Qatar Travel Guide, News and Information

Important Things To Know

Currency

The Qatari Riyal, or QAR, is the national currency used in Qatar.

A single Qatari Riyal is divided into 100 Dirhams.

The Qatari Riyal is pegged to the US Dollar at a fixed exchange rate making it a strong currency.

National Languages

Arabic is the national language used in Qatar and has two dialects. These are Qatari Arabic and the Gulf Arabic used by the locals.

There’s also Qatari sign language for those who have a loss of hearing.

We also found that English is spoken for the benefit of conducting business and tourism.

Other languages spoken in Qatar include Farsi, Urdu, Malayalam, and Balochi.

Climate And Weather

Qatar is known for having a somewhat desert climate. This means you can expect long summers with dry heat.

During the summer, Qatar can experience scorching temperatures above 113°F (45°C).

Wintertime is more welcoming to those who aren’t used to the heat, with temperatures dropping below 41°F (5°C).

Rainfall isn’t uncommon either with the northern parts of the country having around 30% more rain than the south side.

When To Visit Qatar

Desert scape in the late afternoon casting shadows

View atop a sand dune in southern Qatar. (Photo by Scott Laird)

We consider the period between November and March the best time to head over to Qatar. It’ll be winter during that time, so the weather isn’t too extreme.

Most of the festivities and cultural events happen during this time so expect to see many foreigners.

The Katara Traditional Dhow Festival is one of the biggest celebrations during this time. You can see dancers, and singers, and enjoy traditional Qatari eats.

Dress Code

There isn’t a particular dress code in Qatar, but visitors to the country need to dress respectfully.

The majority of the population is Muslim and we recommend that you dress in a style that’s sensitive to the religion and culture.

However, we have found that certain areas where clubs and bars are constantly booming aren’t too strict about what you wear.

However, in general, when walking around Qatar, you should respect the Islamic culture in your attire.

Best Places To Stay In Qatar

National Museum of Qatar (Photo by Scott Laird)

Doha is the capital city and is one of the top places to stay in Qatar. The city is filled with skyscrapers and shopping malls, and it makes for the perfect home base. You can easily arrange day trips from here to see the rest of Qatar.

Lusai is another great option. It’s a marina that’s home to festivals like the Qatar Motorcycle Grand Prix and is very welcoming toward tourists.

Al Ruwais is a city filled with historical structures and is known as the fishing center of Qatar. This means that there are plenty of harbors and ships for boat and sea enthusiasts.

Umm Salal Mohammed is last on our list and is one of our favorite places to stay in Qatar. This town is located in the desert where you will find many activities and landmarks. The activities include dune bashing and ATV racing.