Qatar
Asia · Doha · QA
Qatar is the small, hyper-modern peninsula nation of the Gulf, a desert emirate that has transformed its oil and gas wealth into the gleaming towers, the cultural ambitions and the enormous events of the recent decades, while its capital, Doha, is among the most rapidly changing cities on earth. The skyline of the capital rises along the bay, and the museums of the country, the national museum with its desert-rose galleries and the Islamic art museum of the waterfront, have put the country on the cultural map of the region. The inland desert, the dunes of the south and the beaches of the coast hold the outdoor life, and the old souqs and the pearl-fishing heritage of the peninsula keep the memory of the pre-oil era. Fast, wealthy, devout and astonishingly photogenic, Qatar is the Gulf state remade in a single generation and a genuine new destination.
Overview
Qatar is a country in Asia. Its capital is Doha and the international dialling code is +974. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Arabic. Local currency is the Qatari Riyal (QAR). Our guide covers 1 airport, including Hamad International Airport. We also list 1 city in Qatar: Doha.
The Corniche of the Capital and the Skyline of the Bay
The capital of Doha curves its two great districts around the bay of its name, the new city of the tall towers on one side and the old town of the souqs on the other, and the whole thing is tied together by the corniche, the long waterfront promenade that runs the edge of the bay. The skyline of the capital, the modern towers of the west bay district, rises across the water, and the monuments of the bay, the pearl monument and the traditional dhows of the harbour, keep the link to the sea. The marinas of the new yachts and the beaches and the parks of the shore fill the evenings of the season, and the sunsets over the bay, with the skyline reflecting in the water, give the capital its most photographed hour. The corniche is the public heart of the city.
The Museums of the Peninsula and the New Culture
The museums of Qatar have become the great cultural statements of the Gulf, and the Islamic art museum, the striking building of the waterfront, holds one of the finest collections of the Islamic world, its manuscripts and its ceramics stretching back a thousand years, all housed in a gallery that is itself a masterpiece of the design. The national museum of the country, built around the desert rose of the old palace, tells the story of the peninsula from the pearl divers and the bedouin to the gas and the glass of the present, and its galleries wrap the visitor in the films and the objects of the nation's memory. The galleries and the art spaces of the new districts hold the contemporary work of the region, and the cultural island of the capital completes the picture. It is a genuine new museum world.
The Desert of the Dunes and the Sea of the Inland Inlet
The desert of the south of the peninsula, the red sands of the region that run toward the borders of the neighbour, holds the classic four-wheel-drive country of Qatar, and the dune drives of the area, the crest runs and the descents of the range, give the desert its adrenalin and its beauty. The inland sea, the Khor al Adaid, the deep inlet where the sea cuts into the desert from the far side, is the great sight of the south, and the sand of its shores meets the water of the Gulf in the landscape of the travel posters. The camps of the desert, the overnight encampments of the season, run the grills, the falcons and the sleeping beneath the stars in the quiet of the dunes. The night sky of the desert is the darkest and the purest of the country.
The Souqs and the Traditional Heart of the Old City
The old heart of the capital, the souq Waqif standing at the edge of the new city, has been rebuilt into the traditional market of the country, and its covered lanes sell the spices, the perfumes, the textiles and the falcons of the whole region. The falcon souq of the market, with its majestic birds and its own hospital, and the pet market of the corner give the market its particular flavour, and the teahouses and the restaurants of the lanes fill the tables of the evening. The old courtyard houses and the boutique hotels of the souq have been restored, and the alleyways of the market, at once traditional and tourist-ready, hold the sense of the older Doha. The souq is the living memory of the capital, and its evenings are the most atmospheric of the city.
The Beaches, the Falcons and the Islands of the Coast
The coast of the peninsula, the long, shallow shore that runs around the whole country, holds the beaches, the mangroves and the mudflats of the Gulf, and the beaches of the north, the sands of the Sealine and the quiet shores of the Fuwairit, fill with the families and the campers of the cooler months. The mangroves of the north coast, the channels of the Al Thakira, hold the kayaking and the bird life of the wetlands, and the developed islands of the shore, the palm and the pearl of the modern era, hold the marinas and the restaurants of the new city. The falconry of the country, the ancient sport of the peninsula, is preserved in the shows and the hospitals of the capital. The coast of Qatar, calm, shallow and warm, is the year-round face of the peninsula.
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- Capital
- Doha
- Currency
- Qatari Riyal (QAR)
- Languages
- Arabic
- Calling code
- +974
- Internet TLD
- qa
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Qatar.
Which nationalities can enter Qatar?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Airports (1)
All airports →Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Qatar?
For the origins we track, Qatar requires a visa for tourism (Australia: visa on arrival, Canada: visa on arrival, India: e-visa, Japan: visa on arrival and Morocco: e-visa). Entry rules depend on your passport, so confirm the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of Qatar?
Doha is the capital of Qatar, and the country sits in Asia.
What currency is used in Qatar?
You pay with Qatari Riyal (QAR) in Qatar. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Qatar?
The languages we list for Qatar are Arabic. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Qatar?
The dialling code for Qatar is +974 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve Qatar?
Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha is the airport we cover for Qatar.
Which cities in Qatar do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Qatar: Doha (capital).