Your full Wanderlust guide to
Qatar
With its sky’s-the-limit ambition and oil boom wealth, Qatar is a country looking to the future. But that only paints half the picture – it’s both super-modern and fiercely traditional at the same time.
This is a country where you can see highly prized falcons for sale in Doha’s ancient souk, Souq Waqif, while rising above it are some of the ambitious architecture you’ll ever set eyes on. Doha is a metropolis that wears these two faces proudly, where ancient dhows bob peacefully in the harbour, while state of the art museums and luxury glass-fronted shopping malls twinkle in the warm sunshine.
Away from the capital, nature still rules supreme in Qatar. In this peninsula jutting out into the Arabian Gulf, you’ll find clear calm water, mangrove forests and the world’s second largest population of dugongs (secretive marine mammals). On shore, rippling sand dunes disappear into a phenomenon known as the Inland Sea and oryx munch on shrubs that speckle the country’s desert interior. Perhaps the greatest draw is that, thanks to Qatar’s smaller size, especially in comparison with neighbours like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, all of this is at your fingertips.
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When to go to Qatar
Summer in Qatar (April-September) can get incredibly hot, with temperatures nudging towards 50°C at their peak. Visit in winter (October-March) for far more comfortable temperatures, which makes it ideal for outdoor adventures and exploring the cities by day. It can get cold at night, so wrap up warm for those stargazing evenings.
International airports
Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) is 14km southeast of the city center.
Getting around in Qatar
Qatar’s capital, Doha, is well serviced by a state-of-the-art metro rail system, while buses, trams and metrolink services add to the accessible public transport options here. Taxis and Uber are also popular ways of getting around the city. For wider Qatar, the best way to explore the country is with a hire car.
Health & safety
Qatar is very safe for travellers, male or female, and as a country it has a very low crime rate. However, men and women should dress modestly, especially when walking around outside. During Ramadan, eating and drinking in public is seen as offensive.
For the most up-to-date information, check out gov.uk.
