Useful facts for your holiday to Qatar

Flights and Transfers

Direct flights from London to Doha last approximately 8 hours.

Visa Requirements

British Citizens travelling to Qatar require a full British passport which must be valid for 6 months from teh date of entry into Qatar.  A visa is required and can be obtained on arrival - payment can only be made by credit or debit card. Please check up to date visa requirements with the Foreign Office

Language

Arabic is the official language, however, due to the proportion of immigrant workers and expats, English is a very common second language and acts as the lingua franca among the different nationalities.

Transportation

Buses, taxis and limousines are the only forms of public transport but they are completely adequate for travelling around Qatar. Unfortunately demand for taxis far outweighs supply, so it can take a long time to get one if you’re away from the major locations.

Currency

The Qatari riyal is the official currency.

Electricity

240V/50Hz standard UK plug

Vaccinations and Health

Visit your GP or specialist travel clinic for up-to-date information and travel advice regarding Qatar. Be sure to drink plenty of water – this is the desert, after all.

Dialling Code

+974

Time Difference

UTC/GMT +3

Ramadan

The holy month of Ramadan will be celebrated in the late summer (2 April-1 May 2022, 22 March-20 April 2023). During Ramadan, Muslims all over the world abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs during daylight hours. As a result hotels in the United Arab Emirates have restrictions on alcohol, food consumption and entertainment between sunrise and sunset. At nightfall these restrictions are lifted and normal eating, drinking and entertainment policies are resumed.

Eid Al Adha falls between sunset on 9-13 July 2022 and 28 June-2 July 2023, and starts with a 24 hour dry day followed by a three day celebration. Please ensure you are aware of these restrictions, and that they are subject to change.