doha free tour qatar airways

Connecting at Doha - Complimentary city tour by Qatar Airways

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Doha City Tour by Discover Qatar: An Honest Review (2024)

Would you like to learn more about the Doha City Tour with Discover Qatar? Then you have come to the right place! This is an honest review that wasn’t sponsored.

If you travel east, chances are that you will use the Doha airport for your connecting flight. You might have a long layover in Doha, with plenty of time to kill before hopping on your next flight. What better way to spend that time than by getting out of the airport to explore a new city that you wouldn’t visit otherwise?

This is exactly what I did when I had an 8-hour layover in Doha on the way from Myanmar to Brussels . I was happy to see that Discover Qatar offers city tours of Doha that take you to the city’s main attractions. I opted for the 3-hour-long tour to check out if it was worth it and the answer is YES!

Although Doha might not be a city that attracts many tourists, it does have some beautiful sights. I really enjoyed gazing at the skyscrapers one moment and visiting the traditional souqs the next.

So without further ado, you will find my experience along with everything you should know if you want to do the Doha Transit Tour in this post.

How to Book the Discover Qatar City Tour of Doha

You can easily book a tour in advance on the Discover Qatar website or go to their counter at the Doha Airport.

If you want to book your tour at the airport, you will have to follow the A gate and take the first moving walkway. You will find the Discover Qatar desk on the left side. This is also the place where the tour leaves.

I would recommend booking the tour online, though, to make sure you have a spot.

Transit Tours by Discover Qatar: Which Tour Should You Choose?

The 3-hour Discover Doha tour that I took cost 115 QAR but there are other tours to choose from. It all depends on the time you have and your personal budget:

Do You Need a Visa to Visit Doha?

I didn’t need a visa to visit Doha with my Belgian passport, but it depends on your citizenship. Many countries can visit Qatar without a visa, you can check if your country belongs to the visa-free countries on the Visit Qatar website .

Doha City Tour by Discover Qatar: What Will You See

After booking the tour and leaving the airport, I boarded the air-conditioned bus with a small group of people who had booked the same tour.

We met our guide, who told us a bit more about the country and explained we’d make four stops. These were the following:

The harbour

After about 15 minutes on the bus, we made our first stop at the Doha harbour, which is right next to the Museum of Islamic Art.

You won’t be able to really check this museum out though, as the bus only makes a 10-minute stop for you to snap some pictures of the panoramic skyline, which is the harbour’s highlight.

Katara Cultural Village

My favourite stop was the next one: Katara Cultural Village, which aims to promote cultural awareness in Qatar.

Although everything was closed due to Ramadan on the day I visited Doha, the stunning Arabic-inspired architecture literally made my jaw drop. From its amphitheatre to the beautiful Katara Masjid mosque, the cultural village is definitely worth a visit!

We had some time to walk around and take some pictures here, but I wished we could have stayed a little longer. This is a very beautiful and photogenic place that I would love to visit again one day.

Stop number three was The Pearl : an artificial island situated right off the coast of Doha. It’s full of big yachts, luxurious apartments and expensive restaurants and hotels. Needless to say, Qatar isn’t one of Asia’s cheapest destinations .

The name “The Pearl” was chosen because it was built on one of Qatar’s previous pearl diving sites. Before the oil boom, the country was one of the main pearl traders in Asia.

We walked around The Pearl for about 20 minutes, which was just enough for me. It reminded me of the harbour of Dubai a bit. Then, we hopped on the bus to drive to our final stop.

Our last stop was the Soup Waqif, where we had an hour to explore the market. Unlike the souqs I have visited in North Africa, the vendors didn’t aggressively try to get you into their shops and sell you stuff, which was a very nice and refreshing experience.

This souq dates back at least a hundred years but it was renovated in 2006 after most of it was destroyed by a fire a few years before. They sell all kinds of things here, from unique souvenirs to colourful clothes, local spices and even small animals.

We had the choice to either take the bus back to the airport or stay in the city and return by ourselves later. I didn’t have that much time left before catching my flight so this is when the Doha City Tour stopped for me.

Doha City Tour: Top Tips

• Bring water and sunscreen, Doha can get quite hot.
• Always take your valuables with you when you leave the bus.
• Ask for your tour operator’s contact number if you’re taking the bus back after the last stop. You never know what might happen and the bus doesn’t wait if you get delayed.

Discover Qatar City Tour: Final Thoughts

All in all, I had a great time on the Discover Qatar City Tour! It takes you to Doha’s highlights and gives you an idea of what the city is like. There were places where I would have loved to stay longer but I know this wasn’t possible due to the limited time you have on a layover.

I would recommend this tour and would do it again in a heartbeat! It’s a great way to make the most of your layover and see a little bit of Doha.

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Laura Meyers

Laura Meyers is the founder of Laure Wanders. She was born in Belgium and has been travelling solo for years. She currently spends most of her time between Belgium and South Asia and loves helping other travellers plan their adventures abroad.

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I will have an 8-hour layover in Doha next month and am considering this tour. Is there a place to store one’s carry-on bag at the airport? Or do you bring it on the tour with you?

Hi Nadia, I think there must probably be a place to store your carry-on somewhere at the airport, but I took it with me so I’m not sure. Enjoy Doha!

Hi… I have a long layover in Doha. Want to leave the airport. I have some questions about you leaving the airport.

Did you have to get recovid tested? Do you need a Qatar SIM card or does the airport Wi-Fi have a strong enough connection for the health app?

Hi Mark, I did this before Covid, so I don’t know about the test. The wifi at the airport was good though!

Hi Laura, would just like to ask if the Pokefi 5g lte will work on an iPhone 8 and a laptop or does it only work on the latest devices?

Hi Ami, I think it would work because you just need to connect the wifi to start using it. But I would ask the Pokefi client service if you want to be sure. 😉

Hi Laura. I took the city tour from Qatar Airways 2 weeks ago while my transit in Rwanda. The tour was great but unfortunately it ended with one of the worst experiences in my life. The last station was the market and the tour operator gave us 20 minutes to go around. I lost my way back and I delayed 8 minutes to reach the meeting point. After waiting for 15 minutes, I realized that they left without me with my bag in the bus and without any contact to communicate. All my things (passport, money, credit cards, laptop) were in the bus and with just 8 minutes delay they left without me, in the middle of nowhere. After 1 hour of stress trying to find someone to talk, to find my bag and get back to the airport, I realized that they don’t care about their customers safety and there are no ways to be justified. Moreover, the taxi driver instead of 7 usd, he charged me 20 usd to take me back to the airport. I was charged 100 usd for the calls to find my bag and my way back to the airport.

Hi Nicos, I’m so sorry for what has happened to you, I can imagine that must have been a horrible experience! 🙁 It’s true that there should be a way to contact them in case something like this happens. I know it’s not much, and it certainly doesn’t make anything better, but I’ve added some tips at the end of this post that will hopefully prevent things like this from happening again.

Hi Nicola, did you have to get COVID tested or download any app in order to travel on the transit tour?

Hi Laura, thank you for sharing your experience and great information. I have a 12 hour layover at night in DOHA, do I need a transit to do the Discover Doha tour?

Hi Mari, I’m happy it’s helpful! 🙂 I’m not sure I understand what you mean with a transit. If you have a 12-hour layover, you are in transit, so it should be fine (I hope this helps). Also, it depends on the tours, but I see that you’re arriving at night, and for this one, the last one leaves at 9:30 pm. Hope your flight will be there in time!

after reading your review i also want to book this tour. My flight will arrive at 14:40. How long does it take to get to the Discover Qatar desk? Do i have to go through some security checks first? Do you think, taking flight delays into consideration, i can catch the tour starting from 16:00?

Please let me know – Thank you in advance

Sorry, i meant the tour starting from 18:00 because nowadays they want you to show up 2h prior

Hi Thomas, I didn’t have to go through any checkpoints when I landed in Doha and got to the Discover Qatar desk pretty fast! So I think you will definitely have enough time to catch that tour. Enjoy! 🙂

I’ve been staying in Doha for sometime for now. I guess you need at least one full day to view major sights of Doha city,

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Long Doha Layover? Go for the Doha City Tour

Posted on Last updated: February 7, 2023

Categories Middle East , Qatar , Travel Tips

If you often travel east, there is no doubt, you’ve used Qatar’s airport for your connecting flight. And it’s not uncommon that while chasing perfect dates or low prices, to be forced to have a boring long Doha layover.

To be honest, I enjoy the big international airports. Seeing so many different people from different cultures has always been fascinating for me, but even though Hamad Airport is one of the best airports in the world, spending more than 4 hours there feels like a massive waste of time. After all, my vacation days are limited, and I want to spend them hiking volcanos or exploring new cultures , not sitting on my ass, waiting for a flight, right?

Thankfully the Qatar Airways people have thought of that and offer you the opportunity to go around Doha, learn more about it, and still catch your plane on time. Even though Qatar’s reputation is very controversial, the chance to explore such a unique and interesting culture is not to be missed.

Discover Qatar – Doha City Tour

There are several tour offers, but the most popular one (and also the cheapest ) is the Doha City Tour. On my last long Doha layover, I decided to check it out and see if it’s worth it.

So, what is the Doha City Tour like?

After signing up and getting out of the airport (that may take an hour), you board an AC bus and get a bottle of water. There is also a guide provided so don’t be afraid you’d miss anything worthwhile.

While you don’t have a Colosseum or Eifel Tower to marvel at, you’d start paying attention to the city as a whole. And boy oh boy Doha really is a bizarre place with a distinctive identity.

The first thing that made me quite the impression were the lamps. The whole lamposts are covered with large Arabic words, according to my guide – quotes from the Coran. Lamposts are very important for the city’s identity, and the Doha ones do a good job reminding you that you are now in a strictly Muslim country.

In 15 minutes we reached the first stop of the Doha City Tour:

The Doha Harbor

The harbor is right next to the Museum of Islamic Art, but since you have only 5 to 10 minutes per stop, you won’t be able to check it out. The highlight of the harbor is not the boats or the pearl statue on the entrance, but the magnificent panoramic view of the city.

And while 5 minutes may seem too little time to enjoy, I found it to be just enough to take some photos and enjoy the sight before getting too hot ( TIL: The whole country of Qatar is built in the desert ).

For our next stop, we went into downtown Doha, so I had the chance to observe more of the daily life of Qatar’s capital. The first thing that struck me as a weird one was the lack of color. Most of the buildings were painted in desert yellowish while 90% of the cars were either black or white.

As per my guide, the reason for that is the desert sand. Using those colors is just a way to make things look cleaner. How come a white car covered in desert dust looks cleaner than a red car covered in desert dust is beyond me, but I guess people who lived their whole life in the sands knows better than me.

   See Also:   Top 10 Curious Facts About Qatar

Katara Cultural Village

Stop number 2 of my Doha layover trip was the Katara Cultural Village . With the idea to position the State of Qatar as a cultural beacon a lighthouse of art, radiating in the Middle East through theatre, literature, music, visual art, conventions, and exhibitions, it did sound like an exciting place to see.

Sadly we didn’t have the time to check any art exhibition but the walk around the oddly fascinating art and mosques were enough to convince me this is a place I should come back to.

Making our way to the third stop, we kept seeing more and more of the city, and I realized that the only people I see outside were immigrants working on construction sites.

It was Thursday morning, and in any other major city the streets would’ve been buzzing with people going to work, but Doha was empty. I guess Qataris didn’t bother going early to work. Such a different world.

   See Also:   How to Spend 10 Days in Morocco

The third stop of the Doha City Tour was an artificial island called The Pearl . You probably didn’t know ( I certainly didn’t), but before the oil boom, Qatar was one of the significant pearl traders of Asia.

To honor their heritage, the Qatari people (or more like the Qatari sheik) decided to build an artificial island that resembles the shape of a string of pearls, right on top of a former pearl diving site (who need pearls when you have oil, right?).

Spanning nearly four million square meters, it is also the first land in Qatar to be available for freehold ownership by foreign nationals.

Besides the security, there were no people around. Not even a single one. You see, I come from a small country, I’m used to not having tons of people around me, but still, having absolutely no one, was a strange feeling that made me watch behind my back more than once, expecting to see some zombies. The dozens of luxury boats and skyscrapers made a good photo background though.

On our way to the last stop, we passed through some diplomatic neighborhoods and were asked not to take pictures. The guide explained all diplomats and Qatari people value their privacy, so they build big walls around their houses. Man, they’re gonna have a tough time during the Fifa World Cup in 2022.

Souq Waqif Market

The last stop of my Doha layover trip was Souq Waqif market. We were given a whole 30 minutes to explore it and buy some stuff (not that any of us got any Qatari money). The market was quite pleasant, and there were some real people there!

It was built in the traditional Arabic way and sold all kinds of stuff from souvenirs and clothing to animals and spices. Unlike the other Arabic bazaars, there weren’t annoying hawkers trying to hijack you into their shop, which made walking around Souq Waqif relaxing and enjoyable.

After a delightful 30-40 minutes (a Chinese guy got lost, so we had to wait for him) we were back on the bus and on our way back to the airport.

   See Also:   5 days in Dubai

Doha City Tour Information

The Discover Qatar Tours desk is located across the teddy bear, just before the food court . You can also book a tour online . Important – you need to have 8 hours or more of transfer time to book the tour.

The tour starting times are: 07:00 AM – > to get this one your onward flight must be at 3:00 PM or later 08:00 AM – > to get this one your onward flight must be at 4:00 PM or later 11:00 AM – > to get this one your onward flight must be at 7:00 PM or later 1:00 PM – > to get this one your onward flight must be at 9:00 PM or later 3:00 PM – > to get this one your onward flight must be at 11:00 PM or later 6:00 PM – > to get this one your onward flight must be at 02:00 AM or later 7:00 PM – > to get this one your onward flight must be at 03:00 AM or later 9:30 PM – > to get this one your onward flight must be at 05:30 AM or later

The price is 99 QAR / 27 USD and could be paid only by card (cash is not accepted).

While lacking any real attractions and having only 5-10 minutes per stop, I’m happy I took the Doha City Tour. Having this extra journey within my journey, showed me such a different culture that awoke my curiosity about Qatar and its people big time. One thing is for sure though – this long Doha layover was the most interesting one I’ve had by a longshot!

That’s all from me, I hope your long Doha layover will be as fun as mine and you’ll enjoy the Doha city tour . ———————————— If you haven’t planned your trip there yet, find out how I plan my trips! ———————————— I have 5 bucket list ideas for Qatar. See my impossible bucket list of 1700+ adventures!

What did you do on your long Doha layover?

Babak Nikoui

Tuesday 31st of January 2023

Hi, I'll be arriving at Hamad Airport around 6 pm and my next flight will be at 1:45 am can I still take a city tour and make it to my flight?

Thursday 28th of April 2022

Hi - have a 7 hour layover in Aug 2022 - so will go on the tour .. .. can you book in advance - or just go to the desk on arrival .. thanks

Sunday 1st of May 2022

Hello, Used to be only on the desk. Tthe tour was stopped for a long time due to Covid and I'm not sure if it's even an option right now (or will be in August) or what the new conditions.

Siti Norlida Ghazali

Sunday 20th of March 2022

I am going to Doha on 3 Apr from Sabiha arriving 230pm I plan to have city tours and dhow boat cruise Is there enough time for camel tide? My next flight to Kuala Lumpur is on 4 April 2.00am early morning Please advise as soon as possible

Sunday 27th of March 2022

You better check this with some tour providers. Some of them may offer an afternoon tour with a return trip to the airport.

Wednesday 13th of November 2019

I have experienced the city tour a few years ago and need help figuring out where one of my photos were taken. Is there someone who can help me with the name? I could not find it in the city tour pictures but know I was there around the Souq Waqif Market

Thursday 5th of September 2019

I like the way you have detailed this article. I was in Doha last month but i did not manage to go for the bus tour due to flight timings. Next time am transiting in Doha, i will make sure i take a flight with a long layover.

Friday 6th of September 2019

Thank you Richard,

Doha's airport is the only one I'd deliberately plan a long layover too. They have some desert tours I want to try next time.

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Review of Qatar Airways Complimentary Doha Tour

If you are arriving in Salalah through Qatar Airways, you have a good option to Explore Doha, Qatar before landing at Salalah (or on the return flight). Don’t miss the opportunity to have Double Fun!  This can be done on any destination you are flying with Qatar Airways (not just Salalah), but since this blog is about Salalah , so we have mentioned Salalah specifically.

This free trip was done on Sept 2015. Update: As of 2018, this trip is charged QAR 40 per person. Check latest details at Qatar Airways website

Exploring Doha on Transit

There are two options for Exploring Doha on transit. First is Qatar Airways Complimentary Doha Tour , which is organized by Qatar Airways , second is to self explore Doha. Which one is the best?

We had a transit time of 13 hours (we made this booking intentionally to explore Doha), which left us 10 to 11 hours to explore the city. The remaining time is to complete the immigration process and reach the transit lounge. So this left us with two options; first one was to avail Qatar Airways Complimentary Doha Tour , which would let us cover many places in just 3 hours (duration of the tour) while the second one was to take our visa on arrival and explore the city ourselves.

If we avail option 1, then we would only use 3 hours out of available 10 hours. If we opt for option 2, then it would result in waiting for taxi after each stop (time waste as taxis are not readily available, which we experienced ourselves later on in the day trip) and walking to find a taxi in 38 deg C (it was Sept-2015 when we were in Doha). Making the most of both these available options, we just created a third option by combining both of these options and decided to take visa on arrival by ourselves (check visa on arrival eligibility) then explore Doha with Qatar Airways’ 3 hours tour followed by covering the remaining city in additional 7 hours by ourselves.

We arrived in the airport and moved to Doha City Tour Desk in the Transit Lounge (near Lamp Bear) and checked the time for the tour, we had plenty of time to go through the immigration process. The lady on the counter reserved the place for both of us (this reservation is on first come first serve basis and will end if the total space of 33 passengers is occupied) and advised us to approach Information Desk (outside of the Arrival section) after the immigration process for further instructions.

After immigration, we approached the Information Desk for communicating to the Doha City Tour Desk that we have cleared the immigration process and now waiting for the tour to begin. Two Spanish guys were also waiting there for the tour. They had a similar plan to explore Doha themselves after the Complimentary City Tour. We were joined by 12 more passengers who didn’t apply for immigration, but opted for 3 hours city tour only. They were not allowed to leave the tour group and had to return with the same group to the Airport after the trip. Visa for them (only for the tour) was arranged by Qatar Airways free of cost. However, we paid visa fees QAR 100 (USD 27.5) per person as we applied for Visa on Arrival ourselves and wanted to explore Doha after the Free Doha Trip.

Details of Qatar Airways Complimentary Doha Tour

Qatar Airways can arrange  Complimentary Doha Tour  if your transit time is more than 8 hours. The complimentary city tour will include 3 hours city tour visa, 3 hours city tour on a bus with a travel guide, a bottle of water and pick and drop to the airport. For availing your complimentary city tour, you have to go to Doha City Tour Desk in the transit lobby and get registered. This is on first come first serve basis.

The 4 stop overs covered by the tour are Museum of Islamic Art , Katara Cultural Village , The Pearl Island and Souq Al Waqif . All of these places are beautiful and have cultural significance. Qatar Airways Complimentary Doha Tour is indeed a must thing to have if you are flying with Qatar Airways.

Some Random Photographs during the Tour from the Bus

If you want to experience Qatar Airways Complimentary Doha Tour then book your Qatar Airways Ticket  with appropriate Transit time by clicking here .

Extend your Stay in Doha and Explore More

Book your hotels in Doha at best rates through the following search box:

What Else Did we visit in Doha on our own?

We visited Villaggio Mall, Aspire Tower, City Center Mall, and corniche on our own, after finishing Qatar Airway’s Complimentary Doha Tour at Souq Al Waqif. The rest of the passengers went to the Airport after Souq Al Waqif.

1. Villaggio Mall – Italy in Qatar

There is also an indoor theme park in the mall “Gondolania”,  which offers Drop tower, Ferris Wheel, Arcade games, Laser war, Go Kart, Bowling Alley, Roller Coaster, Carousel, and many other options for kids and adults. For timings and the cost of rides, click here .

2. Aspire Tower – Tallest Building in Qatar

Visit to Aspire Tower (also Known as The Torch Doha) is a must due to its unique architecture. This tower is located in the Aspire Zone of Doha and visible from outside the Villaggio Mall. So if you plan a visit to Valliggo Mall, you can also visit this tower.

The rest of the high rise buildings are in west bay and makes Doha Skyline.

3. City Center Mall, Doha

Although City Center Mall is huge and have many shops and restaurants, but the 5 storey mall is not really impressive (at least for us). We regretted our decision to visit this mall and missed the Lagoona Mall and Zig Zag Tower.

4. Doha Corniche

Doha Corniche is near City Center Mall. One can have a closer look at the photogenic and architectural stunning buildings that make the spectacular Skyline of Doha.

Tornado Tower is a sky scrapper with 52 floors (640 feet tall).

From the corniche, the traditional dhows are visible. These are used for dhow dinner or cruising the sea.

Get Ready for Salalah after Qatar Airways Complimentary Doha Tour! 

14 thoughts on “Review of Qatar Airways Complimentary Doha Tour”

Enjoyed your post. Was wondering if you would be interested in guest posting on my blog since we seem to be posting in the same niche. Maybe we could come to some agreement about exchanging content also?

Hi, I will have a 13-hour stopover in Doha in January. I just want to clarify, if I want to explore city myself after the tour ends, then I would have to apply for a transit visa (online) first, right?

There are two things you need to consider. If you want to explore doha only on the free qatar airways trip, you don’t need any visa. Qatar airways will arrange that if your transit time is in the trip time. There are 4 trips daily. Second thing is if you want to explore on your own after the free trip then you can ask the tour guide to release you at the last stop. For this you have to either get visa on arrival prior to start of the free trip or apply for online transit visa. You have to go through immigration and get passport stamped before joining for the free trip.

i ve been twice to Doha, the latest I just had it’s doha city tour sice I stopover for about 8 hours in Doha airport last year…

we are stopping in doha for just under 48 hours – can we go on the free tour?

You can avail complimentary doha tour if your transit is more than 8 hours. If you have more than 5 but less than 96 hours transit you can avail free doha transit visa and avail doha on your own. Free visa is provided by Qatar airways

Is this service available if you fly into Doha on Qatar airways and continue with a code share partner after a 16 hour layover?

Hi, amazing post!!

May I ask though, so if I am to apply for the transit visa and still want to do the complimentary Doha tour, I will need to go through the immigration process apart from the rest of the tour group? Thank you very much!

Yes. In case of transit visa you have to go through the immigration process and you can stay beyond the free trip time in doha. If you go with free trip only then the visa is for 3 hours and you have to come back with the tour. First go to the free trip counter in lounge to get registered and then go for transit visa and wait outside as per agreement with the tour team to take you from there

Some good news if you’re flying with Qatar Airways and changing planes in Doha.

You can get the new Transit Visa free of cost when you add a stopover of between five and 96 hours in Doha. Use the multi-city booking option to include the stop in Doha when booking your flight on qatarairways.com or contact your nearest Qatar Airways office. You must apply for your pre-approved transit visa at least seven days (excluding public holidays) prior to your departure. The visa is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance.

How difficult was it to find transportation once you left the group?

Hi there, we have a 5 hour stopover and the free tour is not running during our transit. I will apply for transit visas for us but please tell me how expensive the taxi’s were for your own explorations of Doha? Many thanks!

Hi there, we have a 5 hour stopover and the free tour is not running during our transit. I will apply for transit visas for us but please tell me how expensive the taxi’s were for your own explorations of Doha? We would like to visit the places on the free tour and also the places you went but via taxi ourselves. Many thanks!

If the free tour is not there in your time you can explore Doha on your own. Taxi is okay but one thing i would advice always ensure that the taxi driver is using the meter. We went from souq al waqif to villagio mall in taxi and the taxi driver didn’t use the meter and demanded the money at the end. It’s written in the taxi if the driver is not using meter and you are asked money without meter the journey is free for you and you complaint. The same we showed to him and then he asked us to give whatever we like. The taxis are metered

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Qatar Transit Tour: Doha City

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Qatar is a tiny peninsular Arab nation in the Arabian Gulf bordering Saudi Arabia. Most of the country resides in the capital city of Doha. The economy is nearly 75% based on petrol and natural gas, making this small country the world’s richest nation (GDP per capita).

Over two million people call Qatar home, yet only 20% of the population are Qataris, with a huge population of foreign workers. Qatar has been selected to host the 2022 World Cup, the first in the Arab world. This has resulted in construction projects throughout Doha.

New Doha, known for exotic skyscrapers that rival Dubai, is an extremely modern city built entirely on reclaimed land in 2000. Doha is a regional hub and a common layover with Qatar Airlines. There is an excellent city tour available for those passing through offered by Discover Qatar. Read on to learn more about the Doha city tour.

Content and photographs provided by Yana Kogan and Timon .

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

Important Things to Know When Visiting Doha

Visa to qatar.

Visa on arrival is available for countries in the E.U., the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and South Korea. All other countries are required to get a visa before arrival. See more visa information  here .

Best Time to Visit Doha

Visiting Qatar is best in the winter months between November and February. Days can still get hot with cool evenings, but the weather is very manageable. Temperatures in the summer average over 100° F (+40°C), making visits during this time very unpleasant.

The Qatari Riyal is the national currency in Qatar. It is pegged to the USD at $1 = 3.64 QR. ATMs are widely available at the airport and around Doha.

Doha City Tour

Are you flying with Qatar Airlines and have at least a six-hour layover in Doha? Take their Doha city tour! The tour lasts just under three hours and stops at the four below locations. There is a free one-day visa and the tour is first come, first serve, but you can also book your tour online up to 48 hours before your arrival time. There are six tours each day that leave at 8am, 10:30 am, 3pm, 6 pm, 8pm, and 9:30 pm.

Check-in starts two hours before the scheduled tour. The check-in location is at the Discover Qatar Transit Tours desk in Concourse A towards Gate A4. The city tour is on a 46-passenger bus and has short stops for a quick visit to Doha. At the time of writing, the Doha city tour was offered for free to promote Doha tourism. Nowadays, the tour costs 75 QR ($21 USD).

1. Museum of Islāmic Art

The first stop is next to the Museum of Islāmic Art. This building is an iconic building on the Doha corniche designed by the famous architect I. M. Pei. While there is not enough time to visit the museum, there is a photo opportunity of the building as well as a panoramic view of New Doha. This stop is for five minutes.

2. Katara Cultural Village

Opened in 2010, most cultural attractions for the city, such as open-air concerts, theatre, opera, or other events, occur in Katara. While this part of the city is becoming more popular, it is still mostly under construction until 2018. This stop is for 20 minutes.

3. The Pearl

The Pearl of Doha is a mini-Dubai-like pearl-shaped island with high-end shops, restaurants, and a marina. This is also the first place in Qatar that allows foreigners to own property. This stop is for 15 minutes.

4. Souq Waqif

Souq Waqif, the largest in Qatar, is a traditional market that is predominately a tourist destination. While it is not used by Qataris today, there remains an authentic feel and look to this market that is over 100 years old. This stop is for 45 minutes.

Tour Details

• A small bottle of water for each person
• Stops include an opportunity for a restroom breaks
• Timelines are strict to get everyone back to the airport
• English-speaking guides led the tour and offer historical context as well as information while riding on the bus between stops

That’s it – we hope you enjoy exploring the beautiful city of Doha!

Yana & Timon met at college in Boston, Massachusetts. After graduating, they started their professional careers. They moved to San Francisco in 2010, a city they loved living in for nearly six years. After working and saving up money for several years, they quit their jobs and set off on an adventure of a lifetime. They started living a nomadic lifestyle in December 2015 and have not looked back since.

3 thoughts on “Qatar Transit Tour: Doha City”

Do I really need to be there 2 hours early to check in? My flight lands at 5 and I would like to do the 6pm tour. What are your thoughts?

Did you need a COVID test to exit for transit tour

Hi do you need a covid test to enter for transit tour?

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Home » Food & Fun » Activities » Free city tours during your layover at Doha airport

Free city tours during your layover at Doha airport

Qatar Airways and the Qatar Tourism Authority offer free tours of Doha for people with a long layover at the Doha airport. This is definitely not a peer-to-peer tour. But my post about free tours from the Narita airport is quite popular, so I think people appreciate information on free tours.

Obviously the tour is meant to give you a good impression of Doha. But I’m fine with a city putting its best foot forward. As the tour material explains, you visit:

• The Pearl-Qatar, for the finest quality shops and restaurants;
• Katara Cultural Village, a centre dedicated to celebrating arts and heritage;
• Souq Waqif, for traditional jewellery, spices and handicrafts;
• The Museum of Islamic Art, for its stunning architecture and beautiful seaside park.

There are four tour times daily: 7am, 10am, 3pm and 6:45pm. The tour runs for 2 hours and 45 minutes and they recommend a minimum of 5 hour layover to do the tour. I’ve heard that the guides have the flexibility to extend the tour if everyone’s schedule permits. Tours include a complementary visa, English speaking guide, and bottle of water.

To find the tours, after your flight arrives stay in the airport following signs for transfers. At the center of the Doha airport is a giant stuffed bear lamp. And just to the side of that is the B wing. The tour desk is just past that big yellow letter B in my picture above. It looks like this:

On my last Doha layover I arrived at the tour desk at 6:50pm (my flight was longer than scheduled due to airspace politics for Qatar). There were about 30 people hanging around waiting impatiently. The operators told me the tour was full. I’ll try again on my next transit through Doha. I’m expecting typical tourist stops, but never having visited Qatar outside of the airport, I’m excited about the opportunity for a free tour.

How to Plan Your Doha Stopover: Layovers With Qatar Airways

Are you planning a flight with Qatar Airways but weighing up whether it’s worth doing a Doha stopover? It could all come down to how many hours you have to spare, and the season you are visiting in.

What can you do in Doha during a short stopover?

What can you see and do if you have a stopover flying through Doha airport (DOH) – which means more than 5 hours and less than 24 hours – in Doha?

In this post, we will cover several Doha layover and stopover options, including:

• Staying in the airport – how long can you spend at DOH?
• Sleeping at or near the airport – which hotels are closest to DOH?
• Take a guided tour – what are the best Doha transit tours?
• Self-explore around Doha – airport transit options and biggest city highlights to see.
• You can learn more about the basics of visiting Qatar for first-time visitors here.

Option 1 Doha Layover: Stay at the Hamad International Airport (DOH)

On the scale of things, Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) isn’t too bad an airport for a long layover. There are plenty of family-friendly touches, eateries and rest areas.

In partnership with Qatar Museums, transiting passengers can enjoy artwork – including various children’s playgrounds, which themselves are artwork!

Let’s take a run through all the facilities you will find at DOH.

Airport lounges in DOH

If you have a longish transit stop but not enough time to leave the airport (under 5 hours), we suggest this is an airport you might want to invest in lounge access (or check if any of your credit cards gives you access). You will find:

• Al Safwa First Lounge
• Al Mourjan Business Lounge
• Al Mourjan Business Lounge – The Garden
• The Business Class Lounge
• Platinum Lounge
• Gold Lounge
• Silver Lounge
• Al Maha Services Lounges
• The Oryx Lounge
• Unaccompanied Minors Lounge – strictly only children who are being transitted as Unaccompanied Minors

It’s important to note that First Class and Business Class lounges are only available to those who are flying First Class or Business. Similarly, the Platinum, Gold and Silver Lounges are only available to Qatar Airways Club Platinum, Gold and Silver members.

Doha Airport is well-equipped for families. You can find family bathrooms, parents rooms for changing and feeding, plenty of play spaces, and activity nodes. Seeking out the giant teddy bear art instalment is always a winner!

Option 2: Sleeping in and near DOH airport

If you’d rather get some shut eye during a long layover in Qatar, there’s a few options:

Sleeping at Hamad International Airport

There are limited sleeping options within DOH, but plenty nearby.

There are two hotels located on the airside. The first is Oryx Doha Airport Transit Hotel. With 100 rooms of varying sizes from one beds to suites, they are suitable for families (quads offer 2 single beds and 1 double). With a minimum 5-hour stay, you’ll find complimentary water, wifi and discounted access to the Vitality Wellness Centre. You can also order room services at the hotel. You’ll find this hotel quite centrally in Concourse B.

Another newer option that has opened is Oryx Garden Hotel , in the North Node (end of Concourse C).

You can also pay by the hour to use one of the sleep ‘n fly Lounges (available in North Node and South Node). These are fairly snug and basic accommodations, offering cabins and sleeping pods. There is a minimum two-hour stay and various options available, such as Bunk Cabin, Family Bunk Cabin, and FlexiSuite Pod.

Guests can also just pay to use the Vitality Wellness Centre . This includes a 25-metre pool, gymnasium and hydrotherapy tub for 175QAR ($48 USD). Massages and treatments at the Spa cost extra. Open 24/7.

Quiet Rooms at Doha International Airport

If you want a quiet place to rest, there are dedicated “Quiet Rooms” on Concourse A, B, and C—but if you’re travelling with kids, these are not really realistic options. Firstly, they separate men and women—and well, kids and quiet? BYO blanket from off the plane during transit, as the aircon can be fierce.

Hotels near Doha Airport

Hamad International Airport sits on its own little peninsula, and strangely, they seem to have built the entrance at the furthest possible point away from the city, so there are no hotels immediately near the airport.

The closest hotels to transit to by taxi about 10 minutes away are:

• Sharq Villa & Spa – a Ritz Carlton Hotel – a beautiful luxury option
• Oryx Rotana – good midrange option
• Fraser Suites Doha – if you need a larger room

Plentiful hotels are available closer to the city; we will cover these in our next Qatar series article.

Option 3: Doha Sightseeing Tour With Qatar Airways

If you are in Doha for more than five hours, leaving the airport is well worth exploring the city’s major attractions.

Note on Qatar Airways Tours: At one point, these used to be free, but this is now a paid service for all passengers.

Whilst no longer free, the range of tours offered directly by Qatar Airways is expansive and includes options such as:

• Discover Doha – classic shared sightseeing tour (Tour is 3 hours: suits a 6-hour transit)
• Shuttle Service – direct transfer to either the National Museum of Qatar, Museum of Islamic Art or Doha Beach Club (for 8-hour+ transits)
• Private Vehicle & Driver Tours – chose a standard car or luxury car (3 & 5 hour options)

You can see the complete list of options to book directly with Qatar Airways here

Getting your Doha Transit Visa

In late 2016, the QTA (Qatar Tourism Authority) introduced FREE 96-hour transit visas with layovers of 5 hours or more for nationals of over 80 countries.

A multi-entry waiver is now issued at the airport on arrival. The visa waiver categories are found here .

To be eligible, you must have an onward ticket, hold a valid passport for at least 6 months, and share an email address to process the visa. Note there are separate rules for Indian and Pakistani nationals. If you are not one of the 80 nationalities, you can still apply for a Qatar Tourist Visa .

Some reading ideas for your Stopover in Doha

Option 4: Arrange Your Own Tour or DIY Doha Itinerary

Whether you like to take comfort in having all the arrangements and transport taken care of for you, or you like to plot our your own itinerary and move at your own pace, there are plenty of ways to tour Doha city on your stopover.

Doha Transit Tour

Doha is a great sightseeing city and one of those places where taking a small guided tour or joining a tour bus is an ideal way to get around and see all the highlights. You can try one of these organised tours:

• Four-hour tour with airport pick up, including dhow cruise
• Private Doha city tour including MIA, Souq & falcon handling
• Transit tour taking in the Pearl, Katara Cultural Village & the Souq

Self-tour Doha during a layover

If you prefer to grab a taxi or even a hire car and self-tour (Be prepared for the urgh, unique driving style of the Middle East), these are s ome of the major Qatar attractions you will want to include :

• Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) – free entry (closed Tuesday)
• The Pearl – an artificial island of residences and shops intertwined with canals and plazas – the “Arabian Riviera”
• Souq Waqif – beautifully restored from the original markets that stood for over a century – the traditional city hub of trade and entertainment

• Katara Cultural Village – “ Valley of Cultures ” is home to the city’s cultural events, traditional handicrafts, restaurants and plenty of green areas to run around
• Traditional dhow cruise – for beautiful skyline views, best in the cooler weather

• Visiting with Kids? Check out our kid-friendly Doha suggestions for plenty of places they can run about between flights, indoors and outdoors

If you have a longer layover that will last into the night, we recommend adding a desert safari to get a taste of Bedouin life and Qatari hospitality – as well as some thrills and spills to keep you going until that next long flight!

You may also squeeze in a visit to the al Zubarah Fort to the north or the Inland Sea to the south (NB, some operators may cater to small private groups, but most run at a designated time over the evening) . Why not try:

• 5-hour safari, camel ride, sandboard, inland sea . Airport pick up possible.
• 5-hour sunset safari – camel ride & sandboarding. Airport pick up possible

You can also check out these stopover guides for neighbouring Abu Dhabi and Dubai

More Qatar Visitor Guides

And don’t miss these further Doha guides to help you decide if you are ready to leave the airport!

• When is the best time to visit Qatar?
• What should I wear when I visit Qatar?
• Things to do with Kids in Doha
• Top attractions and places to visit in Qatar

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This page contains affiliate links which may earn us a small commission at no additional cost to you. None of the airlines, hotels, or tour companies mentioned have sponsored this post, all opinions are our own. Our full terms of use can be found here. Information last updated in January 2024.

The Family Travel in the Middle East team of travel writers are all parents based in the Middle East, sharing first hand experiences and reviews from across the region to help you plan your next family adventure.

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Traveling to India or USA via Doha? All You Should Know about Qatar Stopover, Doha City Tours, Visa-free Transit

Booked Qatar Airways’ flight tickets to India or USA via Doha for summer travel? You can now turn your transit into an exciting tour of Doha City if the layover/connection time is 8 hours or more at Hamad International Airport . Or, you can make the most of a Doha stopover in the event of a minimum 12-hour layover in transit. Qatar Airways’ Doha stopover is one of the best airline stopover programs for international transit travelers. Doha, the capital of Qatar, is much as beautiful as Dubai or Abu Dhabi. You can get to see an additional destination while in transit between USA and India at a very little cost, instead of spending a lump sum for a separate trip to Doha.

PC: Discoverqatar.qa/tours-excursions

Do I need a visa for a Doha stopover or a transit tour in Doha?

Usually, international transit travelers require a transit visa to enter Doha/Qatar. Nationals of both India and the United States are eligible for visa-free entry to Qatar . To be precise, Indian passport holders and US citizens can obtain visa waiver on arrival in Doha during their layover at Hamad Airport (DOH). They must have a passport valid for minimum 6 months and a confirmed onward/return air ticket. The visa waiver for them is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance.

Other transit passengers of Qatar Airways can apply for a pre-approved transit visa to enter Doha. The Qatar transit visa is available at no cost and for a layover of minimum 5 hours. It is valid for up to 96 hours or 4 days. In case a US or Indian citizen is barred from obtaining visa waiver on arrival in Doha, he/she can apply for a free transit visa to Qatar.

Doha City transit tours for Qatar Airways’ passengers

Qatar Airways’ Destination Management Company, Discover Qatar operates several Doha City tours for international transit passengers having a layover of 8 hours or more at Hamad Airport. You can choose either of the two paid Doha transit tours offered by Discover Qatar and pre-book online on the website of Discover Qatar. You can also reach out to the Discover Qatar Desk at Hamad International Airport.

“Discover Doha” is a 3-hour guided coach tour across the city. It takes travelers on a visit to the Museum of Islamic Art, Dhow Harbour, the Doha Corniche, the Katara Cultural Village, and Souq Waqif. The Doha Corniche is a scenic waterfront promenade stretching for 7 kms along the serene Doha Bay. Boat rides are available at the Corniche stop next to the Museum of Islamic Art. Dhow Harbour, one of the oldest tourist places in Doha, is where traditional sailing vessels are anchored. The place offers absolute serenity and scenic glimpses of beach life. The Katara Cultural Village is a must-visit place that offers a walk-through Qatar’s art, culture and cuisine.

Discover the Desert and Inland Sea is an exclusive 4-hour private tour for transit travelers with Qatar Airways tickets for business flights /economy. It is an exciting tour of the place where sand dunes of the Arabian Desert meet the pristine blue waters of the Arabian Sea and offer breath-taking views.

Hamad Int Airport tours for transit passengers

Neither Qatar Transit Visa nor the visa waiver on arrival in Doha is available for Indians and US citizens if their itinerary has less than 5 hours of connection/transit time at Hamad Airport. Without a visa permit or a visa waiver, they cannot step out of the airport for Doha City sightseeing. However, there are airport layover tours for them, and the tours are payable.

“Discover the Art of the Airport” and “Discover Squash at the Airport” are two Hamad International Airport tours for transit travelers. The former is a 2-hour tour exploring the remarkable art exhibits at Hamad Airport, DOH. Good for art connoisseurs among the transit travelers! The latter is also a two-hour tour that provides ample room to let you relax and enjoy a game of squash until boarding on to your next flight. It comes with access to the shower facility. The tour is available every two hours throughout the day.

Doha Stopover for Qatar Airways’ transit passengers  

Grabbing Indian Eagle’s best deals for Qatar Airways flights to USA or India, you can make the most of a Doha stopover for 12 hours or more. However, a Dubai stopover requires one-night accommodation at a 4-star or 5-star hotel. Discover Qatar offers cost-effective packages at bundle rates starting from $14 for standard 4-star accommodation and from $20 for premium 5-star accommodation per night.  

Hotel accommodation can be booked for up to 4 nights depending on the length of your Doha stopover. Your Qatar Airways boarding pass and stopover booking confirmation are the key requirements for hotel check-in on arrival in Doha. Your name on the boarding pass should match your name on the stopover booking document. In the event of flight schedule change or cancelation, you can contact Discover Qatar on +974-4144 5150 for a change to the stopover hotel booking.

What to do at Doha Hamad Int Airport other than paid airport tours?

You are in for a treat at Hamad International Airport. Among the things to do and see during a layover at Hamad Airport, the Orchard is a special mention. If you don’t wish to take a Doha sightseeing tour or spend on an airport tour, you can kill your wait time for the next connecting flight in the Orchard, a 10,000-sqm indoor tropical garden with spaces for relaxation, recreation, and shopping.

The Orchard with a 270-sqm water feature, among the key attractions of Doha Hamad Airport, resembles the Jewel Complex of Singapore Changi Airport . It offers lush greenery with tranquil ambience, so you can stroll or sit relaxed. Is shopping your favorite indulgence? You can go on a shopping spree in the sprawling retail area of the Orchard where there are more than 90 brands, including Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Burberry, and Louis Vuitton Boutique.

During a layover, Hamad International Airport offers plenty of things to do for family travelers with kids. There are Mac stations with lots of kids-friendly entertainment content . The play areas have various facilities to let kids channelize their energy. The passenger terminal has five activity nodes for family travelers with children: one in Concourse A, one in Concourse B, and 3 in Concourse C. Bronze sculptures in the concourses are worth clicking selfies with kids. Precisely, there is no scope for kids to get bored during a layover at Hamad International Airport, DOH.

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12 thoughts on “ traveling to india or usa via doha all you should know about qatar stopover, doha city tours, visa-free transit ”.

I have OCI card – ‘Overseas Citizen of India’ , travelling on St. Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) passport. Do I need to apply for VISA before travel?! [Site seeing purpose]

Hi Vijay! Could you be a little more specific about where you are traveling to?

How much it cost of each passenger?

I am Falgun Desai here.my wife and my self are going to India from U S A.we are having 13 hours halt at Doha .we are u s citizens.we have economy class ticket.can we use lounge free ,if I have to pay what is the price? What other activity I can do at what price? Thanks

Hi Falgun! In our knowledge, there is no free lounge for economy class travelers. Given the 13-hour layover, you can go out for city sightseeing. Qatar Airways’ tourism partner, Discover Qatar, conducts reasonably paid Doha city tours for transit travelers. Being a US citizen and having a minimum 6-month valid passport, you are eligible for visa-free entry to Doha. You can obtain the visa waiver at Hamad International Airport during the layover. Kindly go through the article to get the information. Thank you!

Hello. I have a laover of 21 hrs in Doha. I’m an Indian citizen traveling with my 2 kids. I’m unable to book accomodation via discover doha as it requires minimum of 2 nights. I Can you please confirm.

1) India is qualified for visa free ebtry, so do I still need to get visa on arrival if I were to go out into the city?

2) if yes, do I need hotel accomodation for visa. How do I book it?

Hello! Yes, Indians having a passport valid for 6 months are eligible for visa-free entry to Qatar. You will get the visa waiver at the desk at Doha Airport.

Thank you for your response.

Hello, I understand Indians do not need a visa to enter Qatar. My layover is 13 hours. My question is do i still need to show a Hotel reservation at security gate or ?

Hi Kumar! In our knowledge, a layover of 13 hours will be considered as a stopover. A Dubai stopover requires one-night accommodation at a 4-star or 5-star hotel. Discover Qatar offers cost-effective packages at bundle rates. You can visit the portal of Discover Qatar.

I’m unable to book any of the transit tours (considering the ones in the city and not just within the airport) due to my flight timings. My inbound flight to Doha arrives at 8:30PM and the outbound flight is at 8:00AM the next day, making it a 11.5 hours overnight layover. However, there are some private tours (I e., not by Discover Qatar and available on site like Viator, GetYourGuide etc) that start a little late, around 11pm and are convenient for me.

Would there be any immigration issues of I book and take these private tours? Is there any additional procedure other than that mentioned above that I’d have to follow? Would I require a hotel reservation if the tour is roughly 4 hours long?

Is india still under visa free stay ?

I have a stopover of 23 hours , On Discover qatar website i see 2 hotel booking options “Stopover” and “Hotels for Hayya and Visa “ which option to use from .

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Win a luxury family holiday to Phuket and Doha

Win a luxury family holiday

Qatar Airways is giving you the chance to win a 5-star holiday for a family of four. This will include a three night stopover in Doha, followed by four nights in Phuket, with return economy flights from the United Kingdom.

First, stay at the iconic Fairmont Hotel , set in the stunning Katara Towers in Doha's seafront Marina District, overlooking the glittering Arabian Gulf.

You will then travel on to Thailand to enjoy four nights at the Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach Hotel , with panoramic views of the Andaman Sea and surrounded by Sirinat National Park, a beautiful harmony of nature and luxury.

Simply follow the below instructions on how to participate, and enter by September 30 2024 to be in with a chance of winning this stunning family holiday.

Experience majestic Qatar

Doha is an up and coming holiday destination for people that want to experience a divine mix of majestic culture and bask in luxury. 

From spectacular wildlife, to museums and theme parks, there is no shortage of activities in Qatar. During the day, enjoy pristine beaches and five-star hospitality, and when the sun sets, watch Doha truly come to life; music and mouth-watering cuisine unite to provide you with an unforgettable experience.

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1.       SUMMARY

            The  Qatar Airways Luxury Family Holiday raffle  (the “ RAFFLE ”) is sponsored by Qatar Airways with its registered office at P.O. Box 25550, Doha, State of Qatar (the “ Sponsor ” or “ Qatar Airways ”). The Raffle is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook, Instagram ‎or Twitter.‎ ‎The Raffle and Prizes are subject to these Official Rules which form a legally binding agreement with respect to this Raffle between the Sponsor and each individual who enters the Raffle (the “ Participant ”).  Please read them carefully. If you do not agree to these Official Rules, you are not eligible to participate in the Raffle or to win any of the Prizes. The decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding on all aspects of this Raffle as permitted by law. The Raffle is run and sponsored by Qatar Airways in complete independence from any local government offices or tenders. 

2.          ELIGIBILITY

2.1        The Raffle is open to legal residents of the United Kingdom (“Eligible Country”) who are at least 18 years old as of the date of entering the Raffle.

2.2        Each Participant confirms that they meet all eligibility requirements in Clause 2.1 (the " Eligibility Requirements ").

2.3        Employees, officers, directors and agents of Qatar Airways, each of their immediate family members (spouse, parents, siblings and children, grandparents, cousins, etc.) and household members are not eligible to participate in the Raffle.

2.4       Participants must subscribe to the Qatar Airways newsletter and confirm their email address via the automated message sent to the new subscriber email to enter the Raffle and get a discount code.

3.          AGREEMENT TO RULES

            All Participants must comply with these Official Rules. All interpretations of these Official Rules by Qatar Airways are final. You agree that registration for this Raffle and/or a submission of an entry in the Raffle constitutes your agreement to these Official Rules. By participating in the Raffle, you agree to these Official Rules and that all interpretations of these Official Rules by Qatar Airways are final as permitted by law.

4.          RAFFLE PERIOD

4.1        This Raffle commences on the 1 September, 2024 at 00:00  (UK time)  or any extended date which the Sponsor may in its sole discretion decide (“ Raffle Period ”), and will end on 30 September, 2024 at 23:59  (UK time).

5.           HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RAFFLE :

5.1        NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE OR WIN.

5.2          You must meet the eligibility requirements stated in Clause 2 and can enter the Raffle during its Period before the deadline stated in sub-clause 4.1 by following this step:

5.3          You may enter the Raffle only once.

6.           PRIZES

6.1         Subject to the Prize restrictions stated in clause 8 below, and the eligibility and entry requirements stated in clauses 2 and 5 above,  one confirmed Winner will win the Grand Prize:

Grand Prize:  One (1) confirmed Winner will win a package comprising of the following:

• Up to four (4) Economy Class Roundtrip tickets from the United Kingdom to Phuket, on Qatar Airways operated flights, with a Doha stopover.
• Shared accommodation at the Fairmont Hotel in Doha for three (3) nights and at the Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach for four (4) nights, for up to four (4) persons, on a bed & breakfast basis.

7.          WINNER’S SELECTION

7.1       On 15 October 2024, the Entries of the qualifying Participants who have successfully performed step 1 set out in sub- clause 5.2 will be placed into a computerised random draw. One (1) winner will be selected.

7.2       The Winner will be sent a prize announcement through Qatar Airways official account via a direct message to the email address from which he/she entered (“ Prize Announcement ”). The Winner will have forty-eight (48) hours to respond to the Prize Announcement.

7.3       Qatar Airways will request verification of the Winner’s age, identity, email address and residential address.

7.4       The Winner may be required to sign and return via email an affidavit of eligibility and liability release provided by Sponsor (collectively, the “ Release ”) within ten (10) days   of receipt.

If a Potential Winner:

(i) does not meet the Eligibility Requirements;

(ii) does not respond to the Prize Announcement within the period specified in this sub-clause by the Sponsor;

(iii) does not wish to receive a Prize;

(iv) refuses or fails to provide verification information;

(v) fails to return the Release within the specified timeframe; or

(vi) is disqualified,

that Potential Winner’s Prize will be forfeited and an alternate Potential Winner may be drawn.

In this case, the process in sub-clauses 7.2-7.5 will be repeated. If the replacement Winner is also not awarded a Prize for any of the reasons set out in this subclause 7.5, then at Qatar Airways’ discretion, the Prize in question may be completely forfeited (i.e. no replacement winner will be chosen), or the process in clauses 7.2-7.5 may be repeated.

7.6       Winner will be contacted in up to 15 working days from the draw.

7.7       The chances of winning depend upon the number of entrants.

8.          PRIZE RESTRICTIONS

8.1        Prizes are provided “as is” and without any warranty, representation or guarantee, express or implied in fact or in law, and any implied warranty of merchantability (or other warranty as to quality) or fitness for a particular purpose. A Potential Winner who is ineligible for a Prize, or is unable to or who does not accept or utilize a Prize, for any reason will not make any claim against the Sponsor. 

8.2         Prizes are non-extendable, non-transferable and non-cashable. No cash redemption or prize substitutions by Winner are allowed except where required by law.

8.3         Each Winner is responsible for any and all fees, charges and taxes applicable to the Prize, which may not be issued without payment for taxes including withholding taxes and fees.  Where required by law, Winner may have to pay withholding taxes to Sponsor for the latter to fulfil its tax obligations.

8.4        Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any Participant or Potential Winner who tampers or attempts to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Raffle, provides false information, fails to provide information, conspires with others to gain an unfair advantage, or is otherwise involved in any way in manipulating, interfering, or tampering with the conduct of the Raffle, or violates the Official Rules, or acts in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY A PARTICIPANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE RAFFLE MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

8.5        The Participant will not make any claim against the Sponsor and its agencies for technical, hardware or software malfunctions, telephone failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete, garbled or delayed electronic communications whether caused by the sender or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this Raffle which may limit the ability to participate or by any human error which may occur in the processing of the Entries in this Raffle.  Sponsor reserves the right to modify or cancel the Raffle in accordance with applicable laws if it becomes technically corrupted. In such event, Sponsor will award Prizes via random drawing from eligible entries received prior to cancellation.

8.6          SPECIFIC PRIZE RESTRICTIONS

In addition to the restrictions stated above, the below restrictions apply

8.6.1      Prize Restrictions:   Economy Class Roundtrip tickets on Qatar Airways operated flights to Phuket only.

(i)      Travel Dates: Winner must travel to Phuket via Doha, and trip must be completed by 30 March 2025. Blackout dates apply: 20 December 2024 to 28 February 2025.

(ii)      Winner and companions must be from the same direct family, travel together and must have valid government-issued documents as required for the itinerary, and be legally able to travel.

(iii)    All travel arrangements must be booked through Qatar Airways local office in Winner’s country of residence by 15 February 2025 and in compliance with instructions given to the Winner. Once a flight booking has been confirmed, no changes are permitted.

(iv)    The validity period for the prize tickets may not be extended and prize tickets may not be rebooked.

(v)     Sponsor is not liable for any expense incurred as a consequence of a flight cancellation or flight delay.

(vi)    The prize tickets will be issued as electronic tickets.

(vii)   Travel is subject to availability, which are subject to change in the sole discretion of Sponsor.

(viii)  Flight schedules are subject to change without notice.

(ix)    Flight is subject to Qatar Airways Conditions of Carriage available at  https://www.qatarairways.com/en-qa/legal/conditions-of-carriage.html

(x)     Winner is responsible for any and all, fees, security and passenger facility charges applicable to the Prize, which may not be issued without payment for taxes and fees (except as specified otherwise in the voucher).

(xi)    Winner is responsible for the arrangement and cost of visa(s), passport(s), and transportation to and from the point of origin, meals not covered by the accommodation basis, health documents required by the destination and other travel expenses unless stated otherwise (including in respect of any quarantine or isolation requirements that may be in operation in any jurisdiction).

(xii)   The prize tickets do not entitle the ticket holder to any mileage credit as part of the Qatar Airways Privilege Club program.

(xiii)    Flights and accommodations are booked in a prize-winner category and all seats and rooms are subject to availability within that category.

8.6.2       Prize Restrictions

(i)            Winner is responsible for any incidental expense during the hotel stay which are not included on board basis terms as defined by the participant hotels, tours, spa treatments, property damage, and any other item not included as part of the prize.         

9.           PUBLICITY RELEASE

If a Winner consents, Sponsor will collect and use the Winner’s name and country of residence for advertising, promotional and/or publicity purposes addressed to the general public in all forms of media, including on Sponsor’s website, mobile application, social media on Sponsor’s social media official accounts in connection with the Raffle, without any obligation or consideration or counter-part whether financial or otherwise, except for the awarding of the prize to the Winner. In case that the Winner intends to create any publicity regarding his/her win on the Raffle and/or Prizes, such publicity must not contain anything that would harm and/or be detrimental to the Sponsor’s reputation.

10.          PRIVACY

10.1      Personal data submitted in connection with the Raffle will be processed to allow you to participate in the Raffle, allow us to administer the Raffle, where you are a Potential Winner to inform you of this, to process the delivery of and distribution of the Prizes, to measure the response to Raffle and for any other purposes disclosed in these Official Rules. We will process your personal data based on the Official Rules of this Raffle, in accordance with Qatar Airways Privacy Notice (as may be amended from time to time) located at  https://www.qatarairways.com/en/legal/privacy-policy.html  and as permitted by law. If you decline to provide the information required for your participation in the Raffle, we will not be able to enter you into the Raffle or award you a Prize.

10.2      As Sponsor of the Raffle, we may process your name, email address, country of residence, age verification documentation and personal identification documentation in accordance with applicable laws. We will retain any personal data provided for a maximum of ninety (90) days from the travel date or any longer period in order to administer these Official Rules.

11.        RELEASE OF LIABILITY

A Potential Winner who is ineligible for a Prize, or is unable to or who does not accept or utilize a Prize, for any reason will not make any claim against the Sponsor, its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, employees, officers, directors, representatives, mandataries, and agents, Qatar Airways Group Q.C.S.C. as well as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter (collectively, the “ Releasees ”). SPONSOR'S TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE RAFFLE SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE VALUE OF ONE PRIZE. THE RELEASEES‎ SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO PARTICIPANTS FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE RAFFLE OR THESE OFFICIAL RULES INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFIT, OR REVENUE. NOTHING IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES SHALL OPERATE TO EXCLUDE OR LIMIT SPONSOR'S OR ITS AFFILIATES' LIABILITY FOR DEATH OR PERSONAL INJURY RESULTING FROM SPONSOR'S OR ITS AFFILIATES’ NEGLIGENCE, FOR FRAUD OR FRAUDULENT MISREPRESENTATION OR FOR ANY OTHER LIABILITY WHICH MAY NOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED BY LAW.

12.         FORCE MAJEURE

EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY SET OUT IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES QATAR AIRWAYS AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, DIVISIONS, AND ITS EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE OR RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FAILURE TO PERFORM, OR DELAY IN PERFORMANCE OF, ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OBLIGATIONS THAT ARE CAUSED BY EVENTS OUTSIDE OF THEIR REASONABLE CONTROL. QATAR AIRWAYS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE IF THE RAFFLE TERMINATES OR ANY PRIZE CANNOT BE USED OR REDEEMED DUE TO ACTS OF GOD, WAR, TERRORISM, EXPLOSIONS, FIRES, FLOODS, EPIDEMIC, PANDEMIC OR OTHER NATURAL CALAMITIES, BAD WEATHER, STRIKES, RIOT, CIVIL DISRUPTION, INTERNET FAILURES, OR ACTS OF THE WINNER, OR FOR ANY OTHER OCCURRENCES WHICH ARE OUTSIDE OF QATAR AIRWAYS’ REASONABLE CONTROL.

13.          DISCLAIMERS

Where permitted by law, if this Raffle cannot be administered as contemplated for any reason which is not caused by Sponsor, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion in accordance with applicable laws to modify or terminate the Raffle, Winner selection, or Prizes without prior notice.

14.          GOVERNING LAW

This Raffle including the Official Rules in addition to all issues and questions concerning this Raffle will be governed by the laws of the State of Qatar, and is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent Qatari courts. THIS RAFFLE IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW.

Where, in relation to contracts with consumers (being individuals acting in a private capacity), the laws of your country of residence (“ Laws ”) require that:

1. The Laws shall apply to any such contract; and

2.  You may bring proceedings in the courts of your country of residence (“ Courts ”),

then the Raffle and these Official Rules shall be governed by the Laws and shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts.

15.          CONTACT US

For any questions on this Raffle, please contact us at  [email protected]

Access to the promotion will only be communicated to new subscribers who have not previously been subscribed to Qatar Airways marketing emails.

Redemption conditions

• Savings apply on qatarairways.com and mobile app.
• The promo code must be used before initiating a flight search on qatarairways.com and mobile app.
• If the promo code is entered correctly before initiating a flight search, flights eligible for the saving will be clearly marked with a sales tag beside them. Please ensure only flights eligible for the saving are selected when booking.

Offer conditions

• Booking Period: 1 September 2024 until 30 September 2024
• Travel Period: 1 September 2024 until further notice. Subject to change until further notice. Subject to change.
• Black Out Period: NA
• Offer valid for travel on Qatar Airways operated flights only (not applicable on any interline or codeshare flights).
• Offer valid on flights departing from: Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Turkey.
• Offer valid on flights to destinations: Abidjan, Abuja, Accra, Addis Ababa, Adelaide, Auckland, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Baku, Baghdad, Beijing, Bangkok, Bangalore, Brisbane, Mumbai, Basra, Guangzhou, Calicut, Kolkata, Cebu, Chongqing, Colombo, Kochi, Capetown, Clark Field, Chengdu, Dhaka, Dar Es Salaam, New Delhi, Dammam, Denpasar Bali, Durban, Davao, Dubai, Entebbe, Erbil, Gassim, Goa, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Phuket, Harare, Hyderabad, Isfahan, Islamabad, Sulaymaniyah, Jeddah, Djibouti, Jakarta, Kilimanjaro, Kano, Karachi, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Luanda, Lahore, Lagos, Lusaka, Chennai, Muscat, Madinah, Mogadishu, Mashad, Male, Manila, Maputo, Multan, Nagpur, Nairobi, Najaf, Perth, Peshawar, Port Harcourt, Ras Al Khaimah, Riyadh, Seoul, Mahe Island, Ho Chi Minh City, Shanghai, Sharjah, Singapore, Sialkot, Salalah, Shiraz, Tehran, Taif, Thiruvananthapuram, Windhoek, Zanzibar. 
• Savings apply to base airfare fare only and does not apply to taxes, surcharges and all other standard market surcharges.
• Up to 10% on base fare in Economy Class will apply to booking class: N, Q, T, O (Classic).
• Up to 10% on base fare in Economy Class will apply to booking class: S, V, L, M, K (Convenience).
• Up to 10% on base fare in Business Class will apply to booking class: R (Classic).
• Up to 10% on base fare in Business Class will apply to booking class: I, D (Comfort).
• Valid only on return itineraries.
• Fares displayed already include the applicable savings.
• The saving is deducted from the 'fare per passenger' amount visible in the price breakdown summary after flight selection. Any other taxes, service fees or standard market charges will be payable and displayed at the time of booking.
• Customers who did not receive a saving once booking is finalised, cannot be credited retrospectively.
• Qatar Airways will not be held responsible for any fare differences if a customer does not enter the unique promo code at the time of booking as stated in the Redemptions conditions section.
• The following booking classes are excluded from this offer: J, C (Elite); Y, B, H (Comfort).
• Not valid in combination with any other promotion or any other market fares.
• Seats are limited and subject to availability in the respective booking class and not be available at the time of booking on all flights.
• Qatar Airway’s terms and conditions will also apply to your booking, please refer to the fare rules at the time of booking to learn more about the official conditions related to changes, cancellations, no-shows and Minimum Stay / Maximum Stay.

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