About Qatar
The State of Qatar is one of the most exciting countries in the Middle East, with a predominantly young population, an expanding economy, and the pace of modernization quickening every year.
It is the home of Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel and of Qatar Foundation's Education City, one of the most ambitious and far-reaching centers for education and research in the Middle East. A peninsula of some 5,000 square miles, Qatar has a landscape of sand dunes in the south and flat, rocky desert with scattered cultivation in the north.
Read more about Qatar here.
Time Zone
GMT/UTC +3
Languages
Arabic is the national language, but English is also widely spoken.
Telephone
The country code for Qatar is +974. City or area codes are not used.
Emergency
The emergency phone number is 999.
Currency
The national currency is the Qatari riyal (QR), equivalent to $1 U.S. purchases QR3.65 (fixed rate). The QR is divided into 100 dirhams. Most major establishments accept major credit cards; some will accept U.S. dollars. Banknotes are available in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 10, 5, and 1. Currency exchange can be done at the airport, at currency exchange dealers, and at banks.
Electricity
Voltage is 240 AC at 50 cycles. As for electrical sockets, British-style plugs with one grounding pin and two flat blades are used. Indian/South African-style plugs with two circular metal pins above a large circular grounding pin can also be used.
Climate
The country has a moderate desert climate with hot summers and mild winters. Winter nights can be cool, but temperatures rarely drop below 7°C. Humidity levels can be extremely high on the coast during the summer months. Rainfall is scarce (average 70 mm per year), falling on isolated days, mainly between October and March.
Qatar Culture
While in Qatar, one is required to dress modestly in public. Women should wear loose clothing that covers their arms and legs, as it is considered respectful to local culture and traditions. Men should avoid wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts in public. Local laws in Qatar reflect the fact that Qatar is an Islamic country. The penalties for possession of, or trade in, drugs are severe, often resulting in imprisonment. Alcohol cannot be imported into the country and it is a punishable offense to drink alcohol in public, except at designated hotel bars.
Public displays of affection between men and women are prohibited. During Ramadan, eating, drinking, and smoking between sunrise and sunset are forbidden for Muslims. Non-Muslims, too, are expected to refrain from eating, drinking, or smoking in public between sunrise and sunset. There are some large establishments, including five-star hotels, that cater to non-Muslims during these times.
Read more about Qatari culture here.
Visa Information
The Ministry of Interior offers several immediate on-arrival visas at the airport. This visa offers entry to the country without the need to obtain a visa in advance. You may check your visa eligibility at the link here. More information about on-arrival visas can be found here.
Qatar Airport
Hamad International Airport (HIA) is the international airport of Doha, the capital city of Qatar. Learn more about airport facilities and services here.
Gratuities
An average restaurant tip is 10%, although some restaurants automatically add a service charge to the bill. Tipping of bellmen, hotel doormen, tour guides, taxi drivers, etc., is done at an individual’s preference.
Transportation Options
The local taxi, Karwa, is available for hire. Additionally, the ride-hailing service Uber is widely used in Qatar.
Read more about the Karwa taxi service here.
Hotels
Qatar has numerous hotel options to choose from; online bookings can be done via websites such as Agoda or TripAdvisor.
However, the following hotel is offering special rates for all attendees of METC.
InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa: To book your group rate for the METC 2025 Conference, please reach out to:
marya.lokapishvili@ihg.com
reservations.icdoha@ihg.com
Places to See
Qatar is well-known for its towering skyscrapers, luxury hotels, and impressive museums, including the iconic Museum of Islamic Art and the National Museum of Qatar. Please see links below for more information about places to see and things to do in Qatar during your visit:
This information is available for download here