Qatar - Katar

Qatar is a peninsula and a state in near East. Qatar borders in the south Saudi Arabia.

Regions

Cities

• Doha - Capital

background

Qatar, which is extremely inhospitable due to the climatic conditions, was almost uninhabited for centuries and was only used by migrating Bedouin tribes and a few pirates. This only changed on December 18, 1878, when the British East India Company colonized the Qatar peninsula to protect its own merchant fleet and thus founded the state in its current form - this day is therefore a national holiday in Qatar.

In the 20th century, oil was found in Qatar, which formed the basis for the state's economic development. Even today, Qatar lives mainly from its mineral resources, because the state has the largest known natural gas reserves on earth. Like many other Gulf States, Qatar is particularly noticeable in the west for daring construction projects such as the first fully air-conditioned stadium, in which the World Athletics Championships also took place.

The downside of the almost inexhaustible wealth is that the Emir of Qatar also supports radical Islamist groups financially and through the state television station Al-Jazeera a mouthpiece in the Arab world. This only became really clear in the West when there was a diplomatic crisis that has persisted to this day in 2017, as a result of which all other Arab countries severed their diplomatic relations with Qatar and imposed a trade blockade. As Qatar continues to receive economic support from some states, the success of these measures is extremely questionable.

getting there

Entry requirements

A passport is required to enter Qatar. A visa is not necessary for German, Austrian and Swiss citizens. Upon entry, you will receive a sticker in your passport stating the permitted length of stay (30 or 90 days). This should not be exceeded either, as otherwise high penalties could be levied when leaving the country.

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No alcohol, 400 cigarettes. The import of cigars, loose tobacco, e-cigarettes and nicotine chewing gum is prohibited.

Special regulation from / from Oman

Who wants to travel to Oman within the validity of their residence permit and states this on arrival in Qatar at the airport, receives a “visa waiver,” which allows it without paying the local visa fee also to travel to Oman. This exemption also applies in the opposite direction, but the Omani visa fee then due is almost twice as high.

The list of eligible nationalities is limited, for Europeans essentially the core EU before the eastward expansion, Swiss and Liechtenstein citizens.

By plane

As part of the boycott of the country started by Saudi Arabia, there have been no direct flights to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi) since June 2017. If you want to go to these destinations from Doha, you have to travel and change with airlines from third countries (e.g. Oman or Kuwait).

In the street

The land border has been closed by Saudi Arabia since June 2017.

By boat

The maritime border has been closed by Saudi Arabia since June 2017. Bahrain and UAE, among others, have also joined the boycott.

mobility

metro

Since 2019 there has been a section with 13 stations of the Doha Metro, which is to be completed by 2020. Three lines are planned: the Golden Line runs from Villagio to Airport City North. The green line starts at Al Rayyan Stadium and ends at Msheireb and the red line runs from Lusail Center to Al Wakra North. A third line, the Blue Line, is to follow by 2026. There is WiFi in all train stations.
Metrolink-Buses are operated by the railway company. They offer feeder lines within a 2-5 km radius of the stations.

Operating hours are Saturday to Thursday 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday 2 p.m. to midnight. One trip costs 2 QAR, the day ticket costs 6 QAR. Standard cards (card fee 10 R.) sell Meera, Lulu, Carrefour, Family Food Center or Jumbo Electronics. There's a first class too Gold club. Here you pay five times the price and the prepaid card costs 100 R.!

The tram network with four lines complements the metro. You can change at the Lusail and Legtaifiya metro stations. The expansion to 28 stops should also be completed by the start of the soccer World Cup.

Similar to other Arab countries, there are family compartments. Women traveling alone or with children under 9 must use them. Eating, drinking, spitting and smoking is prohibited on the train and the stations. Likewise, one should not stretch out or sleep on the benches.

Public buses

The state-wide operator of the buses is the national one Mowasalat.There are a good 50 bus routes under the brand across the country Karwa bus. Many drive over the Golden Souq from Doha. In Doha, modern, air-conditioned buses run on a very well-developed network of routes. The app is ideal for this. A single trip costs 2.5-9 QAR, depending on the route.

Before using the bus, a rechargeable Karwa Smart Card can be bought for 30 rials. You can do this at the counter in the Bus Terminal in Doha. You can top up at the ticket machines at Hamad International Airport, Doha Bus Station, Karwa Bus Station and The Pearl Qatar. Otherwise in certain shops or via Ooredoo mobile phone charging. For vacationers there is a Limited Card for 10 QAR, which includes two journeys within 24 hours or an Unlimited Card for 20 QAR with an unlimited number of journeys within 24 hours.

City tour

The company Doha Bus offers a Hop On Hop Off bus, which runs a circular route through the city. Stops include Souq Waqif, at the Museum of Islamic Art, at the City Center Mall, at the Katara Cultural Village, on the Corniche, in the “Pearl” district, at the Grand Mosque and at the Msheireb Museum. The stops are served every 40 minutes. The ticket costs 180 QAR.

Taxis

The best way to get around Doha is to take one of the ubiquitous taxis. The rates are extremely cheap by European standards. Sometimes the taxi drivers "forget" to turn on the taximeter and then charge an excessive fee. However, journeys without a taximeter are free of charge for the passenger.

Apps

The taxi apps Uber and Careem are slightly cheaper than taxis.

language

The official language is Arabic. The guest workers speak their respective native languages. English is spoken and understood very well by all residents of Qatar.

to buy

The Souk Waqif in the old part Dohas It is especially worthwhile because of the spices and specialties, which are much better quality than in the supermarkets that are common today. If possible, visit the bazaar after 6 p.m., otherwise the heat is really unbearable. However, some shops have air conditioning. The air conditioning units heat up the narrow bazaar aisles.

currency

The Qatari currency is called the Qatari Riyal (QR or QAR). One QAR is divided into 100 dirhams. There are 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 QAR notes and 50 and 25 dirhams coins. The currency is pegged to the US dollar with an exchange rate of 1: 3.64. The exchange ratio against the euro is around 1: 4, which means that 1 QAR is worth around € 0.24 (as of 03/2019). It is easily possible to get cash at the ATMs that are set up in many places. A credit card with the ability to withdraw money free of charge worldwide is a great advantage here.

kitchen

nightlife

European-style nightlife does not exist in Qatar.

accommodation

Learn and study

Work

The working day starts comparatively early in Doha. Office workers also usually start work no later than 07:00. Invitations to meetings at 7:30 in the morning are therefore not uncommon.

In order to be allowed to work in Qatar, a work visa is generally required, which can only be applied for in cooperation with an employer based in Qatar.

public holidays

meeting	Surname	importance
February March	Eid al-Adha	Great festival of sacrifice for the pilgrimage to Mecca
March	Al-Hijri	Islamic New Year
May June	Maulid al-Nabi	Birthday of the Prophet Mohammed
June 27th		Day of Accession to the Throne
September 3		Independence day
October	Lailat al-Miraj	Ascension of the Prophet
December	Eid al-Fitr	Feast to break the fast after Ramadam

security

The national emergency number is 999. Qatar is a very safe country to travel to, but tourists should find out about its rigid morals and related criminal law. Homosexual acts are illegal in Qatar and can be punished with prison terms of up to 15 years. Men traveling together should also not book double rooms in hotels. Heterosexual sex outside of marriage is also prohibited. Drug trafficking, drug smuggling and the possession of drugs above a specified amount lead to long-term imprisonment, in the worst case to the death penalty. It should not be assumed that tourists will be punished more leniently than locals. In all traffic accidents, unlike in Germany, there is an obligation to call the police on the emergency number 999, even if there are accidents without an opponent, such as a car slipping into a ditch. The consumption of alcoholic beverages is permitted for non-Muslim tourists in the hotel area and on private hotel beaches, but staying in public is prohibited for people who are still under residual alcohol. No alcohol is served in public in restaurants and no alcoholic beverages are sold in supermarkets and kiosks.

health

Qatar has a relatively well-developed health system. The core element is the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), which is an institution of the state. Hamad General Hospital is the point of contact for all ailments. Here you are treated on an outpatient basis, and if necessary also as an inpatient one. Qatari citizens and citizens of the so-called Gulf Council countries are usually treated free of charge or for a small fee. Third country citizens need a versus Germany pay low wages.

HMC tries to adapt the standards of its treatment to the internationally accepted standards. For this purpose, among other things, an extensive cooperation agreement was signed with the university hospital Heidelberg completed.

Climate and travel time

Due to the proximity to the Persian Gulf, the climate is humid all year round. It's subtropical and hot. In summer (May to September) temperatures between 35 ° C and 45 ° C, in winter (December to March) between 15 ° C and 25 ° C, and at night below 10 ° C (there is no heating). The humidity is 80%. Qatar is one of the most rain-free and water-poor countries in the world. Nevertheless, in winter it can have cold and damp weather with e.g. Sometimes there is considerable rainfall over several days.

respect

Qatar is an absolute monarchy, with the Emir as its head. The state religion is Sunni Islam and Sharia is the main source of legislation. In the life of travelers, this becomes noticeable through strict moral concepts and rules of conduct, which can even be punishable by law.

This applies in particular to clothing, which should not be too revealing. This means that neither shorts nor short skirts should be worn. Off-the-shoulder, low-cut or transparent clothing is also taboo. The dress code on beaches is less strict than in cities.

Generally speaking, the exchange of affection in public is not permitted.

In the public buses, there are screened sitting and standing areas for women and their children, these screened areas in public transport can be used by all women, including tourists, but women are not obliged to use the separated areas.

It is considered very rude to look at or stare at people conspicuously and directly. Also the addressing of strange (Arab) women by men on the street, be it for example. B. asking for directions may be frowned upon.

Military facilities, public buildings, mosques, palaces, airports and seaports may not be photographed. Of course, you shouldn't photograph people without their consent, especially not locals and women.

The consumption of alcoholic beverages is only permitted in hotel bars and on private hotel beaches, but is prohibited in public. Tourists are allowed to consume alcohol in the hotel areas, no alcohol is served in restaurants outside of hotels, and people who are obviously intoxicated are prohibited from being in public.

During the muezzin's calls to prayer, even non-Muslims should keep quiet and not listen to music or use cell phones, not even to use the internet.

The fasting month of Ramadan is taken very seriously in Qatar. It is of course not binding for non-Muslims. Eating, drinking or smoking in public during the day during this time can, however, be perceived as a provocation. In general, restrictions in everyday life are to be expected, e.g. B. restaurants (outside the tourist hotels) close during the day, authorities have reduced working hours. On the other hand, compliance with the clothing regulations is observed even more strictly than usual during this time.

In general, a certain respect for Islam is certainly not wrong. Negative or critical comments towards Islam or the Prophet Mohammed could be perceived as blasphemy or insult to religion, which is a criminal offense in Qatar.

Post and Telecommunications

Using your own SIM card is a downright bad idea in Qatar. Most German network operators classify Qatar in the most expensive tariff group, the costs are then 3 € / min or more! It is much cheaper with a local prepaid SIM card, e.g. from ooredoo or Vodafone Qatar. The minute then costs around 0.55 QAR (around 0.13 €). Even calls to Germany are comparatively cheap, with Vodafone Qatar around 1 QAR, i.e. € 0.24, per minute.

The custom known in Europe of sending a postcard to relatives at home is hardly known in Qatar. Accordingly, it will be difficult to find postcards and even more so when buying postage stamps. The best way to get postcards is in one of the large supermarkets, for example at Carrefour. Postage stamps are almost exclusively available from post offices. Both are rarely sold in the local markets (souqs)! Mailboxes are also in short supply, so it is best to take the postcards that have already been written to the post office and to throw them in there directly after buying the stamps.

literature

Web links

• Country and travel information from the Federal Foreign Office
• Official website of the government
• Embassy of the State of Qatar in Berlin
• Visa requirements for Qatar (in English)