Fact sheet

Qatar is the most open countries in the Middle East and the 8^th  most open in the world in terms of visa facilitation, with over 100 nationalities granted visa on arrival.

UN Tourism Visa Openness Rankings

Qatar stretches from the sweeping sands of the Arabian Peninsula out into the calm crystal waters of the Gulf. The natural landscape consists of rolling dunes, dramatic rock formations, the greenery of the Al Thakira Mangroves, a coastline dotted by unspoiled beaches, and an underwater world of colourful reefs.

Any mention of Qatar’s flora and fauna must begin with the majestic Arabian Oryx, an antelope that stands as the country’s proud national animal. Among the many more mesmerising creatures is the notorious Honey Badger, the Rueppell’s Fox, the Jewel Beetle, Whale Shark, and the Dugong – a cute manatee ‘Lady of the Sea’ that is the only true vegetarian marine mammal.

Over time the natural environment has, in turn, crafted the identity and culture of its human inhabitants, with life revolving around these complex ecosystems. Archaeological discoveries have uncovered traces of Stone Age habitation dating back 50,000 years, and over millennia Qatar has been a trading outpost and port of call for many of the great empires. Purple Island, in the northeast of Qatar, takes its name from the Kassite-controlled dye industry of the second millennium BC, when purple was the supremely expensive royal Roman colour worn by the emperor.

Qatar is home to Al Zubarah Fort in the northwest, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and a pristine example of a typical Arab fort. To the northeast are the Al Jassasiya Rock Carvings, 874 carvings known as ‘petroglyphs’ resembling ships, animals and plants. Nobody truly knows when these patterns were made and they remain a mystery, with some historians claiming they stretch back as far as Neolithic times.

Attire: Dress is generally elegant and modest. For women, shoulders and knees are encouraged to be covered. For men, long trousers and collared shirts are standard. During official events or VIP visits, smart business attire is recommended, unless specified otherwise. Importantly, women are not expected to wear any form of head covering, unless specified otherwise.

Behaviour: Public displays of affection should be avoided and limited to handholding.

This is widely excpected at Souq Waqif and other traditional markets.

Qatar ranks second in the Arab world, according to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report 2019. 

The national carrier, Qatar Airways, connects Doha to more than 160 destinations across six continents.

Hamad International Airport retains its title as ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’, and has also been awarded ‘Third Best Airport in the World’

Skytrax World Airport Awards 2020 

The Qatari Riyal is the only currecncy used in the country and can be obtained through ATM's which are widely available in malls, hotels and around Doha. The Qatari Riyal (QR) is pegged against the US Dollar at QAR 3.64.

When bringing local currency (Qatar Riyal-QAR) and all other foreign currencies amounts equal or higher than QAR 50,000 must be declared on arrival. This includes jewelry, precious metals or stones valued at QAR 50,000 or higher. 

To read about customs regulations in Qatar and other related information, click here.

The Accessible Qatar smartphone app provides information about accessibility and facilities at different public and touristic venues across the country. Oredoo Qatar has partnered with Wheel the World to offer accessible tourist experiences to differently abled visitors.

In case of emergency, following specialized services are accessible for the deaf:

Call 992 using the 3G camera on your computer or cell phone;

Send an SMS to 992 clearly stating your problem and what service you need (ambulance, fire rescue, police), as well as your name, address, and any details;

Send an e-mail to 992@moi.gov.qa (it may take some time before you receive a response)

The World Health Organisation estimates that 99% of Qatar has access to drinkable tap water. However , bottled water is widely consumed in Qatar with plenty of local and imported brands widely available.

Qatar Foundation’s Education City is home to seven world-renowned higher education institutes, including Carnegie Mellon, Georgetown, and Northwestern, demonstrating the importance the country places on education and knowledge as a foundation for a sustainable modern society. 

The standard voltage is 240 V at the 50 Hz. Plug points are the same as in the Uk. To use electric appliances made for the range of 100 V - 127 V (as is in the US, Canada and most South American countries), one needs a voltage converter or a combined power plug adapter/voltage converter.

Qatar ranks among the world's highest GDP per capita nations, at $71,568 per person. IMF's World Economic Outlook (2024).

Qatar’s hospitality sector tops its peers in the Middle East destinations in terms of guest experience.

Olery Guest Experience in the Middle East 2019 Report

Qatar is a regional pioneer in delivering cutting-edge mobile technology; it is the world’s first country to introduce a commercial 5G network.

The Al Jazeera Media Network is headquartered in Doha and has 80 offices around the world. The world-renowned Medill School of Journalism has its only international branch in Doha.

Qatar has a proven track record of successfully hosting major international conferences and events, including LNG2026, the IOSCO Annual Meeting 2025, and the ACS/IEEE International Conference on Computer Systems and Applications (AICCSA) 2025.

Building on this record, Qatar is set to host an impressive lineup of global events in the coming years, including Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026, the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2026, the AIIB Annual Meeting 2026, Web Summit Qatar 2027, and the INTERPOL General Assembly 2027.

Qatar is home to scientific research hubs specifically in the fields of biomedical, computing and environmental research.

Qatar has been ranked the safest country in the world by the 2020 Numbeo Crime Index .

Qatar is the first Middle Eastern country to host the 17^th World Championships in Athletics in 2019; World Beach Games in 2019 & FIFA World Cup in 2022.

Qatar has introduced several measures to facilitate foreign investment, including custom and income tax exemptions as well as allowing the unimpeded transfer of investment revenues or returns in any currency.