Qatar has many faces and is amazing. Skyscrapers, beaches and luxury hotels coexist with bustling old markets and mosques, and the National Museum in the form of a Desert Rose crystal is a faithful replica of Venetian bridges and canals. We tell you how to get there and what to see in Qatar.
Entry rules
Russians can receive a free visa on arrival for 30 days, and then extend it for another 30 or 60 days. To enter, you will need medical insurance issued by one of the officially recognized companies. It can be issued at the airport for 14 US dollars (about 1,000 rubles). The passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.
How to get there
Direct flights from Moscow to Doha, the capital of Qatar, are operated by Qatar Airways. The travel time is five hours, the cost of tickets with luggage in both directions starts from 70,000 rubles. A more budget option is flights with transfers in Sharjah from FlyDubai or Air Arabia. Prices for such tickets start from 58,000 rubles.
To comfortably see more interesting places outside the capital, rent a car.
Doha
Despite its youth – Doha is not even 200 years old – the city attracts tourists from all over the world. Towers and beaches, Arabian exoticism and five-star hotels, artificial islands, embankments and modern museums help you to feel the spirit and culture of this eastern country. We recommend starting your acquaintance with the National Museum: immersive exhibitions within the walls of Jean Nouvel’s architectural masterpiece allow you, using video displays and 3D technologies, to “dive” for pearls, the country’s main wealth before the discovery of oil, and to take part in archaeological excavations. It will take at least a couple of hours to explore all 11 galleries with interactive elements.
Afterwards, go for a walk along the bay along the almost eight-kilometer Corniche promenade. Traditional wooden dhows will be alongside palm trees and skyscrapers on the horizon. On the right will be the Museum of Islamic Art, and on the left is the old Souk Waqif market, where you can get lost among the shops with spices, perfumes, pearls, gold, souvenirs, local clothing and even hunting falcons. Nearby there are stalls for camels – a chance to see up close the main transport of the medieval desert.
In the West Bay business district, the promenade literally abuts the Doha Tower, a futuristic skyscraper 238 meters high that resembles a steel cucumber. However, such structures of different shapes in Qatar will not surprise anyone: there are saber towers, a torch high-rise, a skyscraper with a flying saucer and the Tornado Tower.
We recommend continuing to explore Doha in the ethnographic village area not far from the center. Katara Cultural Village combines traditional Arabic architecture with modern installations and street art elements. Thus, the metal beloved in the East covers the walls and minaret of the Golden Mosque, and the Blue Mosque, designed by Turkish designer Zeynab Fadil Ogly, amazes with turquoise and purple mosaics and ornaments. The impressive size of the amphitheater, reminiscent of the Roman Colosseum, is difficult to miss – world celebrities often perform here. After your walk, relax in a restaurant or take time to visit the nearby beach called Katara.
A real treasure of Doha and a must-see item on the tourist program is an artificial island with the telling name The Pearl of Qatar. Visit this place for luxurious hotels resembling palaces, snow-white yachts, private beaches, restaurants and boutiques. The main attractions of the island are a shopping center stylized as Italy with canals and gondolas and the colorful Arabian Venice – the Cartier Canate district with an exact copy of the Rialto Bridge, European architecture and the corresponding atmosphere.
Football fans should not miss the world’s largest stadium, shaped like a gilded bowl, where the World Cup was held at the end of 2022. It is located in the Lusail district.
Don’t forget to stop by one of the Qinwan stores for amazing chocolate covered dates. A tin box of sweets and chocolate with the addition of pistachios, oranges, apricots and other ingredients will be an excellent gift for friends and a reminder of the holidays.
Where to stay
- At the five-star DoubleTree by Hilton Doha Old Town hotel (rating 8.3) – from 6,000 rubles* per night.
- In the four-star apart-hotel Sedra Arjaan by Rotana (rating 8.2) – from 9,700 rubles* per night.
- In the five-star InterContinental Doha Hotel (rating 9.1) – from 13,300 rubles* per night.
Khor-al-Adaid
The Khor al-Adaid area, 80 km from Doha, near the border with Saudi Arabia, is called an inland sea: here the waves of the Persian Gulf meet the desert. The reserve is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The rugged coastline and turquoise water form fantastic landscapes, and the height of the dunes reaches 50 m. You can travel through the dunes by camels, jeeps or buggies. To have time to swim, watch flamingos and Arabian oryx – desert antelopes – and admire the stars, book an overnight stay at a campsite or buy a ready-made tour for two days.
Umm Said
Mainly a youth resort 45 km from the capital. Umm Said (often called Messa’id) has activities to suit every taste, from paragliding and diving, including artificial reefs, jeep tours and camel rides in the desert, to golf courses and tennis courts. Numerous restaurants and active nightlife will add pleasant moments to your holiday in a green oasis.
Al-Wakrah
The family-friendly resort 15 km from Doha boasts a massive 20th-century fort that can be viewed from the outside, child-friendly shallow beaches and good fishing. Rent a boat and go meditate with a spinning rod in your hands and views of the Persian Gulf. An easier option is to fish from the piers or go to the fish market for fresh catch.
In the last century, pearls were mined in the Al-Wakra harbor, a huge Pearl Monument in the form of a shell on the seashore, near the Old Bazaar, reminds of this. Atmospheric shops, camels and tame falcons, Arabic coffee, the smell of spices and classical architecture transport you to the fabulous times of the Arabian Nights stories.
Useful tips
- Qatar is a Muslim state, so tourists should take closed clothing with them: a floor-length skirt or dress, a top with long sleeves. Shorts for men are only allowed in closed hotels or beaches.
- The import of alcohol into the country is prohibited. Tourists can buy alcoholic drinks in bars, restaurants and hotels, but they cannot be taken outside the establishments. Drinking alcohol in public places is not permitted. During the holy month of Ramadan (in 2023 it will last from March 22 to April 21), alcohol is not sold anywhere.
- On some beaches, for example in Qatar, women can only swim in a burkini – a closed swimsuit with a hood. Pay attention to information signs with dress code rules.
- You can get to Khor Al Adaid on your own by renting an SUV.
- The best time to visit Qatar is from November to April. In other months it is too hot: the temperature rises above +35 °C.
*Prices are current at the time of publication.
