Qatar Travel Guide

Language

Arabic is the official language, but English is widely used.

Currency

The official currency is the Qatari Riyal (QAR), which divides into 100 dirhams. The Riyal exchange rate is pegged to the US Dollar at QR 3.65. Money and travelers checks can be exchanged at banks, the airport and exchange dealers. To avoid additional charges it is best to take travelers checks in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. The main bank branches are on Grand Hamad Street in Doha. Banks are open Saturday to Thursday 8am to 1pm and some are open into the evening. ATMs are available on the main streets of the cities and towns, at banks and in shopping malls and most shops, hotels and restaurants accept international credit cards.

3.6425

Time

Local time is GMT +3.

Electricity

Electrical current is 240/415 volts AC; 50Hz. Round pin plugs with grounding and rectangular blade plugs are in use.

Communications

The international access 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. There are numerous Internet cafes in Doha. The country is well covered by the Q-Tel GSM 900/1800 mobile phone network. As of July 28th 2010, telephone numbers in Qatar gain an extra digit by repeating the first number (ie. 522-2222 becomes 5522-2222).

Duty-Free

Travelers to Qatar do not have to pay duty on tobacco products and perfume for personal use. Alcohol may not be imported under any circumstances. Prohibited items include wild birds, without an import authorization from Ministry of Agriculture and Municipal Affairs (MMAA). Travelers are also prohibited from importing pork-related products and pornographic or sexually explicit material.

Tourist Office

Qatar Tourism Authority, Doha: +974 4441 1555 or www.qatartourism.com

Embassies in Qatar

• United States Embassy, Doha: +974 4488 4101.
• British Embassy, Doha: +974 4496 2000.
• Canadian Embassy, Safat, Kuwait (also responsible for Qatar): +965 2256 3025.
• Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (also responsible for Qatar): +971 (02) 401 7500.
• South African Embassy, Doha: +974 4485 7111.
• Irish Embassy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (also responisible for Qatar): +966 (0)1 488 2300.
• New Zealand Embassy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (also responsible for Qatar): +966 (0)1 488 7988.

Qatar Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of Qatar, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Canada).: +1 202 274 1600.
• Embassy of Qatar, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7493 2200.
• Embassy of Qatar, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Canada).: +1 202 274 1600.
• Embassy of Qatar, Tokyo, Japan (responsible for Australia): +81 (3)5475 0611/0613.
• Embassy of Qatar, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 452 1700/ 346 4329/ 346 6299.
• Embassy of Qatar, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7493 2200.
• Embassy of Qatar, Tokyo, Japan (responsible for New Zealand): +81 (3)5475 0611/0613.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999/118

Language

Arabic is the official language, but English is widely used.

Currency

The official currency is the Qatari Riyal (QAR), which divides into 100 dirhams. The Riyal exchange rate is pegged to the US Dollar at QR 3.65. Money and travelers checks can be exchanged at banks, the airport and exchange dealers. To avoid additional charges it is best to take travelers checks in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. The main bank branches are on Grand Hamad Street in Doha. Banks are open Saturday to Thursday 8am to 1pm and some are open into the evening. ATMs are available on the main streets of the cities and towns, at banks and in shopping malls and most shops, hotels and restaurants accept international credit cards.

3.6425

Time

Local time is GMT +3.

Electricity

Electrical current is 240/415 volts AC; 50Hz. Round pin plugs with grounding and rectangular blade plugs are in use.

Communications

The international access 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. There are numerous Internet cafes in Doha. The country is well covered by the Q-Tel GSM 900/1800 mobile phone network. As of July 28th 2010, telephone numbers in Qatar gain an extra digit by repeating the first number (ie. 522-2222 becomes 5522-2222).

Duty-Free

Travelers to Qatar do not have to pay duty on tobacco products and perfume for personal use. Alcohol may not be imported under any circumstances. Prohibited items include wild birds, without an import authorization from Ministry of Agriculture and Municipal Affairs (MMAA). Travelers are also prohibited from importing pork-related products and pornographic or sexually explicit material.

Tourist Office

Qatar Tourism Authority, Doha: +974 4441 1555 or www.qatartourism.com

Embassies in Qatar

• United States Embassy, Doha: +974 4488 4101.
• British Embassy, Doha: +974 4496 2000.
• Canadian Embassy, Safat, Kuwait (also responsible for Qatar): +965 2256 3025.
• Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (also responsible for Qatar): +971 (02) 401 7500.
• South African Embassy, Doha: +974 4485 7111.
• Irish Embassy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (also responisible for Qatar): +966 (0)1 488 2300.
• New Zealand Embassy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (also responsible for Qatar): +966 (0)1 488 7988.

Qatar Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of Qatar, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Canada).: +1 202 274 1600.
• Embassy of Qatar, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7493 2200.
• Embassy of Qatar, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Canada).: +1 202 274 1600.
• Embassy of Qatar, Tokyo, Japan (responsible for Australia): +81 (3)5475 0611/0613.
• Embassy of Qatar, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 452 1700/ 346 4329/ 346 6299.
• Embassy of Qatar, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7493 2200.
• Embassy of Qatar, Tokyo, Japan (responsible for New Zealand): +81 (3)5475 0611/0613.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999/118

Language

Arabic is the official language, but English is widely used.

Currency

The official currency is the Qatari Riyal (QAR), which divides into 100 dirhams. The Riyal exchange rate is pegged to the US Dollar at QR 3.65. Money and travelers checks can be exchanged at banks, the airport and exchange dealers. To avoid additional charges it is best to take travelers checks in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. The main bank branches are on Grand Hamad Street in Doha. Banks are open Saturday to Thursday 8am to 1pm and some are open into the evening. ATMs are available on the main streets of the cities and towns, at banks and in shopping malls and most shops, hotels and restaurants accept international credit cards.

3.6425

Time

Local time is GMT +3.

Electricity

Electrical current is 240/415 volts AC; 50Hz. Round pin plugs with grounding and rectangular blade plugs are in use.

Communications

The international access 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. There are numerous Internet cafes in Doha. The country is well covered by the Q-Tel GSM 900/1800 mobile phone network. As of July 28th 2010, telephone numbers in Qatar gain an extra digit by repeating the first number (ie. 522-2222 becomes 5522-2222).

Duty-Free

Travelers to Qatar do not have to pay duty on tobacco products and perfume for personal use. Alcohol may not be imported under any circumstances. Prohibited items include wild birds, without an import authorization from Ministry of Agriculture and Municipal Affairs (MMAA). Travelers are also prohibited from importing pork-related products and pornographic or sexually explicit material.

Tourist Office

Qatar Tourism Authority, Doha: +974 4441 1555 or www.qatartourism.com

Embassies in Qatar

• United States Embassy, Doha: +974 4488 4101.
• British Embassy, Doha: +974 4496 2000.
• Canadian Embassy, Safat, Kuwait (also responsible for Qatar): +965 2256 3025.
• Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (also responsible for Qatar): +971 (02) 401 7500.
• South African Embassy, Doha: +974 4485 7111.
• Irish Embassy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (also responisible for Qatar): +966 (0)1 488 2300.
• New Zealand Embassy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (also responsible for Qatar): +966 (0)1 488 7988.

Qatar Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of Qatar, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Canada).: +1 202 274 1600.
• Embassy of Qatar, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7493 2200.
• Embassy of Qatar, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Canada).: +1 202 274 1600.
• Embassy of Qatar, Tokyo, Japan (responsible for Australia): +81 (3)5475 0611/0613.
• Embassy of Qatar, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 452 1700/ 346 4329/ 346 6299.
• Embassy of Qatar, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7493 2200.
• Embassy of Qatar, Tokyo, Japan (responsible for New Zealand): +81 (3)5475 0611/0613.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999/118

Language

Arabic is the official language, but English is widely used.

Currency

The official currency is the Qatari Riyal (QAR), which divides into 100 dirhams. The Riyal exchange rate is pegged to the US Dollar at QR 3.65. Money and travelers checks can be exchanged at banks, the airport and exchange dealers. To avoid additional charges it is best to take travelers checks in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. The main bank branches are on Grand Hamad Street in Doha. Banks are open Saturday to Thursday 8am to 1pm and some are open into the evening. ATMs are available on the main streets of the cities and towns, at banks and in shopping malls and most shops, hotels and restaurants accept international credit cards.

3.6425

Time

Local time is GMT +3.

Electricity

Electrical current is 240/415 volts AC; 50Hz. Round pin plugs with grounding and rectangular blade plugs are in use.

Communications

The international access 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. There are numerous Internet cafes in Doha. The country is well covered by the Q-Tel GSM 900/1800 mobile phone network. As of July 28th 2010, telephone numbers in Qatar gain an extra digit by repeating the first number (ie. 522-2222 becomes 5522-2222).

Duty-Free

Travelers to Qatar do not have to pay duty on tobacco products and perfume for personal use. Alcohol may not be imported under any circumstances. Prohibited items include wild birds, without an import authorization from Ministry of Agriculture and Municipal Affairs (MMAA). Travelers are also prohibited from importing pork-related products and pornographic or sexually explicit material.

Tourist Office

Qatar Tourism Authority, Doha: +974 4441 1555 or www.qatartourism.com

Embassies in Qatar

• United States Embassy, Doha: +974 4488 4101.
• British Embassy, Doha: +974 4496 2000.
• Canadian Embassy, Safat, Kuwait (also responsible for Qatar): +965 2256 3025.
• Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (also responsible for Qatar): +971 (02) 401 7500.
• South African Embassy, Doha: +974 4485 7111.
• Irish Embassy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (also responisible for Qatar): +966 (0)1 488 2300.
• New Zealand Embassy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (also responsible for Qatar): +966 (0)1 488 7988.

Qatar Embassies Abroad

• Embassy of Qatar, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Canada).: +1 202 274 1600.
• Embassy of Qatar, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7493 2200.
• Embassy of Qatar, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Canada).: +1 202 274 1600.
• Embassy of Qatar, Tokyo, Japan (responsible for Australia): +81 (3)5475 0611/0613.
• Embassy of Qatar, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 452 1700/ 346 4329/ 346 6299.
• Embassy of Qatar, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7493 2200.
• Embassy of Qatar, Tokyo, Japan (responsible for New Zealand): +81 (3)5475 0611/0613.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999/118