How Things Work in Qatar

Tipping 10–15% is appreciated at restaurants, though many include a service charge; hotel staff expect 10–20 QAR, and Uber or Karwa taxi drivers don't require a tip.

Updated 2025-06

Doha has a modern, clean metro with three lines (Gold, Red, Green) that connects major attractions and Hamad International Airport.

Updated 2025-06

Qatar has excellent hospitals including Hamad Medical Corporation (public) and top private hospitals, with English widely spoken at all major facilities.

Updated 2025-06

Qatar has strict laws around alcohol, drugs, public behavior, LGBT relationships, and criticism of the government — violations can mean arrest or deportation.

Updated 2025-06

Dial 999 for police, ambulance, or fire in Qatar; the dedicated tourist police hotline is 800-NAHR.

Updated 2025-06

Cover shoulders and knees in all public areas; beachwear is acceptable at beaches and hotel pools, and no full-face veil is required of tourists.

Updated 2025-06

Alcohol is only available at licensed hotel bars and restaurants; it is completely banned in all public spaces, and tourists cannot purchase from the Qatar Distribution Company.

Updated 2025-06

Bargaining is possible in Souq Waqif and the gold souq but most modern malls and tourist shops have fixed prices.

Updated 2025-06

The Doha skyline and tourist sites are freely photographable, but photographing government buildings, palaces, military sites, and people without consent is illegal.

Updated 2025-06

Qatar's weekend is Friday–Saturday; most malls and tourist venues are open seven days a week, but prayer times cause brief closures and Ramadan dramatically shifts all hours.

Updated 2025-06

Karwa metered taxis and Uber are the main options; both are reliable, widely available, and generally honest.

Updated 2025-06

Tap water is technically safe but heavily desalinated and chemical-tasting — most residents and tourists drink bottled water, which is cheap and widely available.

Updated 2025-06

Qatar is largely cashless in modern venues — Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted — but cash is still needed at some souq vendors and smaller shops.

Updated 2025-06

Tourist SIMs from Ooredoo and Vodafone Qatar are available at Hamad International Airport and require your passport; 5G coverage is excellent across the country.

Updated 2025-06

Qatar uses Type G (British 3-pin) plugs at 240V/50Hz — UK visitors need no adapter, but US and most European visitors will need one.

Updated 2025-06

Qatar has very low scam rates overall, though some tourist restaurants overprice and occasional taxis overcharge if the meter is skipped.

Updated 2025-06

Qatar is one of the world's safest countries with extremely low crime rates — petty theft is almost unheard of and violent crime against tourists is exceptionally rare.

Updated 2025-06

Accept offered gahwa (coffee) and dates, dress modestly, avoid rushing hosts, and observe Ramadan rules carefully — Qatar values hospitality and measured formality.

Updated 2025-06

Arabic is the official language but English is very widely spoken throughout Doha due to the large expat population — most tourist interactions require no Arabic at all.

Updated 2025-06

Qatar has accessible public and resort beaches on the Persian Gulf with warm water year-round; modest swimwear is expected at public beaches.

Updated 2025-06

Drive on the right; an international driving license is valid; traffic in Doha is heavy with speed cameras everywhere, but petrol is extremely cheap.

Updated 2025-06

Qatar offers excellent local cuisine including machboos and harees alongside a vast international food scene, but all food is halal and pork is unavailable.

Updated 2025-06

The State Mosque (Grand Mosque) welcomes non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times with proper dress; robes and head coverings are provided at the entrance.

Updated 2025-06

Visit November to March for comfortable outdoor weather; summers (May–September) are brutally hot at 45°C+ and largely unsuitable for outdoor sightseeing.

Updated 2025-06

Qatar is expensive overall, but cheap shawarma restaurants near the Corniche, free beach access, free entry to Souq Waqif, and using Careem over Karwa taxis all help reduce costs.

Updated 2025-06