Qatar - FORMULA 1 QATAR GRAND PRIX 2025

The peninsular Arab country of Qatar juts out into the Persian Gulf, between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Qatar is known for its ability to accelerate into future design while staying true to its phenomenal heritage. The country is home to the world’s best Museum of Islamic Art, as well as some other fine historical sites including: Al Zubarah Fort, a World Heritage Site housing the remains of an ancient pearl diving centre. Arts and culture fundis delight in Katara, a sensational arts hub featuring impressive galleries and performance venues, and shoppers relish in the sights and sounds of Souq Waqif, arguably the finest traditional market in the Gulf. Don’t miss the opportunity to take lessons in falconry, enjoy a trip to the awe-inspiring Khor Al Adaid inland sea, and soak up sparkling sea views along the capital of Doha’s Waterfront Promenade.

Currency 

The currency in Qatar is the Qatari Riyal (QAR; symbol QR)= 100 dirhams. Notes are in denominations of QR500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 25, 10, 5, 1 dirhams. The Qatari Riyal is tied to the US Dollar.

Banking

Banking hours: Sunday-Thursday 0730-1300. Many banks open for longer hours and open on Saturdays too.

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted.

Travellers' cheques are widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Doha has Qatar’s only international airport and there are no internal flights.
Qatar itself is very easy to explore by car as it’s a tiny country. The drive from the Saudi border in the south to Madinat ash Shamal in the very north of the country is only 160 kilometres, taking around two hours 30 minutes.  Most roads lead to and from Doha; route 1 leads north to Madinat ash Shamal, the Dukhan Highway leads west to Dukhan and route 5 heads south to the Saudi border.

Options for dining out in Qatar are pretty limited outside Doha, but within the capital there has been a marked improvement in recent years.  Chefs such as Guy Savoy, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Gordon Ramsey have all opened restaurants in the city, and the cosmopolitan mix of population means that almost every cuisine imaginable can be found, from Thai to American, Mexican and French.

Within the capital area, there is a wide range of quality dining options, many but not all of which are to be found in the 5-star hotels. One of the best places to eat is in Souq Waqif, where a variety of Middle Eastern-themed eateries vie for trade; Iraqi, Persian, Qatari, Turkish and Syrian are all on offer.  For most expats and visitors, the most important meal of the week is Friday brunch, when hotels compete to lay out the widest and most varied choice of food. Booking ahead, at any of the five-star hotels, is essential.

The locally caught fish is a treat whether lowered genteelly to your plate with silver service or brought sizzling to the table on kebab sticks at a more local-style cafe. If the ubiquitous Gulf menu of rice, lamb and mezze (homos, chopped salads and other appetisers) is not to your taste, then there are plenty of Indian, Chinese and Thai options to suit all budgets. The fruit concoctions - such as lemon and mint, or avocado milkshake - are irresistible in summer.

Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice from hotels and public facilities in Doha is generally safe to drink. In other areas, bottled water is a sensible precaution. In general, food hygiene standards are good and it’s fine to eat from markets and street food stalls. Use common sense and only eat well-cooked meat and fish; in the summer months, inadequate storage in the heat can cause problems.

A service charge is often added to bills in hotels and most restaurants, otherwise, 10 percent is appropriate. However in smaller establishments, tipping is not the custom, and over-generous tips from tourists often backfire through the subsequent cutting of wages.

The best time to visit Qatar is from November to March, the cool period when temperatures are warm and the evenings can be pleasantly cool. January is the coolest month with temperatures ranging from 14°Celsius to 22° Celsius. Temperatures start to climb after January and by March, the average high is back to 24°Celsius. Although the cool period (November to March) is the best time to visit Qatar, bear in mind that rainfall, however scarce, occurs during this period too, and the rains come mostly in heavy cloudbursts and thunderstorms.

Lightweight cotton and linen are recommended during summer months but avoid wearing pure silk, which sticks to the skin with the humidity (although silk blends are great). A cardigan is useful for the over-cooled malls in the summer and a jacket is a must for cooler evenings during the winter. If you intend to take a camping trip from January to March, you'll be glad to have packed an extra layer of clothing at night.

Electrical sockets in Qatar are Type G (BS-1363). If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance's plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it's crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for all types.

Electrical sockets in Qatar usually supply voltage at 220-240 volts. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 220-240 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliance isn’t compatible with 220-240 volts, a voltage converter will be necessary.