Travel to Qatar

Qatar: entry and exit regulations

Formalities, visas

German citizens require an entry visa to enter Qatar, which is issued at all border posts and at Doha Airport when entering Qatar. The validity of the visa issued upon entry is 14 days. A one-time extension for a further 14 days is possible. The visa fees for the initial issuance and renewal are QR 50.00 (approx. 11 euros). The visa fees are to be paid by credit card upon arrival. The German child ID card is not recognized in Qatar! In the case of a joint entry, however, it is sufficient for a child up to the age of 14 if it is entered in the passport of one of the parents. A photograph is required. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of entry.

Issuing of visas in Germany

Embassy

Hagenstrasse 56

14193 Berlin

Tel: +49 – (0) 30 – 86 20 60

Fax: +49 – (0) 30 – 86 20 61 50

Email: Berlin@mofa.gov.qa

www.e.gov.qa

Import and export of foreign currency

The import and export of the local currency as well as foreign currencies is permitted without restriction.

Import and export of goods

Two cartons of cigarettes and items for personal use are allowed into Qatar. Pornographic articles, counterfeit money, drugs and weapons of any kind, and alcohol are not allowed into Qatar.

Tourist office

Qatar Tourism Authority

POBox 24624

Doha, Qatar

Tel: 00974 – 499 7499

Fax: 00974 – 499 1919

Web: www.qatartourism.gov.qa

Qatar: Travel Medicine, Vaccinations, and Warnings

Infectious Diseases

The following infectious diseases are to be expected in Qatar, which do not occur or are less common in Germany, Austria or Switzerland:

  • Malaria, there is no risk of malaria in the country.
  • Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoeba, lamblia, salmonella, shigella and worm infestation, as well as all kinds of viruses and bacteria
  • Hepatitis A and B, an infection with hepatitis B, is only possible in people who can come into contact with blood or those who seek sexual contact.
  • Leishmaniasis Disease
  • Rabies, but only for particularly vulnerable people
  • Typhoid fever, an infection risk only exists for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food

Recommended vaccinations

when traveling to Qatar, the following vaccinations are recommended.

  • Cholera, but only among travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food
  • Diphtheria, a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country
  • Hepatitis A and B, vaccination against hepatitis B, is only required for people who may come into contact with blood or who are looking for sexual contact.
  • Polio, polio, a vaccination against polio should always exist, also in the home country
  • Tetanus, a vaccination against tetanus, should always exist, also in the home country
  • Typhoid, but only in travelers who may come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food

Compulsory vaccination

There are no vaccination requirements when entering or staying in Qatar.

Who pays for vaccinations in Germany?

Most children in Germany are vaccinated against a number of infectious diseases at an early age. However, the vaccination protection only lasts up to 10 years, in some cases even shorter. Therefore, before traveling abroad, you should carefully consider against which infectious diseases a vaccination is necessary or useful in the country concerned and whether the vaccination protection, if applicable, was not too long ago.

There is even no 10 € practice fee – but the insured usually have to pay the statutory additional payment, which is 10% of the vaccine price – that is at least 5 € and a maximum of 10 €. Under these conditions, the following vaccinations have been covered by statutory health insurances since June 2007:

  • cholera
  • diphtheria
  • Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE)
  • Yellow fever
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Meningococcal meningitis
  • Pneumococci
  • Polyo (polio)
  • Tetanus (tetanus)
  • rabies
  • typhus

Some health insurance companies also reimburse the cost of malaria prophylaxis.

As a rule, private health insurance companies (inquire beforehand) also cover the costs mentioned.

Warning notices

Foreign Office (AA) of the Federal Republic of Germany Citizens Service Unit 040D-11013 BerlinTel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 51000 www.auswaertiges-amt.de

Qatar: Transportation

General

Traffic is on the right in Qatar. But traffic discipline is only very limited and not always easy for Europeans to see through and master.

How to get to Qatar

The quickest way to get to Qatar is by plane. There are numerous airlines that fly to Qatar. The country’s national airline is called Qatarairways. From Germany it takes about 6 hours to fly to Qatar.

Travel in the country

In Qatar there is no public transport other than taxis.

Roads

The traffic situation in Qatar is very good. The streets are wide and well developed. An urban motorway runs through Doha. Expressways lead inland.

Car rental

There are numerous rental car companies in the capital Doha. The large, internationally known companies are also represented there.

Taxis

The public transport in Qatar is the taxi. The prices vary depending on whether you are driving in Doha or outside the capital and whether you need the taxi during the day or at night.

Railway

In November 2009, a contract was signed between Qatar and Deutsche Bahn (DB), which includes a financial volume of 17.6 billion euros. According to the contract, DB is to help build a high-speed line from Dohar to Bahrain. For this, a 40 km long dam will be required. In addition, the country’s airport is to be connected to Dohar and a 100 km route to Saudi Arabia is to be built. In addition, a 325 km rail network is to be built for freight traffic.

Traffic rules

To avoid trouble with the police or even the courts, drivers should strictly adhere to the traffic regulations in force in the country. Regardless of the information given here, it is advisable to obtain more detailed information from ADAC, AvD or Qatar’s traffic clubs.

Top speeds

  • Urban: In built-up areas there is a speed limit of 50 km/h.
  • Country roads: There is a speed limit of 80/100 km/h on country roads.
  • Motorways: There is a speed limit of 120 km/h on motorways.

In addition, it is of course necessary to pay attention to the current local speed limits, which are indicated by traffic signs.

Blood alcohol limit

The official blood alcohol limit in Qatar for drivers of motor vehicles is 0.0.

International license plate

According to Abbreviationfinder, Qatar’s international license plate is:

Q

Qatar: currency, shopping

The national currency of Qatar is the Qatar Rial = 100 Dirham.

The following banknotes are valid and in circulation in the country:

  • 1
  • 5
  • 10
  • 50
  • 100
  • 500 Qatar rials

Coins are in circulation in the following denominations:

  • 25th
  • 50 dirhams

Conversion rate

You can find the current exchange rate for the euro at the following Dresdner Bank address:

dresdner-bank.de/pkportal/pk/kmdeviseneurospot.mis?p=pk

Note

It should be noted, however, that the rate mentioned is not the one that you actually get when you exchange money. It differs, for example, depending on whether you are exchanging in your home country or in the country you are traveling, whether you are exchanging cash or withdrawing money from the machine. In addition, the rate differs when exchanging for the foreign currency and when exchanging back.

Bank opening times

  • Monday: 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday: 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • Thursday: closed
  • Friday: closed
  • Saturday: 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • Sunday: 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Shop

Shop opening times

In addition to the following regular opening times, many shops in Qatar are also open continuously or until 10:00 p.m. or even until midnight.

  • Monday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  • Saturday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Cheap or country-specific goods, souvenirs

Traditional souvenirs from Qatar are curved daggers and small daggers and knives, most of which are decorated with beautiful silversmiths, incense and incense mixtures as well as incense burners, scented oils and perfume, oriental spices, beautiful coffee pots, silver jewelry and wood carvings, traditional carpets and blankets.

Qatar: embassies, consulates

Visit Countryaah for a full list of Qatar embassies and consulates in each country around the world.

Representations of Qatar in Germany

The Qatar Embassy building is located in Grunewald on the corner of Hagenstrasse-Clayalle. The embassy building was built in 2004 with an area of around 2,300 m². The style of the house is based on the traditional architecture in Qatar – and clad with a facade made of shiny gray granite. However, the picture here does not show the embassy building itself, but the ambassador’s residence – in a comparable architecture to the embassy – in Max-Eyth-Strasse at the corner of Clayalle in Berlin-Dahlem.

Embassy of the State of Qatar in Berlin

Hagenstrasse 56

14193 Berlin

Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 86 20 60

Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 86 20 61 50

Web: www.embassy-qatar.de

Branch office of the embassy

Brunnenallee 6

53177 Bonn

Tel: 0049 – (0) 228 – 36 78 50

Fax: 0049 – (0) 228 – 36 30 06

German representations in Qatar

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Doha

No. 6 Al-Jazira al-Arabiya Street, Fareej Kholaib Area

Doha

Tel: 00 974 – 408 23 00

Fax: 00 974 – 408 23 33

Email: info@doha.diplo.de

Web: www.doha.diplo.de

Austrian representations in Qatar

Embassy

The embassy in Kuwait is responsible

Representations of Qatar in Austria

Embassy

The embassy in Switzerland in Geneva () is responsible.

Swiss representations in Qatar

Embassy

The embassy in Kuwait is responsible

Representations of Qatar in Switzerland

Embassy of the State of Qatar in Geneva

27-29 Avenue du Bouchet

1209 Geneva

Tel: 0041 – (0) 22 – 798 85 00 – 01

Fax: 0041 – (0) 22 – 791 04 85

E-mail: mission.qatar@ties. itu.int

Travel to Qatar