with you. The air temperature is high, and air conditioners are running in the airport and other rooms. When you are not used to such changes, you may catch a cold.
• If you are in Qatar during the holy month of Ramadan, refrain from eating and drinking, as well as smoking in public places before sunset.
• In expensive restaurants the service charge is included in the bill by default, so it is not necessary to leave a tip. In other cases, you can increase the amount by 5-10% if you like the service.
• Do not take photos of locals (especially women) without their permission. If you try to take pictures of military facilities and airport premises you may have problems with the police, be careful.
• Sockets in Qatar are mostly British standard (with three prongs), many hotels have adaptors.
• You can drink tap water, but it is recommended to use bottled water - it tastes better.