10 answers to questions you may have about Qatar

For a few months, if not more, and for some time to come, Qatar has been under the spotlight. World Cup soccer, human rights, air-conditioned stadiums, ecology, plus a few other themes that we will perhaps come back to in the near future, constitute the raw material for multiple debates. What some people do not hesitate to do, even if sometimes we feel that some people want to be first of all in the air of time and the subject of the moment…

While hearing, here are some answers on much more general or tourist questions that one can already be led to ask if one wants to know what one speaks about.

Where is Qatar ?

Qatar is a small Emirate in the Middle East located on a peninsula that juts out into the Persian Gulf, opposite Iran. It is connected to the Arabian Peninsula in its southern part where it has a common land border of about 60 km with Saudi Arabia.

Dubai ? Nothing to do with Qatar?

Everyone has heard of Dubai and some may confuse this city-emirate with Qatar. However, the two have nothing to do with each other.

Dubai is actually part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) while Qatar is another separate country. And although they are not far apart, they do not even share a border. Only Saudi Arabia has a border with Qatar, which has caused some problems recently during the crisis between the two countries.

Why is Qatar so rich?

If for a long time Qatar was a poor country, living only from fishing and pearl cultivation, it is nowadays one of the most prosperous countries in the world thanks to the revenues from oil and natural gas of which it is one of the first producers in the world and which alone ensure about 70% of its income.
For 2020 the GDP/capita in Qatar was 50 000 US$ (38 700 in France).

Some benchmarks

Capital : Doha.
Nature of the state: absolute monarchy of “divine right”.
Official language: Arabic.
Currency: Qatari riyal.
Population: 2,444,174 (2022) called Qatari.
Area: 11,586 km².
Density : 211 inhabitants/km².
Highest point : Jebel Dukhan (90 meters).
Lowest point: sea level.
Coastline: 563 km.
Driving: on the right.
Freedom of the press: ranked 119/180 (RSF rank 2022).
Political system: authoritarian regime (ranked 114/167 in 2021 by the EIU).

Entry formalities and visa for Qatar in 2022

For French citizens, a passport valid for at least 6 months after the date of entry and a visa are required for a tourist trip. The visa is free of charge and is issued upon arrival at the airport and is valid for a maximum of 90 days in Qatar.

Is Qatar a safe destination?

As far as health is concerned, the country does not pose any problems. No vaccinations are required to enter the country, although it is of course better to be up to date with your “basic vaccinations”.
As for security, there are no real concerns about crime or delinquency. The level of insecurity in Qatar is one of the lowest in the world. But it must be said that the authorities are watching…

Qatar, travel and tourism

More known for its oil, its investments abroad or its airline, Qatar has nevertheless been trying for a few years to make itself known outside its borders and to position itself on the tourist level.

To do this, the country invests and organizes “everything” and gathers everything it can find around the world, from palaces to soccer clubs, including the organization of global events ranging from the World Cup to the F1 Grand Prix. Not to mention the pharaonic project to create a hundred new hotels and even a green intelligent city called Lusail City capable of hosting 200,000 inhabitants.
Currently, the country’s attendance is around 2 million visitors per year. While waiting perhaps for the 6 million hoped for 2030.

Doha and Qatar Airways

Key to the Emirate’s success in tourism and visitation is the country’s airline and international airport.
Both are regularly crowned as the best and most efficient in the world in their category.

For 2022, Doha airport has been voted the best in the world by the Skytrax website, which is a reference in this field. Just after the national airline, Qatar Airways, was also ranked best global carrier.

What to see in Qatar ?

Without being very big, the country has some places to visit:

Al Khor
It is a small coastal town north of Doha with a small seaside activity and beaches.

Al Wakrah
This ancient city, south of the capital, is gradually developing its tourist potential thanks to its beaches.

Al Zubarah
Located in the north of the peninsula, this old abandoned city with its 1930s fort has become a tourist attraction and is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Doha
Doha is the capital of Qatar but also one of the main cities of the Middle East. It is worth seeing for its modern architecture, as well as some old districts, its museums and its Corniche.

Dukhan
The main city of the west coast lives on oil. It is possible to visit the oil rigs.

Khor Al Daid
Here is a small inland sea on the Saudi border surrounded by beautiful dunes. The place represents one of the main sites to see in Qatar.

“Singing Sand Dunes
There is an area of the desert, southwest of Doha, where you can hear the “singing sand dunes”. Safaris and bivouacs are also possible in this part of the desert.

Umm Salal Muhammed
This is an old fort about 15 km from Doha.

What is the weather like in Qatar?

Qatar has an arid and very hot climate with an average temperature of 35/40°C from May to the beginning of October with occasional thermometers that can reach 50°C in some places. The rest of the year, temperatures are more “clement” with 20/25°C daily. In any case, the rains are weak whatever the season.
In general, it is the period November-March which remains the most favorable to the visit. For more details it is here…

For more information: www.visitqatar.qa