Qatar Blog

Completely different from its reputation (especially regarding the World Cup in Winter 2022), there are exciting things to discover here by the Arabian Gulf or in the desert. Experiences like kayaking, relaxing with yoga on a hotel helicopter landing pad, or culinary excellence in one of the many outstanding restaurants. You can enjoy all this in the incredibly wealthy country.

The mix of modernity and tradition can still be found here in Doha. In stark contrast to the more touristy places in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. The skyline is not yet as impressive as in the other desert states but is gradually catching up. The richest country in the world has one thing in abundance: luxury, desert and sand, camels, state-of-the-art hotels and shopping malls, as well as some quite interesting museums.

Here you will find my travel reports and useful information for a trip to Qatar. Explore the country yourself and try to interact with locals (getting a Qatari passport is not so easy) and form your own opinion.

Doha in Qatar: The most beautiful highlights and best travel tips

Qatar excursions - The best tours in the desert state

Before oil and gas fields were discovered, Qatar relied on the pearl industry: A coral reef surrounds the emirate, stretching 160 km from north to south and 80 km from west to east. Those times are long gone, as artificial pearls have long been cheaper to acquire.

Almost the entire land area consists of sandy and saline deserts. Toward Saudi Arabia, large sand dunes rise. Along the sea, you will find some kilometers-long deserted dream beaches. The most important sights are located in Doha, but you will also find some outside the city.

Qatar is not without controversy. Since the awarding of the 2022 World Cup, daily reports about undignified working conditions for Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis flooded in. There are said to have been many deaths, simply because they worked hard to ensure that the stadiums were finished on time and that enough hotels were available by 2022.

Laws were changed in 2017, and working conditions were made humane. Work is now mainly done at night during cooler temperatures. Workers are paid more fairly. A small step in the right direction. You can listen to all the details in the really good podcast on the topic.

Many of my friends would never travel to Qatar for various reasons. My former colleague has even been living in Doha for three years (for work). Like her, I am also curious and like to form my own opinion. Honestly: Which country is completely correct? The USA, Philippines, or China? Traveling educates and often shows me different perspectives than those presented in the media. So I agreed when I got the request about your trip to Qatar.

I don't regret it. Because what I saw on-site were not only open-minded residents who were always friendly - even towards us women - even if we only interacted with men.

I was able to experience many of their traditions, and I interrogated our guide Hameed, who doesn't hold a Qatari passport but was born here, about everything I wanted to know. Not only about religious topics but also about marriage, family, and what it's like to run a company here. The pride of the Qataris is great, as only they actually possess a passport.

Hameed is Palestinian. His parents were also born in Doha. However, they are also not allowed to hold a Qatari passport, which comes with additional 'bonuses' such as a house, free water and electricity, and other benefits.

Not everyone wants to understand the traditions, but at least they should be respected. My conclusion about the journey can be found at the end of this article.

Unfortunately, there is no travel guide solely for Qatar. This will surely change as the FIFA World Cup 2022 takes place in Qatar, and more sights, museums, and hotels are opening.

I was happy with the DuMont Travel Guide to the Arabian Peninsula. This contains a substantial chapter for Qatar. If you are planning trips to Abu Dhabi, Oman, or Dubai, you can find additional current tips and information in this guide.

Buy travel guide on Amazon

Qatar Airways (in my opinion, the best airline at present) brings you comfortably with direct flights from Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich to Doha.

To enter Qatar, you only need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months.

To get the most up-to-date information, I recommend checking the Foreign Office.

Note: If you have German citizenship with a migration background from an Arab country, the Foreign Office advises checking with the embassy in Qatar to see if you need to apply for a visa before your trip to ensure that you are not denied entry.

Local Qataris would never take the metro, and expats wouldn't either. Nevertheless, it is an optimal way for you to get around and avoid the heat. It operates within the city (not on The Pearl). A ride costs only 50 cents; for 1.50 euros, you can even get a day ticket.

The metro runs daily from 6 AM to 11 PM. On Thursdays until 11:59 PM, only on Fridays from 2 PM - 11:59 PM.

Here you can visit this website for more information about the metro.

A rental car is worth it if you don't want to go around like I did with locals. We traveled with Q-Explorer (Hameed). To rent a car, you need an international driving license in addition to your German license.

I always book rental cars through Sunny Cars, as they automatically include an additional driver at no extra charge. Also, the mileage is unlimited.

The roads in Qatar are excellent. Drivers often speed, even though speed cameras are set up every few meters. Especially during lane changes, you should be careful. Otherwise, we often found ourselves in traffic jams, as the major roads in Qatar are often ruthlessly congested. Here, everyone drives a car (except perhaps guest workers).

Public transport does exist, but buses were always empty, leaving us to wonder who actually uses them, except for teenagers without a driver's license.

If you want to drive into the desert, never do so alone. Go in a convoy and only with a four-wheel-drive vehicle and adjusted tire pressure. Make sure to have enough fuel and drinking water supplies with you.

The crime rate is very low. Nevertheless, the usual precautions should be taken, especially when visiting the Souq Waqif. Because pickpockets exist everywhere. We felt very safe.

Arabic is spoken in Qatar. However, almost everyone can speak English fluently.

The official currency is the Qatari Riyal. 1 Euro is approximately equal to 4.5 QAR. You can now pay almost everywhere with a credit card, even in the Souq Waqif.

Currently, the best free credit cards for travel are the DKB Bank Debit Card, GenialCard (Hanseatic Bank), and the TF Bank Mastercard Gold. With a setup of at least 2 of these cards, you can almost always withdraw money for free abroad and pay on-site without incurring foreign fees in foreign currencies! -> Here you can find all tips based on my experience for the best travel credit cards in comparison.

As Islam is the state religion, it also applies here: Friday is a day of rest. The weekend is therefore Friday and Saturday, with the new week starting on Sunday.

Be considerate of cultural, social, and religious traditions. Dress appropriately, meaning no short dresses or pants. It's best to wear long pants (linen pants) and no tank tops.

Women must cover their hair when entering mosques. Therefore, I always pack a scarf.

For the inside of buildings, I advise packing a light vest, jacket, or long-sleeve shirt. The air conditioning is often way too cold (at least for me).

By the way, women here are not subject to any restrictions. They are allowed to drive cars and be in public without a male companion. We saw many women with their children in the playgrounds along the Corniche after dark. Because only then do the temperatures become pleasant.

Everyone wonders if it is Qatar or Katar. The answer: In English, "Qatar" is correct; in German, "Katar" would be correct. Since I found the country written with a 'Q' almost everywhere, and the airline is also written with a 'Q', I decided on the English spelling.

Here I have marked all the places on the map of Qatar, so you can get a better orientation.

The journey showed me many facets of Qatar. The country may still be quite contrary in some respects, especially culturally, we 'Westerners' cannot grasp many things. This is not only the case in Qatar. However, the country offers much more than just tradition and the glittering skyline of Doha.

Here, there are mangrove forests where you can paddle a kayak, as well as sandy deserts and other smaller towns and oases. Qatar is more diverse than I thought. Of course, the modern architecture of the buildings is an absolute eye-catcher and a highlight for me.

Meanwhile, I enjoyed the local cuisine with many influences from Lebanon, Afghanistan, and other Arab countries: Hummus, meze, falafel, and tabbouleh were part of every meal.

I came as a curious tourist and am going home with many more questions in my mind. What I never thought I'd say: I wanted to see so many more places but unfortunately didn't have the time.

I have no regrets about this trip. What I experienced in Qatar was not only rich in tradition but also modern architecture with style, culinary excursions from market to Michelin star chef! Anyone traveling to Qatar experiences two worlds!

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