Middle East and North Africa

No restrictions in this travel advice

Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all but essential travel to whole country

Avoid all travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all travel to whole country

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

• There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks, although unlikely, could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See Safety and Security - Terrorism.
  
  
• Around 40,000 British tourists visit Qatar every year (Source: Qatar Immigration Department). 30 British nationals required consular assistance in Qatar in the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011. See General - Consular Assistance Statistics.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks, although unlikely, could be indiscriminate, including places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. Terrorists continue to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks in the Gulf region. These include references to attacks on Western interests, including residential compounds, places of worship, military, oil, transport and aviation interests.

You should maintain a high level of security awareness, particularly in public places. You should avoid large gatherings and demonstrations.

See our Terrorism Abroad page.

Security and Security - Crime
Around 13,500 British nationals live in Qatar, and approximately 40,000 visit annually. Most visits are trouble-free. Although incidents are not common, female visitors should take care when travelling alone at night and should use one of the reputable taxi/limousine companies.

The threat from street crime is low. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted and although the incidence of card skimming is low, you should observe precautions.

See our Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Regional developments continue to have an impact on local public opinion in the region. You should be aware of local sensitivities on these issues. You should follow news reports and be alert to regional developments. You should take precautions for your personal safety and avoid public gatherings and demonstrations.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
Driving in Qatar is of a lower standard than in the UK. Road discipline is very poor; speeds are high and minor accidents commonplace. Qatar has the highest fatality rate among developed & developing nations (source: journal of Technology & Science June 2009). If you have a motor accident, remain with your vehicle. It is an offence to leave the scene of the accident although, if no one has been injured in the accident and it is safe to do so, you should move your vehicle to a safe nearby parking position. A police report is required before you may have repairs carried out on your vehicle or make any claim against your insurance.

The Qatari authorities introduced significant increases in penalties for traffic offences in February 2009. Offences include not wearing a seatbelt. The law stipulates that the driver and the front seat passenger should wear seat belts all the time. Please be aware that even minor expressions of "road rage", such as rude gestures, can attract significant penalties. The penalty for using mobile phones while driving has increased to a minimum fine of QR 3,000 (£521) and a maximum fine of QR 10,000 (£1739). Offenders could also be liable to one-year’s imprisonment.

Excursions to the desert can be hazardous unless undertaken in an adequately equipped 4 x 4 vehicle. Always travel in convoy with other cars, take a supply of water and a mobile telephone, if you have one, and leave travel plans with friends or relatives. Driving on an international drivers’ licence is not permitted in Qatar, although visitors (both tourist and business) may drive on a British driving licence for a maximum of 7 days or on an international driving license for six months following their arrival in the country. After this period, visitors must apply for a temporary Qatari licence, which is valid for three months. Once you obtain a residency permit, you must contact the local traffic department to obtain a full Qatar driving licence, as you will no longer be permitted to drive on a UK or temporary licence.

It is an offence in Qatar to drink and drive, and there is zero tolerance for it.  Driving under the influence of alcohol is punishable by a custodial sentence of between one month and three years, a fine of QR10,000 (£1739) to QR50,000 (£8695), or both.  Offenders may also be deported.  

You should note that, should the police open any case file against you in respect of a driving or drinking related incident, you would automatically receive a ban on leaving Qatar until your case has been resolved.  

Most cases are straightforward and dealt with by the Public Prosecutor.  However, cases that are more serious may take up to six months to be heard. If a local lawyer is required, there will be a fee of around QR30,000 (£5,217) to initially consider your case.

See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Sea Travel
Many areas of the Gulf are highly sensitive, including near maritime boundaries and the islands of Abu Musa and the Tunbs in the southern Gulf. Vessels entering these areas have been detained and inspected, and there have been occasional arrests. Mariners should make careful enquiries before entering these waters or considering visiting ports.

You should exercise care when travelling by Dhow, as the safety of these vessels may not be up to UK standards. You should also ensure that life jackets are available.

See our River and Sea Safety page.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Qatar Country Profile

Local laws reflect the fact that Qatar is an Islamic country. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas.

See our Travelling during Ramadan page.

The importation of narcotics, alcohol, pornography, pork products and religious books and material into Qatar is illegal.  All passenger luggage is scanned for contents at Doha Airport Arrivals Hall.  DVDs and videos may be subject to scrutiny and may be censored.  In particular, the penalties for possession of or trade in drugs are severe, often resulting in prison sentences.

It is a punishable offence to drink alcohol or be drunk in public.  Offenders may incur a prison sentence or deportation.  Alcohol is, however, available at licensed hotel restaurants and bars, and expatriates living in Qatar can obtain alcohol on a permit system.  You should not carry alcohol with you, including in your car (except to take it on the day of collection from the warehouse to your home).  

You should dress modestly when in public, including whilst driving.  Women should cover their shoulders and avoid wearing short skirts.  You should behave courteously at all times.  Any intimacy in public between men and women (including between teenagers) can lead to arrest.  Homosexual behaviour is illegal in Qatar. 

See our Your Trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas
Only holders of British Citizen passports can obtain a visa on arrival in Qatar. If you hold one of the other types of British passport, you must obtain a valid visa before you travel.

Entry Requirements - Passport Validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Qatar. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of entry into Qatar.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with Children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country, or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.

For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Qatari Embassy in London.

Emergency medical treatment is excellent but can be expensive. Routine treatment is available but expensive for visitors.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around less than 200 adults aged 15 or over in Qatar were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around less than 0.1% of the adult population compared to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

Seek medical advice before travelling to Qatar and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention visit the websites of NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

See our Travel Health page.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. Check whether there are any exclusions, and whether your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas, see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Registering with the British Embassy
If you intend to live in Qatar or to stay for more than two weeks, you should register at the British Embassy in Doha. You may now do this online, or in person by completion of a registration card. 

You may also register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Working in Qatar
Potential job seekers should be aware that under Qatari Labour Law the employer’s permission (an Exit Permit) to leave Qatar is required on every occasion. You should also ask potential employers whether they operate under an exemption from the Qatari Labour Law, as this may affect the terms and conditions of your employment.

Potential job seekers should also be aware that they will be required to undergo a medical test, which comprises a blood test and a chest X-ray, whilst applying for their residence permit. The test screens for diseases including, but not restricted to, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and C. Testing positive for these types of diseases may lead to further testing and deportation is a possibility. Taking a blood test shortly before travelling to Qatar to take up work would therefore be advisable sensible precaution.

Under Qatar sponsorship laws, any employee wishing to change from one sponsor to another must obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC).  Employees should note, however, that a sponsor is not obliged to give an NOC to an employee.  Without an NOC, an employee must leave Qatar at the end of their employment, and may not return to work in Qatar for two years. The British Embassy is not able to influence or request the granting of an NOC on behalf of a British national.

General - Consular Assistance Statistics
57 British nationals required consular assistance in Qatar in the period April - Dec 2011 for the following types of incident: five deaths, nine hospitalisations and eight arrests.