Are you travelling to Qatar for the first time soon, or will you be here for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™? Every country has its own set of things to remember when you visit, and Qatar is no exception. There are local laws, customs, and traditions that one needs to respect and follow when they're here.
The ILoveQatar.net (ILQ) team has put together a list of things to keep in mind and to remember during your stay in Qatar. Read on to find out all about it, happy visiting!
Qatar is an Islamic country and the laws and customs reflect that here. It is illegal to drink alcoholic beverages or to be seen drunk in public. As per Law No. 11 of 2004 Issuing the Penal Code, Article 270 on the Qatari Legal Portal - Al Meezan, “whoever drinks any enhanced beverages in a public place shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months and/or a fine not exceeding three thousand Qatari Riyals (QR 3,000). The same penalty will apply to any person who is found drunk on the main road or, is intoxicated and disturbs others.”
It is only available at certain places like licensed hotel restaurants, and bars, etc, and expats living in Qatar can obtain it on a permit system. You are not allowed to carry alcoholic beverages around with you and places serving alcohol might ask for original photo ID too.
As per FIFA, special beverages will be available at FIFA Fan Festival and other fan destinations and licensed venues. They will not be available at FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters.
As per Qatar 2022, fans should note that bringing alcohol into the State of Qatar is not permitted. Fans should avoid travelling with alcohol from their country of origin or purchasing duty-free products en route to avoid confiscation upon arrival in Qatar.
Qatar has imposed harsh penalties for the possession, use, and trafficking of illegal drugs. As per Article 35, anyone possessing, buying, or selling drugs for trade purposes will be jailed for at least 10 years, but not more than 20 years, and fined between QR 200,000 to QR 400,000.
As per Article 12, smoking is prohibited in closed public places such as hospitals, health centers, Ministries, government agencies, public organizations, public shops, elevators, cinemas, theaters, shopping malls, etc.
Gambling is also not allowed in Qatar. Article 274 says that 'gambling means any game in which the probability of gain and loss depends on uncontrolled chance and each party agrees to give an amount of money or any other benefit to be agreed upon, in case of loss, to the winning party.'
As per 275 Article, 'whoever gambles shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months and a fine not exceeding three thousand Qatari Riyals (QR 3,000) or one of these two penalties. if gambling occurs in a public place and performed openly or in any place or house-made for this purpose the imprisonment can be extended to six months and/or a fine not exceeding six thousand Qatari Riyals (QR 6,000).'
Article 276 says 'whoever opens or runs a place for gambling, and any person who organizes any gambling games in a public place, openly or in any place or house made for this purpose Imprisonment for a term not exceeding a year in prison and/or a fine not exceeding five thousand Qatari Riyals (QR 5,000).'
Article 277 stipulates that 'for gambling and drinking offenses, the court shall confiscate the materials, money, and equipment used in the offense and shall order the closure of the place where the offense has occurred, and which may only be re-opened for a legal purpose after the approval of the Office of Public Prosecution.'
As an Islamic country, you are banned from bringing pork and pork products into the country. It is also not served in restaurants and hotels. You must have a license to be allowed to buy pork in Qatar. Expats living here can obtain it on a permit system.
Personal displays of affection in public places are not encouraged in Qatar. Be wary of your surroundings and respect the local culture when visiting.
The Ministry of Municipality in Qatar has strict laws about properly littering and not disposing of your trash and has announced hefty fines under Law No. 18 of 2017 on Public Hygiene. You could face a penalty of QR 10,000 for different violations. Be responsible and do not litter.
In Qatar, you should dress modestly in a public setting. Men and women are advised not to wear clothes that are too short or too revealing. Women should cover their shoulders and avoid wearing short clothes (when visiting public places like museums and other government buildings). If you do not dress modestly, you may be asked to leave or denied entry to certain locations. Dressing modestly is also very important during the holy month of Ramadan in the country.
As per Qatar2022, swimwear is allowed at hotel beaches and pools. Fans attending matches should note that removing shirts at the stadium is not permitted.
While taking touristy photographs is acceptable, taking photographs or clips in a public place to offend or defame is punishable by up to two years' imprisonment and a fine of not more than QR 10,000 or one of the penalties.
As per lawyer and legal counsel Ahmed Abdullah Al-Subaey, photographing an individual without prior permission or registration is a criminal offence. Be cautious and avoid taking pictures of the locals, especially Qatari women, many of them don't like being photographed. For security reasons, you should avoid taking pictures of government institutions, archaeological sites, and sensitive or protected areas like military sites.
Pointing fingers at someone is also considered rude in Qatar, so try and avoid that. Never sit with your legs crossed in a way that the foot of one leg is resting on the knee of the other leg, with the foot facing another person's face. This is considered an insult by the locals.
Traditionally, there is no tipping in Qatar, but you will come across expats tipping in restaurants, cafes and other places. There is no fixed amount or percentage that you have to tip - it's entirely up to you.
The Holy Day in Qatar is Friday, so banks and other services might be closed. Some shops also close for a couple of hours before midday prayers and reopen afterwards. It's better to check opening hours before you head out.
From 1 November 2022, EHTERAZ (Qatar’s contact tracing app) will no longer be required to be shown when entering closed public places. The EHTERAZ app must only be shown when entering health facilities.
Visitors can activate the EHTERAZ mobile application using an international SIM card. Non-residents of Qatar must pre-register via an online registration platform (www.ehteraz.gov.qa) at least 3 days before arrival.
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Reference: Al Meezan
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