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why qatar

15 things to know about Qatar

Frequently Asked Questions

Accessibility

Qatar is the most open country in the Middle East and the 8th  most open in the world in terms of visa facilitation.

UNWTO Visa Openness Rankings

Connectivity

The national carrier, Qatar Airways, connects Doha to more than 160 destinations across six continents.

Hamad International Airport retains its title as ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’, and has also been awarded ‘Third Best Airport in the World’

Skytrax World Airport Awards 2020 

Hospitality

Qatar’s hospitality sector tops its peers in the Middle East destinations in terms of guest experience.

Olery Guest Experience in the Middle East 2019 Report

 

GDP

Qatar has the second highest GDP per capita ($124,900) in the world.

CIA World Factbook 2017

Currency

The exchange rate of the Qatari Riyal (QR) against the US Dollar is fixed at QAR 3.64 

Trade & investment

Qatar has introduced several measures to facilitate foreign investment, including custom and income tax exemptions as well as allowing the unimpeded transfer of investment revenues or returns in any currency.

ICT

Qatar is a regional pioneer in delivering cutting-edge mobile technology; it is the world’s first country to introduce a commercial 5G network.

 

Education

Qatar Foundation’s Education City is home to seven world-renowned higher education institutes, including Carnegie Mellon, Georgetown, and Northwestern, demonstrating the importance the country places on education and knowledge as a foundation for a sustainable modern society. 

 

Safety

Qatar has been ranked the safest country in the world by the 2020 Numbeo Crime Index – a spot it has held since 2017

Research

Qatar is home to scientific research hubs specifically in the fields of biomedical, computing and environmental research.

 

Competitiveness

Qatar ranks second in the Arab world, according to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report 2019. 

Sports

Qatar is the first Middle Eastern country to host the 17th World Championships in Athletics in 2019; World Beach Games in 2019 & FIFA World Cup in 2022.

MICE

Qatar has a track-record of successfully hosting large-scale international conferences and events, including the 6th World Congress of the World Federation of Associations of Paediatric Surgeons (WOFAPS) in 2019.

Qatar has also won bids to host the All Together Better Health Conference (ATBH) in 2021, and Les Clefs d’Or International Congress (The Association for Luxury Hotel Concierges) in 2022

Media

The Al Jazeera Media Network is headquartered in Doha and has 80 offices around the world. The world-renowned Medill School of Journalism has its only international branch in Doha.

Arabian Heritage

Qatar is home to Al Zubarah Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Arabian horse, Marwan Al Shaqab, was foaled in Doha. He holds dozens of international titles and is sire of numerous world champions.