I’m a GCC national

Getting around

Getting around Doha: metro, tram, buses and taxis
How to use Doha's public transport: the Doha Metro, the Lusail Tram, Karwa buses and free metrolink feeder buses, plus Karwa taxis and licensed ride-hailing apps.
Getting a Qatari driving licence If you drive
How to get your first Qatari driving licence, or swap a licence from another country for a Qatari one. It covers the eye test, driving school, the driving test and issuing the licence on Metrash.
Registering a vehicle and renewing the Istimara If you drive
How to renew your vehicle registration (Istimara) each year, including the technical inspection at Fahes and insurance. It also explains how to register a car in your name when you buy one.

Choosing an area to live in Doha and nearby
A neutral overview of some of the main residential areas in and around Doha, with their location, metro and tram links and the kinds of homes found there, based on official sources.
Renting a home in Qatar
The basics of renting a home: what the tenancy law says, how a lease gets registered with the Ministry of Municipality, what a landlord can ask as a deposit, and where to go if there is a dispute.

How healthcare works in Qatar
A plain overview of healthcare in Qatar: PHCC health centres for everyday care, Hamad Medical Corporation hospitals, what to do in an emergency, licensed private clinics, mandatory health insurance, pharmacies and mental health support.
Money and banking basics
The Qatari riyal and its fixed link to the US dollar, getting cash and using cards, opening a bank account as a resident, sending money abroad safely, and where to complain about a bank or exchange house.
Emergency and useful phone numbers in Qatar
Call 999 for police, ambulance and civil defence in Qatar. This guide also lists the official lines for power and water faults, traffic matters, the airport, taxis and government services.

Things to do in and around Doha
A short tour of popular places in Doha, from the Corniche and Souq Waqif to Katara, Lusail and Aspire Park, plus day trips to Al Khor, the mangroves, Al Zubarah and the Inland Sea, with how to reach each one.
Beaches, desert and the Inland Sea
Where to find public beaches, how to visit the desert and Khor Al Adaid safely, how the winter camping season works, and how to look after protected areas such as the Al Thakira mangroves.
Events and public holidays
Where to find the official calendar of events in Qatar, which public holidays are fixed and which move each year, how holidays are announced, and the main occasions and festivals that come round every year.
Eating out and Qatari food
A friendly introduction to traditional Qatari dishes, where to find local food, simple dining customs, Ramadan timings and how to report a food safety problem.