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Bahrain
Egypt
Iran
Jordan
Kuwait
Syria
Oman
Qatar
Saudi
Lebanon
Yemen
UAE
Ajman
Fujairah
Dubai
Sharjah
Abu Dhabi
Qatar
Area: 11,400sq km (4460sq
mi)
Labour Force: 383,000
Capital: Doha
Head of State: Shaikh Hamad
bin Khalifa al-Thani
Currency: Qatari Riyal
(approx RO 3.64 =US$1)
Local Time: GMT +
3hrs
Religion: 95% Muslim
Climate:
The summer lasts from May to
September and is extremely hot. Very high
humidity can make the heat feel worse. Sandstorms
are common in spring and winter. The coolest time
of the year is November to early March.
Geography Qatar is a peninsula
jutting out into the Gulf between Bahrain and the United
Arab Emirates. There are hills in the northwest, but the
rest of the country consists of sand dunes and salt
flats, with scattered vegetation towards the north.
Language Arabic is
the official language in Qatar, but Urdu is also widely
spoken (there is a large Pakistani community in Qatar).
English is also widely spoken. particularly in business
circles.
Business
Hours Government: 7.00am-2.00pm
(Sat-Wed) Private Sector: 7.00am-1pm (Sat-Thurs),
3.30pm-6.00pm (Sat-Wed) Banking Hours: 7.00am-2pm
(Sat-Wed), 7.00am-11.30am (Thurs)
During the holy month of Ramadan,
working hours are shorter with most offices closed in
the afternoon. Friday is the weekly official holiday.
Some supermarkets are also open on
Friday
Visa
Requirements Everyone except nationals of
other Gulf States need a visa to enter Qatar.
Nationals of Gulf Co-operation
Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman,
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) do not
require visas for a stay of less than 30 days.
Embassies and large hotels within the
country can sponsor visas but these should be
obtained before you travel to Qatar.
Nationals of Israel or holders
of passports with evidence of travel to Israel
will be denied entry.
Residence and work permits are
generally granted for up to three years, renewable
for further similar periods at the request of the
sponsoring employer.
Local Laws &
Customs Qatar is a Muslim state and Islamic
customs, in public, are strictly observed.
Most Qatari people adhere to the Wahhabi sect of Islam
which also dominates Saudi Arabia. Both visiting men and
women should dress modestly and beachwear should only be
worn at the poolside of large international hotels.
Prohibited items which may not be
imported into the country include pork, pork products
and pornographic material
Driving Licenses An
International Driving Permit is required, but a
temporary licence can be obtained on presentation of a
valid UK licence.
Useful links for further
information on Qatar
www.lonelyplanet.com
A short and concise overview
of Qatar for the first time
visitor.
www.cia.gov
The CIA World Factbook
provides in depth facts and figures on all aspects
of Qatar.
www.ameinfo.com
Middle East Business Portal.
Contains a good country profile of Qatar.
www.zawya.com
Informative Middle East
Business Portal with links to country specific
news.
www.gulf-times.com
English language daily
newspaper in Qatar.
www.al-watan.com
Arabic language daily newspaper in Qatar.
www.hsbc.com.
HSBC bank provides an
excellent business oriented profile on Qatar for
the travelers or expatriate to be.
news.bbc.co.uk
The BBC provide good quality
profiles on a range of countries including Qatar.
Good general background information on Qatar with
emphasis on media within the country (television,
Radio, Newspapers, Internet use).
Bahrain
Qatar