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Visiting Qatar: The Complete Guide (2024)

Doha Guides Team regularly reviews this article to ensure the content is up-to-date and accurate. The last editorial review and update were on 06 February 2024.

The State of Qatar offers experiences combining old and new, traditional and modern. The country’s tourism sector is undergoing rapid development with milestone achievements in various sectors.

Qatar is also an important business hub, particularly for its robust oil and gas industry. Many trade shows and business conferences take place in Doha throughout the year.

In 2019 Qatar witnessed a huge leap in visitor arrivals with 2.1 million visitors, a double-digit growth compared to 2018. This article explains the types of visas, when to visit, public transport, local attractions, and other important things to consider before visiting Qatar.

Visiting Qatar: Types of Visas

Hamad international airport, qatar airways, cruise tourism, qatar weather, where to stay in qatar, public transportation, places to visit in qatar, how to dress while in qatar, qatar currency, working hours in qatar, faq on visiting qatar.

Did You Know? Thanks to Qatar’s strategic location at the crossroads of East and West, 80% of the world’s population is within a 6-hour flight from Qatar, and more than two-thirds can enter Qatar visa-free.

Qatar offers several visa options for visitors. Here are the common types of visit visa options:

Gateway to Qatar

Qatar is centrally located globally, close to Europe, Africa, and Asia. Flights from around the world touch down at Qatar’s Hamad International Airport daily, making Qatar the perfect place for layovers and visits.

Doha, the capital city of Qatar, is modern and rapidly developing, with much construction underway. It is home to most of the country’s best museums and examples of cultural heritage. 

Qatar connects to various destinations worldwide, making it an extremely busy transit spot. In fact, Hamad International Airport (HIA) has fast become the global gateway for overseas travellers. Opened in April 2014, the state-of-the-art airport is conveniently located just south of Doha city.

HIA is certified as a 5 Star Airport by Skytrax and was ranked the Best Airport in the World at the 2021 and 2022 Skytrax World Airport Awards. The airport currently serves more than 30 million passengers annually and is undergoing further expansion to support more than 50 million.

Qatar Airways, the award-winning national carrier, is certified as a 5-Star Airline for its airport and onboard product and staff service quality.

The Qatar Airways network connects Doha with more than 150 popular destinations worldwide, including most major cities throughout the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia & North, and South America.

Cruise tourism brings over 100 thousand visitors annually to Qatar, enabling them to enjoy the many landmarks that are mere minutes from Doha Port. The peak season runs from October to May, allowing visitors to enjoy the country’s pleasant winter weather during that time.

Qatar has two major seasons: Summer and Winter. May to September can be considered summer, while December to February is the cooler season. March to April and October to November are the transition months.

Summer temperatures are routinely 50°C during the day and often more than 40°C at night. It’s important to wear sunblock, cover yourself and drink plenty of water when going outside during the day.

During cooler months (December to February), the temperatures average between 14°C and 25°C on most days.

Since most of the attractions are within a couple of hours distance from Doha, you do not have to stay at different hotels during your Qatar vacation.

Doha has the presence of almost all major hotel chains in the world. You can choose from a range of Qatar hotels from TripAdvisor .

Doha’s city centre is just 15 minutes drive from the airport by car. To get from HIA to the city, you can take Airport Taxis available at Arrivals Terminal or request your hotel to arrange a private hotel transfer. It is possible to rent a car at the airport or at the hotels. An international driving license is required for visitors to drive in Qatar.

For travelling around the city, you can use the official taxi network called Karwa Taxi or pre-book a taxi using mobile apps like Uber or Careem . Even though Qatar has a network of public buses, they are not recommended for first-time visitors as their frequency is not guaranteed.

Another option would be to use the newly constructed Doha Metro. You can read our complete guide to Doha Metro here: Doha Metro Map, Stations, Timings, Ticket Prices

Qatar has a long list of interesting places to visit. Some of the more popular attractions include:

• National Museum of Qatar
• Museum of Islamic Art
• Katara Cultural Village
• The Pearl Qatar
• Mall of Qatar, Place Vendome, and other shopping malls

You can see a comprehensive list of tourist places in Qatar here .

Since Qatar is an Islamic country, it is important to dress appropriately. Loose-fitting and modesty-covering clothing is the preferred style. Women are not required to wear the hijab or veil their heads in public.

Tourists are generally expected to cover their shoulders and knees at a minimum. Beachwear is acceptable at private beaches and swimming pools inside hotels.

The national currency of Qatar is the Qatari Riyal (QAR). One QAR is equivalent to 100 Dirhams. Qatar Banknotes are available in values of QAR 500, 200, 100, 50, 10, 5, and 1. Coins in circulation are 25 Dhs (QAR 0.25) and 50 Dhs (QAR 0.5).

Since Qatar Riyal is pegged to US Dollar, the value of USD 1 is around QAR 3.64. Banks and ATMs across the country take major international credit cards and debit cards.

• Normally, the work week in Qatar is from Sunday to Thursday.
• Government offices operate from 7 am to 2 pm.
• Private offices operate from 8 am to 4 pm, or 9 am to 5 pm.
• Shopping malls generally are open from 10 am to 10 pm and up to midnight on weekends.

Most shops and offices change their working hours during Ramadan . Visitors should refrain from eating and drinking in public, except in hotels, during the hours between sunrise and sunset.

Which is the best time to visit Qatar?

Is it safe to visit qatar, can you drink alcohol in qatar, is qatar expensive to visit, how many days would i need to visit qatar, related articles.

• Qatar Visa On Arrival: Complete Guide
• Transit Passengers Guide To HIA
• How To Do Ehteraz Pre-Arrival Registration
• Doha Metro Map, Stations, Timings, and Ticket Prices
• Carrying Medicines To Qatar: Things To Know
• Check Qatar Visa Status And Validity
• How Much Cash and Gold Can Your Bring To Qatar

Copyright © DohaGuides.com – Full or partial reproduction of this article in any language is prohibited.

8 thoughts on “Visiting Qatar: The Complete Guide (2024)”

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Hi, my query is after my passport renewal I need to update new passport number on my QID. How can I do it? Only my company PRO can do it or I can also do it?

Hi Saddam, Please see this: https://www.dohaguides.com/change-passport-number-in-qatar-id/

Is to possible to change or extend tourist visa to work visa.?

Hi Shibla, In some cases, if your work visa is approved, you may be allowed to change your visa type without leaving the country. There will be an additional fee. Note that this may not be possible in all cases.

Hello. We arrive in Qatar at DOH November 24 at 6 AM. Are we allowed to leave the airport and visit the area for 8-10 hours that day? Thank you in advance for your reply.

Hi Robert, Due to the World Cup, the visa-on-arrival service (or any kind of tourist visa) is unavailable during that period. As per the current rule, you need a Hayya Card to visit Qatar from 1 November, and it is only available for those with a match ticket. There is still five weeks to go before your travel date. So please check back after a few weeks in case the rules change.

Greetings. can you please send me a paper map of Doha? Thanks a lot! Have a nice day!

Hi Reuven, If you are in Qatar, you can buy a paper map from any book store or supermarket. If you are outside Qatar, you can buy on Amazon. Good day to you.

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Breaking News

World Cup 2022: What to do, see and eat in Qatar

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It was 115 degrees on the summer day I arrived in Qatar. That answered my first question: Why had FIFA, among the most hidebound and conservative of international sports bodies, agreed to buck nearly a century of tradition by playing the World Cup in the winter?

The second question was a bit more complicated: Why had Qatar, a tiny, conservative, Islamic emirate in the Persian Gulf worked so hard and spent so much to play host to the tournament?

The World Cup kicks off Nov. 20 and over the following 28 days, more than 1.2 million people are expected to flood into a country that is smaller than Connecticut and has a population about equal to Chicago’s. The country and its unfailingly polite people have neither the space nor the patience to deal with more than a million rowdy soccer fans, many of whom know nothing of the country or its culture.

That, however, is the point, said Fatma Al-Nuaimi, executive communications director of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, the local World Cup organizing body.

“A lot of people will be coming here and they might have their own perceptions from what they read and what they hear,” she said after a late dinner at an Armenian-Lebanese restaurant in the trendy Katara Cultural Village, a sprawling waterfront collection of shops, restaurants and museums. “When you come here, it’s totally different. You learn about new things, new culture, new traditions. It gives you a different perspective. For a lot of travelers, this is what they would be keen to look for and to explore and to enrich the experience they have outside the stadium.”

But will it be a Faustian bargain? By law and custom, alcohol consumption is tightly controlled in Qatar, homosexuality is prohibited, public displays of affection are a serious faux pas and some labor regulations are just a small step above indentured servitude.

To welcome the world, the country has given in on all those things. And while that was done to appease international critics, it hasn’t played well at home.

Then there’s the organization.

The final test event in September, a soccer match that drew 78,000 people, was beset by a series of logistical disasters, from long lines and air conditioning and PA system failures to concession stands selling out of water by halftime. In response, hundreds of civilians, including diplomats summoned back from overseas, have been called up for mandatory military service operating security checkpoints at World Cup stadiums.

But there’s also an upside. Qatar has become one of richest countries in the world thanks to large deposits of oil and natural gas, resources the government knows are nonrenewable. So it has already begun the long and laborious task of diversifying the economy.

Two years before the controversial vote that awarded the World Cup to Qatar, the country launched National Vision 2030, a multipronged plan to invest $200 billion in economic, social, human and environmental development and one designed, in part, to make the desert emirate a global destination for tourism, education and culture.

Qatar also invested heavily in sports tourism, staging more than 600 international events in the last decade, from the world track championships and a Formula 1 Grand Prix to international bowling, squash, table tennis and equestrian events. That has hurried along infrastructure spending on highway and light-rail construction and expansion of Hamad International Airport.

“These mega-events, there is part of it where it’s actually helping bridge gaps and cultures and bringing people closer together,” Al-Nuaimi said. “There is always a misperception of this part of the world, the Arab world, the Muslim world. Having 1 million fans coming to Qatar from all parts of the world, they will see a different image and having firsthand experience of the country itself.”

The real goal, she said, is to get the world to come sample Qatar, learn about its rich history and culture and hopefully shed prejudices.

But whether Qatar is ready or not, the 32-team tournament will kick off next month and if you’re one of the more than 2.8 million people who have tickets — or if you plan on skipping the madness and visiting the country sometime after the tournament — here’s a guide to help you navigate a most compelling and complicated country.

What you need to get into Qatar

If you don’t have World Cup tickets by now, you’re probably going to have a hard time getting them. More than 90% of the approximately 3 million tickets had been claimed by mid-October, but FIFA is promising to continue selling at FIFA.com/tickets, through the end of the tournament on Dec. 18. Some tickets can also be found on the secondary market, although FIFA is urging fans to stay away from unauthorized websites.

But a ticket won’t be enough to get you into a game — or even the country. For that you’ll also need a digital Hayya fan ID card, which can be applied for at hayya.qatar2022.qa . World Cup visitors will need a valid ticket application number and a Hayya voucher code to book accommodations.

To enter the country under normal circumstances (a.k.a. when there is no World Cup), U.S. citizens need a visa waiver, also known as visa on arrival. You don’t have to apply for that ahead of time as the entire process takes place when you arrive in Qatar. You will need a valid passport, good for at least six months, confirmation of a return ticket and a debit or credit card to pay the $28 fee for a tourist visa. The visa is valid for 30 days and can be extended.

Starting Nov. 1, you will not need to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and a negative PCR test to enter the country.

Here’s a tip for those traveling to Qatar on Qatar Airways: The airline offers something called Al Maha Services. For an additional fee, a dedicated airline employee will guide travelers through expedited immigration and customs formalities both on arrival and at departure. That can be a lifesaver, especially after the nearly 17-hour flight from Los Angeles.

Where to stay

Despite a massive construction boom during the 12-year run-up to the World Cup, Qatar has just more than 40,000 hotel rooms, far short of the inventory needed for an event like the World Cup. So the country has come up with a number of novel options that include housing visitors in fan villages and Bedouin-style desert tents. There are also apartments and villas with one to six bedrooms at prices ranging from $84 to $875 a night, and 4,000 staterooms on two cruise ships anchored in Doha Bay.

More than a half-a-dozen airlines have added 160 short daily shuttle flights from Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait, Muscat and Riyadh, allowing fans to stay in neighboring countries and fly into Doha before and after games.

If all that sounds like too much of a hassle, or if you really don’t like soccer, visiting Qatar after the World Cup is a breeze.

What to do and see in Qatar besides the World Cup

Sampling Qatar means sampling its history, and Qataris are only too happy to share. My favorite haunt, a place I couldn’t spend enough time in, was the Souq Waqif, the city’s ancient marketplace.

A maze of narrow alleyways linked to a wide main plaza, the Souq long served as a trading post for Bedouin arriving by camel and travelers in small boats. Its merchants still gather every day, as they have for centuries, dressed in the traditional long white thobe and a loose headdress called a gutra , drinking strong Qatari coffee and arguing about the day’s news while selling traditional garments, jewels, spices, handicrafts and souvenirs.

The Souq, now easily accessible on the metro’s gold line, is also home to an array of dining options featuring food from Thailand, Turkey, India, Iran, Italy, Lebanon, Latin America, Morocco and Syria and elsewhere.

On one edge of the marketplace is the Falcon Souq — the word “ souq ” translates as marketplace — where you can view, photograph and even hold the birds, which have a revered place in Qatari culture. Nearby is a state-of-the-art falcon hospital and just beyond that is a camel pen, home to dozens of animals.

If the Souq Waqif is a real-life history lesson, in recent years Qatar has also built several world-class museums to teach the country’s culture and heritage in a more formal way.

The National Museum of Qatar, which opened in 2019, is worth a visit just for the stunning work of architect Jean Nouvel, whose design was inspired by the desert rose. Inside, the museum tells Qatar’s story in a milelong journey through a series of galleries that provide multisensory experiences from multiple perspectives.

Equally impressive is the nearby Museum of Islamic Art, another architectural wonder by I.M. Pei, who was coaxed out of retirement at 91 to design the building. Constructed on an island off an artificial peninsula, the museum sits at the end of the Corniche, Doha’s scenic bayside promenade, and is accessible by two small bridges.

The 480,000-square-foot museum, which reopened in early October after an 18-month renovation, houses more than 14 centuries of Islamic art from three continents, including metal work, ceramics, jewelry, textile and glass, as well as a priceless Quranic manuscript.

A more unique experience can be had at the Msheireb Museums, four historic heritage houses in the old part of the capital dedicated to the cultural and social development of Qatar. Of the four the Bin Jelmood House, which focuses on the history of slavery in the Arab Gulf, a practice that wasn’t outlawed in Qatar until 1952, is a must-see.

Inside, a projector beams a passage from an 1864 letter written by Abraham Lincoln: “If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong.” The exhibitions are particularly timely since much of Qatar’s World Cup infrastructure was built by migrant workers employed under the kafala system, an exploitative and barely-legal form of indentured servitude that, in many ways, replaced slavery. International criticism ahead of the World Cup led to reform of the kafala system and a new minimum-wage structure, though abuses remain widespread.

Another unique gem is the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum housed in Khalifa International Stadium, site of eight World Cup matches. At more than 200,000 square feet, the museum, which opened in March, is one of the largest in the world dedicated to sports. Among the items in the collection are a soccer ball from England’s 1888 FA Cup final, the bobsled used by the Jamaican team in the 1988 Winter Games, a baseball bat from Babe Ruth, boxing glove from Manny Pacquiaoand a Steffi Graf tennis racquet.

And while the focus of the interactive exhibits and artifacts is on global sport, the museum includes sections on such traditional Qatari favorites as falconry, pearl diving and camel racing .

Speaking of history, before the discovery of oil and natural gas Qatar’s economy was built around pearls. In the latter half of the 19th century, nearly half the population was involved in the pearl trade, with divers sailing dhow boats into the warm gulf waters and descending as deep as 130 feet to harvest clams for the treasure they hid inside.

That’s gone now but the old dhow harbor remains. Bay cruises in the long, thin-hulled boats with Doha’s futuristic skyline as a backdrop are a good way to mix the past and present.

Part of that modern skyline is the Pearl, a small man-made island divided into 12 districts of residential towers, hotels, luxury-brand shops from Maserati and Rolls-Royce showrooms to trendy restaurants and cafes offering everything from South American and Lebanese cuisine to confectioneries.

Between the Pearl and the towering office buildings of the West Bay is the Katara Cultural Village, home to restaurants, art galleries and cultural organizations as well as an open-air amphitheater , an opera house, a multipurpose cinema, a multipurpose conference hall and a beach.

Want to live the history of Qatar? Well, time recedes quickly when you leave the city for the desert. Consider a half-day sunset safari, camel rides, sandboarding or a tour of the inland sea, a Persian Gulf inlet at the border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

During the World Cup, more than 90 special events including music festivals, cultural displays and street performances will also take place.

Where to eat

Qatari cuisine is mix of traditional Arab food. Machboos, the national dish, consists of rice and vegetables and either lamb or chicken. Seafood and dates are also staples. But given the ethnic makeup — more than 2.5 million of the country’s 2.9 million residents are not Qatari citizens — the country has become a gastronomic melting pot featuring world-class offerings from dozens of countries.

As mentioned earlier, the Souq Waqif has a wide array of options served in a comfortable but traditional (read: budget-conscious) style. I’d recommend starting there since even the most finicky palates will find something to their tastes.

The Katara Cultural Village is another reasonably priced food court worth roaming, with cafes, chocolatiers, sandwich and fast-food places serving Greek, Italian, Egyptian, Mexican dishes and more, as well as upscale restaurants offering Palestinian, Western European, Italian and Asian food.

My favorite place was Mamig, a home-style restaurant — the name means grandmother in Armenian — serving a deep menu of Armenian and Lebanese offerings.

Many of Doha’s pricier restaurants are located in hotels, beginning with the Saffron, which offers both delectable Thai food and a breathtaking view from the top floor of the 31-story Banyan Tree hotel in Mushaireb, the heart of the old city.

The Spice Market in the Doha Hotel and Residences in the West Bay serves Southeast Asian-inspired fare from chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Also in the West Bay, Hakkasan, a Michelin-starred brand with locations worldwide, serves Chinese food in a uniquely designed dining room or on the terrace.

Nobu, the Japanese restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel on the Corniche, offers a unique experience beginning with your entrance up a floating driveway, over a bridge crossing a reflecting pool and into a three-story building designed by David Rockwell. The most popular dishes are black cod yuzu miso and wagyu beef tacos.

In the trendy Pearl District, Toro Toro serves authentic Latin American dishes from chef Richard Sandoval before a stunning view of the bay. Sandoval has another place in the West Bay called Zengo that serves Asian fare, including sushi, sashimi and curry on the 61st floor of the Kempinski Residences & Suites.

Where to drink

Qatar is a Muslim country where Sharia law holds sway, so alcohol consumption is tightly controlled and it cannot be purchased in stores.

Licensed hotel bars and restaurants are the only places allowed to sell alcohol, but not all of them do. It’s not available in the Souq Waqif, for example, and of the restaurants listed above, Mamig does not serve alcohol. Call ahead or check a restaurant’s policy before making reservations — and if you do find a place that serves alcohol, be prepared to pay $15 or more for a simple beer unless you take advantage of happy hour, which most bars and restaurants offer.

Local laws have been eased somewhat for the World Cup, with organizers allowing beer consumption at the Arcadia Electronic Music Festival, a fan fest about two miles outside Doha, will feature three performance stages and beer will be served there between 10 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Beer is also available at the official FIFA fan festival at Doha’s Al Bidda Park and to ticket-holders at select areas inside the perimeters of World Cup stadiums prior to kickoff and after the final whistle. Only nonalcoholic beverages will be served inside the stadiums themselves.

Keep in mind there is zero tolerance for drinking in public outside these areas and being drunk in public is a crime in Qatar.

Need more information? The Qatar 2022 Contact Center offers 24/7 support in eight languages.

Additionally, from Nov. 1 to Dec. 25, there will be a Consular Services Center at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center which will provide direct access to embassy staff from the 32 qualified countries and countries with the highest number of ticket sales. The center will operate daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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About Qatar Tourism

Enabling development of the sector through new structures and policies.

Because the tourism sector is unique in its reliance on many ancillary sectors to succeed, the government approved restructuring of the tourism sector helped consolidate and focus the efforts of all concerned parties, facilitating:

• Empowerment  in decision-making and implementation
• Clarity  in structure and roles
• Opportunity  for professionals in the tourism industry

Qatar Tourism carries out the following core functions:

• Strategic industry planning and policy development
• The development and implementation of a comprehensive plan to promote investment opportunities in the tourism sector
• Destination marketing and promotion for both leisure and business events
• The enhancement of visitor experience in collaboration with tourist-facing entities
• The management of regulatory affairs, including the swift and efficient execution of all tourism licenses and similar services

Things to know before travelling

Want to travel visa-free? Check if you qualify here.

Getting here

Planning your trip to Qatar? Check how to get here.

Travel tips

Make the most of your visit with our handy travel guide.

Getting around

From a dhow boat to our world-class metro, here’s how to easily explore Qatar.

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• 03-29-23 | 12:00 pm

Is tourism soaring in Qatar after World Cup 2022? Yes, there’s 347% increase

The nation welcomed 730,000 visitors in january and february..

The first edition of the FIFA World Cup hosted in the Middle East gathered a cumulative stadium attendance of 2.45 million spectators, according to FIFA on its Qatar 2022 portal.

And months later, a record number of foreign visitors still come to the peninsula. In January and February, the country welcomed 730,000 visitors, a rise of 347% over the previous year. 

In January 2023, the country received 340,000 visitors, a 295% increase yearly, followed by 389,000 in February 2023, a 406% increase from last year. 

February was marked as the highest number of international arrivals to the country in the past ten years, except for the months leading up to the FIFA World Cup 2022, thereby becoming the busiest month for tourism in the country. 

As Qatar continues establishing itself as a burgeoning tourism destination, it started the year with Qatar Tourism’s Feel Winter campaign. It offered a lineup of jam-packed events such as performances from regional and international artists, the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition, the 10-day Qatar Balloon Festival, the Qatar International Food Festival, and other family-friendly events. 

Berthold Trenkel, COO at Qatar Tourism, noted that the influx of visitors aligns with their goal of welcoming 6-7 million visitors annually as part of its 2030 strategy and having tourism account for 12% of the country’s GDP. He added, “Our performance also highlights Qatar’s growing reputation as a world-class destination for travelers seeking unique experiences and is a testament to the success of our ‘Feel Winter in Qatar’ campaign and ‘Feel More’ brand.”

The festivities around Kuwait National Day and Saudi Founding Day in February also increased visitors arriving from both countries. In particular, 86,000 arrivals were from Saudi Arabia and 20,000 from Kuwait, constituting 73% of all arrivals from the GCC and 27% of all international arrivals in February. 

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Tourism, Culture & Sport From The Report: Qatar 2022 View in Online Reader

Travel and tourism was one of the hardest-hit sectors globally in 2020 and early 2021 as the Covid-19 pandemic swept around the world, and the situation in Qatar was no different. However, reflecting the gains made in the tourism industry in previous years, the opening months of 2020 saw a strong performance in terms of arrivals – so much so that when travel began to normalise in 2021, total arrivals for the first three quarters were still higher in 2020 than in 2021. Despite subdued sector activity for most of 2020 and 2021, Qatar has been gearing up for what is expected to be a banner year for tourism in 2022 – starting with a full cruise schedule at Doha Port for the 2021/22 season.

This chapter contains interviews with Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman, Al Faisal Holding; Nasser Al Khater, CEO, 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar; and Ahmad Al Namla, CEO, Qatar Museums.

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World stage: Preparations for the World Cup and infrastructure investment lay the groundwork for future tourism expansion OBG plus

In 2022 Qatar will be the first Arab country to host the FIFA World Cup, giving it the opportunity to demonstrate that the region can lead in the international sporting scene. Those involved in the preparation for the event are using it as a chance to leverage the competition for future tourism revenue, given that tournament will be shown on televisions around the world and in-person fans will share their impressions back home. The event is expected to attract over 1m visitors. Infrastructure Investment Attracting…

Diversified offerings: Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman, Al Faisal Holding, on tourism’s role in economic diversification and recovery OBG plus

Interview:Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani Where do you identify the main opportunities in the tourism sector as the economy recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic? SHEIKH FAISAL BIN QASSIM AL THANI: As the tourism sector recovers from the pandemic, there are many opportunities ahead. Qatar’s development over the last two decades has made it an international player. The government developed the infrastructure to support the sector, including Hamad International Airport, Hamad Port and the…

Breaking ground: Nasser Al Khater, CEO, 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, on building a sustainable legacy from hosting the tournament OBG plus

Interview:Nasser Al Khater What legacy is Qatar looking to build from hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar? NASSER AL KHATER: The 2022 FIFA World Cup represents a chance to drive positive and sustainable change beyond the tournament, both in Qatar and the wider region. From the outset, we have been committed to upskilling the local community to foster a knowledge-based economy that can drive diversification. We have also been committed to leaving a positive social legacy related to workers’…

Creative value: Ahmad Al Namla, CEO, Qatar Museums, on sharing local culture and artistic output with the world OBG plus

Interview:Ahmad Al Namla To what extent can the 2022 FIFA World Cup serve as a catalyst for the development of the Qatari arts and culture scene? AHMAD AL NAMLA: The 2022 FIFA World Cup presents a strong opportunity to show the entire world the vast offering of Qatari arts and culture. It will also provide visitors the chance to have a better and deeper understanding of Qatar’s long-standing traditions and way of life. Our efforts are focused on ensuring this is the case during the event,…

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Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Tourism industry in Qatar - statistics & facts

A game-changer for qatar's tourism industry, qatar’s ongoing tourism journey, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Total value of inbound tourist spending GCC 2016-2021

ADR of hotel rooms GCC 2016-2026

Expected revenue of hospitality industry in the GCC 2021-2026

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Inbound visitor growth in the Middle East 2011-2025

Expenditure per capita on international tourism in Qatar 2001-2029

Number of hotels Qatar 2013-2022

Further recommended statistics

Overview qatar.

• Premium Statistic Number of international tourist arrivals in Qatar 2014-2029
• Premium Statistic Nights spent at hotels Qatar 2022, by hotel class
• Premium Statistic Number of hotel guests from GCC countries Qatar 2018-2022
• Premium Statistic Hotel guests from GCC states Qatar 2022, by hotel class
• Premium Statistic Number of nights spent by hotel guests from GCC countries Qatar 2018-2022
• Premium Statistic Hotel occupancy change rate across Doha Qatar Q3 2019- 2022

Number of international tourist arrivals in Qatar 2014-2029

Number of international tourist arrivals in Qatar from 2014 to 2029 (in millions)

Nights spent at hotels Qatar 2022, by hotel class

Number of nights spent at hotels in Qatar in 2022, by hotel class

Number of hotel guests from GCC countries Qatar 2018-2022

Number of hotel guests from Gulf Cooperation Council countries in Qatar from 2018 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Hotel guests from GCC states Qatar 2022, by hotel class

Number of Gulf Cooperation Council state hotel guests in Qatar in 2022, by hotel class

Number of nights spent by hotel guests from GCC countries Qatar 2018-2022

Number of nights spent by guests from Gulf Cooperation Council countries at hotels in Qatar form 2018 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Hotel occupancy change rate across Doha Qatar Q3 2019- 2022

Hotel occupancy change rate across Doha in Qatar from the 3rd quarter of 2019 to financial year 2022

Economic indicators

• Premium Statistic Share of the GDP of the tourism sector in Qatar 2013-2028
• Premium Statistic Absolute economic contribution of tourism in Qatar 2014-2029
• Premium Statistic International tourism receipts per capita in Qatar 2001-2029
• Premium Statistic Expenditure on international tourism in Qatar 2014-2029
• Premium Statistic Per capita consumer spending on restaurants and hotels in Qatar 2014-2029

Share of the GDP of the tourism sector in Qatar 2013-2028

Share of the GDP of the tourism sector in Qatar from 2013 to 2028

Absolute economic contribution of tourism in Qatar 2014-2029

Absolute economic contribution of tourism in Qatar from 2014 to 2029 (in million U.S. dollars)

International tourism receipts per capita in Qatar 2001-2029

International tourism receipts per capita in Qatar from 2001 to 2029 (in U.S. dollars)

Expenditure on international tourism in Qatar 2014-2029

Expenditure on international tourism in Qatar from 2014 to 2029 (in million U.S. dollars)

Per capita consumer spending on restaurants and hotels in Qatar 2014-2029

Per capita consumer spending on restaurants and hotels in Qatar from 2014 to 2029 (in U.S. dollars)

Hotel capacity

• Premium Statistic Room capacity in the hospitality industry in Qatar 2016-2026
• Premium Statistic Number of hotels Qatar 2013-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of hotels Qatar 2022, by class
• Premium Statistic Number of hotel rooms Qatar 2022, by hotel class
• Premium Statistic Number of hotel rooms Qatar 2018-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of hotel beds Qatar 2018-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of hotel beds Qatar 2022, by classification

Room capacity in the hospitality industry in Qatar 2016-2026

Total room capacity in the hospitality industry in Qatar from 2016 to 2021 with forecasts to 2026 (in 1,000s)

Number of hotels in Qatar from 2013 to 2022

Number of hotels Qatar 2022, by class

Number of hotels in Qatar in 2022, by class

Number of hotel rooms Qatar 2022, by hotel class

Number of hotel rooms in Qatar in 2022, by hotel classification

Number of hotel rooms Qatar 2018-2022

Number of hotel rooms in Qatar from 2018 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Number of hotel beds Qatar 2018-2022

Number of hotel beds in Qatar from 2018 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Number of hotel beds Qatar 2022, by classification

Number of hotel beds in Qatar in 2022, by class

Hotel projects

• Premium Statistic Number of hotel projects in Doha Qatar 2022, by phase
• Premium Statistic Number of hotel projects in Doha Qatar 2022-2025, by completion date
• Premium Statistic Share of hotel projects in Doha Qatar 2022, by phase
• Premium Statistic Share of hotel projects in Doha in Qatar 2022-2025, by completion date
• Premium Statistic Share of hotel projects in Doha Qatar 2022, by type

Number of hotel projects in Doha Qatar 2022, by phase

Number of hotel projects in Doha in Qatar 2022, by phase

Number of hotel projects in Doha Qatar 2022-2025, by completion date

Number of hotel projects in Doha in Qatar from 2022 to 2025, by completion date

Share of hotel projects in Doha Qatar 2022, by phase

Distribution of hotel projects in Doha in Qatar in 2022, by phase

Share of hotel projects in Doha in Qatar 2022-2025, by completion date

Distribution of hotel projects in Doha in Qatar from 2022 to 2025, by planned completion date

Share of hotel projects in Doha Qatar 2022, by type

Distribution of hotel projects in Doha in Qatar in 2022, by type

Further reports

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Qatar hopes the World Cup will help attract six to seven million visitors a year by 2030, about three times more than the 2.1 million visitors recorded the year before the pandemic outbreak (Shutterstock).

What are Qatar’s tourism opportunities after the FIFA World Cup 2022?

BY Petra Loho

The country invested $300 billion into infrastructure development ahead of the global tournament..

Following in the footsteps of 17 countries, Qatar becomes the first Arab state to host a FIFA World Cup when the three-week soccer tournament kicks off on 21 November and catches the region’s winter-based high tourism season.

While Qatar’s hospitality sector’s performance edged down to 62.5% in the first quarter of 2022 (2021: 77.4%), current flight bookings demonstrate an encouraging sentiment and experts say, supported by a robust gross domestic product (GDP) outlook, Qatar’s focus will shift from infrastructure development to tourism.

The aim is to ride the World Cup Soccer wave to its maximum as the country hopes to mimic the post-tournament highs the $14 billion added to the Russian economy in 2018.

“As of 1 July 2022, flight bookings for Qatar during the FIFA World Cup are already 2% ahead of where they were in 2019, pre-pandemic; and bookings for the first nine days are 98% ahead,” Olivier Ponti, VP Insights, at travel data and analytics company ForwardKeys , told Salaam Gateway.

He expects surges in flight bookings and, to a lesser extent cancellations, after the qualifying games’ results are known and fans support their teams in the latter rounds.

The tournament held in Russia in 2018 attracted almost three million foreign visitors. For Qatar, besides fans travelling internationally, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report published in June suggests the end of the diplomatic falling-out between Qatar, other Gulf countries, and Egypt, which lasted from June 2017 to January 2021, will boost intra-regional travel.

Transnational travel itineraries during the World Cup period will also spur tourism demand in the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) countries with visitors’ spending increasing excise tax and VAT revenues in the applicable countries.

Oman and the UAE will likely benefit the most as fans may choose to stay there, given limited accommodation options in the host country. Qatar Airway’s same-day flight shuttle service from Muscat and Dubai, advertised for $258 in economy and $998 in business class, will bring soccer enthusiasts to the games in Doha.

Beyond the FIFA World Cup

Qatar’s GDP recorded an average 4.5% growth between 2010, the year the country was awarded the right to host the World Cup, and 2020, according to the IMF. In 2022, Qatar’s real GDP growth is forecast at 4.1%, fuelled by higher hydrocarbon prices.

This makes Qatar the second-fastest growing GCC nation after Saudi Arabia with 5.1%, according to data analytics and consulting company GlobalData .

Most of the $300 billion investments in preparation for the World Cup covered general infrastructure projects such as building an integrated railway and metro system, road development, airport expansion and building Lusail city where foreigners can buy properties. Qatar spent between $6.5 billion and $10 billion building the eight stadiums; an amount the IMF reports is in line with the spending of previous hosting countries. These infrastructure projects realise Qatar’s ambitious tourism strategy, including spreading tourism offerings across the country rather than just Doha.

While a Qatar Tourism spokesperson told Salaam Gateway the plans don’t contain a specific Muslim-friendly tourism focus, the strategy anchors upholding Qatar’s Arab and Islamic identity. These include encouraging family values as one of its four guiding principles.

Speaking at an industry event earlier this year, Berthold Trenkel, chief operating officer at Qatar Tourism , said Qatar targets six to seven million visitors by 2030, about three times more than the 2.1 million visitors recorded the year before the pandemic outbreak.

“We’re also talking about nearly doubling the GDP share to 12%,” Trenkel said.

As a way to grow inbound tourism, Trenkel names cruise ship tourism which accounted for 190,000 visitors in 2019, spurred by the inauguration of Doha port’s new Grand Terminal before the start of the World Cup.

According to Qatar Tourism’s website, the 24,000m2 terminal can handle 12,000 passengers daily, offering them the same level of service and facilities as Hamad International Airport. This includes seamless immigration, customs and foreign exchange facilities, along with other tourist services.

Future tourism markets

While Qatar Tourism expects to grow visitor numbers from GCC countries – for example through a recent partnership with Emerald Cruises that introduces new superyacht luxury cruises and offers eight-day itineraries with stops around the Gulf region – the country’s future tourism market is going to be a mixed bag.

According to Fitch Solutions, Qatar expanded its source markets as the Saudi-led blockade, which ran from mid 2017 to early 2021, encouraged the country to find non-GCC markets and develop new tourism ties with mainland China, Europe and the USA.

For 2022, Indian arrivals are forecast at 303,000, followed by primarily GCC markets in the top 10 including Saudi Arabia (291,000), UAE (65,300), Oman (64,000) and Kuwait (46,000). The UK (111,260), US (77,000) and France (34,900) make up the three long-haul destinations in the top 10 ranking. Fitch Solutions sees Middle East and North African (MENA) arrivals growing from 711,100 in 2022 to over 1.1 million by 2026, driven by Saudi and UAE visitors. Over the same period, European arrivals will grow from 308,100 in 2022 to 620,600 by 2026, while Asia-Pacific visitors, driven mainly by Indian and Chinese tourists, will grow to 905,800 by 2026, up from just under 534,900 in 2022.

© SalaamGateway.com 2022. All Rights Reserved

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Qatar aims to raise share of tourism and travel industry to GDP to 12% by 2030: Alpen Capital

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Iran elections 2024: For youth, legacy of 2022 clashes shapes presidential race

Iran holds elections on June 28; militia member Reza sees voting as religious duty

DUBAI: Atousa joined angry protests against Iran’s rulers in 2022 that loyalists like Reza helped crush.

Two years on, the two young Iranians’ political views remain at odds, reflecting a rift that will shape the outcome of presidential elections this week.

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Now 22, Atousa says she will abstain from voting in Friday’s ballot to choose a successor to Ebrahim Raisi after his death in a helicopter crash, regarding the exercise with derision.

But Reza, 26, a religiously devout member of the hardline Basij militia, intends to vote, a contrasting view of the worth of the election that underscores the division in Iran between supporters and opponents of the 45-year-old Islamic Republic.

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All six candidates — five hardliners and a low-key moderate approved by a hardline watchdog body — have been wooing youthful voters in speeches and campaign messages, using social media to reach the 60 per cent of the 85 million population aged under 30.

“This election, like all elections in Iran, is a circus. Why should I vote when I want the regime to be toppled?,” Atousa told Reuters. She declined to be identified by her full name for security reasons.

“Even if it was a free and fair election and if all candidates could enter the race, the president in Iran has no power,” she said.

The hashtag #ElectionCircus has been widely posted on social media platform X by Iranians in the past few weeks, while some Iranians at home and abroad have called for an election boycott.

Under Iran’s clerical system, the elected president runs the government day-to-day but his powers are circumscribed by those of the hardline supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last word on top issues such as nuclear and foreign policy.

‘RELIGIOUS DUTY TO VOTE’

Like many women and young Iranians, Atousa joined protests in 2022 sparked by the death of a young Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, in police custody, following her arrest for allegedly violating Iran’s mandatory Islamic dress code.

The unrest spiralled into the biggest show of opposition to Iran’s clerical rulers in years.

Atousa, then a student, was arrested during the protests and her dream of becoming an architect was shattered when she was expelled from university as a punishment for participating in the demonstrations.

The Basij, a plain-clothes arm of the elite Revolutionary Guards, deployed alongside uniformed security during the 2022 unrest and helped suppress demonstrations with deadly force.

Over 500 people including 71 minors were killed in the protests, hundreds injured and thousands arrested in unrest that was eventually crushed by security forces, rights groups said.

Iran carried out seven executions linked to the unrest.

Authorities have not given any official estimated death toll, but said dozens of security forces were killed in “riots”.

“I will sacrifice my life for the leader and the Islamic Republic. It is my religious duty to vote. My participation will strengthen the Nezam (system),” said Reza, from the low-income Nazi Abad district in south Tehran.

Reza said he will support a hardline candidate who champions Khamenei’s “resistance economy”, a phrase meaning economic self-sufficiency, strengthening trade ties with regional neighbours and improving economic interaction with China and Russia.

The economy is beset by mismanagement, state corruption and sanctions reimposed since 2018 after the US ditched Tehran’s 2015 nuclear pact with six world powers.

Reza and Atousa, both born after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, have regrets about the 2022 demonstrations, albeit for different reasons.

Reza blames the protests for bringing mounting pressure on Iran from Western countries, which imposed sanctions on Iranian security forces and officials for alleged human rights abuses.

Iran accused Western powers of fomenting the unrest.

“I wish the protests had not taken place ... our enemies used it as a pretext to mount pressure on our country,” he said.

Atousa looks back on that period with sadness.

“I was hopeful,” she said. “I thought finally the change will come and I will be able to live a life with no suppression in a free country ... I paid a heavy price, but the regime is still here.”

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European Championship

How Qatar bought a slice of Euro 2024 – and what’s next in its sights?

Glance around the arenas being used for this European Championship and you would be forgiven for thinking it was 2022 all over again.

The dugouts at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium , the biggest venue being used in Germany, proclaim ‘Qatar Airways’ on a board placed underneath the coaches’ seats. Perimeter advertising does the same. And take a stroll through the fan parks in Berlin and Munich and you could well stumble across a ‘Doha Club’, which — according to Visit Qatar, the tourism body that set them up — gives fans the chance to visit a “modern beach club” in the heart of the city. Qatar Airways is UEFA’s official carrier for Euro 2024 .

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It is approaching two years since Qatar hosted the World Cup but the Gulf state has not given up on football. The above is simply what is visible in Germany itself: in a separate deal, United Kingdom broadcaster ITV has promoted Visit Qatar as a first point in its advertising breaks, giving the country more coverage.

Yet only last summer, Germany’s biggest club Bayern Munich ended a five-year association with Qatar Airways after it drew criticism for benefiting financially from a country that has criminalised the LGBTQ+ community and has long been criticised for mistreatment of migrant workers.

Public outcry about human rights violations in Qatar also dominated the build-up to the World Cup and were augmented during the competition, most visibly by Germany , whose players covered their mouths when they were photographed before the team’s opening group game with Japan in protest against FIFA ’s banning of the “One Love” armband.

In that context, the optics of Germany’s most famous football stadiums being plastered with Qatari advertising are potentially uncomfortable for the hosts and the Qataris.

The drive to attract visitors to Qatar — ideally on its flag carrier fleet — is stitched into a colossal infrastructure project at Hamad International Airport in Doha, which is in the process of having a new terminal and two new runways built, under a blueprint that was revealed in 2019.

Two years ago, Saudi Arabia announced plans to build the biggest airport in the world in its capital city of Riyadh at a cost of $29billion (£22.9bn) by 2030, four years before the country is expected to host the men’s World Cup. Inside five months of its launch as a business in March 2023, Riyadh Air — owned by the same Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia that is in control of Premier League club Newcastle United — was announced as the official shirt sponsor of Atletico Madrid in a deal worth €40million (£33.8m; $42.7m) a year.

Not to be outdone, Dubai — which has, for the last decade, boasted the world’s busiest airport for international travel — responded in April by announcing plans a $35billion plan to double its airport’s size through a new terminal that will have the world’s largest capacity, according to ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

“The importance of the development in Doha has increased since moves made by other nations in the region,” says Simon Chadwick, a professor of sport and geopolitical economy based in Paris, who suggests the race to take control of the skies above the Middle East helps explain why Qatar Airways was announced as UEFA ’s official carrier for this summer’s Euros.

Not that UEFA seemed especially keen for people to know about the contract. The partnership was announced just seven hours before the start of the tournament this month, and you have to search hard to find evidence of it on the website of European football’s governing body. 

Though the emblem of Visit Qatar features as a hyperlink amid a list of 13 global partners, a statement about the latest progress in the relationship has not been posted by the competition’s organiser since last Friday.

This was unlike the publicity before Euro 2020. Then, four months before a ball was even kicked, UEFA announced on its website it was not only “proud” but “delighted” to reveal Qatar Airways as a sponsor.

UEFA said the “partnership is a de-facto extension and renewal” from a deal that was initially brokered four years ago, and was “announced by simply activating the sponsorship inventory, now with the Visit Qatar brand”, which became visible for the first time in the summer of 2023 at the Nations League finals.

Qatar Airways made more noise about the tie-up on its website where, on a devoted page, it suggested the continuation was an example of its commitment to “bring thousands of fans to Germany for this prestigious event” before the company’s expansion into Hamburg next month, which will be added as a destination in its operations.

According to Chadwick, Qatar needs to continue convincing the rest of the world that it is a legitimate member of a global community.

Nick McGeehan, previously a Gulf researcher with Human Rights Watch, describes Qatar’s investment in football as a “nation branding exercise”. He suggests Qatar Airways has learned from its competitor, Emirates, which sponsors Real Madrid , AC Milan , Arsenal and Benfica.

“The Qataris know the sponsorship model works,” he said. “It’s a very effective way of putting yourself in the spotlight in a positive way, without the scrutiny actually hosting a tournament brings.”

Since the World Cup, Qatar has been relatively low key in its interactions with football, certainly by comparison to neighbours Saudi Arabia, which relaunched its domestic competition — the Saudi Pro League — with a surge of high-profile recruits from some of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo , Sadio Mane , Roberto Firmino and Jordan Henderson were all part of the first wave of arrivals that alerted a previously forgotten competition to a new audience. Things have not run entirely smoothly since then, with criticism of the competition’s attendance figures, infrastructure and playing standards , but nobody is disputing its ambition.

Qatar lost all three matches at the World Cup it hosted, scoring one goal. Yet it won the Asian Cup this year, when it again acted as hosts, and its ambitions have not been blunted. 

Qatar has more influence over European football than Saudi Arabia due to Paris Saint Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s position as chairman of Qatar Sports Investments and the European Club Association (ECA). He also sits on UEFA’s ExCo committee.

Yet it is Chadwick’s assessment that hosting events is more important to Qatar than the actual influence over football, mainly due to its relatively small population of three million, only 10 per cent of whom are Qataris. Saudi Arabia’s connection to football, meanwhile, runs much deeper on a cultural level, with a broader base of its 40million population interested in the game.

One year of Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia

“The World Cup was always intended to be a driver of national development,” Chadwick says. “Qatar now has a fantastic airport, highways, shopping malls, and lots of hotels because of the World Cup. It has now locked itself into a long-term strategy to bid for events to use the structure it has created, positioning itself as an event host.”

The next obvious target is the Olympics . Qatar has failed in bids to host the 2016 and 2020 Summer Games, but it now believes it is better placed to compete for future editions. In May, it launched its bid to host in 2036.

When Nasser Al Khori, the director of Qatar’s supreme committee who is in charge of the country’s World Cup’s legacy, was asked by The Athletic in February about the possibility of the Olympics coming to the country, he suggested, “There are many more in the pipeline we are looking to host as well.” 

Aside from the Asian Cup, Qatar hosted Web Summit — one of the world’s biggest tech conferences — this year. It is the first time the conference had been held in the Middle East. It already has involvement in Formula One and it plans to get closer to basketball and martial arts, as well as rugby. “The World Cup is just a milestone,” Al Khori insisted.

Given Qatar Airways’ contract with UEFA and its men’s competitions runs to 2030, it will be interesting to see how its regional rivals react when Qatar’s branding appears at the English grounds of Abu Dhabi (Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium) and Saudi Arabian (Newcastle’s St James’ Park) owners when the United Kingdom and Ireland hosts the European Championship in 2028.

Either way, the weaponisation of football for political ends by the Gulf’s superpowers shows no sign of slowing down. 

Additional reporting: Adam Leventhal

(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)

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Simon Hughes joined from The Independent in 2019. He is the author of seven books about Liverpool FC as well as There She Goes, a modern social history of Liverpool as a city. He writes about football on Merseyside and beyond for The Athletic.