Qatar is a relatively new tourist spot, but travellers boarding flights to Qatar arrive in a country full of lavish new hotels, ancient architecture and some of the best scenery in the region. Historically a country that kept to itself, Qatar witnessed the money that tourism brought its neighbours and decided to open its doors to travellers.

Qatar’s capital city Doha is less travelled and remains a quiet location in the area. Travellers heading to Doha should visit the National Museum before heading back to their resort towns. The museum is located inside the palace of former ruler Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohammed and boasts a large aquarium and Qatar artefacts that tell the story of this quiet country.

Today, Qatar has become a popular tourist destination thanks to the opulent five-star hotels and tax-free shopping available to travellers. As the country boasts its tourism industry, new hotels and attractions are constantly being built and cheap flights to Qatar are always easy to come by.

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Qatar Climate

The sun shines virtually every day in Qatar, and rainfall is almost non-existent, averaging about three inches a year, this falling only in winter. Summers are sizzling hot by day, and warm at night, temperatures often hitting 40 degrees Celsius or above. Winters are only slightly cooler by day, but can be very chilly at night.

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When to Fly to Qatar

Peak Season:
The best time to book a flight to Qatar is between October and April. Winter-sun lovers and divers should note that the sea is coolest in December and January.

The Eid al-Adha, when Muslims make the haji (a pilgrimage to Mecca), is held around March.

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Getting Around Qatar

There is only one airport, Doha International Airport, for travellers taking flights to Qatar. Although a new airport is being built to the east of DIA.

The Qatar Transport Company (Arabic name is Mowasalat) operates taxis, known as Karwa, throughout Doha, the capital. The taxis can be booked in advance or hailed from the street or at a taxi rank.

The best way to get around Qatar is by car, either 4X4 or with a car and driver. Cars can be rented easily at the airport (Avis, Hertz, Sixt, Thrifty, Budget, Europcar, Mustafawi) and taxis are a cheap option too. As befits an oil-producing nation, petrol is inexpensive.

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Qatar Insider Information

  • The warm waters of the Arabian Gulf are a draw for divers. Visibility is generally 65-100ft, but the best months are between July and September. This is when land temperatures are at their hottest (up to 50 degrees Celsius) however. Some of the best dive sites are Kalbuh, Fahal Island, Cemetery Bay, and the Dimaaniyat Islands. There is an abundance of marine life: sharks, dolphins, turtles, grouper, coral and sea anemones among others.
  • The protected (it was very nearly extinct) Arabian Oryx, a type of antelope, lives on a farm in Shahaniya. The animal is probably the closest thing to a unicorn. Falconry is the ancient sport of the Bedouin. The birds were used to hunt game in the past – they can fly faster than 50 miles per hour – but it is still an important sporting activity. The hunting season extends from October to March.
  • Desert safari in a 4X4 can be a white-knuckle ride as the drivers weave their way through the sand dunes. This is one way of getting to the beautiful inland sea, which is an inlet of the Arabian Gulf that runs along the border. It almost cuts Qatar off from the Saudi Arabian Peninsula.
  • In Doha, take a turn around the Corniche, a four mile-long stretch of coastline by the Arabian Gulf. Doha’s souk is small, but still worth a look.
  • Take a dhow (traditional boat) to Palmtree Island, a man-made island in the bay of Doha.
  • Al Zubara Fort in the north west looks like the type of place to have French Legioniers patrolling around. It was built in 1938 and is considered to be Qatar’s best-preserved fort. It was in operation until the middle of the 1980s, and is now a regional museum housing pottery and other artifacts.

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Qatar Airports

The main airport for travellers taking flights to Qatar is:

Doha Airport (DOH) (website: www.dohaairport.com) is five miles southeast of the city (travel time – 25 minutes).

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Passport/Visa

Visitors on tourist visas must use Qatar Airways to enter the country. Visitors should have tickets or documents for return or onward travel and sufficient funds to cover their stay, as well as proof of reserved hotel accommodation and a major credit card or a minimum of US$1400 (£700) if on a tourist visa. All require passports valid for at least six months. Those arriving with visas for Oman do not require an additional visa for Qatar.

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Entry Requirements

British passport holders whose passports are endorsed, British Citizen' may obtain a visa on arrival, allowing for a 21-day tourist visit (£7), or seven-day business visit (£10). Business visas require 48 hours' notice. Holders of other British passports are permitted 14-day tourist visas or seven-day business visas on the same conditions.

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Cheap flights to Qatar

London (LHR) to Doha, Qatar (DOH)
from£250RTwith CheapfaresRus.com
London (LHR) to Doha, Qatar (DOH)
from£319RTwith Netflights.com
London (LHR) to Doha, Qatar (DOH)
from£339RTwith British Airways
London (LHR) to Doha, Qatar (DOH)
from£353RTwith Dial-A-Flight
London (LHR) to Doha, Qatar (DOH)
from£425RTwith Crystal Travel
London (LHR) to Doha, Qatar (DOH)
from£346RTwith Asda Travel
London (LHR) to Doha, Qatar (DOH)
from£320RTwith Opodo
London (LHR) to Doha, Qatar (DOH)
from£355RTwith Benz Travel

Approx flight times

London to Doha:
6 hr 55 mins
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In-flight Reading

Oil and Politics in the Gulf: Rulers and Merchants in Kuwait and Qatar

Jill CrystalQatar was a British dependency, but since its oil reserves have been accessed, has undergone a radical transformation. In this book, Crystal looks at the transition from “pearling to petroleum”.

A History of the Arab Peoples

Albert HouraniReadable. In this book Hourani, a university professor, describes the Arabs’ cultural, religious and political traditions.

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Contributors to this guide: Word Travels, World Airport Guide, Cheapflights

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