Business and General Information of Doha, Qatar
HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
The Prime Minister & Interior Minister
HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani
Business Hours:
Banks are open from 7.30 am to 1.00 pm noon. Sunday to Thursday.
Government offices 7.00 am to 2.00 pm. Sunday to Thursday generally.
Commercial offices 7.30 am to 12.30 pm and 3.30 pm to 7.30 pm. Saturday to Thursday generally.
Climate:
Qatar has a moderate desert climate with hot summers and mild winters with a little rain. Humidity is relatively low. The most pleasant time is between October to March. The hottest months are between June to September.
Currency:
The Qatari Riyal is the unit of currency and is divided into100 dirhams. Currency notes are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 & 500. The exchange rate is approximately QR 3.65 to US$ 1.00.
Credit Cards:
All Internationally recognized credit cards are accepted by hotels, car hire agencies, departmental stores and commercial establishments.
Entry regulations:
All visitors to Qatar must posses a valid passport. Visa requirements should be checked well in advance. G.C.C. nationals do not require a Visa. Citizens of other nations must obtain a valid visa.
Holidays:
Friday is the Muslim day of rest and all banks and offices are closed. Saturday is also a holiday for Government offices and schools.The major holidays observed in Qatar are the Eid al-Fitr and the Eid -al-Adha with each lasting about four days. The dates of these holidays are tied to Ramzan. Qatar National Day celebrated on 18 December is also a public holiday.
Language:
Arabic is the official language but English is widely spoken and understood.
People:
The people of Qatar are the descendants of ancient Arabian lines of kinship. The present population is around 2,116,981 inhabitants, the majority of whom live in Doha city.
Transportation:
Taxis are easy to find and can be recognized by Grey colored ones. All taxis are metered and the rate varies depending upon the day and the night.