Middle East: Qatar

Qatar is one of the richest countries on earth. The main sources of income are gas and oil. Tourism is quite well developed here, but this fact is mainly due to the high growth of the economy as a whole, rather than as a single industry. Qatar is located on the Qatar Peninsula, on the border with Saudi Arabia, on all sides the country is washed by the Persian Gulf. With the weather here it is difficult to lose, although if you are a small lover of heat, in the summer months it is better to neglect such a holiday. The average July temperature is 42 degrees above zero and this is not the limit for local places. But in the winter months, the climate is more familiar to us, the air temperature is about 18 degrees.

 

 

To travel to Qatar, Russian citizens will need a visa. But you should not have problems with this, because a visa is given on arrival to each tourist for 30 days, upon presentation of a foreign passport at the airport.

You will have to get to your destination by plane. Direct flights are very rare here. At least one transplant will be required. Most often the stop is in Istanbul or Baku. The place of arrival is usually the capital of the state – Doha. The price of a budget ticket cannot be called, for a one-way flight you will have to pay at least three hundred dollars.

 

There are also full tours to Qatar. That is, you are in a travel agency or independently arrange a full package of services for tourism in this country. There are standard: air ticket, transfer, hotel and medical insurance. But here you need to be careful, because Qatar is not a cheap country and attractively low prices, especially in season. Therefore, carefully monitor what tour operators offer you, especially be careful when booking through sites yourself.

 

Having reached the capital and center of this Arab state - Doha, probably this is where you decide to stay, you will need to decide on housing, especially if you have not done it before. The choice of hotels and hotels here is huge, from fashionable skyscrapers to budget hostels, with the last few. This means that housing here is also not cheap, you need to keep in mind and focus on your wallet. A night in the hotel 3-4 stars costs about $ 100. Make it all, of course, better in advance, while still at home.

For beach lovers all conditions are here. Especially in the period from April to October, when the temperature does not fall below +30 degrees. As we said, the center of everything in Qatar is the capital, the best beaches you will find here. Here is clean and most of the territory is equipped not only for “lazy” rest on a sun lounger, but also for active beach entertainment, volleyball, surfing, water attractions. Of course, Qatar is still inferior to its neighbors in terms of tourism and service. The resorts of the UAE in many ways surpass even the capital of this country. But this, by the way, affects the pricing policy. Despite the fact that Qatar is quite expensive state, in comparison with the Emirates, prices here are much lower, while the service is not worse, the main thing is to competently approach the choice of location.

 

It is worth remembering that Qatar is a Muslim country. And the tourist should still be guided by the rules and laws of the state in which he is: be careful when choosing clothes, avoid too open outfits and not get carried away with too frank swimsuits. In Qatar, it is forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages on the street, outside bars and cafes, do it only in specially designated places, so as not to have problems with the law.

What can you see in this country besides skyscrapers, beaches and the scorching sun? We have already mentioned the capital of Qatar, Doha, more than once today, but it is not difficult to say more. Be sure to see this incredible city: huge skyscrapers contrast with the tiny houses of local residents, and new buildings seem to have long supplanted the “that” Qatar, every year the number of the city is increasing. Doha is a modern metropolis, almost equal to neighboring Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Here, in Doha, walk along the stunning Corniche promenade, a few kilometers long, along the Persian Gulf.

 

 

Another must-see destination is the Grand Mosque in Doha, near the waterfront. It is a very atmospheric place where thousands of local believers gather. The mosque was built in the middle of the twentieth century, so the complex Arabic style is intertwined with modern architectural ideas. Especially fascinating building looks at night, when its facade is illuminated with lights.

 

 

The Museum of Islamic Art is another attraction of Qatar. It is located in the sea, 60 meters from the coast, which is very surprising. The architecture is not standard: dozens of white cubes are stacked on top of each other. The filling of the museum corresponds to the name, a collection of Islamic art objects collected since the late 1980s.

 

The Inland Sea is a large bay formed as a result of tides, due to the unique geological features of the area. You will not see this anywhere else in the world, it is located a few dozen kilometers from the capital.

Of course, these are not all the attractions of this extraordinary country. As they say, it is better to see it once. Qatar is a completely new country for tourists and tourism in general, but if you want to see something unknown, unexplored, but at the same time extremely modern - welcome to the Middle East.

 

Author: Julia Averina

Photo: 123coolpictures, chezbibi.info, dostoprimechatelnosti-m, Wikipedia