Qatar - Catar

Introduction Taste or Qatar (Arabic: قطر), officially, the State of Qatar (Arabic: دولة قطر Dawlat Qaṭar) is a country of middle East. It occupies a small peninsula east of the Arabian Peninsula, bathed by Persian Gulf. A small strait separates Qatar from the islands of Bahrain by the West. Thanks to its oil industry, Qatar has been able to develop economically, which is reflected in the skyscrapers of its capital, Doha.

Capital Doha Idiom Arab Surface 11 586 km² Population 2 045 239 (2013) Currency riyal Time zone UTC 3 Telephone prefix 974

Regions

Qatar is divided into ten municipalities (in Arabic: baladiyah):

1. Doha
2. Guaria
3. Yumalia
4. Jor
5. Al Wakrah
6. Ar Rayyan
7. Jariyan al Batnah
8. Madinat Ash Shamal
9. Umm Salal
10. Mesaieed

Cities

1. Doha - capital
2. Al Khor - Northern city with a population of approximately 36,000, near the Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal
3. Al Shamal : This article covers the wider area of ​​the northern Madinat ash Shamal municipality
4. Al shahaniyah
5. Al Wakrah
6. Dukhan
7. Mesaieed - Industrial city south of Doha and 25 km south of Wakra, with recreational activities on the coast, including the sand dunes of Khor Al Udeid (the inland sea)
8. Umm Salal Mohammed

Other destinations

• Zubarah: the ruins of a deserted city and a fort built in 1938 by Sheikh Abdu'llah bin Qasim Al-Thani

Understand

Qatar has the third largest natural gas reserves in the world, behind only Russia and Iran. Its oil reserves are similar in size to those of the United States of America, but will last much longer because its production levels are only one-sixth the rate of that country. By most accounts, its people are the richest in the world.

Because its Al Jazeera satellite television networks broadcast worldwide in Arabic and English, Qatar has a strong influence in an otherwise very conservative region.

History

There is evidence showing that the Qatari peninsula had been inhabited by Bedouin and Canaanite tribes since 4000 BC. Although the museum houses a variety of artifacts including spearheads and pottery, little remains of the structures that may have once existed. The rock carvings at Al-Jassassiya north of Doha give an idea of ​​how these tribes may have lived. More recently, some sandstone buildings and mosques were discovered, sparking the interest of archaeologists in their quest to discover what is still under the sand.

Emerged from ancient history, Qatar was dominated by various western and eastern empires. The Ormus used the peninsula as a trading post and military port, until the Portuguese were able to extend their rule over the region. Neighboring Bahrain eventually annexed the peninsula, until rebel movements and British intervention made Qatar independent again. Under pressure, Qatar became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1871 before becoming a British protectorate at the end of World War I. After a brief period as part of the United Arab Emirates, independence from Great Britain was peacefully declared in 1971.

Since then, Qatar has transformed from a poor British protectorate known primarily for its pearl industry into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues, allowing Qatar to have the highest GDP per capita in the world. Qatar has been deeply involved in world affairs under the royal family, offering support in peacekeeping missions and wars ordered by the UN such as the Gulf in 1991. Qatar also hosts several world conferences, including those of the World Organization of the Trade, the UN Climate Convention and various mediation bodies. He jumped onto the world stage with the development of the popular Al Jazeera news network and the expansion of Qatar Airways to most of the world's continents.

Geography

Capital	Doha
Currency	Qatari Riyal (QAR)
Population	2.6 million (2017)
Electricity	240 volts / 50 hertz (AC plugs and sockets: British and related types, BS 1363)
Country code	974
Time zone	UTC 03: 00
Emergencies	999, 112 (emergency medical services, police, fire department)
Driving side	straight
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Qatar is a peninsula jutting out into the Persian Gulf. Most of the country is made up of low, arid plains covered with dunes. In southeastern Qatar is Khor al Adaid, an area with sand dunes and an inlet to the Persian Gulf.

government

Qatar is an absolute monarchy headed by the emir, who is from the Al-Thani family. While the country has rapidly modernized under the leadership of former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, questions remain about the treatment of migrant workers from other parts of Asia, described by many human rights groups as exploiters and slaveholders. As in most other countries in the region, calls for reform and more democracy on the one hand, and a rising Islamist movement calling for a "purer" (that is, more fundamentalist) interpretation of the Qur'an and Islam on the other hand, they are an important factor in domestic politics.

Economy

Oil is a cornerstone of the Qatari economy; it used to represent more than 30% of GDP, about 80% of export earnings, and 58% of government revenue. Proven oil reserves of 15 billion barrels should ensure continued production at current levels for at least the next 20 years. Oil and gas have given Qatar the highest GDP per capita according to most studies. Qatar's proven natural gas reserves exceed 7 trillion m³, more than 11% of the world total, making it the third largest reserve in the world. The production and export of natural gas are increasingly important. Qatar manages to post very high surpluses every year and escaped the global financial crisis relatively unscathed.

In addition to the energy sector, Qatar also exports petrochemicals, cement and steel. Doha has a rapidly growing financial sector that is establishing itself as one of the centers of trade and finance in the Middle East. The Qatari government has also outlined its plan to boost tourism and media business on the peninsula, creating new sectors to further raise Qatar's profile. In addition, many foreign universities have established outposts in Qatar, transforming Qatar into one of the leading educational centers in the Middle East.

As a result of its wealth in oil and natural gas, Qatar provides its citizens with one of the most comprehensive welfare states in the world despite not imposing any income tax on them.

Weather

Qatar
Climate chart (explanation)
J F METER A METER J J A S OR North re 13 22 12 18 24 13 15 28 17 7,6 33 21 2.5 39 25 0 41 28 0 42 29 0 41 29 0 39 26 0 35 23 2.5 30 18 13 24 14 Average max. and min. temperatures in ° C Total snow precipitation in mm
Expand Imperial Conversion

Qatar's climate can be described as arid and unforgiving. In the summer, which runs from May to September, the days are characterized by intense and humid heat, with an average of 35 ° C but not unknown to reach a maximum of 50 ° C. In the winter, from October to April, the days are much more bearable at around 20-25 ° C, with a pleasant cool afternoon up to around 15 ° C. If you want to avoid the heat, the best months to visit would be December and January.

Rains and storms in Qatar are extremely rare, forcing locals to reclaim water from newly built desalination plants. However, the huge sandstorms that engulf the peninsula are common in summer. These can be dangerous if not under shelter, and will descend the country into darkness while blotting out the hot sun above. There may also be interruptions in transportation and other services.

Read

• Allen J. Fromherz, Qatar: a modern history .
• Abdul Aziz Al Mahmoud, The corsair . A debut novel about 19th century piracy in the Persian Gulf and the first novel by a Qatari author.
• Sophia Al-Maria, The girl who fell to earth: a memory . Written by a Doha-based Qatari-American, this is an entertaining account of a childhood spent trying to bridge the gap between Bedouin and American cultures.

To get

Entry requirements

Citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates do not need a visa to visit Qatar, and can use national identification cards to enter the country.

Citizens of all European Union nations (except Ireland and the United Kingdom), plus the Bahamas, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Norway, Seychelles, Switzerland, and Turkey receive a free multi-entry visa waiver upon arrival, provided they arrive via Hamad International. Airport, have a valid passport with a minimum validity of six months and a confirmed return ticket. Visa exemptions are valid for 180 days from the date of issue and entitle the holder to spend up to 90 consecutive days in Qatar.

Citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Brune, Canada, Chile, China (PRC), Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Georgia, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan , Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Maldives, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, San Marino, Singapu, South Africa, South Korea, Suriname, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States , Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela can obtain a visa waiver upon arrival at Hamad International Airport valid for 30 days from the date of issue. This exemption can be extended for another 30 days.

Citizens of Macau, Mauritius, Montenegro, and Taiwan can obtain a visa upon arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days.

Citizens of Pakistan can get a visa on arrival valid for 30 days, provided they have a passport valid for 6 months, QR5000 in cash or a major credit card, and a confirmed return ticket.

Citizens of Iran traveling on business can get a visa on arrival at a cost of QR100 for a maximum stay of 6 days, provided they have QR5000 in cash or a major credit card, return ticket, class hotel reservation registration and an invitation from a company. which is certified by the government.

Citizens of all nationalities holding valid residence permits or visas for the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Schengen Area or the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council can obtain a valid Electronic Travel Authorization for up to 30 days. The visa can be extended online for an additional 30 days.

Regardless of nationality, travelers in transit through Hamad International Airport do not require a visa if they depart within 24 hours and remain inside the airport. The free transit visas, which are valid for up to 96 hours (4 days) and allow travelers to briefly visit Qatar, are also issued to all passengers of any nationality transiting through Hamad International Airport, provided they are traveling with Qatar Airways .

For those who need visas, tourist visas are available online through the eVisa system. Visas are issued within four business days if all documents are submitted and are valid for a period of stay of up to 30 days in Qatar.

For other visa applications, visa procedures can be complicated as you will need a guarantor from the Qatari side, be it a company or a government entity. Also, Qatari embassies, unlike most other countries, do not have the right to issue visas, so someone in Qatar will have to apply for you. 4/5 star hotels offer a full visa service, for a price, if you reserve a room with them during your stay. Qatar Airways can organize your hotel and visa, tel. 974 44496980 if you contact them in advance (7 days notice seems to be required). In this case, there also seems to be a regulation in place (as of 2008) to present a credit card or QR5000 at the point of entry, which should generally not be a problem, if you can pay for the room. When booking with other hotels, you will need a guarantor in Qatar.

For longer stays, visas must be arranged with a sponsor. Single women under the age of 35 will find it difficult to obtain a visa for an extended stay, as the country appears to fear that their safety and well-being cannot be guaranteed.

Qatar is one of the few Gulf states that officially accepts Israeli passports (with the necessary visas) and passports with evidence of visits to Israel.

By plane

Entry by air to Qatar has skyrocketed in the last decade. Most people visiting the country will enter through the Hamad International Airport (DOH ^IATA) near Doha. The state flag carrier Qatar Airways It has secured a huge network of flights that operate from its hub in Doha to 124 destinations. In fact, it is one of the very few airports in the world with uninterrupted services to all inhabited continents. Other major airlines also serve the airport, generally operating a route between Doha and their own hub in the home country.

A taxi fare from the airport has a default rate of 25 QR.

Boat

There are no specific ship routes, but there are commercial cargo ships that arrive in Doha from all over the world, as well as small commercial ships that arrive from Dubai and Iran.

By car

The only land route to Qatar is from Saudi Arabia. There are plans for a major bridge to link Qatar with neighboring Bahrain, although these are constantly being delayed.

Travel by car is not recommended. Roads between Qatar and other major cities / countries are poor. If you travel during the day, watch out for speeding cars and trucks. Always use fasten your seat belt and do not exceed 50 mph (80 km / h). Traveling at night is risking your life, with poor visibility and semi-suicidal drivers.

By bus

You can travel to Qatar by bus from Saudi Arabia, there are fixed bus routes, within Qatar, although they are mostly only used by men. However, customs can take up to 4 hours, especially at night. They will not treat you as well as if you fly to Doha. Flying costs only slightly more than a bus ticket.

By train

Travel

Public transportation comes in three forms in Qatar: buses, taxis, and limousines, all of which are owned by the government-owned Mowasalat (Karwa), plus some private limousine companies. Inside the capital, Doha, there is also a metro.

By taxi or limousine

The government-owned Mowasalat also operates the taxi and limousine service. Taxis are easily seen due to their uniform light blue color with a maroon cap. The initial rate on the meter is QR 4, with an additional QR of 1.20 per kilometer within Doha and QR 1.80 anywhere outside the capital. A trip to or from the airport has a one-time rate of QR 25. To make sure you don't get scammed, some precautions should be taken:

• For trips within Doha, the fare must be set to '1', and those at night or outside of Doha must be set to '0'.
• Check that the meter is not tampered with; Signs of a tampered meter include tape and strips of paper around the outside.
• By law, if a driver refuses to use the meter, the ride must be free.
• There are occasional reports of unruly drivers closing taxi doors or refusing to open the trunk until additional payment is made. If something like this happens to you, try getting out of the car. If that is not possible, calling the police at 999 should make the driver very cooperative.

Demand for taxis exceeds supply and waiting times can vary greatly. Trying to get one during morning business hours requires at least 24 hours notice, although even in practice this is unreliable as the scheduled taxi often does not show up. At other times, it can take 90 minutes or more to get a taxi on duty, and hailing one on the street can be impossible most of the time. The only places where you are guaranteed to find a taxi are the main shopping centers, the airport and international hotels.

Taxis can be booked and called by calling 974 4458 8888.

An alternative to taxis and buses would be to use a limousine service, which will send an unmarked limousine car to your location. They are expensive but luxurious taxis, with an initial rate of 20 QR, but they do not always have a meter.

International limousine services, such as Uber, Careem, and Lyft, are available in Qatar. The applications allow you to summon a driver quickly and easily.

Every now and then a local driver may offer you a ride if they see you waiting on the side of the road. It is customary to offer some money at the end, although they usually refuse to accept it. A driver offering a lift will slow down and shine his headlights on you; they can be summoned with a wave in response. Although the practice is safe, it is not recommended for single women.

By car

You can rent a car for about $ 20 a day from local car rental companies. Many of them are located at the airport and in the city center of Doha, or ask for advice at your hotel.

By bus

Bus service started in October 2005. Ticketing is handled using a Karwa smart card, which comes in three versions:

• Smartcard Classic- Initial rate of QR30 with QR20 credit included. The prices of the trips vary, it costs QR2.50 for a short trip. You must tap when getting on the bus and disconnect when getting off to avoid a predetermined QR30 penalty. It can be purchased from various retailers listed on the Karwa website, but not on board the buses.
• Smartcard 24 Limited- An initial rate of QR10 allows 2 trips on the bus (one return trip) within 24 hours of first entry. You just need to tap-in, and shouldn't do it . It can only be purchased on board the bus to travel in Greater Doha.
• Smartcard 24 Unlimited- An initial rate of QR20 gives the user unlimited travel across Qatar within 24 hours of the first activation. Again, there is no need to disconnect. It can be purchased on board the bus.

A large number of routes traverse the country, with the network stretching north as far as Al Khor, as far west as Dukhan, and as far south as Mesaieed. You can get information about schedules and tickets by calling 974 4436 6053.

By train

A metro opened in 2019 that serves Doha and its suburbs. You can travel from point A to B for QR2 per person per trip or buy a day pass for QR6. However, if you plan to use the metro very frequently, you can buy a metro card for QR30. Free subway shuttle bus services are available to / from subway stations to / from nearby destinations. The metro opens at 06:00 and closes at 23:00.

Talk

The Arab It is the official language of Qatar, although most residents do not speak it. Expatriate workers from the Indian subcontinent and the Philippines far outnumber Qatari natives, particularly in Doha (where the proportion of foreigners is about 90%), many of whom have very limited knowledge of Arabic. English It serves as lingua franca and most Qataris speak it to communicate with foreign workers who work for them. Among the natives of Qatar, the dialect of Arabic that is spoken is the Gulf dialect. You can find foreign workers who speak various languages, such as Afrikaans, Mandarin, Japanese, Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog, and Thai. While you can get by well in Qatar with only English under your belt, your hosts and any other locals you may meet will be very impressed and grateful if you can recite a few basic phrases in Arabic.

To buy

Qatar can be expensive (an express at the National Library costs QAR15), but it can also be very cheap (a good meal at a local restaurant is the same price). Tourist areas tend to be more expensive. Gasoline is cheap.

Money

Qatari riyal exchange rates As of January 2020: US $ 1 ≈ QR3.64 (fixed) € 1 ≈ QR4.1 UK £ 1 ≈ QR4.8 Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available on XE.com

The Souq Waqif in Doha, lavishly restored, the national currency is the qatar riyal , denoted by the symbol " ر.ق "or" Qr "(ISO code: QAR). The riyal is pegged to the US dollar at a rate of QR3.64 per US dollar. One riyal is divided into 100 dirhams, with coin denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 dirhams. The riyal is available in banknote denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500.

It is fairly straightforward to exchange the major world currencies within Qatar, along with the currencies of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Exchange rates are quite similar between banks and money changers, with a large concentration of money changers near the Gold Souq in Doha. Banks abound in Doha, with branches in the larger cities as well. The main banks accept traveler's checks.

Shopping

Qatar has many shopping centers attended by international brands such as H&M, Zara and Mango. The largest malls are Mall of Qatar, Festival City, and City Center. Middle Eastern and local brands are also present

Pearl has luxury brands from all over the world. It is the premium luxury shopping destination in Qatar.

Blue Salon has big sales twice a year where you can buy Armani, Valentino and Cerutti suits at half price. There are many things to buy here, but beware of cheap pearls that have a high probability of being fake. Qatar's many expert tailors make it a good place to have tailor-made clothing.

The souks in the center of Doha also have a lot to offer, although the products are usually of cheaper quality than those in the shopping centers. Prices are usually negotiable, so practice your negotiating skills. Souq Waqif (the permanent souk) is the most interesting of the souks; It has been renovated to look the same as it did 50 or 60 years ago. You can buy anything from a turban to a pot big enough to cook a baby camel!

To eat

Qatar has seemingly endless food options, many of them excellent. If you want to enjoy European cuisine in elegant surroundings, visit a hotel like the Ramada or the Marriott, which also offer excellent sushi and the option of having alcoholic beverages with your meal (the only restaurants in the city that can do this are in the main hotels), but at a high price. Authentic and delicious Indian and Pakistani food is found throughout the city, from family-oriented venues to very basic restaurants catering to Indian and Pakistani workers. You may attract some curious glances in worker restaurants, but the management will almost always be extremely welcoming and the food is very inexpensive.

Middle Eastern cuisine is everywhere too and in many forms: kebabs, breads, hummus, the list goes on. It can be bought cheaply at a take out (many of which look pretty unimpressive, but serve amazing food) or at a fancier place, like the wonderful Layali (near Chili's in the 'Cholesterol Corner' area) which Serves gourmet Lebanese food. food and has tobacco flavored hookahs. Refined Persian cuisine is available at reasonable prices at Ras Al-Nasa'a restaurant on the Corniche (don't miss the cathedral-style baths).

Traditional Qatari food is very difficult to find in restaurants and is largely limited to the homes of the locals. If you have Qatari friends, being invited to their homes is generally the best opportunity to sample the local cuisine.

Don't be afraid to venture into the souks in search of food; It will be a one-of-a-kind experience in authentic surroundings, and while some of the places you see may seem run-down, that's just the general area, and the food will probably be pretty good. Many of the restaurants in the souks (as well as the shops) close during the afternoon hours. If you're in a bad mood, you can try a McArabia - McDonald's Middle Eastern sandwich available only in the region.

Drink and go out

There is a liquor store, Qatar Distribution Center, in Doha. To buy things there, you must have a license that can only be obtained with a written permission letter from your employer. You can only get a license when you have obtained your residence permit and you will need to obtain a letter from your employer confirming your salary in addition to paying a deposit for QR1000. The selection is good and is like any selection of alcoholic beverages in a large supermarket in the West. The prices are reasonable although not cheap. Alcoholic beverages are available in the restaurants and bars of the main hotels, although they are expensive. Keep in mind that driving under the influence of alcohol and public intoxication carries serious penalties, including deportation, so be responsible. When it comes to non-alcoholic beverages, be sure to check out some of the Indian and Middle Eastern restaurants and juice stands. They make some delicious and exotic fruit juice combinations that really hit the spot.

It is forbidden to bring alcohol into the country as a tourist; At Hamad International Airport, Customs X-ray bags and will confiscate any bottle of alcoholic beverage. They will issue a receipt valid for two weeks to recover the alcohol upon leaving the country.

The national drink of Qatar is "Karak tea", which is available in many roadside cafes and restaurants. The biggest and most famous place to offer Karak tea is Tea Time, which has branches all over Qatar. Ask your taxi driver for the closest teatime to experience traditional Qatari tea.

Sleep

A cheap hotel starts at QAR130. A mid-range hotel costs about QAR300.

There does not appear to be cheap accommodation in Doha. The only hostel [1] it is very difficult to find; Even airport taxi drivers will have to speak it! It costs QR100 per night if you don't have a YHA membership; QR90 if it does.

Learn

Education City is a new project in Doha funded by the Government of Qatar through the Qatar Foundation. It is home to the Qatar Academy, the Learning Center, the Academic Bridge Program (similar to a college prep school), as well as the Texas A&M University (Engineering) campuses. [2], Weill Cornell Medical College (Medicine) [3 ], Virginia Commonwealth University (Arts and Communication), Carnegie Mellon University (Business and Informatics), Georgetown University (School of Foreign Service), and the latest addition to the fold, Northwestern University (Journalism) [4] and Faculty of Islam Studies [5] all located in Education City east of Doha in the Rayyan area.

In addition to this City of Education, there is the Qatar Science and Technology Park, one of the only places in the Middle East that carry out research and development initiatives. The location of so many academics and students is very attractive to research-focused organizations. Lastly, Education City is also home to the newly opened Qatar National Library building.

The College of the North Atlantic (based in Newfoundland, Canada), also maintains a campus in Doha in the northern section of the city, close to the local Qatar University. The University of Calgary (Nursing) is also in Qatar.

Work

You will need a work visa to be able to work in Qatar, and receiving one will require a Qatari sponsor to come forward on your behalf. As in neighboring Arab Gulf countries, foreigners with work visas require an exit visa to leave the country, and receiving an exit visa requires permission from their employer. Foreigners are known to be denied exit visas due to disputes with their employers.

The workday starts quite early in Qatar. Don't be surprised by the 7 a.m. meetings!

In the summer, many small Arab shops and businesses will be open from 8 AM to 12 PM and from 4 PM to 8 PM. During naps, most people return to their homes to escape the oppressive heat.

Qatar does not issue permanent residence visas, but foreigners who wish to stay permanently and have good relationships with highly influential people are known to retire in Qatar while nominally on a work visa. Foreign women can obtain citizenship by being married to a Qatari man (although this does not apply to foreign men married to Qatari women), but otherwise obtaining citizenship is almost impossible for foreigners.

Security

The emergency phone number for the police, ambulance, or fire department is el 999.

Qatar is a significant contrast to the surrounding region, without war, without conflict, and with minimal crime.

Western women traveling alone sometimes experience the stares of local men, along with other unwanted curiosity. However, this is more of a nuisance than a threat, and Qatari officials treat any allegations of harassment harshly. If you want to fit in better with the locals and attract less stares, you can buy a long black cape and headscarf worn by local women called an abaya in a variety of places in Doha.

Traveling on the roads is probably the greatest danger to your well-being. Aunque son más seguros que la mayoría de los demás conductores asiáticos y del Medio Oriente, los qataríes a menudo ignoran las reglas de tránsito y son intolerantes con los peatones que intentan cruzar la calle. Esté seguro cuando camine cerca o sobre las carreteras principales.

Las tormentas de polvo y de arena son otro problema importante y son comunes durante el verano seco. Estos eventos naturales pueden envolver al país en la oscuridad y causar problemas respiratorios graves. Si se acerca una tormenta de arena, busque refugio inmediatamente o use una mascarilla.

Qatar no es un país amigable con los homosexuales, y la homosexualidad se castiga teóricamente con la pena de muerte (aunque rara vez se aplica). Se aconseja a los visitantes homosexuales que sean discretos sobre su orientación sexual y que eviten las demostraciones públicas de afecto.

Health

Beba mucha agua y tome las precauciones adecuadas para el sol, incluida la ropa que cubra su piel y protector solar.

The tap water es potable, pero la mayoría de los residentes optan por beber agua embotellada por si acaso.

Respect

Las mezquitas y los museos estatales tienen un código de vestimenta. Para los hombres, los hombros y las rodillas deben estar cubiertos. En la práctica, esto no se aplica estrictamente: se le dejará entrar si sus pantalones cortos muestran sus rodillas, pero los pantalones cortos no son aceptables.

Respete las creencias islámicas de los qataríes y los beduinos: si bien no existe un requisito legal de usar el hijab, las mujeres no deben usar blusas sin mangas ni atuendos escasos, aunque no existe una regla estricta y las mujeres pueden vestirse como se sientan. Es absolutamente aceptable que cualquier nacionalidad use la ropa tradicional de Qatar, el thobe.

No exponga la planta de los pies a un qatarí cuando coma. Tampoco coma con la mano izquierda, ya que la mano izquierda se considera la "mano sucia". Del mismo modo, no intente dar la mano o entregar un paquete con la mano izquierda.

Si tu amigo qatarí insiste en comprarte algo, una comida o un regalo, ¡déjalo! Los qataríes son extremadamente hospitalarios y, por lo general, no hay condiciones. Por lo general, es costumbre defender el proyecto de ley.

Keep in touch

Puede arreglárselas durante unos días sin una tarjeta SIM. Hay conexión WiFi gratuita disponible en muchos de los museos y galerías de arte. Descargue el mapa de Qatar en Google Maps para cuando esté en movimiento y sin conexión.

Por telefono

Al llamar desde el extranjero, el código de país de Qatar es 974. No hay códigos de ciudad ni de área. Al llamar al extranjero desde Qatar, el código de acceso internacional suele ser 0. Los números de teléfono de Qatar ahora tienen ocho dígitos. Anteriormente, contenían siete, pero el regulador gubernamental lo cambió en 2010. Si encuentra un número con solo siete dígitos, aún puede usarlo repitiendo el primer dígito. Por ejemplo, un número de teléfono que antes comenzaba con '3' ahora comenzaría con '33'.

Qtel, una empresa estatal, solía tener el monopolio de las telecomunicaciones en el país. Aunque esto cambió en 2006 cuando el Emir permitió que se formaran nuevas empresas, la competencia sigue siendo débil con solo dos operadores importantes:

• Ooredoo (anteriormente Qtel): el paquete de inicio prepago "Hala" cuesta 50 QR con 25 QR de crédito inicial. Las llamadas internacionales a la mayoría de los países cuestan QR 0,66/minuto. En general, tiene una mejor cobertura que Vodafone.
• Vodafone Qatar: los paquetes de SIM prepago comienzan desde QR 60 con un crédito inicial de QR 35. Las llamadas internacionales a la mayoría de los países cuestan QR 0,66/minuto.

Por vía postal

Qatar tiene un sistema postal bastante eficiente administrado por Q-Post. Hay docenas de oficinas de correos repartidas por Doha, junto con sucursales en muchas ciudades importantes. Cuesta QR2.50 enviar una postal estándar a la mayoría de los países occidentales. El precio desciende a QR1-1.50 cuando se envía una postal a nivel nacional o a la mayoría de los países de Oriente Medio y África del Norte. Enviar paquetes puede resultar costoso, ya que se cuentan por kilogramo y por distancia. Puede encontrar una lista completa de tarifas y ubicaciones de sucursales en el sitio web de Q-Post. Todo el correo a Qatar se envía normalmente a un apartado de correos, sin utilizar códigos postales. La entrega a una dirección postal es limitada y es un servicio opcional por un costo adicional para los titulares de apartados postales.

Las direcciones de Qatar deben tener el siguiente formato:

• Recipient's name
• Nombre de la empresa u organización si es relevante
• Apartado de correos xxxx

• CIUDAD
• PAÍS

Un ejemplo:

• John Doe
• Qatar Airways-I.T. Dpto.
• Apartado de correos 2250
• DOHA
• KATAR

Surroundings

external links

• Wikipedia has an article on Catar.w:Catar
• Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about Catar. Commons