DESTINY IN DOHA 2019
RELIGION Qatar is an Islamic country but other religions are respected and Qatar’s cosmopolitan populaon supports many places of worship from Hindu temples to Chrisan churches. The ming of Islamic fesvals and holidays depends on the lunar calendar, moving about eleven days earlier each year. Ramadan is the Islamic holy period where there is absolutely no alco‐ hol available, and you cannot eat or drink water in public, among other prohibions. Consult a calendar for the dates to be sure. DRESS CODE The atude to dress in Qatar is quite relaxed, but visitors (men as well as women) should show re‐ spect for local culture and customs in public places by avoiding exces‐ sively revealing clothing in public places. Context is important. Bikinis and beachwear are acceptable by the hotel pool but not in public places in the city such as shopping malls, restaurants and government offices. You should not wear thin or short ‘cover‐ups’ on the street. Consider bringing along a hat and scarf. CLOTHING All around, you’ll see Qatari naves wearing the tradional thawb for men and the abaya for women. For visitors, the US State Department recommends conservave dress, e.g., long sleeves for men and women, etc. Some visitors have reported that this is not the case, but be prepared. Because laundry in the hotel is very expensive, try the many small local cleaners that have a one‐day turnaround for all kinds of clothing. Women‐only cleaners are also available. TRAVEL TIPS FOR DOHA
were always welcome to share food and drink. This tradion is deeply ingrained in Qatari culture and survives throughout the country where the serving of tradional Arabic coffee and sweet dates to welcome visitors remains a sym‐ bolic expression of this hospitality. For tradional sengs and at celebraons such as weddings, the age‐old pracce of communal dining is sll followed and meal mes are characterized both by the unfailing generosity of the host and the informality and warmth of the conversaons that flourish over the shared feast. Visitors will find much evidence of these admirable traits especially during naonal holidays and the holy month of Ramadan. CUISINE Despite limited agriculture, tradi‐ onal Qatari food can be surpris‐ ingly varied. While locally caught fish are always in plenful supply, many staples have to be imported. Over the years, local dishes have been influenced by the cuisine of the Indian Subconnent, Iran, the Levant and North Africa. They include: machboos, a stew of richly spiced rice with seafood or meat, muon served with yogurt; ghuzi, a whole roast lamb on a bed of rice and nuts; and stuffed boiled sheep or goat served with sea‐ soned rice. This centrepiece of the meal is g enerally accompanied by a variety of side dishes, including chicken, fish and vegetables and salad. Locally grown dates, fresh fruit and desserts such as halwa or Umm Ali round off a typical Qatari meal. Souq Waqif and Katara are both highly recommended places to visit for tourists looking to experience Qatari food and Arabic coffee. For food aficionados, Qatar boasts a remarkable variety of dining pos‐ sibilies at all prices. Many restau‐ rants offer an authenc taste of
QATARI SEA For generaons, fishing and pearl diving provided the mainstay of life for many communies and, while the laer succumbed to the advent of cultured pearls in the 1930s, Qatari waters remain rich in fish life.Tourists who are interested in taking fishing trips will find a multude of opons available. A number of tour companies offer both early‐morning and aernoon trips on a variety of boats, from tradional dhows to smaller motorboats. MALL OF QATAR Strategically posioned at the crossroads of three connents, Qatar is one of the fastest‐growing countries in the world, and a financial powerhouse that moves the needle of global influence. Expected to welcome over 20 million visitors annually, the Mall of Qatar captures the imaginaon of the enre naon as it opens the doors to a 500,000 sqm innovave shopping concept that includes top‐notch recreaon and leisure opons. DOHA FESTIVAL CITY With over 500 stores, 100 restau‐ rants, and some of the best themed aracons in the world, there’s never a shortage of special events going on. At Doha Fesval City, we work with each of our partners to ensure they are making your enjoyment a top priority. Be sure to frequently check back and find an event that’s just right for you. VILLAGGIO MALL Villaggio is located within walking distance from Khalifa Internaonal Stadium and is home to an average of 50,000 visitors daily. Housed on a total plot size of 360,000 sqm that hosts a dedicated mall area of 183,000 sqm, and, providing 90,000 sqm of world class shopping, 15,000 sqm of luxury brands and 3,300 parking spaces, Villagio is equipped to comfortably meet the demands of every visitor.
A TRADITION OF HOSPITALITY In nomadic society, desert travellers
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