All About Qatar

Qatar Geography 

Qatar is located in the Middle East and is a peninsula in southern Arabia. Qatar borders Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf and covers 11,437 square kilometres. The terrain is mostly flat, barren desert. The weather in Qatar is relatively hot throughout the year. It is coolest in January, with temperatures ranging from 57 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. In summer, the temperature can regularly reach 107 degrees Celsius. Qatar has about 2.8 million inhabitants and the majority of the people are Muslims.

Language

The official language in Qatar is Arabic, but English is spoken in most public places. The Arabic spoken in Qatar has several dialects: Standard Arabic, indigenous Gulf Arabic or Khaliji, and Peninsular Arabic. The dialects are influenced by migrants and other foreign citizens of Qatar.

Economy and Currency

Qatar is considered one of the richest economies in the world. The country has the third-largest natural gas reserves in the world. It is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas. The national currency is the Qatari Riyal, and 3.64 Qatari Riyal is equal to 1 USD. Qatar is rated as one of the safest countries.


FIFA World Cup 2022

Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup will be held in Qatar over 28 days, from November 21 to December 13. Four matches will be played each day, and the opening match will be played at Al Bayt Stadium. The country plans for the venues to reflect Qatar’s historical and cultural aspects and sustainable design. The stadium’s cooling system aims to lower temperatures. After the World Cup, the upper tiers of the stadiums will be donated to countries with less developed sports infrastructure.

Travel Guides to Qatar
Recommendations on Welcoming People to Qatar

In different parts of the world, there are always different cultural backgrounds that need to be respected, so here are some points related to the culture in Qatar.

-Avoid asking personal questions about the female members of the family when you meet them for the first time.

-To avoid misinterpretation of your hand gestures, do not ask anyone to come to you with their finger. Instead, you can use your palm. And the thumbs up is not appropriate for people in Qatar and the Middle East.

-On the other hand, nonverbal communication is quite common in Arab cultures, such as the following gestures:

-Hold your hand outward with the palm facing down, then suddenly turn it upward to signal “Why?” or “What?”

-Putting your head back with your eyebrows raised signifies ” No.” Putting your right hand on your heart is a welcoming way of greeting.

Touching

People in Qatar pray five times a day, and Islam plays an important role in society. Local women must cover themselves with the hijab. When greeting the opposite sex, especially a woman, shaking hands is unnecessary due to religious laws. However, touching arms or shoulders during a conversation between people of the same sex who have some degree of intimacy is quite common.

Ramadan

When non-Muslims visit Qatar during Ramadan, they are not required to fast but should refrain from eating and drinking in public places.


Sightseeing in Qatar

During your stopover in Qatar, you can explore the city and visit museums, mosques, forts, towers and other historical sites.

-You can enjoy the vast desert landscape of Qatar by taking a camel safari. When the sun sets, the desert comes alive, and you can experience an unforgettable night under the glowing starry sky.

-The Museum of Islamic Art is a tribute to Islamic culture.

-Another place of interest is the Sidra tree, the symbol of the country’s heritage. The tree has been growing in the desert for generations and represents strength and courage.

-Al Zubarah Fort is a historic Qatari military fort built in 1938 under the supervision of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani.

-Banana Island Resort is an ultimate luxury experience where you can relax and enjoy the unique views of the island.

-Qatar Mall is where you can have your shopping adventure.

-If you like shopping in a fun environment, the Villaggio is for you; it has many shops and great prices.

-Souq Waqif is a marketplace in Doha where local women sell traditional food, spices and souvenirs.

All these places make it hard to leave your stay in Qatar behind, and you want to continue the adventure.

Transportation in Qatar

Buses and taxis are the most popular public transportation in Qatar.

Qatar’s Must-Try Street Foods

-Shawarma is a popular dish whose heavenly taste tempts you to eat it again and again.

-Samboosa are triangular dumplings that can be filled with mashed potatoes or ground beef.

-Falafel is a vegetarian snack made from ground chickpeas.

-Lokma is a dough cooked in oil and soaked in honey or sugar syrup with rose water.

Where is your next destination? Did you know that ‘Iran,’ as a safe country, is one of the ideal destinations near Qatar?

Aida Bakhshizade

PTS Content Writer