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- Capital
- Doha
- Currency
- QAR · Qatari riyal
- Languages
- Arabic, English (widely used)
- Plugs
- Type G, D · 240 V
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Museum of Islamic Art · Doha
I. M. Pei building on the bay with one of the best Islamic art collections in the world.
- Souq Waqif · Doha
Restored traditional market with spice and falcon shops, cafes and evening crowds.
- National Museum of Qatar · Doha
'Desert rose' building telling Qatar's history from Bedouin life to gas wealth.
- The Corniche · Doha
Seven-kilometre waterfront walk with dhows and skyline views, best at sunset.
- Khor Al Adaid (Inland Sea) · South of Doha
UNESCO-recognised spot where sand dunes meet the sea; reach it by 4x4 tour.
Getting around
Public transport
Doha Metro
Three clean, cheap lines (Red, Gold, Green) linking the airport, West Bay, Souq Waqif and Lusail. Single trip about 2 QAR, day pass about 6 QAR; Gold Club carriages cost more. Free metrolink feeder buses run from many stations.
Taxi
Karwa taxis and Karwa app
State-run metered taxis, also bookable in the Karwa Taxi app. Airport taxis have a higher starting fare.
Ride-hailing app
Uber
Widely used in Doha; often cheaper than airport taxis.
Ride-hailing app
Careem
Popular Gulf ride app; compare with Uber.
Buses
Mowasalat (Karwa) buses
City buses with low fares, paid with a Karwa travel card; slow and infrequent on some routes.
Public transport
Lusail Tram and Msheireb Tram
Trams serving Lusail and the Msheireb downtown area; Msheireb loop is free.
Money and cash
Currency: QAR · Qatari riyal
Pegged at about 3.64 riyals to 1 US dollar. Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere, including taxis and the metro. Carry a few small riyal notes for tips and Souq Waqif stalls; staff cannot easily use dollar or euro tips.
Tipping
Tipping is not required but is common and appreciated, since most service workers are low-paid migrants. About 10% at restaurants without a service charge is the usual guide. Cash is best, because tips added on card terminals may not reach staff.
| Restaurants | 10-15% if there is no service charge. Many mid-range and upscale places add 10-15%; then an extra tip is optional. |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | Round up or leave 1-5 QAR. |
| Taxis and ride apps | Round up; app tips optional. |
| Hotels | 5-10 QAR per bag for porters and a similar amount per day for housekeeping. |
| Tours and guides | About 10% or 20-50 QAR for a guide or desert driver (varies). |
| Food delivery | Small cash or in-app tip of a few riyals. |
Service charge: what’s true
Many mid-range and upscale restaurants and hotels add a 10-15% service charge, shown as a separate line. Tipping guides report that it often does not reach the person who served you; there is no clear published rule that it must be paid out to staff (varies).
Pressure tactics to watch for
Card machines may show a preset tip option, and staff may suggest the service charge is not a tip. Paying both is optional. If you want your server to benefit, give a small cash tip directly and decline the card tip prompt.
Useful phrases
- الحساب لو سمحت (al-hisaab law samaht) The bill, please.
- هل الخدمة محسوبة؟ (hal al-khidma mahsooba?) Is service included?
- شكراً (shukran) Thank you.
Etiquette
- Cover shoulders and knees in public places; this is strictly applied in government buildings, banks, malls and clinics.
- Avoid public displays of affection for any couple; swearing and rude gestures are criminal offences.
- Photographing or filming people without consent can bring prison or fines up to 100,000 QAR; avoid filming near military, government and religious sites.
- Alcohol is only served in licensed hotel bars and restaurants (age 21+). Being drunk in public can bring up to 6 months in prison.
- During Ramadan, do not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public during daylight.
- Remove shoes before entering mosques and homes, and use your right hand to give and receive things.
- Bargaining is normal in Souq Waqif, but not in malls.
Scams and how to handle them
Fake traffic fine and government SMS
Where: Text messages to local and roaming phones
How it works: Messages pretending to be the Ministry of Interior claim an unpaid fine and link to a fake Metrash or Hukoomi page that steals card details.
How to avoid it: Do not click links. Check fines only in the official Metrash app or on hukoomi.gov.qa.
Unlicensed private drivers
Where: Airport, malls, Souq Waqif
How it works: Private cars offer rides at inflated flat fares, without licences or insurance.
How to avoid it: Use Karwa taxis, the metro, Uber or Careem, and check the car registration matches the app.
Fake event and attraction tickets
Where: Social media and resale groups
How it works: Tickets for football, concerts or tours that are fake or duplicated.
How to avoid it: Buy from official ticket platforms only.
Card terminal tip prompts and currency conversion
Where: Restaurants and shops
How it works: Terminals preset a tip, or offer to charge in your home currency at a poor rate.
How to avoid it: Check the screen, choose QAR and decline tips you did not intend.
Souq overpricing
Where: Souq Waqif and Gold Souq
How it works: Visitors are quoted high prices for spices, perfume, carpets and gold.
How to avoid it: Compare shops, bargain politely and ask for a receipt with weight and gold price.
Fake job or visa offers
Where: Online, aimed at visitors and workers
How it works: Fake employers or agents charge fees for jobs or visas that do not exist.
How to avoid it: Check visas only through official Qatar government portals; never pay recruitment fees to individuals.
Safety
- Crime is low; the main risks are road accidents, heat and breaking strict local laws.
- Use pre-booked or app taxis, check the registration number and that the driver knows your name, especially women travelling alone at night.
- Zero tolerance for drugs, including traces in the blood; some medicines legal elsewhere are banned, so check before you travel and carry prescriptions.
- Unmarried cohabitation and same-sex relations are illegal.
- Summer temperatures often exceed 40 C; carry water and avoid midday outdoor activity.
- Check government travel advice for regional security alerts.
How widely English is spoken
Very high in Doha. Most service staff are expatriates and English is used in shops, hotels and on signs.
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Qatar, safety and security
- Wikivoyage: Doha
- The Peninsula: Fake traffic fine messages target mobile users in Qatar
- Tipping101: How much to tip in Qatar
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.