Hotels in Qatar

Qatar is a sovereign state located in Western Asia and occupies the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is classified as a country of high human development and is widely regarded as the most advanced Arab state for human development by United Nations. Qatar has the world's third-largest natural-gas reserves and oil reserves and this contributes to becoming a high-income economy country.

In the early of 19th century, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani founded the state and since Qatar has been ruled by the House of Thani. Qatar has transformed itself from a British protectorate into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues which enable Qatar to have a per capita income almost above the leading industrial countries of Western Europe. It had officially gained independence in 1971. After that, it has been widely developed in the 21st century both financially and economically. Qatar’s Al Jazeera Media Network has increased influence and its role in Arab world especially during the Bahraini uprising in 2011. Qatar will become the first Arab country to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup from 21st November to 18th December and Al Jazeera as the official media to cover the event.

Islam is the official religion of Qatar. According to Qatar's Constitution, Sharia law is the main source of Qatari legislation. Beside sharia law, civil law is also used for certain cases. Sharia law is applied to family law, inheritance, and several criminal acts (including adultery, robbery and murder). In early 2017, Qatar's total population was 2.6 million and comprised of 313,000 Qatari citizens and 2.3 million expatriates. Doha acts as the capital of Qatar and the second largest city is Rayyan with over 275,000 citizens. Al-Khor is an area nearby to Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLIC), where the liquified natural gas (LNG) terminals are located.

Arabic is the official language of Qatar, with Qatari Arabic the local dialect. Besides Arabic, English is commonly used as a second language and a rising lingua franca, especially in commerce. It acts as a communication method with Qatar's large expatriate community. Qatar is a multiracial where travellers around the world like to visit and stay for good. Hence, other languages used for communication are Hindi, Tagalog, and Bahasa Indonesia. The weather and climate of Qatar are well known for its dryness and hot. The hot climate mainly attracts the westerners around the world and perfect to enjoy the beach and water activities.

Qatar has wide arrays of food influenced from other countries. The main food in Qatar is Middle Eastern cuisine which can be found everywhere. There are kebabs, bread, hummus and this food can be found on the street or at a fancier place. Besides that, there are Lebanese, European, Thai and Japanese as well as Pakistani food which can be enjoyed at eateries and hotels.

Citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates do not require a visa to visit Qatar and may use National ID Cards to enter the country.

Citizens of all European Union nations except Ireland and the United Kingdom alongside Bahamas, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Norway, Seychelles, Switzerland and Turkey are granted a free multiple-entry visa waiver on arrival, provided they arrive through Hamad International Airport, have a valid passport with a minimum validity of six months and a confirmed onward or return ticket. Visa waivers are valid for 180 days from the date of issuance and entitle its holder to spend up to 90 consecutive days in Qatar. Citizens of Macau, Mauritius, Montenegro and Taiwan, may obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days.

Citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China (PRC), Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Georgia, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Macedonia, the Maldives, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Suriname, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela may obtain a visa waiver upon arrival valid for 30 days from the date of issuance. This waiver may be extended for a further 30 days.

Citizens of Pakistan can obtain a visa on arrival valid for 30 days, provided that they hold a passport valid for 6 months and a confirmed return ticket. Citizens of all nationalities who hold valid residence permits or visas for either the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Schengen Area, or the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council can obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation valid for up to 30 days. The visa may be extended online for 30 additional days.

Regardless of nationality, travellers who are in transit through Hamad International Airport do not require a visa if they depart within 24 hours and remain within the airport. Free transit visas, which are valid for up to 96 hours (4 days) and allow travellers to visit Qatar briefly, are also issued to all passengers of any nationality transiting through Hamad International Airport, provided that they travel with Qatar Airways. For those needing visas, tourist visas are available online through the eVisa system. Visas are issued within four working days if all documents are submitted, and are valid for a stay period up to 30 days in Qatar. For other visa applications, visa procedures can be complicated, as you will need a guarantor on the Qatari side, either a company or a government entity.

How To Get There?

By Plane

Tourists around the world mostly reach Qatar by plane. Hamad International Airport is located in Doha which is the capital of Qatar. It was opened on 30th April 2014 and include domestic and international flights from other countries. Qatar also has its own airline which is Qatar Airways that fly to almost every country in the world. Countries from Southeast Asia such as Malaysia can reach Qatar by flying using Qatar Airways or local airlines like Malaysia Airlines and it takes around 7 hours and 30 minutes. Besides that, Etihad, Emirates, Jet Airways and Singapore Airlines are also among airlines that fly to Qatar.

What To Do There?

Khor Al Udeid Beach

Qatar is famous for water sports as the country is surrounded by the sea. Among the activities are kitesurfing, jet ski riding and swimming. Kitesurfing is a style of kiteboarding specific to wave riding, which uses standard surfboards. Tourists can experience the strong wind that carries you as you surf on the water. For a beginner, it is advisable to attend licensed kitesurfing school to learn more about the activity. Besides kitesurfing, there are also other activities like jet ski riding for those who like high-speed activity and swimming.

The Islamic Museum of Art

If you are into history and touring, you can try visiting museums in Qatar. Opened in 2008, The Museum of Islamic Art is one of the best museums in the country. The museum is influenced by ancient Islamic architecture with modern designs involving geometric patterns. Besides that, this attraction showcases Islamic art from three continents over 1,400 years. Among the collections display in this museum is metalwork, ceramics, jewellery, woodwork, textiles and glass obtained from three continents. The museum also houses a collection of work gathered since the late 1980's including manuscripts, textiles and ceramics. Other than Museum of Islamic Art, there are also other Qatari museums such as Arab Museum of Modern Art which is led by Sheikha Al-Mayassa binti Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the sister of the ruling Emir of the State of Qatar. Besides that, art exhibitions are famous in Qatar because Qatar is the world's biggest buyer in the art market by value.

Where To Stay?

Oryx Rotana Hotel

Located nearby Hamad International Airport, Oryx Rotana offers top-class accommodation at Doha city. There are 400 well-appointed guest rooms with amazing amenities such as flat – screen television with satellite channels, mini fridge and huge bathrooms with walk-in rain showers, bathrobes, and hairdryer as well as complimentary toiletries. Besides that, there are also impeccable facilities and services for comfort and convenience of guests. For instance, there are airport shuttle and limousine services at additional charges. In addition, luggage storage and daily housekeeping are also available. As for dining options, this hotel offers an executive lounge for private gathering and celebration and restaurants with an open kitchen that serves buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. On top of that, The Sky Lounge is an exclusive place for coffee and a pastry accompanied by great music. For recreational activities, the well- equipped fitness centre in this hotel is provided for guests to keep fit and guests can dip into the large swimming pool.

Golden Ocean Hotel

Golden Ocean Hotel is the perfect choice of accommodation for travellers to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city. Every guest room is well-equipped with basic amenities like desk, wardrobe and free toiletries. There are additional features for specific rooms as well such as seating area and balcony. For a dining experience, there are restaurants in the hotel that offers local and international cuisines and 24 hours room service. Besides free WiFi access throughout the hotel, there are also airport shuttle, luggage storage and a tour desk where guests can arrange a tour around the city. Other than that, Golden Ocean hotel offers a temperature-controlled rooftop pool with amazing views of the Doha skyline and fully equipped gym with professional trainers. For guests who love to unwind and relax, there is Origins Gentlemen Spa provides Massage & Spa services where it offers facial and massage treatments.

Kingsgate Hotel

Kingsgate Hotel is situated only 15 minutes away from Doha International Airport and offers comfortable and well-appointed guestrooms, facilities and services. Each room is furnished with television with satellite channels, work desk and mini fridge. The spacious rooms also feature a kitchenette with microwave and kettle. Besides that, there is complimentary WiFi access, a 24-hour reception desk and car rentals service. Newspapers and luggage storage are also available at the front desk. For activities, guests can choose to relax in the sauna, work out in the gym or to swim in an indoor pool.