Climate

The summer (June to September) is very hot with low rainfall. Winter is cooler with the occasional rainfall. Spring and autumn are warm and pleasant. Rainfall in the winter is slight, averaging some 80 millimeters a year. The weather is generally pleasant during the period from October until May. Temperatures range from 7 degrees centigrade in January to around 45 degrees at the height of summer.

Clothing

Lightweight cottons and linens are worn during summer months, with warm clothes for cooler evenings and during winter.

Please note that Qatar is an Islamic State and as a courtesy, visitors should dress modestly. Normal swimwear, including bikinis, is acceptable on the beach or by the pool but T-shirts and discreet covering of the legs is desirable if you move away from these areas. Be particularly conscious of your dress when visiting any of the large stores, souqs, or other areas frequented by mixed nationalities. Women should avoid wearing tank tops, strap tops, shorts and transparent fabrics. Men should also be conscious of their attire and should avoid vest-type T-shirts and brief shorts.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Qatar Riyal, which is divided into 100 dirhams. The currency is issued by the Qatar Central Bank.
Denominations are issued as follows:
Qatar Riyals: 1,5,10, 30, 100 and 500
Dirhams: 25 and 50

The US Dollar is fixed against the Qatar Riyal $1=QR 3.65

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheque
Both forms of payment are widely accepted in hotels and larger business establishments. debit and credit cards are welcomed at all major establishments in payment for goods and services, Locally issued debit and credit cards are mainly either Visa or MasterCard-based, and are therefore accepted around the world.

Banks

The Qatari banking sector is comprised of a combination of national and foreign banks. The majority extend standard individual banking facilities and most offer 24-hour access to accounts through Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and some via telephone or PC banking or through call centers. The commercial banks offer the same range of standard facilities you would expect to find anywhere in the world including standard current and savings accounts, personal loans, vehicle loans, debit cards, credit cards, travelers cheques, money transfers etc. (Deposit accounts can be in Qatar Riyals, US Dollars etc. and the Islamic Banks offer a special range of services which are approved by religious scholars.)

Banking Hours: 7:30am – 1:30am Sunday to Wednesday and 7:30am – 11:30am Thursdays

Shopping and Business Hours

The work week varies considerably by the company. Generally Friday is the weekly holiday, with many businesses working only a half day on Thursday. Embassies and government offices are closed on Thursday.

The main commercial hours are:

• Government offices: 7am - 2pm Saturday to Wednesday
• Commercial organizations: 8am – 1pm and 3:30pm – 6:30pm (the hours vary per organization)
• Shops and supermarkets: 8:30am -12:30pm, 3:30pm - 11pm six days a week. Major malls are open from 10am to 11pm. Some markets and shops open Friday mornings (times vary)

Public Holidays

The Muslim holidays of Eid Al-Fitr (at the end of Ramadan), Eid Al-Adha (during the month of the Haj), and the Islamic New Year are all observed in Qatar. The length of the two Eid holidays varies from year to year.
The National Day is on 3 September, when embassies and government offices are closed but most private businesses stay open.

Tipping

Taxi drivers do not expect a tip. A service charge is often added to bills in hotels and most restaurants, otherwise ten per cent is appropriate.

Taxes

There is no income tax in Qatar.

Electricity

240 Volts + 6% with frequency 50 hertz.

Emergency Call Numbers

Fire/Ambulance/Police: 999

Health

Qatar has very good public medical facilities, with an extensive network of public hospitals and healthcare centres covering the whole country, run by the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). Doha has four public hospitals providing a wide range of specialized medical services.

Local Area Information

Qatar, officially State of Qatar, is an independent emirate. It covers 4,400 sq mi (11,400 sq km), on a largely barren peninsula in the Persian Gulf, bordering Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The capital, commonly referred to as the 'City of Balance', is Doha.

The economy is dominated by oil and natural gas, which accounts for 70% of export income. The minority of the population (20%) are Qatari (Arabs of the Wahhabi sect of Islam); the rest are largely other Arabs, Pakistanis, Indians, and Iranians. Arabic is the official language, but English is also widely spoken. The country is a monarchy.

Mobile Phones

Qatar is well covered by the Q-Tel GSM 900/1800 mobile phone network.

Telephone access

The international direct dialing code for Qatar is +974, and the outgoing code is 0, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 027 for South Africa). City/area codes are not necessary.

Time Zone

3 hours + Greenwich Mean Time

Customs

Taxes vary from 0% (necessities) to 100% (cigarettes). The purchase of alcohol from Doha Duty Free is permitted departing from Qatar only and not upon arrival into Qatar. Baggage will be checked upon entry to the country.

Visitors are charged some taxes by the Customs General authority for some goods at the points of entry. Entry of alcoholic drinks is forbidden.

Visa

Cost of the visa for single entry is USD 30/QR 100 per person per passport – visa cost is non-refundable. Payment can be made at any of the immigration desks with the following cards; Visa, Visa-Electron, Mastercard, Maestro & E-Cash (a pre-paid credit card that can be bought in the arrival lounge with cash). You may contact your local Qatar Airways office for further information. For visas of a longer period application should be made before flying to Qatar. All entrants to Qatar require a visa except for nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and transit passengers. Types of visa and costs vary according nationality.

Employment visas are valid for a period of one month. Permanent permits are renewable and are granted to individuals who have employment contracts in Qatar.