Are you excited about visiting Qatar for the first time? When visiting Qatar, there are a few things you should and shouldn’t do, just like in any other country.
Visitors to Qatar, an Islamic nation, are expected to respect and adhere to specific local customs, regulations, and traditions. The staff at ILoveQatar.net (ILQ) has put up a list of important items that guests should keep in mind while they are here. We hope you have a great time in Qatar and welcome!
No drinking in certain places
Have fun reviewing movies and drinks
In Qatar, it is illegal to drink special beverages or to be seen drunk in public.
As per Law No. 11 of 2004 Issuing the Penal Code, Article 270,
Anyone found to have consumed any enhanced beverage in a public setting faces a maximum six-month jail sentence and/or a fine of three thousand Qatari Riyals (QR 3,000). Anyone discovered drunken and disturbing others on the major route will face the same punishment.
It is important for guests to know that specialty drinks will only be offered in restaurants with licenses that are connected to hotels and bars. You could be asked to provide an original picture ID. To buy it, foreigners residing in Qatar need to adhere to a unique permit system. It should be noted that the special beverages are not permitted to be carried in public.
No pork allowed
Entering the nation with pork or items containing pork is prohibited. Additionally, none of the local cafes or eateries provide it. Obtaining a license is necessary for foreign residents of Qatar to buy the products for personal use.
No drugs allowed
In Qatar, illicit drug usage, trafficking, and possession are all punishable by severe penalties.
According to Article 41 of Law No. 9 of 1987 on Control and Regulation of Dangerous Psychotropic Substances and Narcotic Drugs (NDDPS),
Anybody who, outside of the circumstances allowed by law, possesses, acquires, buys, delivers, transports, produces, extracts, separates, or manufactures NDDPS or any of the plants listed in Schedule 4 for purposes other than trafficking, illicit consumption, or personal use faces up to seven years in prison and a minimum of three years in jail, as well as a fine of up to two hundred thousand (200,000) Riyals and a minimum of one hundred thousand (100,000) Riyals.
Here’s the full list of laws related to drugs in Qatar.
No leaving waste & littering
Only a few nations worldwide can boast of having nearly entirely trash-free streets, and Qatar is unquestionably one of them.
Law No. 18 of 2017 on Public Hygiene establishes severe penalties and stringent regulations against littering by the Ministry of Municipality in Qatar. If you are caught throwing trash outside of the approved areas or in an unplanned manner, you could be fined QR 10,000 for each infraction.
No smoking in certain places
As per Law No. 20 of 2002 on the Control of Tobacco and its Derivatives, Article 10,
Smoking shall be prohibited in the following enclosed public places:
1. Means of public transport;
2. Schools, education and training centers, universities, hospitals, health centers, and other educational institutions and health facilities;
3. Ministries, other government agencies, public organizations and institutions, sports clubs, premises of associations and public stores, elevators, cinemas and theaters;
4. Industrial facilities and shopping malls;
5. Restaurants and other establishments that sell food or drinks to the public.
No gambling allowed
It is illegal to gamble in Qatar. The Law No. 11 of 2004 Issuing the Penal Code, as per Article 275,
Anybody caught gambling faces a maximum sentence of three months in prison, a maximum fine of three thousand Qatari Riyals (QR 3,000), or both of these punishments. If gambling is conducted openly in a public setting or in a building designated specifically for this purpose, there is a six-month maximum sentence for imprisonment and/or a fine of up to six thousand Qatari Riyals (QR 6,000).
Article 276 of the same law states that:
Anyone operating a gambling establishment or hosting games of chance in a public setting, whether publicly or within a building designated specifically for this purpose, faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison and/or a fine of five thousand Qatari Riyals (QR 5,000).
Article 277 states that:
The court will seize any materials, cash, or equipment used in the gambling or drinking offenses listed in this chapter. It will also order the closure of the location of the offense, which can only be reopened legally with the Office of Public Prosecution’s approval.
Avoid public display of affection (PDA)
In Qatar, PDAs are not encouraged in the open. One is advised to respect the culture and laws while visiting.
Important services on Fridays
In Qatar, Fridays are regarded as weekends and holy days (Fridays and Saturdays are considered weekends here). Notable services, such as banks, may be closed or open only in the evenings. It is possible that stores will be closed on Fridays for Friday prayers, so confirm the times before leaving.
Dressing etiquette in Qatar
Both men and women are urged not to wear clothing that is overly short or revealing in accordance with Qatar’s general modest dress code guideline. When visiting specific locations, such as government offices, museums, etc., women should cover their knees and shoulders and men should refrain from wearing short shorts. Head coverings are required for women who enter mosques. Another crucial period to abide by the dress code in the nation is during Ramadan.
Tipping culture
In Qatar, do we leave tips? While tipping is not required, some people continue to do it when dining at restaurants and other establishments. How much you wish to tip is totally up to you.
Photography rules
In Qatar, tourist images are allowed, but they shouldn’t be taken with the intention of offending or defaming someone. It’s also advisable to avoid snapping pictures of other people without their permission.
As per Law No. 11 of 2004 Issuing the Penal Code, Article 333,
Anybody who unlawfully and without permission enters into another person’s private life by any of the following methods faces a maximum one-year prison sentence and/or a fine of five thousand Riyals (QR 5,000):
1. Opens a letter or telegram against the will of the addressee or eavesdrop on a telephone conversation.
2. Records or transmits conversations that take place in a private place or through any type of device.
3. Takes or transmits somebody’s photographs or photographs of other persons in a private place using any type of device.
Offensive gestures in Qatar
Certain gestures, such as pointing with the finger, are frowned upon in Qatar. Sitting with your legs crossed such that your foot faces the person across from you is also considered disrespectful. When visiting Qatar, keep these in mind.
