Traveling to Qatar during Ramadan. All you need to know

Traveling to Qatar during Ramadan. What you need to know.

Traveling to the countries in the Middle East years ago seemed like a tale from “1001 Arabian nights”. Nowadays however, it is not a faraway dream anymore and a trip to Qatar is as far as a click of a computer mouse. Since I arrived to the Middle East, I realized how much I did not know about the life and people here. I know that every country is different, even over this relatively small part of the world. By sharing similar origins and culture though, they have a lot in common. Every day I am learning about it. I’m discovering the rich history and huge transitions Qatar went through. I see every month new buildings popping out and I am happy to be able to see so many world-class events that I would not be able to experience elsewhere.

Qatar is definitely a place worth attention, but being so culturally different from what many travellers are used to, it is important to adjust to some rules and habits, especially during Ramadan, a very important time for the locals of Qatar. I have prepared this post for you to make your travel experience easier and all the preparation smoother.

All you need to know before travelling to Qatar during Ramadan

What to wear

Tt is frowned upon to be wearing clothes that show too much body. This is a rule for both women and men. While it is ok to show a bit of the shoulder or legs in Qatar, during Ramadan it is required to respect the customs a bit more and the outfit rules are a bit more restricted. After a few months living in Qatar I have discovered that it is actually not very difficult to cover up a bit more and still look trendy and feel good, especially now with so many beautiful maxi dresses all over.

Here are a few tricks and ideas to follow:

Midi and maxi dresses

You can never go wrong with a maxi length. It is not only culture appropriate, but it is also practical. I did not believe before (and by before I mean during the times I did not know what desert sun feels like) that the sun in certain places is much stronger than an average European person would imagine. That was before I moved to Atacama and later to Qatar. The sun really makes you hear the sound of the sizzling of your skin. Long, but light dresses and skirts add extra sun protection. And the best thing is that they are super trendy right now, which makes the packing super easy.

See also: Travel coaching and planning

A scarf

A light scarf or pashmina is always a good idea in Qatar (and all Middle Eastern countries for that matter). The burning heat flows from the sky without any mercy, the building however is generously treated with air conditioning and believe me, you will get a chill. Practicality apart, a scarf is a must during visits to mosques as women are required to cover their hair.

A light cardigan

I almost always carry with me a scarf and a cardi, because apart from being useful to cover up in some places when it is culturally required, it also gives me an extra layer inside malls and restaurants.

Eating and drinking

During the month of Ramadan it is illegal to eat or drink in public during the day. It might be difficult to stick to this rule, however, to avoid any trouble and unpleasant moments that can spoil your holiday, be always conscious of not drinking, eating or smoking in public during this time. Even chewing a gum is frowned upon. This shows respect for the religion and culture of the country. Most restaurants are closed during the day, so you might need some extra organizing. In the evenings however, you might attend some really special dinners, called ifthar. Restaurants can get booked quickly, but it is really worth participating in one of those dinners. If you expect to go out at night and party a bit, you might disappointed as during Ramadan, there will be no alcohol served anywhere in the country.

Shops opening times

During Ramadan the shops timetable changes and most shops are open short hours during the day, but they reopen at night. The shopping malls are usually closed between 3pm and 7pm, but as they operate again in the evening, they will be closing way after midnight. An evening is a good time to visit the malls (and some of them are really impressive, my favourite one is Mall of Qatar), where family shows are prepared and some of them are awesome. I would even risk saying that the shows are good theatre class. One extra reason to visit the malls in the evening is that you will be able to try some local delicacies such as karak (Arabic coffee) and dates of many kinds that are served across the shops to visitors.

Things to Do in Qatar During Ramadan

Driving

It is known that driving in Qatar is not the easiest. Many drivers over speed, don’t use indicators or respect traffic signs. During Ramadan more accidents happen as people rush to their ifthar after the whole day of fasting. You should special attention when driving after sunset to avoid any unpleasant situations on your travels.

Special flight prices

Qatar Airways often prepare special prices and discounts, so make sure to check out their website to book your flights. They fly to and from many places and so far it has been the easiest and my preferable airline to fly with to Qatar.

I hope you found this post useful and Qatar lands on your travel list. It is a small country, but surely an interesting one. It’s safe and easy to travel to. There will be more posts coming up soon, but in the meantime, please drop a comment below if you have any questions or special requests for future posts. I will do my best to help you plan a perfect trip to Qatar.

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