GETTING TO QATAR
Qatar Airways offers one of the most intensive and wide flight network to and from Doha. It is renowned as one of the top luxury airlines with an impeccable onboard service. Another option could be flying via Dubai. Quite a few other airlines offer their service into Doha, namely Emirates, Etihad, with intermediate transfers
QATAR AIRWAYS network
http://www.qatarairways.com/global/en/routemap-popup.html
DOCUMENTS FOR ENTERING QATAR - VISAS
It is now much easier to enter Qatar. Nationals of the following countries can now obtain a visit- visa on arrival for a period of two weeks: USA , Britain , France , Italy , Germany , Canada , Australia , New Zealand , Japan , Netherlands , Belgium , Luxemburg , Switzerland , Austria , Sweden , Norway , Denmark , Portugal , Ireland , Greece , Finland , Spain , Monaco , The Vatican, Iceland , Andorra , San Marino , Liechtenstein , Brunei , Singapore , Malaysia , Hong Kong , and South Korea . Visas cost 100 QAR (about US$28 , EUR 18, GBP14, AUD 31) For citizens of other countries or to advance the visa procedure ahead of the time, please browse: http://www.e.gov.qa
ALCOHOL
NO ALCOHOL is allowed in the country, whatsoever! In case you attempt to bring in any quantity, even for personal consumption, this will be confiscated. Drink is available in the main international hotels.
WEATHER
In early April the day time is warm yet bearable, ranging 16 – 28°C. The evening and night temperature may drop in the 5 – 10° C range, thus bring some warm cloth and sun protection.
TOURIST INFORMATION
For further information: http://www.experienceqatar.com
HISTORY
Recent discoveries on the edge of an Island in the West of Qatar indicates early human presence in pre-historic Qatar. Discovery of a 6th millennium BC site at Shagra, in the South-east of Qatar revealed the key role the sea (Gulf) played in the lives of Shagra’s inhabitants. Excavation at Al-Khore in the North-east of Qatar, Bir Zekrit and Ras Abaruk and the discovery of pottery and Flint, Flint-scraper tool, Rim of painted ceramic and vessels there indicates Qatar’s connection with the Al-Ubaid civilization which flourished in the land between the Tigris and the Euphrates during the period of 5th –4th millennium BC. There had also been barter trade system between the settlements at Qatar and the Ubaid Mesopotamia and the exchange of commodities were mainly pottery and dried fish.[6] Islam swept the entire Arabian region in the 7th century, overturning the idol worshippers. With the spread of Islam in Qatar, Prophet Mohammad sent his first envoy Al Ala Al-Hadrami to Al-Mundhir Ibn Sawa Al-Tamimi, the ruler of Bahrain, which extended the coast from Kuwait to the south of Qatar including al-Hasa and Bahrain Islands, in the year 628, inviting him to accept Islam. Mundhir responding to the Prophet’s call announced his conversion to Islam and all the Arab inhabitants of Qatar including some Persians living in Qatar also became Muslim, heralding the beginning of the Islamic era in Qatar. In medieval times, Qatar was more often than not independent and a participant in the great Gulf-Indian Ocean commerce. Many races and ideas were introduced into the peninsula from Africa, South and Southeast Asia, as well as the Malay archipelago. Today, the traces of these early interactions with the oceanic world of the Indian Ocean survive in the small minorities of races, peoples, languages and religions, such as the presence of Africans and Shihus. After centuries-long domination by the Ottoman and British empires, Qatar became an independent state on September 3, 1971 (but national celebration day is December 18). Although the peninsular land mass that makes up Qatar has sustained humans for thousands of years, for the bulk of its history the arid climate fostered only short-term settlements by nomadic tribes. The British initially sought out Qatar and the Persian Gulf as an intermediary vantage point en route to their colonial interests in India, although the discovery of oil and other hydrocarbons in the early twentieth century would re-invigorate their interest. During the nineteenth century, the time of Britain’s formative ventures into the region, the Al Khalifa clan reigned over the Northern Qatari peninsula from the nearby island of Bahrain to the west. Although Qatar had the legal status of a dependency, resentment festered against the Bahraini Al Khalifas along the eastern seaboard of the Qatari peninsula. In 1867, the Al Khalifas launched a successful effort to squash the Qatari rebels, sending a massive naval force to Wakrah. However, the Bahraini aggression was in violation on the 1820 Anglo-Bahraini Treaty. The diplomatic response of the British to this violation set into motion the political forces that would eventuate in the founding of the state of Qatar. In addition to censuring Bahrain for its breach of agreement, the British Protectorate (per Colonel Lewis Pelly) asked to negotiate with a representative from Qatar. The request carried with it a tacit recognition of Qatar’s status as distinct from Bahrain. The Qataris chose as their negotiator the respected entrepreneur and long-time resident of Doha, Muhammed bin Thani. His clan, the Al Thanis, had taken relatively little part in Persian Gulf politics, but the diplomatic foray ensured their participation in the movement towards independence and their hegemony as the future ruling family, a dynasty that continues to this day. The results of the negotiations left Qatar with a new-found sense of political selfhood, although it did not gain official standing as a British protectorate until 1916. Diwan Al-Emiri The reach of the British Empire diminished after the Second World War, especially following Indian independence in 1947. Pressure for a British withdrawal from the Arab emirates in the Persian Gulf increased during the 1950s, and the British welcomed Kuwait's declaration of independence in 1961. When Britain officially announced in 1968 that it would disengage politically (though not economically) from the Persian Gulf in three years' time, Qatar joined Bahrain and seven other Trucial States in a federation. Regional disputes, however, quickly compelled Qatar to resign and declare independence from the coalition that would evolve into the seven-emirate United Arab Emirates. On September 3, 1971, Qatar became an independent sovereign state. In 1991, Qatar played a significant role in the Persian Gulf War, particularly during the Battle of Khafji in which Qatari tanks rolled through the streets of the town providing fire support for Saudi Arabian National Guard units which were fighting against units of the Iraqi Army. Qatar also allowed Coalition troops from Canada to use the country as an airbase to launch aircraft on CAP duty. Since 1995[update], Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has ruled Qatar, seizing control of the country from his father Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani while the latter vacationed in Switzerland. Under Emir Hamad, Qatar has experienced a notable amount of sociopolitical liberalization, including the endorsement of women's suffrage or right to vote, drafting a new constitution, and the launch of Al Jazeera, a leading English and Arabic news source which operates a website and satellite television news channel. The International Monetary Fund states that Qatar has the highest GDP per capita in the world, followed by Luxembourg. The World Factbook ranks Qatar at second, following Luxembourg.
GEOGRAPHY
The Qatari peninsula juts 100 miles (161 km) north into the Persian Gulf from Saudi Arabia and is slightly smaller than the state of Massachusetts, USA. Much of the country consists of a low, barren plain, covered with sand. To the southeast lies the spectacular Khor al Adaid (“Inland Sea”), an area of rolling sand dunes surrounding an inlet of the Persian Gulf. There are mild winters and very hot, humid summers. The highest point in Qatar is Qurayn Abu al Bawl at 103 metres (340 ft)[10] in the Jebel Dukhan to the west, a range of low limestone outcrops running north-south from Zikrit through Umm Bab to the southern border. The Jebel Dukhan area also contains Qatar’s main onshore oil deposits, while the natural gas fields lie offshore, to the northwest of the peninsula.
Information source: Wikipedia
SHERATON DOHA RESORT & CONVENTION HOTEL*****
LOCATION:
Well-known throughout the Middle East as "Pyramid of the Gulf", the hotel features 363 rooms and suites. The beauty and tranquillity of the hotel's 70 acres of landscaped gardens, private beach, lagoon, executive sports, leisure and fitness facilities are appreciate all business travellers. It offers excellent service – from a wide range of meeting rooms with state-of-the-art facilities to restaurants with an array of sumptuous cuisine, and bars.
ROOMS ARE EQUIPPED WITH:
Air conditioning - Radio alarm clock
Plasma Television with satellite channels
Minibar - Telephone
Wi-Fi Internet access - Refrigerator
RESTAURANTS:
It offers several restaurants, including La Veranda (Italian cuisine) and Al Hubar (International cuisine).
DISTANCE FROM THE CIRCUIT: 20/25 minutes
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL DOHA *****
LOCATION:
Gazing over the Arabian Gulf, with its own private beach and a marina curved at its feet, Four Seasons is fashioned to the finest international standards. It is the centrepiece of Doha’s outstanding waterfront landmark, the West Bay business and residential complex. The 232 guest rooms, (57 suites), are located on floors 3 through 18 of the hotel.
ROOMS ARE EQUIPPED WITH:
Clock radio - DVD player – LCD TV
Hair dryer - In-room safe
Multi-line telephone(s) with voicemail
Refrigerated private bar - Wired or wireless Internet access
RESTAURANTS
Il Teatro’s fine, contemporary Italian cuisine luxurious ambience ensure its place as the city’s restaurant of choice for special occasions. As an alternative, you may choose to dine in the Brasserie on the Beach, which offers international cuisine, or in the Pool Grill.
DISTANCE FROM THE CIRCUIT: 20/25 minutes
RITZ CARLTON DOHA ***** Deluxe
LOCATION:
Definitely the closest to the circuit, this spectacular hotel with its exquisite beachfront, is located in the prestigious West Bay Lagoon district, overlooking the Arabian Gulf and adjacent to the renowned Doha Golf Club. The resort is situated just 10 minutes from downtown Doha and 20 minutes from the airport. The largest shopping mall in town is just a 6/7 minute drive.
ROOMS ARE EQUIPPED WITH:
Air conditioning - Satellite Tv
Telephone - Internet access - Radio alarm clock
RESTAURANTS:
Dining choices include the rooftop restaurant with a French cuisine menu or the casual, grotto-like atmosphere of an Italian bistro serving pasta and pizzas.
DISTANCE FROM THE CIRCUIT: 5/10 minutes
INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL *****
LOCATION:
The hotel is located on the beach in the prestigious WAl Qutaifia area, the hotel is next door to the Doha Golf Club and just a 10 minutes drive from downtown Doha. The hotel's facilities include a large outdoor swimming pool, squash and tennis courts, and health club with gymnasium.
ROOMS ARE EQUIPPED WITH:
Air conditioning - Satellite Tv
Telephone – Wi-Fi Internet access
RESTAURANTS:
Located on the beach is a sophisticated restaurant where guests may dine on freshly caught seafood. Otherwise guest can taste the Italian food at the Za Moda, or try the lively Tex-Mex restaurant Paloma.
DISTANCE FROM THE CIRCUIT: 15/20 minutes
HOTEL MÖVENPICK *****
LOCATION:
The hotel is centrally located in the heart of the city on Doha's spectacular Corniche. Two minutes walking distance to the National Museum; five minutes driving to the National Theatre, Exhibition centre and all commercial, shopping, leisure and government locations; 10 minutes driving to the airport.
ROOMS ARE EQUIPPED WITH:
Air conditioning - Television
Satellite television - Direct dial phone
Mini bar - Hairdryer
Direct internet access
RESTAURANTS:
The hotel offers several outlets, like a piano bar, a steakhouse, an Italian restaurant, an Asian restaurant with live wok cooking, coffee lobby lounge and a deli shop where you can get the famous coffee, ice cream and pastries.
DISTANCE FROM THE CIRCUIT: 30/35 minutes
MÖVENPICK TOWER & SUITES HOTEL*****
LOCATION:
An impressive new landmark in Doha, this 26-storey tower is located at the entrance to West Bay, just 15 minutes drive from Doha International Airport. The Tower offers 350 contemporary yet cosy rooms including 40 suites. All rooms are spacious with fully furnished kitchenettes, advanced technological facilities, high-speed Internet access and serviced with the finest attention to detail
ROOMS ARE EQUIPPED WITH:
Air conditioning - Satellite TV
Minibar - Telephone
Internet access - Radio alarm clock
RESTAURANTS:
The Animato is an all-day dining restaurant offering dishes from around the world while the Wok Mee serves Asian cuisine Indonesia, Thailand, China and Vietnam.
DISTANCE FROM THE CIRCUIT: 20/25 minutes
RAMADA PLAZA HOTEL****
LOCATION:
This hotel stands in the centre of Doha within easy reach of the airport, business and commercial districts and of course the famous Doha corniche.
All 584 rooms and suites are modern and spacious with complimentary high-speed internet/WIFI access. It also offers a swimming pool, tennis and squash courts and gym at The Cabana Leisure Club.
ROOMS ARE EQUIPPED WITH:
Air conditioning - Satellite TV
Minibar - Telephone
WI-FI Internet access - Radio alarm clock
RESTAURANTS:
It offers seven restaurants providing Italian, Japanese, International, Indian and Chinese food.
DISTANCE FROM THE CIRCUIT: 20/25 minutes
RETAJ AL RAYAN HOTEL****
LOCATION:
Located in Al Dafna area with beautiful views of the water fronts of the West Bay, this 19 floor tower is alcohol and smoke free. It includes 360 rooms consisting of 180 king-size bedrooms, 72 suites and 108 twin bedrooms. The hotel also includes a variety of dining and entertainment facilities such as the health club with Sauna and Jacuzzi and an outdoor swimming pool.
ROOMS ARE EQUIPPED WITH:
Air conditioning - Satellite TV
Mini fridge - Telephone
Internet access - Radio alarm clock
RESTAURANTS:
The Al Maiz daily buffets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while the Silk Road offers a wide selection of Chinese and Asian delights.
DISTANCE FROM THE CIRCUIT: 20/25 minutes
MILLENNIUM HOTEL****
LOCATION:
Situated in the heart of Doha, the hotel combines a mix of Arabic tradition & warm hospitality with a modern metropolitan feel, with a wide choice of food and beverage outlets. It offers 226 guest rooms including 24 suites. The hotel also provides excellent leisure facilities including: spa, fitness centre, club lounge and indoor rooftop swimming pool to relax and unwind.
ROOMS ARE EQUIPPED WITH:
Air conditioning - Satellite TV
Coffe maker – Telephone - Minibar
Internet access - Radio alarm clock
RESTAURANTS:
You can taste international dishes at the Cosmo restaurant, Lebanese cuisine on the top of the hotel at the Zaman or enjoy snacks at the Atrium Café.
DISTANCE FROM THE CIRCUIT: 25 minutes
DOHA SEEF HOTEL ****
LOCATION:
The hotel is located close to the Corniche in the business centre, next to Doha Museum. The 130 rooms are medium in size, nicely furnished, and some of them have seaview. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning and mini fridge. The international restaurant is located on the Mezzanine level and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
ROOMS ARE EQUIPPED WITH:
Hairdryer –Mini bar
TV with satellite channels
High speed internet access
DISTANCE FROM THE CIRCUIT: 30 minutes
HOLIDAY VILLA HOTEL ****
LOCATION:
Holiday Villa Hotel and Residence City Centre is the newest hotel and apartment located in Doha's prime commercial area, a ten minutes drive from Doha International Airport. The hotel has 358 rooms with 116 executive suites, fitted with top of the art facilities, fully carpeted with attached bathroom, Flat Screen TV with Sat TV Programs, IPTV and internet facilities.
ROOMS ARE EQUIPPED WITH:
Hairdryer – Safe - Mini bar
TV with satellite channels
Direct speed dial telephone
RESTAURANTS:
The Lagenda Malaysian Restaurant offers Malaysian cuisine and a selection of western and middle eastern cuisine. The Chopstix Restaurant offers a fusion of Chinese and Japanese cuisine.
DISTANCE FROM THE CIRCUIT: 25 minutes
GOLDEN COAST AYANA HOTEL ***
LOCATION:
Located 5 minutes away from Doha International Airport where major banking and Doha’s traditional shopping is situated, the Golden Coast Hotel is managed by Ayana Hotels & Suites and consists of 72 classic rooms. The hotel also offers a restaurant serving continental meals.
ROOMS ARE EQUIPPED WITH:
Hairdryer – Safe - Mini bar
TV with satellite channels
Direct speed dial telephone
Free internet access
FACILITIES:
Gym
Continental Restaurant with buffet and a la carte menu
DISTANCE FROM THE CIRCUIT: 30/35 minutes
Qatar - Doha
