|  ravel
Information
[more
info]
- Time Zone
& Climate
- Language
- Electricity & Water
- Currency
- Shopping
hours
- Working Times
- Visa Regulation
Attractions
[more
info]
- Corniche
- Dhow
(Boat) Trip on the Doha Bay
- Palm
Tree Island
- Qatar
National Museum
- Ethnographic
museum
- Qatar
National Theatre
- Aladdin's
Kingdom
- Al
Koot Fort
- Animal
Market and Falconry Souq
- Arabian
Horse Farm
- Al
Shahaniya Camel Race Track
Tours
[more
info]
- Doha
City Tour
- Desert
Safari to the Inland Sea
- Qatar Attractions
Tour
|
 |
Shopping
[more
info]
- City Centre Shopping Mall
- Souqs
Sports
[more info]
- Khalifa
Tennis & Sqash Complex
- Water Sports
- Doha Golf
Club
Annual
Events [more
info]
- Qatar Tennis
Open
- Qatar
Golf Masters Tournament
- Asian
Games 2006: 1st - 15th December 2006
New
Projects in Doha
[more
info]
- New International Airport
- Museum of Islamic Arts
- Qatar National Library
- Education City
- Pearl of Qatar
- Lusail
|
| |
Travel Information
Doha, the capital of Qatar, is located
half-way down the east coast of the peninsula and represents
a vital centre of culture, commerce and communications,
and a host port with a strategic Arabian Gulf location.
Qatar's oil and gas fields are not the
only resources of the country. Indeed over the last few
years, Doha has gained acclaim for its developments in the
fields of sports, tourism and education. Its proximity to
the warm, pristine waters and sandy beaches of the Arabian
Gulf, as well as its cultural heritage make Doha an exciting
new destination to be explored. Tourists delight in the
old souqs and traditional buildings housing museums, and
in the many new sports facilities being created for the
Asian Games 2006.
Time zone & Climate
GMT +3
Temperatures range between 20 and 30 degrees
during winter and between 25 and 48 degrees during summer,
with an average temperature of 35 degrees. Humidity is quite
high during summer time.
Language
Arabic is the official language, but English
is also widely spoken.
Electricity & Water
Voltage is 220 volts AC at 50 hertz; 110
volts AC in bathrooms.
Tap water is quite safe to drink, but locally bottled mineral
water is generally served in hotels and restaurants.
Currency
The official currency is the Qatari Riyal
(QR), which is divided into 100 Dirhams.
The exchange parity against the dollar has been set at a
fixed rate: 1 US$ = 3.63991 QR.
Shopping hours
Saturday through Thursday: 8:30 am to
12:30 pm and 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, with malls open 10:00 am
to 10:00 pm.
On Fridays, some shops remain closed all
day and others open at 4:00 pm. But most of the malls and
supermarkets offer extended Friday shopping.
Working Times
Week-end is Friday and Saturday, but some
companies from the private sector might be open on Saturday.
Working Hours are mostly as follow:
- Government Offices: 7:00 am to 2pm
- Private Establishments: 8:00 am
to 12:00 noon & 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Malls stay open
until 9:00 or 10:00 pm.
- Banks: 7:30 am to 1:00 pm.
- Opening hours for museums are usually:
9:00 am to 12:00 noon and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm (closed on
Friday morning).
Visa Regulation
Everyone except nationals of other
Gulf States needs a visa to enter Qatar.
Visa regulations may change, so we recommend contacting
the nearest Qatar embassy prior to traveling.
Attractions
Corniche
The Corniche, the ideal place to
relax, is where many living in Doha go for a picnic, to
walk, run or do some roller-blading. You can stroll along
this seven-kilometer stretch of coastline, enjoying the
beautiful daytime views or to admire the sea and the lights
of Doha at night.
Dhow (Boat) Trip on the
Doha Bay
Sunset Cruises on traditional dhows
provide incredible views of the city at night.
Palm Tree Island
Located in the middle of the Doha
Bay, this man-made island is covered with palm trees and
offers pretty beaches. With ample water sports facilities,
children's play areas and restaurants, it is popular for
family outings. It can be reached only by boat, just a five-minute
ride from the jetty.
Qatar National Museum: :
a few minutes away from the hotel
The country's award-winning museum
is housed in the restored Fariq Al Salata palace of Sheikh
Abdullah bin Qasim, which was constructed in 1901. The museum
offers a display of diverse traditional and historic artefacts
of Qatar and the region, along with a gallery that traces
Qatar's main development since the discovery of oil and
gas.
Ethnographic museum
This museum is located in a 20th
century Qatari house, which has been restored and gives
a good idea of Qatari houses before the oil and gas era.
This museum will help you understand the roles of the various
rooms and their importance in the life of the family. Closed
on Saturdays, admission is free.
Qatar National Theatre:
a few minutes away from the hotel
This theatre was inaugurated in
1982 to be the State's official theatre. It contains 490
seats and hosts the performances of visiting Arab and international
theatrical troupes.
Aladdin's Kingdom (Amusement
Park): near the Bavaria City Suites Doha
The Kingdom of Aladdin lies in the
West Bay area. It has more than 18 game features to suit
all age groups. It also has a rest house, an artificial
lagoon, a theater and a cafeteria.
Al Koot Fort
Often called the "Doha Fort",
this Moorish-style fort houses a display of traditional
crafts and paintings. It is located near the old souq area.
Animal Market and Falconry
Souq
This market features camels, sheep,
fowl, caged birds and domestic pets. And during the falconry
season (from October until March), you will find falcons
and all the equipment required for this sport. And falconers
will be more than pleased to tell you everything about their
birds.
Arabian Horse Farm
Horse racing is one of the oldest
sports in Qatar and very much appreciated by Qataris. International
horse beauty contests are as well the focus of attention
and appreciation for many.
Al Shahaniya Camel Race
Track
Most camel races take place at this
track, where there is a large spectator stand, although
many locals follow the races from their vehicles. A very
exiting spectacle.
Tours
Doha City Tour
The Doha city guided tour will take you
to the Corniche seafront, Qatar National Museum, Dhow Harbour,
Old Souq, and to the Falcon and traditional Markets. This
tour starts and finishes at the Hotel.
Desert Safari to the Inland Sea
Tour operators offer one-day trip to the
inland sea. Located in the middle of the desert, this is
an area of exceptional beauty. The sea surges into a wide
channel creating a vast shallow tidal lake. Experienced
safari drivers will take you on a thrilling ride up and
down the dunes and you will then enjoy a nice lunch and
swim in the warm inland sea.
Qatar Attractions Tour
This full-day tour will take you to the
major tourist attractions and landmarks in and around Doha,
including the Inland Sea and the desert. Departure and return
from/to the hotel.
Shopping
Doha offers a wide range of shopping opportunities:
from modern shopping complexes to traditional shops in the
old souq, you will find everything you need.
City Centre Shopping Mall: within
walking distance of the hotel
As one of the largest shopping malls in
the Gulf, the City Centre includes more than 350 shops,
restaurants and supermarkets, as well as a lot of entertainment
facilities for the whole family. The world most famous brands
are to be found there, as well as ice skating rinks and
bowling alleys.
Souqs
Along those narrow walkways, you will
find almost everything from traditional incense and clothing,
to modern equipment. There are different types of souqs,
each with its own specialty: from textile to spices. And
do not miss the gold souq!
Sports
In preparation for the Asian Games 2006,
Doha is currently improving and expanding greatly its sports
facilities. 2 additional stadiums, a 36-lane bowling alley
complex, a shooting range, horse racing track and other
facilities are currently under construction.
But the existing facilities offer already
plenty of opportunities to the sports enthusiasts.
Khalifa Tennis & Sqash Complex
With 17 courts, swimming pool and gymnasium.
Water Sports
A wide range of water sports is available
in Doha. The warm waters of the Arabian Gulf offer a lot
of opportunities:
Doha Golf Club
Designed by Peter Harradine, this 18-hole,
par 72 championship course has hosted many international
championships. A nine-hole floodlit academy course is as
well available in this 150 hectare oasis.
Annual events
Qatar Tennis Open
Qatar Exxon Mobil Tennis Open and the
Qatar Total Open are held in Doha every year. Some of the
world's leading players from the men's and women's circuit
converge then to the capital of Qatar for these prestigious
tournaments being hosted by the Qatar Tennis Federation.
Qatar Golf Masters Tournament
Since 1998, the Qatar Masters bring each
year some of the world's leading golf professionals to Doha.
The Qatar Masters has been a regular feature on the European
schedule since its beginning, and in 2005 it has even featured
players from the Asian circuit.
Asian Games 2006: 1st - 15th December
2006
In 2000, Qatar proudly gained the majority
vote to host the 15th Asian Games in Doha. The capital of
Qatar will then become the first city in its region and
only the second in West Asia since Iran in 1974 to hold
this prestigious international event.
The Games will take place from 1st to 15th
of December 2006. 39 sports will be played and over 30 sports
facilities will accommodate the athletes' requirements -
14 multipurpose stadiums are already scattered round Doha
and are being refurbished to meet the demand. A youth camp
is also expected to take place a week prior to the commencement
of the Games.
The Asian Games Village, begun in 2003,
was designed so that it can be converted into a state of
the art medical facility at the end of the Games.
New projects
in Doha
New International Airport
In response to a projected demand for
additional international passenger capacity to the region,
a new international airport is being constructed for an
estimated at QR18 billion. The first phase is due for completion
in 2008. It will be situated 4km east of the existing one
and will be able to handle 12 million passengers per year
after the first phase of construction.
Museum of Islamic Arts
Due for completion in 2006, it will be
located on a man-made island. This museum will showcase
some of the best Islamic Arts. It will be the largest museum
of its kind in the world.
Qatar National Library
Designed by Japanese architect Isozak,
Qatar National Library will represent a new landmark in
the city of Doha. The library will open in 2006 and will
be situated on the foreshore of Doha's picturesque Corniche.
It will also contain a natural museum, art galleries, conference
and lecture halls, cafeterias and restaurants.
Education City
Developed by the Qatar Foundation for
Education, Science and Community Development, this 7-milion
sqm site will house some of the word's most famous institutions.
Schedule for completion in 2008, it will
provide educational facilities to all, from kindergarten
to graduate and post-graduate studies, covering all fields:
science, business, Islamic studies, information technologies,...
and even a teaching hospital.
Pearl of Qatar
The Pearl of Qatar consists of a 366-hectare
man-made island, east of West Bay, linked to the mainland
by a causeway. The facilities will include 4 marinas with
space for more than 700 boats, residential quarters, shopping
areas, hotels, entertainment and recreational facilities,
schools and community centres.
The opening is planned for September 2006.
Lusail
Qatar's single biggest development
will cover over 35 square kilometers of waterfront for an
estimated budget of 5 billion US$. Lusail development will
include a large blue water lagoon with 2 marinas, major
residential areas, extensive commercial districts and mixed-use
areas, comprehensive leisure and entertainment facilities
including 2 golf courses and an entertainment district,
beaches as well as parks, schools and medical centres.
|
