Latest Qatar Travel and Quarantine Rules You Must Know
Before you are planning your visit to Qatar, it is important to know Qatar Hotel Quarantine rules as well as travel rules, so that you dont face any issues once you leave your country.
To help you, we are mentioning every travel and hotel quarantine rule of Qatar in this guide.
A- Qatar Citizens
A- Qatar citizens who have no history of travel to affected areas are exempt from quarantine. B- Qatari nationals who have had a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result and have been treated and released from a medical facility are exempt from quarantine. C- Those who are fully vaccinated and have recovered from the disease are exempt from quarantine.
1.If you are arriving in Qatar for business or tourism, the Ministry of Health has advised that you take precautionary measures before you travel.
2. You must be tested for COVID 19, if you are an asymptomatic traveler.
3. You must be quarantined for 14 days if you test positive.
4. If you are not vaccinated, you must be vaccinated within 2 weeks before your arrival.
B- Residents
The only mandatory quarantine in Qatar is for those arriving from countries where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19. If you arrive from one of these countries and you are showing symptoms or signs of illness, you will be quarantined in a government facility. The quarantine period is five days, during which you will be tested for the virus.
If you are traveling to Qatar, the Qatar Ministry of Public Health (MOH) has a list of precautions that you should take when traveling. The MOH recommends that travelers arriving in Qatar from an area where COVID-19 is circulating, and who have not had close contact with people who have been confirmed to be infected, self-quarantine for 14 days.
C- GCC Citizens (who are non-residents)
GCC citizens, who are non-residents are exempt from quarantine and do not need to present a negative pre-travel PCR lab result upon arrival in Qatar.
They have developed a comprehensive testing protocol for all travelers who are arriving into Qatar from countries with confirmed COVID 19 cases. They are using a simple blood test called a PCR test, which is a highly sensitive and specific way of detecting the presence of the virus. If you are returning from a country with confirmed COVID 19 cases and you have a valid negative PCR lab result within 48 hours from your departure time, you will be released from quarantine and can move to your hotel.
D- Visitors
If a resident of a GCC country or an EU national/resident, then he/she will not be required to undergo quarantine. However, it is advisable to follow the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Prevention and take precautionary measures.
It is required to have all passengers undergo a rapid antigen test (RAT) prior to departure. This is a quick and simple blood test that detects the presence of the virus. If the passenger is found to be positive, they will be provided with a 14 day quarantine period. Those who have first degree relatives in the country will also be quarantined.
If you are traveling to Qatar, the country has taken some very strict measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These include screening travelers and visitors entering the country.
The first step is to check with your airline to see what their screening requirements are. The next step is to check with the Qatar government to find out what the requirements are to enter the country.
Requirements for Travelers Coming To Qatar
1. Register Through Ehteraz Website
If you are a GCC or EU national and resident, you are eligible to use the authorized health information app for COVID 19 from your county and will not need to complete the Ehteraz pre travel registration.
The pre-arrival registration is done online on the Ehteraz website at least 3 days before arrival.
You will need to register for the required documents (if you are an EU/GCC national) and pay the required fee.
Pre-travel screening is the process of determining whether a traveler is allowed to enter a country.
There are two types of screening, pre-travel and post-travel. A traveler must go through pre-travel screening if they are arriving in a country or are transiting through an airport.
If a traveler is transiting through an airport, they will go through post-travel screening upon arrival.
2. RT-PCR Test (For some categories)
For passengers who are required to have a pre-travel PCR test, the airlines and the country’s port authority will require a copy of the original PCR test result. This copy should be presented at the airport or at the country’s ports.
Passengers arriving from countries where there is no evidence of local transmission of the virus must perform a Serology Antibody test before being allowed to board the plane. Passengers who are unable to take the test in the country of departure must undergo home quarantine for 7 days.
3. Download Ehteraz App
The Ehteraz app is a tool that helps travelers keep track of their trips in Qatar. It provides information about the different attractions and activities available in Qatar, as well as providing information on weather conditions and special events. The app also allows users to make reservations for certain activities. The Ehteraz app is available to download on iOS and Android devices.
4. Acknowledge Form
The Undertaking and Acknowledgement Form is required for all travellers arriving into Qatar. The form must be signed by the passenger, and must be completed by the passenger and their accompanying adult if under 18 years of age.
5. COVID-19 Test on Arrival
Post travel testing is only available at public health clinics. They are open during normal business hours (Monday-Friday 8am-5pm) and on Saturdays. For more information on PHCCs and private clinics, please refer to the CDC’s website.
Foreign nationals must obtain a letter from their local health authority to confirm that they have been exposed to COVID-19 and that they are fit to travel. c.
For GCC citizens and visitors, anyone subject to home quarantine with first degree relatives shall have their testing done at any authorized private clinics.
For unvaccinated children below 12 years old who are accompanied by parent/s exempted from quarantine, testing will be at the port of entry (airport, land, sea).
A traveler who has been to an affected country or region within 14 days of arrival will have their testing done at the airport quarantine facility.
Qatar Hotels Quarantine Rules
Hotel Quarantine
You can book your accommodation directly with the Discover Qatar website. Please note that the Discover Qatar Welcome Home package includes three meals per day on a full board basis, a PCR test and one way transfers from Hamad International Airport upon arrival.
A quarantine package must be booked directly through Discover Qatar’s website at https://www.discoverqatar.com/en/welcome-home-quarantine-package.
So while you look for best area to stay in Doha for tourists, you need to make sure that you know every travel and quarantine rules of the area or the city.
Quarantine Hotel Cancellations and Refunds
This policy is set by the hotel, but if you wish to cancel your quarantine booking, you can do so up to 21 days before your arrival date.
Once you have cancelled your booking, the hotel will refund you in full, however, there is a 100% cancellation fee on any cancellations within 21 days of your arrival date.
Frequently Asked Questions About Qatar Rules
The attire of the visitors is one aspect that makes a difference in terms of how the locals perceive them. Qataris are very proud and traditional, and they don’t like to see people wearing short skirts or scantily clad outfits on their streets.
So for a visit to Qatar, you should take note of its strict dress code rules as it’s an important part of the country’s culture and tradition.
As per Qatari law, men must wear long trousers (above ankle length), a shirt (long-sleeved), shoes (plain leather), and socks. Women should wear full-length robes with no transparent areas (no cleavage showing), head scarf (modest coverage required), and modest jewelry such as rings or necklaces.
Doha is a very conservative society, and the locals are not used to seeing public displays of affection.
This is especially true for children who often get scolded by their parents when they see them holding hands with each other in public.
If you’re on your way to the iconic Souq Waqif, be prepared to see kids running around without any clothes on, or even showing affection in front of passersby.
Public displays of affection are discouraged in Qatar, as well as in other Arab countries. In fact, it is illegal to kiss and hug in public places.
As such, men should avoid kissing on the cheeks or giving hugs to women unless they have a good relationship with them. The best way to show love for your loved ones is through words and expressions instead of physical contact with others.
The locals of Qatar are very conservative in their behavior and also follow religious norms strictly, so it is a must for you to avoid any kind of public display of affection. This includes kissing, hugging, holding hands, and touching in public places.
Women are not allowed to wear mini-skirts or short dresses on streets or roads while men cannot go shirtless in public. You should never forget to cover your knees as well when you move out in public.
Photography is a common activity that most people do in public places. Even for the visitors coming to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup, it is mandatory to take photographs of every possible sight in Doha and other places like national parks, museums, etc.
However, before taking any such photograph, you have to make sure that there’s no one around who might get offended by the same.
In case there are people who might be upset by your photography, then don’t even think of taking any such pictures as they can lead to an arrest.
This law has been strictly implemented in Qatar and it is highly recommended not to violate this while visiting the country during FIFA World Cup 2022.
If you’re a tourist coming to Qatar, then it’s better to stay away from bringing any kind of illegal things into the country.
These include drugs, weapons, and even pornography. If you do so, you may end up facing heavy fines or jail time under Qatari law.
In fact, if you’re caught with any type of drug while visiting Qatar during the World Cup 2022, it will be an automatic lifetime ban from entering the country for life.
And if you have anything like alcohol on your tour package and are found guilty of drinking in public places during your trip here, that can also lead to severe punishment.
If you’re going to be a party animal in Qatar, don’t expect to have any fun. If you’ve seen misbehaving, such as drinking alcohol on the street or getting into fights, it will be considered a serious offense.
Likewise, if you’re caught wearing short skirts and tight tops, it’s also not recommended that you go out with your friends in Qatar.
According to locals living there, the problem is quite severe and some even consider it an issue of honor among the country’s residents.
However, when they are traveling abroad they can freely enjoy their leisure time without fearing being judged for their behavior.
The lifestyle of Qatar is not very different from that of other countries. However, the country doesn’t encourage people to work at regular hours as they can do so when they feel like it.
This is something you should keep in mind if you’re planning your FIFA World Cup 2022 trip to Qatar.
In fact, the citizens of Qatar are not required to work on a particular day or time each week.
If you’re planning your trip and want to know how things run in Qatar, make sure you talk with locals before going there for more information about this topic.
The etiquette of eating a meal in Qatar is not the same as it is in other countries. It has its own traditions and norms which are followed by everyone.
The best way to handle this is to always be polite and courteous when you eat a meal with someone, even if they are your hosts.
If you want to eat something that’s not on their list of food items, make sure you ask them first before trying anything new as they will consider it an insult if you just go ahead and try whatever they don’t like.
One of the very important things that Qataris do is never to reject an invitation to dinner. In fact, this is a very common habit amongst the Qatari natives and it is considered a part of their culture.
Qataris are known for their hospitality in terms of food and drink, especially at restaurants. And one thing you must not forget about when traveling to Qatar is that you should never reject an invitation from anyone to have dinner or drinks with them.
If you’re invited by someone, don’t hesitate to accept their offer as they will be very happy if you accept their invitation and this will add more meaning to your visit in Qatar.
