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Intimidated by Qatar? Don't be! This article will keep you up to date with Qatar's culture and must-known facts.

The emirate of Qatar is rich in oil and gas and is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. The country boasts a combination of comfortable oceanfront relaxation, inexpensive shopping, and gentle Islamic traditions. Located on the Qatari Peninsula on the shores of the Persian Gulf. People come here for diving and beach recreation, safari, camel races, and excursions to the Bedouins.

Why go to Qatar in the first place?

Life in Qatar is characterized by a high level of well-being of citizens, zero unemployment and a low crime rate. Tourists are attracted by the rich, colorful history, originality, and infrastructure comparable to European standards. Qatar is a clear example of how a person can change lives and the urban landscape in just decades.

The emirate culture is based on upholding and preserving its rituals and practices, formed under the control of Islam; daily life in this country complies with Sharia law. For example, it is considered indecent to walk with bare shoulders and in clothes above the knees. Drinking alcohol on the street is prohibited. When communicating with a local resident, one should not talk about personal life, religion, local women, laws, and customs.

The coast in Qatar is sandy with small islands, spits, and reefs, beautifully landscaped and with a magnificent view of the ocean. Moreover, residents strive to make the rest of the guests comfortable and unforgettable. As a result, the tourist gets an excellent service quality for less money than the neighboring UAE.

When is the best time to go?

Summers in Qatar are scorching. The average air temperature in August is + 45C, in January + 7C. So, the best time to stay is from September to December and from March to May.

How to get there?

There are regular flights between Europe and the Qatari capital Doha. Travel time is a little over five hours – it depends on where you're flying from. They also get to Doha through Istanbul: it takes a little longer in time, but the cost is lower.

Hotels in Qatar

Hotels in Qatar are comfortable with a high level of service. But unfortunately, there are practically no budget hotels in the country.

Cuisine

Traditional Qatari dishes are based on dates, camel milk, and butter. Tourists are offered meat and fish dishes, seafood (shrimp, crabs, lobster, tuna, and perch). The meat is halal. A popular traditional meal is a stew served with rice or seafood. In addition, travelers are suggested to examine chickpea puree with sesame seeds, grape leaves stuffed with rice, stuffed zucchini, lamb with rice and nuts. Among the desserts in Qatar are pistachio pudding and bread pudding with nuts and raisins. Qatar's traditional drinks are fruit waters, herbal teas, and coffee: weak, with a lot of sugar – “Bedouin style” and strong, without sugar, with cardamom or date pits – “Arabic”. Alcohol is not accepted in the country but is available in restaurants and hotels.

What to see?

An excellent place for a family vacation in Doha is the Corniche, which stretches seven kilometers along the Persian Gulf. Here is the principal city museum, an amusement park, an open theatre, green areas. Not far from the Corniche is one of the largest mosques in Qatar, built in the middle of the 20th century. Unfortunately, a tourist cannot go inside.

The oldest building in Qatar, Fort Doha, was built as a police station and later served as an impregnable prison. At the end of the 70s of the last century, it was transformed into a museum. It houses Qatari national handicrafts, plaster molds, old photographs, and modern paintings.

The Museum of Islamic Art is in the sea, 60 meters from the coast of Doha. It houses exhibits of the 17th-19th centuries: wood, glass, ceramics, collections of ancient coins and jewelry. Visiting the museum is free. Its terrace offers a beautiful view of the Persian Gulf. The best place to learn about the culture of a country is the market. In Qatar, this is Vagif. The complex itself is new, but with historical roots: the Bedouins sold their goods on this place. All the market buildings are made without modern building materials, only wood, stone, bamboo, straw, and clay.

In Doha, you should go to the “Gold Bazaar”. There are pendants, earrings, pearls, placers of stones, rings, gift sets of gold dishes, candlesticks, coins … When buying for the quality of goods, you don't have to worry. The Arab Museum of Contemporary Art “Mathaf” was created by the Sheikh of Qatar in 2010 to build an abandoned school. The museum contains about 6,000 exhibits. There is an inland sea in Qatar; it is a large bay formed due to the tides. The sea is home to endangered sea cows – dugongs and rare species of turtles.

The sixteen-meter Barzani tower served as a defensive structure for the valley. It also collected drinking water after the rain, and it had an ideal platform for observing the moon and stars. Desert Ghost Town – “Movie City”. The labyrinths of the deserted city streets were once a film set, but now they have become a place for excursions. Here the yellow colour of the walls merges with the sand. The only bright spot is the palms.

You can hide from the city noise in the silence of Aspire Park: many shops, artificial lakes and fountains, playgrounds, a fabulous jogging track and a family picnic on the green lawn. In addition, there is the opportunity to ride a jeep on the sands of the desert and visit the Bedouin camp, watch camel racing and falconry.

What souvenirs to bring?

From Qatar, tourists bring handicrafts, Korans, gold jewelry, daggers, Dal-la coffee pot, henna, Arabic lamps, hookahs, scrolls with Arabic script, rosary. There are many supermarkets and shopping centers where you can buy high-quality European goods at an affordable price. The list of traditional souvenirs includes carpets and tapestries of various sizes, decorated with oriental patterns. Market traders are compliant.

Visa

To travel to Qatar, European and the CIS countries need a visa issued upon arrival. Unmarried women under 30 are not allowed to enter. (Please check with your nearest travel agency)

Transport

The primary means of transportation in Qatar are taxis and private cars. Most of the locals prefer expensive cars – Mercedes, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini. Urban public transport is represented by buses and minibuses, but they run exceptionally rarely and irregularly. You can also rent a car in Doha. When renting a car, you can use an international driver's license in the first week of your stay, but you should apply for a local temporary permit in the future. A credit card and passport are required for renting to confirm age. The movement is right-hand. Petrol is cheap, SUVs are in vogue.

Currency

The monetary unit is the Qatari rial. US dollars are suitable; you can exchange them in banks, shops, private “exchangers”. Credit cards of the world's major payment systems are accepted everywhere. ATM machines are in all major shopping centers and hotels. (Attention! Friday is a non-working day for all organizations).

Time

The Time zone in Qatar is (GMT+3).

Language

The official language is Arabic. English is common.

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