Visa requirements
A simple 30-day visa covering both business and leisure travel is available to passport holders from 33 countries*, including the UK and Ireland, most of continental Europe, the USA and Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and selected Asian nations.
Visas cost QR 105 (2009) and are conveniently issued upon arrival at Doha International Airport.
Many visas can now be processed online at the Ministry of Interior’s website (www.moi.gov.qa). The Ministry will only accept credit cards as payment.
*Visas on Arrival
Andorra; Australia; Austria; Belgium; Brunei; Canada; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hong Kong; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Japan; Liechtenstein; Luxembourg; Malaysia; Monaco; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Portugal; San Marino; Singapore; South Korea; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; UK (with the right of abode); USA; Vatican City
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Communications
The international dialing code for Qatar is 974
The code for dialing internationally from Qatar is 00
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Business hours
The weekend is Friday and Saturday.
Ministries work Sunday to Thursday, 7 am – 2 pm, similar to the oil, gas & petrochemical companies.
Commercial offices, such as banks and law firms, usually work Sunday – Thursday 8 am – 5.30 pm; other offices may operate on a split shift, working 7.30 am – 12 pm and 3.30 pm – 7.30 pm.
Bank branches are usually open 7.30 am – 1 pm, although some are introducing evening & weekend opening hours.
Shop opening hours are generally Saturday – Thursday 8.30 am – 12.30 pm and 4 pm – 9 pm; if they are open on Fridays, hours are usually 4 pm – 8 pm.
Outlets in malls are open Saturday – Thursday 9 am – 9 pm, and Friday from 3 pm –10 pm (1.30 pm - 11 pm at Villaggio).
Climate
Qatar benefits from a year-round sunshine, with temperatures ranging from 25ºC (74ºF) up to 45ºC (113ºF) in summer. The best months to enjoy Qatar pleasant weather are from October to May.
The climate of Qatar is typical of hot and arid desert lands, pleasant in winter and extremely hot in summer. Short transitional periods separate the two main seasons.
Voltage
Electricity is 220-240v with a frequency of 50 Hertz.
British standard plugs are utilized.
Water
Tap water is generally safe to drink in major cities, but water quality is variable in rural areas.
If in doubt, do not drink tap water unless it has been boiled, filtered or chemically disinfected.
Currency
Qatari Riyal (QR), which is divided into 100 Dirham.
The QR is pegged to the US dollar at a rate of QR3.64 to 1$.
No restrictions on either import or export of either local or foreign currency.
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Holidays
The fixed annual holiday is National Day, December 18th.
Religious holidays – such as Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha – are linked to the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan, which moves forward 11 days each year, according to the Islamic calendar.
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Medical care
Medical and dental treatments are available to visitors at government hospitals and regional health centres.
Costs are generally high, so health insurance is essential.
Precaution should be taken against Qatar’s intense sun and heat, even where there is cloud cover or a breeze, by:
- Wearing hats or other head coverings
- Applying sun block to exposed skin
- Drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration
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