Marhaba Information Guide issue 66

Hello from Marhaba! As we move towards the end of summer, things are starting to get lively around town with people back from their holidays. Outdoor activities abound, such as world-class motorsport events to be held at Losail International Circuit which are listed in the Sports Event Calendar. For the culturally inclined have a look at the Events Calendar in the Discovering Qatar section and keep updated with the online calendar on marhaba.qa To have a copy of the guide on the go, you could buy the online version at marhaba.qa/eguides. Here you will also be able to access our 2016 Dining Guide – for free!

The Marhaba Information Guide offers you comprehensive

Cover Image Throughout history, the harsh, arid conditions of Qatar's desert interior ensured that most permanent settlement was in coastal areas, where fishing, pearl diving and dhow trading could support life.

information on everything in Qatar by means of continually updated listings and informative features – all conveniently partitioned into sections so you can find what you're looking for quickly.

Let me sign off by wishing you Eid Mubarak for Eid Al Adha! We will see you again in the winter as Qatar gears up for the festive season.

Hilary Bainbridge Managing Editor Follow

online

marhaba.qa

MARHABA PUBLICATIONS Marhaba Information Guide Marhaba Dining Guide Marhaba Shopping Guide Marhaba Pocket Map of Doha Marhaba Kaleidoscope Marhaba Calendars Qatar Image eBooks

WELCOME MESSAGE M66.indd 1

AVAILABLE AT • • • • • • • • •

Abu Karbal Bookshop • Bakemart Carrefour (Dar Al Salam, City Center-Doha, Lagoona, Landmark, Villaggio, Ezdan Mall) Family Food Centre (Airport Street) Jarir Bookstore (Airport Street, Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Street, Salwa Road) JG Sandwich Cellar • Lulu Hypermarket (Al Gharrafa, Al Khor, D Ring Road) Lulu Barwa City • Lulu Centre • Lulu Express • Mega Mart (The Centre) Mega Mart Xpress (Al Messila Petrol Station) • Naaz Stores Virgin Megastore (Landmark, Villaggio) WH Smith (Hyatt Plaza, Nuaija, Ezdan Mall) • WOQOD Petrol Stations

7/1/16 12:47 PM

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

2

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

MARHABA

©

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

3

In this issue...

9

Discovering Qatar Qatar at a Glance Events in Qatar Do’s and Don’ts Arabic Phrases Qatar Online Foreign Embassies in Qatar Main Urban Centres Getting Around Qatar

11 17 26 27 28 30 32 43

Traveller Information 49 Hamad International Airport 51 Sightseeing 57 Leisure Activities 76 The Doha Ladies’ Bridge club 83 Day to Day Qatar 84 Living in Qatar 87

Maps Qatar 6 Northeast Coast 33 Al Khor 34 Al Dafna/West Bay Area 35 Doha City 36–38 Doha Central Area 39 Al Wakra 40 Mesaieed 41

105

115

Southeast Coast Infrastructure Projects Souq Area The Pearl‑Qatar Education City Hamad bin Khalifa Medical City Small Industries Zone/Ind’l Area

Infrastructure Infrastructure in Qatar New Building Standards

106 113

Hospitality, Hotels and Dining Tourism in Qatar Places to Stay What’s On at Hotels Street Food: Shawarma Dining in Qatar Dining Guide Listings

169

193

Next issue issue Next

2013 December 2016

42 104 187 189 300 320 390

117 118 129 137 139 140

Shopping Where to Shop Shopping in Qatar High End Shopping Made in Qatar: Luxury Fashion

171 177 188 190

Special Features Qatar’s Cultural Melting Pot Qatar National Library Art For The People The Importance of the Family Running with the Ball A Garden of Beauty

See our Features throughout the sections

194 198 202 206 210 214

219

Sports Sports in Qatar Sports Events Calendar Zoom!

The Road to Glory Sports Activities

237

Education Useful Numbers Education in Qatar Education Courses/Lectures Arabic/Islamic Culture Courses Maktaba: One Story at a Time Oxy Promotes Local Talent

315

365

393

Advertising Havovi Rabadi Howard Bainbridge 318 321 336 339 342

Banking and Commerce

Motoring

Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals The Global Perspective Qatar’s Oil Industry Qatar’s Gas Industry Qatar’s Petrochemical Industry Company Activities What’s in the Barrel?

395 397 399 401 405 420

Retail Sales Sandra Alexander Design and Artwork Dick Tamayo Mar Principe Arnel Ramos Dana Design Studio Marhaba endeavours to quote accurate information and updates each of its sections every issue. However, the magazine accepts no liability in the case of unintentional errors.

349 354 355 356 358

In the News Main Car Showrooms Useful Numbers Motoring Essentials Traffic Violations – Points System Cars Tested This Issue

Editorial Sarah Palmer Sarah Mascarenhas Terry Sutcliffe Gina Coleman Lindsey McCowan

Digital Media Andrea Buenafe Ayen Molina

Health and Beauty

Banking and Finance Economy Commerce In the Zone Investment and Trade

Managing Editor Hilary Bainbridge

Online Content Lubuna Jeffin

239 245 306 310 311 313

Useful Numbers Healthcare in Qatar Your Health First Health and Wellness Spas and Beauty Centres

347

220 221 225 226 228

375 368 369 370 374 380

© 2016 Marhaba Information Guide All Rights Reserved.

No part of this magazine may be reproduced, in any form, without written permission of the publishers.

Follow

online marhaba.qa

Dana Public Relations PO Box 3797, Doha, Qatar Tel (+974) 4465 5533 4465 0083 Fax (+974) 4465 5588 General Information marhaba@qatar.net.qa Retail Sales retailsales@marhaba-qatar.com Printed in Qatar by Doha Modern Printing Press

State of

Map prepared by Al Ruwais Madinat Al Shamal

Qatar

Al Mafjar

in cooperation with

CGIS

Khidaj Fort

Al Ghariya

Al Jemail Fort

QATAR

Al Rekayat Fort

Fuwairit

Al Thaghab Fort Ras Eshairiq

Al Zubara Fort Al Zubara Umrair Fort

Jabal Al Jassasiya

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Ras Girtas

Lehwaila RL Support Services Area

Lisha

Ain Al Numan

Madinat Al Kaaban Leghwairiya

Ras Laffan Industrial City

77

Rawdat Al Faras

Simsima Umm Birka

141

1

Al Suwaihliya

Al Thakhira

amal

Al Sh

Al Qaaiya New Orbital Highway

Lijmailiya

Ras Abrouq

Road

Berak Al Soudan

Umm Qarn

Al Daayen Municipality

Al Nafayid

Simaisma

Umm Al Amad Al Dosari Game Reserve

Bir Zekreet

Dukhan

Umm Slal Mohammed 1 New Barzan Orbital Tower Highway

Dukhan R oad

3

1A IKEA

Relie

Al Nasraniya

f Roa

Al Sabbana Dukhan

Losail Circuit

Umm Slal Ali

Al Otouriya

Al Shaihaniya

Golf Club

Lusail City The Pearl Qatar

d

Al Salamiya

Al Khor

Al Khor Airfield

14

Education City

Sheikh Faisal Farm & Museum

Ain Al Zaghain Al Ruwaidat

Umm Bab

Doha

Al Wajba

33

Banana Island

Al Rayyan

Hamad International Airport

Al Sailiya Rawdat Rashed

Al Shabhana

Barwa Barwa Industrial City Village Area Aqua Park

39

Earth Satellite 'Singing Sand Dunes’ Station

5 Al Karaana

Taas Al Karaana Qawz Al Kharaej

Al

Taas Al Darb

arr Kh

Al Kharrara

55

Naqa Abu Birka

Shalla Naqa Abu Dulou Naqa Felaiha

Riyad Al Marrkh

Hamad Port

Mesaieed

ar

Umm Hawta Hajar Al Eraiq

7

Naqa Al Minshatah

a Roa d

Qeezan Al Kharaej

Baidaa Al Qaa

Al Wakra

dR

Al Wukair

aiee

oad aR lw a S

oad

56

Mes

Qaryat Al Muhanna

Sealine Beach Resort

Naqa Umm Salama

Zubarat Al Masszhabiya Bu Samra

Naqa Tuwair Al Hameer Zubarat Al Eraiq

Naqa Zuwayyid

Qeezan Al Eraiq

SAUDI ARABIA

6

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

Sawda Natheel

MARHABA

Sand Dunes

Khor Al Adaid 5 Non-stop Superhighway 39 Upgraded Highway 7 Dual Carriageway Highway Single Carriageway Highway Qatar Heritage Site Population Centre Vegetation

Discovering Qatar Map of Qatar Qatar at a Glance • • • • •

Geography • History • Climate Language and Religion • The Ruling Family The Qatari Flag • Government • Economy International Relations • Demography Transport and Communications

Activities 76 Leisure Clubs, Societies and Activities, from Arts and Crafts to Parks and Play Zones

to Day Qatar 84 Day • Common Courtesies • Accidents • • • •

and Medical Emergencies Newspapers • Telephone Public Wireless Internet Television and Radio Places of Worship

17 Events August – November 26 Do’s and Don’ts 27 Arabic Phrases 28 Qatar Online

in Qatar 87 Living • Government Online

30 Foreign Embassies 32 Main Urban Centres 35 Doha City and other maps Around Qatar 43 Getting • Lusail City Taking Shape

93 Housing • To Rent • Estate/Letting Agents

• Major Road Developments • Karwa Taxis • Karwa Limousines

49 51

Traveller Information • Visas • eCash Cards • Entry Visas • eGate Cards • Car Rental, Taxis and Limousines • Airlines • Travel Agencies

Hamad International Airport • • • • • •

Parking • Arrivals/Departures Lounges • Connectivity Medical Emergencies Travelling with Animals • Duty Free Food and Beverage • The Airport Hotel Medical Emergencies

57 Sightseeing

Things to see and do in Qatar, from Art and Photography to Organised Tours

• • • • • • •

Useful Documents/Processing The Qatar Labour Law Register at Your Embassy Residence/Work Permits Renew a Residence Permit Exit Permits • Identity Cards Health Related Services

• To Buy • Lawyers and Legal • Relocation Services/Removal Firms • Other Housing Considerations

and Services 95 Utilities • Water and Electricity • • • • • •

Gas Telephone and Internet Postal Services and Mail Courier Services Birth, Marriage and Death Liquor Permit

Discovering Qatar

6 11

101 Pets • Pets • Exporting a Pet • Microchipping • Private Veterinary Clinics and Services

Feature – The Doha Ladies’ Bridge Club

©

MARHABA

83

M66 AUTUMN 2016

9

Economy • Qatar, with proved gas reserves of nearly 900 trillion standard cubic feet in its North Field, and oil reserves of over 25.2 billion barrels, has one of the fastest growing economies and the highest per capita income in the world.

placed on private-sector industrial development, education, health, sport and tourism.

• In just decades, Qatar has developed into a major global supplier of energy and is the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and a world leader in gas-to-liquids (GTL) production.

Qatar at a Glance

• While developing its huge hydrocarbon reserves, Qatar has also diversified its economy, and emphasis is being

International Relations • Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strives to establish and develop close direct ties with all peace-loving countries and peoples of the world. It is keen to participate actively in efforts to deal with the concerns and challenges that the Gulf region encounters.

• Together with Qatari partners, who hold a 51% interest, foreigners can invest in most other sectors subject to approval. See the Banking and Commerce section for more information.

Qatar is a member of: • The United Nations (UN) and its subsidiary global organisations.

• The Asian Group of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

• The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

• Qatar was actively involved in the discussions leading to the foundation of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and has hosted a number of their Supreme Council Summit Meetings.

• The Organisation of Arab Oil Exporting Countries (OAPEC).

• As at 1 May 2016, Qatar maintains 99 embassies abroad as well as 8 consulates and 2 other representations. The Qatari capital Doha hosts 98 embassies, and in addition there is 1 consulate and other representations in Qatar.

• The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

Demography • Qatar's population as at 30 April 2016 was 2,559,267 according to figures released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics.

• 622,731 of the population is female.

• Over 60% of the population resides in the city of Doha, which is the business and administrative capital.

• Other population centres include Dukhan on the west coast, Mesaieed City and Al Wakra in the south, and Ras Laffan and Al Khor in the north.

Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLC) is creating a population expansion in Al Khor and the adjoining areas.

Projects are underway to provide new housing and amenities in the area.

14

• Investment laws allow for up to 100% foreign investment in many sectors including agriculture, industry, leisure, tourism, health, education and the exploitation of natural resources, energy and mining – subject to dispensation from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

QATAR AT A GLANCE M66.indd 3

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

• The World Trade Organisation (WTO).

• The Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).

• The Arab League.

• The UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

Transport and Communication • The country is served by Hamad International Airport (for more information on Airports see Traveller Information and Hamad International Airport in this section).

• Metered taxis and limousines are easy to find and there is a comprehensive public transport system.

• Qatar has a modern road system linking it with other GCC countries.

• An integrated rail and metro network is expected • An integrated rail and metro network is expected to be largely complete by 2022. See more in the Infrastructure section.

• The telecommunications system is currently being upgraded to an entirely fibre-optic network. m

MARHABA

6/26/16 5:20 PM

‫ﻣﺮﻛﺰ ﺍﻟﺸﻔﻠﺢ ﻟﻸﺷﺨﺎﺹ ﺫﻭﻱ ﺍﻹﻋﺎﻗﺔ‬ Shafallah Center for Persons with Disabilities

©

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

15

What's on at Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and Al Riwaq

Events August – November

17 October onwards

31 28 26 30

Dia Al Azzawi Retrospective A monograph of one of the most renowned modern artists of the Arab world: Dia Al Azzawi. The exhibition showcases over 350 works across 50 years and a range of media, and is organised into two parts, with each one tracing a trajectory of the artist’s practice: one charting the relation between image and text in Azzawi’s work, and the other following the artist’s engagement with the key moments in the political history of modern Iraq and the Arab world. Curated by Catherine David, the exhibition will open 16 October at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art and 17 October at Al Riwaq.

August Majlis Book Club September October November

In English, in the MIA library. Contact sleavy@qm.org.qa for confirmation of the next book to be discussed, which all link to Islamic art, museums or Arabic history. If you want to participate in the Arabic Book Club, contact MIA with a suggested date and book for discussion.

Resuming in The MIA Park Bazaar Around 150 stalls featuring handmade jewellery, arts, crafts and clothing as well as books and souvenirs. Every Saturday, noon – 8 pm.

October 6 October 3 November 1 December

Qatar Philharmonic Chamber Music At the time of going to press the programmes had not been announced. Visit qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org for more details.

Note: MIA will be closed 1 – 14 August, and the first day of Eid. MIA Park is closed during the entire month of August.

Admission is free to both the museum and the park; visitors are asked to dress modestly in keeping with Qatari culture. MIA offer a range of events and activities for young people and adults including art workshops related to the exhibitions, calligraphy groups, museum tours and school programmes.

4422 4444, mia.org.qa C4 Throughout August

Qatar Summer Festival Organised by Qatar Tourism Authority, the festival offers something for the whole family – art zones, live shows, shopping promotions and an entertainment city. qatarsummerfestival.qa/en/

September

18

5 – 6

Future Interiors Qatar Designed to showcase the latest interior design projects and opportunities for fit-outs in Qatar. Network with interior designers, architects and engineers, and learn more about Qatar's projects such as the Qatar National Museum and the metro stations. At InterContinental Doha The City C3. qatargbc.org

11

Eid Al Adha Festival There are many events taking place during Eid Al Adha, including fireworks, magical and artistic shows, and outdoor activities. qatartourism.gov.qa

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

M66 EVENTS AUG-NOV.indd 2

MARHABA

6/28/16 11:32 AM

Arabic Phrases Arabs place great importance on greetings, often greeting each other with a number of ritual phrases and fixed responses enquiring about each other’s health, wellbeing and family. As a courtesy, it is important for visitors to learn the basics of how to say hello and goodbye when in their company.

Courtesies/Responses assalam alaykum wa’alaykum salam sabah al khair sabah al noor massa al khair massa al noor marhaba/ya hala marhabatain ma’a salaamah Allah yesalmik kaif haalak? zain, al hamdu lillah wa ant? al hamdu lillah shukran afwan min fadlak tafaddal na’am or aiwa/la ana muta' assef mabrook ramadan kareem eid mubarak

Days of the Week Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

yum yum yum yum yum yum yum

al al al al al al al

ahad ithnain thalatha arba’a khamees jum’a sabt

Time What time is it? a-sa’a kam?

One, two, three a-sa’a wahda, o’clock thintain, etc.

Late mut’akhar Early mubakkar Tomorrow bukra The day after ba’ad bukra Yesterday ams What time is the appointment? as-sa'a kam al mawidd?

When do you open/close? mata taftahoon/tosakkiroon?

Look!

Where is?

On your right On your left Straight on Stop!

Go! Come!

Let's go!

Tell me When?

Bring me/give This That There isn’t any No problem There is no time Impossible Finished God willing (as in 'All being well') For sure Certainly

shuff! wain? ala yameenak ala shamalak alatool qif! imshi! ta’al! yalla! qulli mata? or emta? jeeb hatha hathaak mafi mafi mushkila mafi waqt mush mumkin khallas Insh'Allah Wallah/akeed Wallaahi

10 a'ashara 11 ihda ashar 12 ithna ashar 20 ashareen 50 khamseen 100 mi’a 200 mi'atain 1,000 elf 2,000 elfain 10,000 a'asharat elaf

Essential Foods

Shopping/Eating Out

Bread Water Tea/Coffee Milk Fish Meat Chicken Cheese Fruit Vegetables

Where is the market? wain al souq?

I want to buy... areed ashtiri...

Do you have ...? andak…?

Have/Don’t have fi/mafi How much is it? kam qeemtah?

Cheap/Expensive rakhees/ghali Newspaper/Book jareeda/kitaab Map of Doha khareeta al doha Bank bank Money Exchange surrafa Restaurant mataam What kind of food? ay ta'am ladaikum?

Toilets al hammam

khubbuz maa, moya chai/gahwa haleeb samak laham dejaj jubna fawakih khudrawat

Travel I want a taxi areed taxi How much is the taxi? kam al ijar?

I want to rent a car areed asta'jer sayyara Where is the airline office? wain maktab at tayaran?

Take us to the airport khuthna ilal matar

Emergencies Please help me Police station I’m feeling ill I need a doctor I need a hospital Ambulance Pharmacy There's a fire ©

ARABIC PHRASES M66.indd 1

Numbers 0 0 sifr 1 1 wahad 2 2 ithnain 3 3 thalatha 4 4 arba’a 5 5 khamsa 6 6 sitta 7 7 saba’a 8 8 thamanya 9 9 tissa’a

Arabic Phrases

Peace be upon you And upon you be peace Good morning May your morning be bright Good afternoon/evening May your afternoon/evening be bright Welcome A double welcome to you Go in peace May Allah save you How are you?

Well, by Allah’s grace And you?

By God’s grace Thanks Not at all/Welcome Please Please (as in 'please sit down') Yes/No I'm sorry Congratulations Ramadan blessings Eid blessings

MARHABA

sa’idni low samaht markaz al shortah ana mareeth areed tabeeb areed mustashfa sayyara is'haaf saydaliya aku narr M66 AUTUMN 2016

27

6/26/16 5:24 PM

35

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

MARHABA

©

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

36

Limousines: Chauffeur-driven limousines are available to take you from Hamad International Airport to anywhere in Qatar.

e-cigarettes and pork in any form is strictly forbidden. iata.org

To pre-book call Mowasalat Limousine on 4458 8888. Use Exit 2 or 3 to leave the Arrivals area and you will find your limousine parked there.

Exit Permit: All expatriate residents of Qatar are required to obtain an exit permit from their sponsor when exiting the country. If you don’t have an exit permit, then you won’t be allowed to leave Qatar, except for those on a family sponsorship.

For on-arrival booking simply approach the Mowasalat Limousine kiosk located in the Arrivals hall. For more information, visit mowasalat.com

Arrivals

Hamad International Airport

Up to 360,000 aircraft per year can be handled at HIA. The eastern runway is 4,850 metres long, making it one of the longest commercial runways in the world.

Immigration: Prior to departure from their point of origin Doha passengers must ensure they have a valid passport, or an identity card for Qatari citizens, before making their way to Immigration.

After immigration passengers will proceed to the baggage reclaim area. Check moi.gov.qa and dohahamadairport.com for specific requirements.

Customs regulations: After you’ve collected your checked baggage, you can exit the airport by passing through Customs. There are two Customs channels to choose from. Ask for assistance if you’re not sure which channel to use.

Personal items are not usually subject to tax though luggage is inspected upon arrival. Please refer to the IATA website for specific customs regulations. The import of firearms, alcohol,

Departures

If members of your family are visiting you in Qatar, then any male visitors whose stay in Qatar exceeds one month are required to obtain an exit permit when exiting the country (female family members are exempt).

Regulations for hand luggage: When departing from HIA, worldwide regulations apply regarding all liquids, gels, pastes and aerosols.

Check-in: (see box below) Online check-in is available for most airlines, and on Qatar Airways’ website at qatarairways.com, 36 hours to 90 minutes prior to the flight departure time to most countries. Passengers can choose a seat, print a boarding pass or have a bar-coded boarding pass sent to a mobile phone in simple and convenient easy-to-use steps.

Check-in usually opens three hours before your flight’s departure time, and closes 60 minutes before your flight takes off. Please make sure you’re carrying all the required travel documents with you. These include your ticket, passport, exit permit, Residence Card, and destination visas.

Finding your Check In counter at HIA For Qatar Airways First or Business Class passengers: If you’re flying with Qatar Airways as a First or Business Class passenger, then you will find it most convenient to enter the Departure hall through Entry Gate 1 and, if required, use the East short-term car park.

For Qatar Airways Privilege Club members: If you are a Qatar Airways Privilege Club member or a oneworld customer, your check-in counter is located in row 3 and if required, use the West short term car park.

For Qatar Airways Economy Class passengers: If you’re flying with Qatar Airways as an Economy Class passenger, then you will find it easiest to enter the Departure hall through Entry Gates 2 and 3, and, if required, use the West short-term car park.

For other airlines: If you’re flying with any airline other than Qatar Airways, then you will find it easiest to enter the Departure hall through Entry Gate 4, and, if required, use the West short-term car park.

52

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

MARHABA

AIRPORT TRAVELLER INFO M66.indd 4

6/26/16 4:47 PM

Finding your check-in row There are several ways to locate your check-in row inside the Departures hall:

For Qatar Airways Privilege Club members or oneworld customers, your check-in counter is located in row 3.

Qatar Airways Economy Class check-in counters are located in rows 4 to 6 and all other airline counters are from rows 7 to 10.

Clearing passport control: Present your boarding pass to staff standing just before the passport control area. They will scan it, and fast-track you (through passport control and security check) if your flight is nearing its departure time.

Dedicated lanes are available for First Class and Business Class passengers.

Lounges The Oryx Lounge offers a comfortable atmosphere to sit, relax and enjoy the superior hospitality provided by the Oryx Lounge staff. The lounge offers food and beverage services, a smoking room, business centre, lockers, a quiet zone,

Designed to mirror a resort-like experience, Al Mourjan Business Lounge takes inspiration from sunlight, water and nature – a celebration of serenity and rejuvenation. This lounge is open to Business Class passengers on all airlines.

The Airport Hotel

Hamad International Airport

If you’re flying with Qatar Airways as a First or Business Class passenger, then your check-in rows are located towards the right-hand side of the Departures hall. For Qatar Airways First Class passengers, proceed to Al Safwa First in row 1, which offers private seated check-in desks, a concierge, bellhops and other exclusive facilities. If travelling in Qatar Airways Business Class, proceed to Al Mourjan Business in row 2.

internet facility and a gaming room for kids. All airline's premium passengers and select card holders are eligible for complimentary access to the Oryx Lounge. Economy passengers will be able to gain access to the lounge for a nominal fee of QAR140.

Transferring customers are catered for with the very best in convenience, comfort and choice. For convenience, there’s no need to leave the terminal to avail yourself of the hotel's services. The rooms and facilities, including the adjoining wellbeing and fitness centre, provide the ultimate in comfort. And there’s excellent choice, with six room types and a range of packages and rates on offer. hiahotel.com

Connectivity Free wireless internet: Enjoy free wireless internet access throughout the passenger terminal.

Just search for 'Free Internet by HIA' on your smartphone, tablet or laptop computer.

Free internet kiosks and desks: Equipped with screens, keyboards and mice, the internet kiosks and desks offer you free web browsing. The kiosks are located throughout the passenger terminal (including the boarding gate areas). Meanwhile, the desks are available at each of five activity nodes.

Art Exhibitions The works of art you can see at Hamad International Airport are a mix of acquired pieces and others created especially for their spaces. The latter include works by local artists – for example, Qatari artist Faraj Duham was commissioned to create large-scale murals, whilst artist Ali Hassan produced a desert horse sculpture.

You’re bound to notice some of the international installations, such as Lamp Bear by Swiss artist Urs Fischer, sat in a prominent location at the heart of the airport. In the Arrivals Hall keep an eye out for a series of sculptures of the oryx, an antelope native to the Arabian Peninsula, created by Dutch artist Tom Claassen as well as 'Untitled' by Italian artist Rudolf Stingel. Stingel’s work at HIA is a sample of one of his famous large-scale interactive pieces. He covered three surfaces of the piece with reflective, aluminium-faced insulation panels, before inviting members of the construction team at HIA to draw on the soft walls at the time of the airport’s construction. The walls were then cast in copper and electroplated with gold, before a number of pieces were selected for permanent display at HIA. Marc Quinn’s mesmerising work 'The Nurseries of El Dorado' graces the airport's expansive check-in hall, and is a representation of an almost mythical world. Comprising a number of bronze sculptures, Quinn creates a series of hybrid plants by taking elements from different vegetation and carefully piecing them together, before casting them in bronze. More pieces will be installed over time, from international artists including Adel Abdessemed, Dia Azzawi, Ahmed Al Bahrani, Maurizio Cattelan, Don Gummer, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, Jenny Holzer, Tom Otterness, Anselm Reyle and Bill Viola. ©

AIRPORT TRAVELLER INFO M66.indd 5

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

53

6/26/16 4:48 PM

Sightseeing

Natural World and Nature Reserves

Al Dosari Zoo & Natural Reserve Mohamed Al Dosari's Park and Natural Reserve is a private park located in Al Khuraib, 7 km north of Al Shaihaniya and 40 km from Doha. Owned by Mohamed Al Dosari, a Qatari, the zoo houses various kinds of animals, birds and reptiles, and a heritage centre. The zoo is spread over 100,000 sq m and has over 300 animals. Every visitor to the park is taken on a guided tour of the animal reserve and offered tea and Arabic coffee. Since open-air barbecues are permitted in the park, families gather there on weekends. There are umbrellas and Arabian huts that reflect on housing in the past, and many available spaces to sit under trees, which make the park one of a kind in Qatar. Entry to the farm, park and all other activities are free. Twelve housing units and 11 cottages have recently been added to the park for overnight visitors.

Bird Watching Migratory birds are becoming increasingly attracted to Qatar since the introduction of parks, gardens and agriculture. Several species breed in Qatar before escaping the summer heat. Ornithologists have identified over 280 species of which 25 are year‑round residents. On the Al Khor coast there are gulls, cormorants and waders, geese, mallard and teal in the ponds and reeds. At Bir Zekreet you can see flamingos. Other popular places to spot birds are Doha Golf Club, Khor Al Adaid, Ruwais and Sealine Beach Resort.

Desert Safaris A desert safari is a must. Most local tour companies offer package tours, which vary in price depending on the size of the group, with overnight camps and sunrise desert safaris available. Take part in dune-bashing with a professional guide, stop for a swim and outdoor sports, and recharge with some barbecued food and refreshments. The overnight tour is at a desert camp with traditional Bedouin tents, filled with Persian carpets and plush cushions. Alternatively, set the alarm clock and travel out early to see the sun come out over the desert dunes.

Khor Al Adaid (The Inland Sea) The Inland Sea is one of Qatar’s finest treasures and a tourist hotspot. Best undertaken in a four‑wheel‑drive to reach the country’s southernmost point – it’s also a good idea to go in a convoy and with somebody who has been before. Enjoy the crescent‑shaped sand dunes that rise above the shallow tidal lake. Local tour companies organise day trips and overnight camps and provide drives along the dunes, as well as picnics, barbecues, folkloric entertainment and occasionally, camel riding and sandboarding. If driving yourself, download the Inland Sea app from the App Store.

Oryx Farm (Almaha Sanctuary) Enjoy seeing Arabian oryx at the Al Shaihaniya nature reserve. Once threatened with extinction, the graceful oryx now live and breed in Qatar, and Almaha Sanctuary is home to one of the largest herds.

Known as maha in Arabic and referred to as al wodhi (the clear), because of its light colour, catching a glimpse of an oryx in the wild is rare, so arrange a visit with one of the local tour companies listed at the end of this section.

68

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

SIGHTSEEING M66.indd 12

MARHABA

6/26/16 2:25 PM

Scuba Diving Scuba diving is a very popular pastime, given the clear and warm waters surrounding the country, and is the perfect way of getting up close and personal with the local marine life. Qatar is making strenuous efforts to protect the marine ecosystem. Vehicles, tyres and old building materials have been deposited on the sea bed to draw back marine life and over the last 20 years these man‑made reefs have seen a resurgence in sea life. Various species can be seen, including: bottlenose dolphin; dugong (or sea cow); Hawksbill turtle; blue angelfish; long‑spined sea urchin, sea squirt; surgeonfish; blue‑spotted stingray; and ghost crabs.

Singing Sand Dunes

Sightseeing

Getting there Stories of strange, low‑pitched sounds in the sand have When coming from Doha on Salwa intrigued people for generations in Qatar and it's one of Road, turn left at the Mesaieed the few places in the world it can be heard. The sound Interchange. is caused by the friction when a thin layer of sand blows down the leeward side of the dune. The eerie resonant See the map of Qatar at the beginning humming can be heard from up to 10 km away as it is of the guide. amplified by the crescent shape of the barchan dunes.

You can find the ‘Singing Sand Dunes’ 40 km southwest of Doha. Although the ‘singing’ occurs naturally, you can trigger it by sliding down the dune or running along its crest; you will be able to hear and feel the vibration. Take a large tray with you for an impromptu slide down the sand. Be warned – the sand is very hot during the summer.

Umm Tais National Park There is a national park on the northeastern tip of Qatar on the uninhabited island of Umm Tais. The mangrove forests, beaches and varied geological structures, changing water levels and sea currents, provide a varied habitat that is teeming with marine and bird life. It also nurtures an important turtle‑nesting beach. For further information contact one of the local tour companies.

Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) is an associated member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), the only member in Qatar. This is a quality stamp acknowledging that AWWP works towards the highest standards in the captive care of wild animals. AWWP is an internationally reputed research and conservation centre collaborating with several government and non-government organisations across the world. Close to the town of Al Shaihaniya in central Qatar, Lubara farm accommodates AWWP. This private breeding and research centre is home to a collection of wild and exotic animal species either rare in captivity or threatened in the wild.

The preservation is non-commercial and not open to the public. awwp.alwabra.com ©

SIGHTSEEING M66.indd 13

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

69

6/26/16 2:26 PM

Parks and Recreation Areas There are plenty of parks in Qatar and the following is a list of the most popular ones – for a full list visit the Ministry of Municipality and Environment's website, mme.gov.qa. In December 2014 the Ministry opened four new parks, in Al Dafna, Umm Slal, Al Shaianiya, and the Plaza Park in Al Kharaitiyat.

There are an ever increasing number of parks in the Doha area as well as in Al Rayyan, Al Wakra, Al Khor, Al Daayen, Al Thakira, Umm Salal and Al Shamal; there are plans to double the number of parks over the next few years from the existing 85.

Sightseeing

Entrance is generally free, with weekends and evenings being the most popular time to visit. Facilities at each park will vary – most will have water coolers, toilets, children's play areas and a cafeteria. There are currently nine iParks offering free Wi‑Fi: Al Khor, Al Wakra, Dahl Al Hamam, Dukhan, Sheraton, Umm Slal, Shaianiya and Simaisma. Simaisma park boasts the first solar power station, in cooperation with ictQatar. This will provide a sustainable, environmentally‑friendly source of power for visitors to recharge their phones and laptops, with capacity for 16 devices. For a complete list of parks in and around Doha, see Gardens and Parks on the Ministry of Municipality and Environment website, mme.gov.qa

Al Khor Park More than 100 animals and birds have been moved to the reopened Al Khor Park from the site of the former zoo, which has been closed for renovations since 2012. Another 70 animals will be added soon, meaning the park will be the new home of some 170 animals from 22 species, including zebras, peacocks and oryx. The mini-zoo is divided into two sections, with 10 glass cages and one giant cage with bridges, trees and nests. The park also boasts a room for veterinarians to treat animals, as well as space to prepare their meals. The park is home to quarantine rooms and a laboratory for observation. This family-only park has a train, a children’s play area, a basketball court, amphitheater and skating area, among other offerings. It is open from 8 am – 10 pm daily, and costs QAR5 for adults. On Tuesdays, it is reserved solely for women and children.

Al Wakra Park A large landscaped park with different ornamental plants, as well as palm and olive trees, at the end of Al Aurouba Street and near Al Wakra beach. There are plenty of trees providing shaded sitting areas, a children's play zone and a large pool next to the cafeteria.

Aqua Park The Aqua Park is along Salwa Road, approximately 15 km from the Industrial Area roundabout, just before Rawdat Rashed (Exit 29) where if coming from Doha you should make a U-turn. Features include the African village for toddlers, lazy river, children's activity pool, multiple slide complex, a wave pool and a lagoon pool, jacuzzis and a green path built to resemble a forest track. Tuesdays are for ladies only and boys below 120 cm. Cameras and mobile phones are not allowed. Food and drink cannot be brought into the park.

Opening times: Sunday/Monday/Wednesday 10 am – 8 pm, Tuesday 2 pm – 10 pm, Thursday/Friday/ Saturday 10 am – 10 pm, March to October; check their Facebook page and website for up to date details. Tickets can also be purchased online through their website.

Admission: Adults QAR130, children less than 120 cm in height QAR100, and QAR50 for maids. An extra QAR30 is payable for the Boomerango and Spaceboat rides.

Contact: 4490 5872/73/78, aquaparkqatar.com

Arumaila Park C3 One of Qatar's most famous parks overlooking Doha’s Corniche, easily recognisable for its abundance of palm trees and the set of arches overlooking the theatre, used during cultural festivals. There are shops, a cafeteria and toilets, and the art gallery showcases the work of local artists. Families can enjoy picnics on the lawns or use the barbecue facilities, while there is a play park and a half-pipe for skateboarders.

At the southern end of the park is the Heritage Village, constructed in the traditional Qatari style.

Arumaila Park is extremely popular in the evenings and at weekends, especially during the cooler months – parking is available on Al Bidda Street. Note: The park has been closed off for landscaping and rehabilation by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. The cafeteria has been closed.

70

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

SIGHTSEEING M66.indd 14

MARHABA

6/26/16 2:27 PM

Infrastructure

106

113

Map of Infrastructure Projects Locations of the main projects in Qatar

Infrastructure in Qatar n overview of local infrastructure, with details of A ongoing megaprojects and new developments, and contact information for contractors.

Feature – New Building Standards The Ministry of Municipality and Environment regularly produce specifications and regulations for construction companies to adhere to in Qatar.

Š

MARHABA

Infrastructure

104

M66 AUTUMN 2016

105

Infrastructure in Qatar Under QNV 2030, all new projects should provide a high standard of living for future generations, with investments in education and research, healthcare, transport and industry. This will enable Qatar to sustain its own development by 2030.

Qatar has laid out plans for a bold new future with the construction of an integrated transport system, a major overhaul of roads and highways, drainage and sewage, and the renovation of downtown Doha.

Infrastructuree in Qatar

Economic Strategy Qatar’s Economic Development plans aim to create and sustain a competitive and diversified economy capable of meeting the needs of, and securing a high standard of living for, its population now and in the future.

Khalifa International Stadium

Qatar National Vision As arguably the world’s fastest-growing economy, Qatar recognises the importance of diversification and sustainability. It also acknowledges the inherent challenges of a rapidly-increasing population, further industrialisation, and the resultant need for an ever-expanding infrastructure.

To confront and manage those challenges in an effective manner, an ambitious and far-sighted policy document, Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030, was first published in 2008. Based on the guiding principles of the Permanent Constitution, it defined the nation’s medium-to-long-term objectives and created a framework for sustainable national strategies. The first wave of specific actions and targets in the next chapter of Qatar’s transformation were defined in the Qatar National Development Strategy (NDS) 2011–2016.

The aim is to transform Qatar into an advanced, vibrant, caring and prosperous nation by the year 2030. Crucial considerations include balancing the needs of this generation with those of the future; managing growth to prevent uncontrolled expansion; and moulding the nature and size of an appropriate expatriate workforce.

QNV 2030 rests on four pillars – Human, Social, Economic and Environmental Development – each with clearly defined individual long-term outcomes yet important inter-relationships.

Qatar’s human capital is recognised as its greatest asset. QNV 2030 stresses the important roles of education, health and sport in expanding the opportunities and capabilities of all the people of Qatar, enabling them to develop and sustain a prosperous knowledge-driven society.

106

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

According to the International Monetary Fund, Qatar is making good progress towards its aim of achieving 100% budget financing through revenues from the non-hydrocarbon sectors by 2020. It stated in November 2015 that: 'Qatar has been one of the fastest growing countries in the region and the near-term macroeconomic outlook remains strong.'

Infrastructural spending is being further boosted in advance of Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World CupTM, an event expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors and to increase tourism both before and after the event. The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs indicates that the demand for workers has been rising ever since Qatar’s bid victory in 2010.

The budget issued in December 2015 shows that the government is still spending heavily on infrastructure, with 45.4% or QAR91.9 billion of the total being allocated to projects.

Qatar’s economy has historically been significantly boosted by growth in the oil, gas and petrochemicals industries. However the government is taking steps to diversify economic development elsewhere, especially in view of the current downturn in oil prices. Education, sports, medical and cultural tourism are being developed and Qatar is emerging as a major player in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) market.

Conferences and Exhibitions As an increasingly influential player in the region’s MICE market, Qatar opened its first major facility in 2011. The Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), a member of Qatar Foundation, is an iconic venue in terms of both design and green technology.

MARHABA

M66 INFRASTRUCTURE IN QATAR.indd 1

6/26/16 10:43 AM

The Centre, which meets the standards for Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED), operates efficiently with 3,676 sq m of solar panels that provide 12.5% of QNCC’s energy needs. Its exhibition halls have energy-efficient LED lighting and QNCC offers the latest in communications technology.

QNCC was recently named the Best Convention and Conference Venue by World Tourism Awards, and the Middle East's Leading Exhibition and Convention Centre by World Travel Awards.

Qatar’s newest events venue, the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), opened its doors in November 2015. The impressive world-class building sits on a 47,700 sq m site, and includes a state-of-the-art exhibition hall, modular wall system, high-tech meeting and conference rooms, a VIP hosting suite and a vast underground parking system.

Located in Al Dafna, Qatar’s commercial district, the venue boasts five exhibition halls ranging between 5,368 sq m to 7,160 sq m with the capability to use the space in its entirety as one exhibition hall totaling 29,000 sq m, thanks to a unique wall partition system. The impressive 18-metre high ceiling is the highest in the Middle East and is supported by a revolutionary cantilever roof meaning the whole space is pillarfree making it more versatile than many other standard exhibition halls.

Qatar hosts several high-level conferences and exhibitions each year, including: Project Qatar – the highly successful, international trade construction, building, environmental technology and materials exhibition; QITCOM – Qatar's only ICT-industry expo; Cityscape Qatar – one of the region's largest real estate events; and MEED Qatar Projects.

Qatar has additionally played host to the Arab Future Cities Summit, the Green Building Expo, and the Trans4 Qatar International Exhibition and Conference for Transport and Logistics, as well as receiving international trade fairs and delegations. Also becoming popular are B2B (business-to-business) meetings, bringing together industry professionals and government

Spectacular Buildings Dramatic changes to Doha’s skyline seem to occur in the blink of an eye. Exotically sculpted glass and concrete towers, built with materials imported from all over the world, reach skywards in many areas of the city. A forest of skyscrapers has created a mini-Manhattan skyline on the capital’s northern shore, each new design complementing and contrasting with its neighbour.

Qatar’s population has increased from nearly 1.7 million people in 2010 to just over 2.4 million in 2015, mainly living in and around Doha. Just 50 years ago the 20,000 population of Doha lived and worked in single or two-storey structures bordering the narrow streets of what was just a small town on the southern shore of Doha Bay. In the 1970s, as the country began to morph from a nation of fishermen and pearl divers to one of oil production and export, the decision was taken to reshape Doha Bay, extend the waterfront and expand the town area by reclaiming land. In effect, the area now known as Al Dafna (or ‘West Bay’) was dredged from the sea and the first building, standing alone on its far tip, was the pyramidal Sheraton hotel – an iconic structure at the time and one which is now dwarfed by the plethora of office towers and apartment blocks which have been constructed nearby.

As the demand for prime town centre real estate has grown, and the population seeks ever-more luxurious living and working environments, the city has been forced upwards. Old Doha’s traditional inward-looking, small-windowed, courtyard dwellings have been replaced by multi-storey office, residential, and mixed-use blocks as building technology has developed. The old stone houses of the 19th century – cooled naturally or sometimes with the help of a wind tower and vented walls – reflected the limitations of building materials and affordable or available technology at the time.

The huge glass walls on many of the new edifices reflect global developments in glass technology and energy-efficient, eco-friendly air conditioning as Qatar dedicates itself to ‘green’ building.

Local and international architects vie to create the most eye-catching structures, with modern international designs standing alongside those that reflect and incorporate some features of Qatar’s past.

©

M66 INFRASTRUCTURE IN QATAR.indd 2

Infrastructure in Qatar

Its sheer size offers 40,000 sq m of exhibition space and a conference hall for 4,000 delegates.

There is a 2,300-seat theatre, three additional tiered auditoriums, and banqueting space for up to 10,000 people. The stunning design by Arata Isozaki features a three-dimensional representation of the Sidra tree, symbol of Qatar Foundation.

officials, providing the means for successful networking while keeping up to date with the latest developments.

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

107

6/26/16 10:43 AM

Hospitality, Hotels & Dining Tourism in Qatar

118

Places to Stay

129

What’s On at Hotels Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara Wyndham Grand Regency Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha Sharq Village & Spa

137

Feature – Street Food: Shawarmas

139

Dining in Qatar

140

Dining Guide Listings

129 131 133 135

One of the most popular street food items in the Middle East, offering succulent meats, salad vegetables and tangy sauces inside a warm wrap.

Details of places to eat and drink in Qatar, from fine dining establishments to fast food outlets

©

Hospitality, Hotels & Dining

117

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

115

Tourism in Qatar Positive tourism growth

14% lower than the average occupancy rate of Q1 2015, which reflects the growth in accommodation supply (11% increase in total room stock since end of March 2015) and the continued maturation of Qatar’s tourism industry.

Qatar received 305,014 visitors in March 2016, the largest number of visitors to be welcomed into the country in one calendar month, according to Qatar Tourism Authority's Q1 2016 Tourism Performance Report.

©

TOURISM IN QATAR M66.indd 1

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

Tourism in Qatar

Such drops in occupancy rates, along with simultaneous (albeit smaller) drops in average room rates, have led to declines in revenue per available room (RevPar) as well. RevPar across the entire accommodation sector declined by 20% between Q1 2015 and Q1 2016, with hotels dropping by 21% and hotel apartments by 14%. However, the Total Revenue achieved across the accommodation sector held The recently opened stable between Q1 2015 City Centre Rotana Doha and Q1 2016 (at –0.3%), as increased revenues from food In addition, the number of and beverage and other sales has compensated international visitors entering Qatar on leisure visit for decreases in room revenues. visas (tourist visas, personal visit visas, family visit visas, and transit visas) has increased by 6% in Cruise industry Q1 2016 in comparison to the same period in Q1 QTA has announced ambitious plans to promote 2015. the country as a world-class tourism hub by diversifying its services and supporting the cruise Within the GCC, Saudi Arabian nationals have industry, which has grown regionally at a rate contributed to the majority of the growth in arrivals of 30% a year over the past decade. Over the from the region. Compared to the first quarter of past few years, QTA has established a number 2015, arrivals of Saudi nationals increased by of strong relationships with international cruise 16%, while arrivals of UAE nationals increased by 14%, and arrivals of Bahraini nationals rose by 2%. operators as well as with other specialists involved in the industry. This has proved to be of great Data shows that the number of visits spiked in the importance as Qatar will be benefitting from period between 9-18 March, which coincided with cruise ships over the 2022 FIFA World CupTM, as spring holidays in Saudi Arabia. a means of providing additional accommodation According to the United Nations World Tourism for fans and visitors over the period. QTA will be Organisation (UNWTO), Qatar is the only country contracting a minimum of 6,000 rooms on cruise in the Middle East region that has maintained ships for the 2022 tournament, and is building consistent arrivals growth for over a decade. The its knowledge base to develop this sector of the country had registered a 3.7% growth in annual maritime industry. arrivals in 2015, compared to 2014, and an The cruise industry can contribute to the local average of 11.5% growth over the past 5 years economy in the long term, and as it develops it (2010-2015), making it one of the fastest growing would benefit other carriers like Qatar Airways destinations in the world. as passengers will make use of the national Hotels and hotel apartments Meanwhile, carrier’s services when entering or exiting Qatar occupancy rates in the tourist accommodation to join potential cruises. Local excursion and tour sector are aligning more closely with global operators would also benefit greatly as ‘shore averages, with an average of 70% for hotels and excursions’ are extremely popular amongst cruise hotel apartments recorded for the quarter. This is passengers. m Total visitor arrivals in the first quarter of 2016 (822,626) dropped by 2% in comparison to the same period in 2015, due to a lower number of visitors from non-GCC Arab countries, the Americas, Europe and Asian countries including Oceania. However, visits to Qatar by nationals of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries increased 11%, while visits by nationals from other (non-Arab) African countries increased by 7% in comparison to the same period in 2015.

117

6/26/16 11:08 AM

Street Food: Shawarma Shawarma is a Levantine Arab meat dish, where lamb, chicken, turkey, beef, veal, or mixed meats are placed on a spit (commonly a vertical spit in restaurants), and may be grilled for as long as a day. Shavings are cut off the block of meat for serving, and the remainder of the block of meat is kept heated on the rotating spit. Shawarma can be served on a plate (generally with accompaniments), or as a sandwich or wrap. Shawarma is usually eaten with tabbouleh, fattoush, pita bread, and french fries. Toppings include tahini, hummus and pickled vegetables. Similar dishes in the region include Turkish döner kebabs.

Street Food: Shawarma

When in Qatar, late nights often end passing through a shawarma restaurant. The comfort of biting into a pita roll, the warm roast meat covered in tahini, seems to be widely enjoyed as witnessed by the long line of cars outside restaurants across the city, especially over the weekend.

Whether chicken or meat based, the Levantinestyle version with garlic sauce and pickles in a pita, and the Turkish variety with lettuce, tomatoes, and a tahini-based sauce, are both a treat!

Origins Shawarma is an Arabic rendering of Turkish çevirme, meaning turning, in reference to the rotisserie-cooked nature of the meat, which 'turns' or revolves around an axis. Similar naming conventions apply to the Turkish döner and the Greek gyro, both of which reference the turning action of the associated cooking mechanism.

horizontal spit – which is great for home cooks.

Shawarma is made by alternately stacking strips of fat and pieces of seasoned meat on a vertical spit. An onion, a tomato, or a halved lemon is sometimes placed at the top for decoration.

The meat is roasted slowly on all sides as the spit rotates in front of, or over, a flame for hours. Gas or electric heat is used; formerly, there was a cage holding burning charcoal or wood. Most restaurants in Doha will offer two or more meat selections and a variety of condiments to go with your shawarma.

Chicken shawarma The chicken is halved and deboned, but the skin is left on. The marinade consists of lots of garlic, yogurt, ginger, lemon, bay leaves, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, dried lime, spicy paprika and vinegar, and sometimes slices of orange.

The secret to a tasty shawarma is in the marinating. The meat needs to be marinated for at least one day, preferably two, especially if it's beef.

When skewering the chicken, the thigh is put in the middle while the firmer breast meat forms the outer layers which helps hold the cone shape.

After getting the skewer to about 30 cm, the edges are smoothed out with a knife. The excess meat is placed in the centre of the skewer and more chicken breast is placed around it to hold it in place.

There are two ways of cooking a shawarma: the vertical rotisserie spit is the more common, but it's said the best way is to charcoal grill the meat on a

A skewer can hold up to 60 kg of meat, which is often used up in one night. The key to a chicken shawarma is the garlic paste, which is made of

Shawarma is a Middle Eastern fast food. The original shawarma recipe is Turkish and known as the Iskandar shawarma.

What's on the spit

©

STREET FOOD SHAWARMA.indd 1

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

137

6/26/16 10:51 AM

cornflour, egg white, vegetable oil and garlic.

Added to that are french fries and pickles and that's the perfect chicken shawarma.

Street Food: Shawarma

Meat shawarma A leg of veal and a leg of lamb are usually used. The meat is sliced into very thin steaks. The marinade is made of vinegar and garlic, added to which are ginger, bay leaves, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, dried limes and black pepper.

The veal is very lean, so for every seven to eight centimetres of beef on the spit a chef will add a few layers of lamb, providing the necessary fat to prevent the meat from going dry. For every 40 kg of meat often 1 kg of fat is used.

The shredded meat is complemented with tahini, pickles, onion, tomato, parsley and sometimes a sumac salad.

On your plate To eat, the meat is shaved off the stack with a large knife, an electric knife or a small circular saw, dropping to a circular tray below to be retrieved.

Shawarma is predominantly eaten as a fast food, made up into a sandwich wrap with pita bread together with vegetables and dressing. A variety of vegetables are served with the shawarma which include: cucumber, onion, tomato, lettuce, aubergine, parsley, pickled turnips, pickled gherkins, pickles, rhubarb, cabbage, or french fries.

Dressings include: tahini (or tahina), amba sauce (pickled mango with chili), and hummus.

A beef or chicken shawarma is served with garlic mayonnaise, garlic sauce, pomegranate concentrate, or a hot chili sauce.

Our Top Picks for Shawarma Restaurants in Doha Shawarma & More, Mesaimeer Located in the food court of Lulu Hypermarket in Barwa City, Shawarma & More offers delicious Middle Eastern fare that goes hand in hand with Arab hospitality and traditions. 4436 8797 Shawarma Boteela, Al Hilal and Al Dafna Located within the WOQOD petrol station in Al Hilal, Shawarma Boteela is popular for takeaway.

Their meat and chicken options come with a side of french fries, salad, pickles and sauces for a full meal option, or for a snack you could opt for a simple wrap. 4487 7736 Turkey Central, Al Mirqab Street Very popular for their shawarmas, you will likely have to get in line to pick up your food.

Eat in, or takeaway at one of the best Turkish restaurants in town. 4443 2927 Habeeb Restaurant, Matar Qadeem Small but popular restaurant in Matar Qadeem. Always busy and well known for their shawarma, both meat and chicken. Delicious food at a very reasonable price. Ask for the spicy version for a little extra kick. 4467 8503 Petra, Multiple locations The sharwama sandwiches here are a bit different from other restaurants around town. Both the chicken and the meat are popular, and instead of a wrap the filling is stuffed into their own pita bread.

Easy on the pocket and busy, Petra is a Doha classic. 4462 2954 m

Shawarma & More Petra

Turkey Central

138

M66 AUTUMN 2016 Š

STREET FOOD SHAWARMA.indd 2

Shawarma Boteela

MARHABA

6/26/16 4:21 PM

Dining in Qatar Reflecting its multicultural society, Qatar has a huge range of cuisines to choose from. Venues range from tiny cafeterias with just a couple of tables, to gourmet restaurants in the finest locations. Many international franchises have branches countrywide for those addicted to certain brands. Check out the Marhaba Dining Guide, on sale at most supermarkets, bookshops and shopping malls. Also available as an eBook at marhaba.qa/eguide, keeping you up to date with new dining venues and contact details.

Simaisma, A Murwab Resort – In Villa Dining

We are definitely spoiled for choice when it comes to eating out in Doha! There are many local and international fast food and coffee outlets, often with a drive-through service. Juice stalls are everywhere selling fresh juices, fruit, wraps and sandwiches.

Newly opened in February, Simaisma, a Murwab Resort offers a great family getaway, just a short drive out of Doha; take exit 29 from Al Shamal (North) Road and visit the tranquil oceanfronted oasis of this stunning resort. Casual poolside fresh fare, sophisticated fine dining, whatever you desire, Simaisma is sure to satisfy every palate.

4479 9555, simaisma.com

Treat yourself to a scrumptious meal at Chef's Garden, Al Shaqab Hotel in Education City. The hotel is partnered with local farms, featuring a seasonal menu. Families will appreciate the children's complimentary 'Kids Zone' activities.

Groups of eight or more must book. 4409 5041, alshaqabhotels.com The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa has a great selection of al fresco dining, steakhouse, international buffet, Thai restaurant and cocktail bar. 4492 1555, westindoha.com For an eclectic mix of well established dining venues, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha will not disappoint providing Chinese, Italian, Indian, seafood, tapas, Japanese and International selections. 4428 1555, radissonblu.com Tickle your taste buds, enjoy one of the many gastronomic delights at the Pearl-Qatar and Medina Centrale. It seems like every day begins with a new restaurant popping up, so why not try Biella, German Doner Kebab, the noodle house, Lord of the Wings, Emirgan Sutis or Balmesan – a taste for everyone. 4460 6683, alsiddiqiholding.com

Dining at home has never been easier as a large number of restaurants offer a takeaway service; this will often include home delivery, usually with a nominal delivery fee included. Many restaurants and hotels provide a full outside catering service for special occasions, including chefs, wait staff and table settings. And they will clear up afterward, so there's no need to worry about the washing up!

Helpful hints Under the Consumer Rights and Protection law it has been made illegal for businesses to include a service charge (Hukoomi, gov.qa), but for extra special service feel free to tip. Many restaurants have a family section and there are some with closed-off rooms should you require extra privacy or wish to entertaina group of people. Restaurants are generally no smoking zones, though some licenced restaurants may have both a smoking and a non-smoking section.

Dining in Qatar

Grabbing a bite around town

Dining at home and outside catering

Thursday evenings, and Friday and Saturday brunch have become a Doha institution, very popular with both locals and expatriates, and widely available in hotels and outlets around town. Prices vary with alcohol and non-alcohol packages.

The legal age for drinking alcohol in Qatar is 21.

Your ID may be requested if dining at a licensed restaurant, as well as at bars and clubs, so don't forget to take your passport or Residence Card.

Some clubs and bars will ask you to pay a joining fee, and issue a membership card to use on return visits. m The latest Marhaba Dining Guide features extensive information on all of the restaurants mentioned, as well as many others around town.

Included in this issue are special features, restaurants by cuisine, recipes and city maps.

Your complete guide to dining in Doha!

The following pages list some of the places to eat and drink in Qatar. ©

DINING IN QATAR M66.indd 1

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

139

6/27/16 10:51 AM

Shopping

177

187 188

Where to Shop Listings Telephone numbers and location details for some of the most popular retail outlets

Shopping in Qatar • • • •

New in Town • Malls • Souqs and Small Shops • Mall Listings Hypermarkets and Supermarkets • Department Stores The Wholesale Food Markets • The Pearl‑Qatar • Barwa Village Food, Glorious Food • Souqs

Map of Souq Area Finding your way around the souqs has never been easier

High End Shopping Telephone numbers and location details for some of Qatar’s most luxurious retail outlets

189

Map of The Pearl‑Qatar

190

Feature – Made in Qatar: Luxury Fashion

Shopping

171

Your guide to retail outlets and more at The Pearl‑Qatar

With its roots in the fashion industry, AlSiddiqi Holding has branched out to different sectors in order to satisfy customer demand for innovative and quality products.

©

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

169

Where to Shop

Affordable and Budget Ansar Gallery E4 Daiso (Hyatt Plaza) D1 Dollar Plus (City Center-Doha) C3 Dragon Mart (Industrial Area) F2 Sana Fashions D4

Florists 4436 4468 4483 4436 5527

0274 9332 9990 0274 0791

Casa Flora (Salwa Road) D3 Gardenia (Al Nasar St) D3 Interflora D4 La Cigale Hotel D2 Plaza Hollandi Various locations

Audio Visual/Computers/Electronics Almana & Partners (Philips) D3 Almuftah Group C3 Domasco (Astron) F4 Darwish Trading (Kenwood, Hoover) Emax Various locations Lifetrons (Royal Plaza) D3 Mannai Trading Co (Salwa Road) D3 Starlink Various locations Veho (Royal Plaza) D3

4431 4444 4424 4456 4428 7733 4455 4428 4413

1072 6867 6750 8816 9245 4274 8888 3888 1177

Bookshops, Stationery and Art Supplies Abu Karbal Bookshop D3 Colour Note Company D3 Events (Royal Plaza) D3 Gulf Greetings Various locations I Spy Bookshop (Gulf Mall) B2 Jarir Bookstore Various locations Naaz Store (Matar Qadeem) A6

4436 0274 4441 8548 4413 1155 4483 8117 4493 4482 4444 0212 4432 4235

Chocolates and Sweets Chopin (City Center-Doha) C3 4483 Edible Arrangements Various locations 4491 FAUCHON (Salwa Road) B5 4432 4469 Patchi Various locations 4432 Patisserie Suisse Various locations

Furnishing Al Mana Maples (The Pearl-Qatar) A4 4450 0685 Articles (Royal Plaza) D3 4413 1188 Artifacts of Arabia artifactsofarabia.com City Lifestyle (City Center-Doha) C3 4483 8509 CREU Concept (Al Wakra) 4038 9965 Habitat (Airport Street) D4 4448 9982 Homecentre (Nr Jaidah Flyover) D3 4435 5300 ID Design (The Mall) E4 4467 8777 Ikea (Doha Festival City) A1 800 4532 Maya Paris (The Pearl-Qatar) A4 4002 8332 KA International Various locations 4468 2618 Simex Trading (DaVinci, Kids House) E2 4441 4447

Gifts and Souvenirs Al Mushiri (Al Khaleej Street) D3 Artifacts of Arabia (Umm Slal Mohd)

4442 3030 5561 4573

Gulf Crafts (Salwa Road) D3

4468 7373

Jewellery and Watches 4747 1113 4888 3350 1213

DIY Hempel Paints Various locations Jotun Paints Various locations

4455 9000 4441 2728

Al Jaber Watches (The Mall) E4 Al Muftah Jewellery (Al Sadd Street) D3 Awal Jewellery (Gold Souq) D3 Damas Various locations Domasco Various locations Marhaba Jewellery (Gold Souq) D3 Pearl Gallery Various locations Tribal Gems (Gold Souq) D3 ©

WHERE TO SHOP M66.indd 1

4432 8111 4444 0789 4432 2717 4428 8888 4486 2510

Where to Shop

City Center-Doha

MARHABA

4467 8484 4444 1320 4443 4551 4442 5428 4483 9327 4431 8055 5511 4772 5539 7578

M66 AUTUMN 2016

171

7/1/16 10:59 AM

Household items and clothing Kitchenware shops stock everything from huge cooking pots to dainty glasses, cutlery and table ornaments. Luggage, tools, general hardware, DIY and gardening equipment, are also available. Clothing includes a wide range of inexpensive clothes, casual wear and shoes.

The Souq Area – Fabrics and Tailoring

Shopping in Qatar

Souq Al Asiery The souq known as 'Escalator Souq' (as it was the only one in Doha to have an escalator) has a massive selection of fabrics available at prices to suit all – fabrics for day and evening wear, summer and winter-weight, stretch material and natural and man-made fibres. Other outlets include clothing, shoes, perfume and accessories.

Souq Al Dira Upmarket textiles can be found in this attractive

The Souq Area – Miscellaneous Souq Abdullah Al Sadah Souq Abdullah Al Sadah houses mostly textile stores and tailoring facilities, where you can have an outfit tailor-made at a reasonable rate. There are also electrical and audio goods and toys.

Souq Al Jabor Facing you at the end of Al Ahmed Street is Souq Al Jabor. Stores along the outside as well as inside the block offer a good selection of footwear, clothes and a wide range of other products. m

The Gold Souq

There are several small jewellery shops in the gold souq across Ali bin Abdullah Street, as well as around 40 outlets at the new gold souq on Grand Hamad Street (adjacent to Al Mirqab Boutique Hotel). Most jewellers will repair and replace stones for you at a reasonable cost, issuing a receipt for the job.

Designs cater for Western and Eastern tastes and are of local and international manufacture.

The range and quality of items is impressive.

Traditional bridal jewellery is an interesting sight and comprises solid gold belts, gub (small gold caps), hair ornaments, mirtash (chest-length decorated chains) and bracelets.

Personalised name pendants can be made at short notice with your name written in Arabic calligraphy, as a keepsake or gift.

186

building which has huge arches, lantern-style lights and stained-glass windows. High-quality beaded fabrics, heavy lace and 'designer' fabrics including Liberty are all on sale. It also has shoes, perfume and accessory stores, and cloakroom facilities.

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

SHOPPING IN QATAR M66.indd 8

Coins, ingots and gems of various weights are available at most jewellers.

High-quality second-hand watches on sale at specialist shops include brands such as Rolex and Cartier.

Buying Gold is safe as all gold sold in Qatar is tested and hallmarked in the country, so quality is guaranteed. Most of the gold is 18 and 22 carat.

Some modern and traditional jewellery items have artificial stones and this is reflected in the price.

The receipt will state the weight, carat and type of both the metal and stones used. You are welcome to try anything on, and the salesmen are willing to bring pieces from a nearby shop if they don’t have what you are looking for. You will need the purchase receipt when selling your jewellery, and you will only receive the value of the weight of the metal or precious stones excluding the workmanship.

MARHABA

7/1/16 11:03 AM

High-End Shopping If you're looking for something with a little more prestige, here's a selection of Doha's top high-end shops. With Qatar having the highest GDP in the GCC, more and more luxury brands open shop here every year. In fact, shopping centres and malls are cropping up all over the country, some examples of which are the Mall of Qatar, Tawar Mall, and Doha Festival City. So when you're shopping in Qatar you are literally spoiled for choice!

Children

Apparel

High-End Shopping

Alexander McQueen Mamas & Papas The Pearl-Qatar Villaggio, Gulf Mall 4451 7879 4413 5255, alexandermcqueen.com mamasandpapas.com Canali The Pearl-Qatar canali.it

Nanan The Mall 4465 9847, nananshop.it

Céline Villaggio 4413 4763, celine.com

Quis Quis The Pearl-Qatar 4411 1246, quisquiskids.com

Chloé The Pearl-Qatar 4413 5307, chloe.com Emporio Armani The Pearl-Qatar 4435 8653, armani.com Giorgio Armani The Pearl-Qatar 6600 4409, armani.com Ice Iceberg The Pearl-Qatar 4002 7493, iceiceberg.com Jimmy Choo Villaggio 4468 4850, jimmychoo.com Louis Vuitton Villaggio 4413 4931, louisvuitton.com Montblanc Boutique The Mall 4467 4920, montblanc.com

Nicoli Royal Plaza, 4436 8704 Paris Hilton Boutique Royal Plaza 4413 0453, parishilton.com Ralph Lauren Villaggio 4413 5655, ralphlauren.com Salvatore Ferragamo The Pearl-Qatar, ferragamo.com Stella McCartney The Pearl-Qatar 4443 6959, stellamccartney.com 188

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

HIGH-END SHOPPING M66.indd 1

Lingerie Agent Provocateur The Pearl-Qatar 4421 3499 agentprovocateur.com La Perla Royal Plaza 4411 2262, laperla.com

Designer furniture, home decoration and accessories BoConcept Lagoona Mall 4411 5052, boconcept.com Ralph Lauren Home The Pearl-Qatar 4495 3510 ralphlaurenhome.com Steinway Piano Gallery The Pearl-Qatar 4002 7423, 4409 3444 cdc-qatar.com The One Junior Lagoona Mall 4466 1371 theone.com/junior

Designer jewellery and fashion accessories Alfardan Jewellery The Pearl-Qatar 4467 7318, alfardan.com.qa

Georg Jensen The Pearl-Qatar georgjensen.com Pandora Lagoona Mall 6694 8649, pandora.net Swarovski QLC Landmark, Lagoona Mall 4478 6420, swarovski.com Tiffany & Co Villaggio, 4413 4976 international.tiffany.com

Upmarket Retailers 51 East Designer clothing, watches, electronics, musical instruments, and cosmetics. City Centre-Doha, Lagoona Mall, Salwa Road.

4425 7777, 51east.com.qa Blue Salon For designer tots, this store has Armani Kids, Baby Dior, Calvin Klein Kids and more. Adult designer clothing also available.

Suhaim bin Hamad St. 4446 6111, bluesalon.com Prime Labels A little designer outlet store that offers a number of luxury clothing and accessory brands at low prices. Salwa Road, 4435 6906 Salam Stores Brands include Hugo Boss and DKNY. Al Dafna, 4448 5555, salams.com

Electronics Bang & Olufsen Lagoona Mall 4433 5500, bang-olufsen.com

Checked & Updated June 2016

NBK Fashions Villaggio nbkfashion.net

Ralph Lauren Children Villaggio 4413 5655

Cartier Royal Plaza 4413 1381, cartier.com

Most of the shops at The Pearl-Qatar mentioned above are located in Parcel 4 and 5.

Customer service: 4495 3876

MARHABA

6/29/16 2:11 PM

The Pearl Qatar VIVA BAHRIYA WOQOD

RESTAURANTS PORTO ARABIA 1 Burj Al Hamam Second Cup Le relais de l'entrecote Chocolate Bar Vibrant shopping and 2 Balmesan entertainment centre, Isla Medina including hypermarket Second Cup Centrale and cinema complex 4 Elevation Burger 6 Krane Megu 20 22 23 Häagen Dazs 25 18 PAUL 7 Caffè Vergnano 1882 27 PORTO ARABIA 10 Urban Jazz Kitchen 15 the noodle house 29 12 Shakespeare & Co 30 14 Dean & David 14 15 Caribou Coffee 31 18 Carluccios 12 Emirgan Sutis Al Tabkha Longhorn Steakhouse 20 Mado 10 22 Royal Tandoor 27 California Tortilla 7 6 La 1 30 Anima Lounge C ro 2 31 Jones the Grocer isette 4 Patagonia Restaurante Argentino

Marsa Malaz Kempinski

Beach Qanat Quartier

MEDINA CENTRALE Lord of the Wings Biella Debs W Remman La Casa Twenty Eight Nando’s Mokarabia German Doner Kebab Subway TGI Friday’s Applebee’s BurgerFuel

Oyster

The Ritz-Carlton Doha

Diplomatic Club Grand Hyatt

2016

Lagoona Mall

Look out for the latest traffic diversions Lusail

Katara

THE OYSTER Flat White

St

marhaba.qa

NOVO CINEMA Baker’s Boy Shake Tastic The Great American Bagel Bakery

©

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

189

Special Features

Keeping pace with the emerging global culture that emphasises the importance of diversity in human development, Katara is the largest and the most multidimensional cultural project in Qatar.

198

Qatar National Library

Qatar National Library is currently offering free online access to a vast collection of resources, including the latest bestsellers, classical works, concerts, top academic journals and documentaries.

202

Art for the People

Some of the world’s foremost modern artists have produced spectacular pieces of art on view in public places in Qatar.

206

The Importance of the Family

Qatari culture, and Islam in general, place great importance on family structure, with assistance on offer to help those in need.

210 Running with the Ball

Qatar Rugby Federation is an up and coming sport association, with a mixture of locals and expatriates teaming up to win trophies.

214 A Garden of Beauty

Special Features

194 Qatar’s Cultural Melting Pot

The Qur’anic Botanic Garden in Education City boasts a wealth of local plants and trees, all with special significance to Islam and the region in general.

©

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

193

Qatar's Cultural Melting Pot

The Masjid of Katara was designed by a team of restoration specialists from Dolma Palace in Istanbul. The mosque features an outer surface garnished with turquoise and purple mosaic, and a wonderful interior design that adds even more glamour.

Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra The Qatar Philharmonic gives on average 40 different programmes per year at their home in the Katara Opera House, which it opened in December 2010 with the world premiere of Marcel Khalifé's Rababa Concerto. Touring performances have included the 2014 BBC Proms in Royal Albert Hall in London, Santa Cecilia Hall in Rome, the Kennedy Center in Washington, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, the Konzerthaus in Vienna for the 50th anniversary of OPEC and the Syrian Opera House in Damascus. Opera House, 4454 8193, qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org Brooq Magazine Brooq magazine is an elite VIP Arabic magazine that covers everything from beauty and fitness, to fashion and style. Building 22, 4408 1181, brooq.org Al Gannas Association A cultural association for hunters, Al Gannas was founded in 2008.

Dedicated to promoting traditional Arabic hunting, Al Gannas represents Arab hunters in international and regional contests, organising events and providing support. Building 33, 4408 1490, algannas.net (Arabic) Katara Art Center Katara Art Center (KAC) is an independently run platform founded in 2012 by Tariq Al Jaidah, dedicated to contemporary art and

trans-disciplinary creative endeavours, projects, and practices. KAC acts as a hub for emerging cultural communities in response to the need for a critical grassroots and multidisciplinary framework in Doha that engages with socially relevant issues and events both contemporary and historical.

Artists, designers and the public of all ages are encouraged to expand and challenge their understanding of contemporary art and creative disciplines. Building 5, 44080244, kataraartcenter.com Qatar Fine Arts Association is the fine arts movement in the State of Qatar. It raises the level of scientific and technical artists and maintain their production and promote closer ties of friendship between them and their fellow artists in the country. Building 13, 4408 1469 Qatar Photographic Society The idea for the establishment of Qatar Photographic Society was conceived when a number of photography enthusiasts decided to form an entity that promotes photographic arts in Qatar.

In 1995, the Society was incorporated under the former Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, but it is currently under the Ministry of Youth and Sports. With more than 1,000 members at present, ©

QATAR'S CULTURAL MELTING POT.indd 3

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

195

7/1/16 11:12 AM

Qatar National Library

Qatar National Library

About Qatar National Library Qatar National Library (QNL) is a non-profit organisation and a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development. QNL supports Qatar Foundation’s mission by providing resources to students, researchers, and the local community. Its mission is to bridge Qatar’s past and future through knowledge.

By sharing valuable information and cultivating creativity, QNL works to preserve Qatar’s heritage for future generations by providing access to a wealth of resources through its exceptional selection of online databases, regular training programmes, and social engagement initiatives.

Announced in November 2012 by HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Co-founder and Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, QNL carries out its mission through three divisions: National Library, University and Research Library, and a Metropolitan Public Library of the digital age.

The National Library function collects and provides access to global knowledge relevant to Qatar and the region. It also collects, preserves, and provides access to heritage content and materials about Qatar and the region. The University and Research Library function supports education and research at all levels by providing printed and digital library materials for students and researchers.

198

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

QATAR NATIONAL LIBRARY.indd 2

Metropolitan Public Library delivers library services and information for everyone to enjoy reading, meet people, and become information literate.

Included in QNL’s facilities will be a variety of collaborative and individual learning spaces, a Children's Library, 300 public computer workstations, digital media production facilities, performance spaces, a café, an adaptive technology centre, Writing Centre, Tutoring Centre, and more.

In addition to full-text databases, they are aiming for 1.2 million books, 500,000 ebooks, periodicals and newspapers, and special collections. The renowned Heritage Collection was integrated with the library in the summer of 2011. Their qualified librarians are experts in teaching, research skills, literacy programmes, and knowledge management.

Combining all these skills together with QNL’s strong service ethic, there will be much for the local community to do, learn, and discover.

Qatar Heritage Collection Founded in the early 1980s as part of HE Sheikh Hassan bin Mohammed bin Ali Al Thani’s vision to create, and make accessible, a landmark repository of Qatar and regional history in the heart of Doha, the Heritage Collection is a unique contribution to Qatar’s cultural landscape.

The collection comprises some of the rarest and most valuable texts and manuscripts related to Arab-Islamic civilisation. Acquired by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community

MARHABA

7/1/16 11:07 AM

• The Heritage Collection contains some of the first Arabic books printed on presses in Shweir (Lebanon), Aleppo, Mosul, Bulaq and in the Hijaz.

• It has a large number of books written in foreign languages and includes writings by European travellers and explorers who visited Arabia and its surrounding regions – Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and India.

• The Heritage Collection contains more than 2,300 manuscripts.

Development in 2006, the collection is stewarded

by Qatar National Library, a member of Qatar Foundation, and remains an integral part of it.

In keeping with its commitment to support Qatar Foundation’s mission to foster a progressive society, while preserving the nation’s heritage, QNL bridges Qatar’s past and future through knowledge. By sharing valuable information and cultivating creativity, QNL continues to support Qatar Foundation in protecting the nation’s past for future generations.

Preparations are underway to relocate the Heritage Collection to its own purpose-built location within the new Qatar National Library building in Education City. The growing collection currently includes books and periodicals in many European languages, early Arabic printed materials (books, journals, magazines and newspapers), Arabic manuscripts, maps and globes, as well as instruments and tools related to travel, and a selection of early photography.

Fast facts on the Heritage Collection • The Heritage Collection contains a wide range of historical texts, manuscripts, travellers’ instruments, globes and maps dating back to the 15th century.

• The Collection’s early Arab printing section contains part of Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani’s private library, as well as a part of the former library of Khayr Al Din Al Zerekly.

Qatar Digital Library The Qatar Digital Library (QDL) is an advanced online portal that provides free public access to an extensive collection of precious historic archives and manuscripts related to Qatar, the Arabian Gulf region and the wider Middle East.

Launched in October 2014, QDL is the result of an ongoing partnership between Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), the Qatar National Library (QNL), and the British Library.

The tripartite agreement aims to raise awareness about and foster a better understanding of the Islamic world, Arab culture and the Arabian Gulf region’s history. It also serves as a valuable resource to academics, researchers, students and the wider global community.

The QDL provides free access to archives from the India Office Records, scientific Arabic manuscripts, historic maps, photographs and sound recordings.

The first phase of the online portal provided access to more than 500,000 pages from the British Library collections with descriptions in both Arabic and English.

This includes 475,000 pages from the India Office Records and 25,000 pages of medieval Arabic manuscripts, digitised and made available online for the first time. By the end of 2018, an additional 1,125,000 pages of rare, historical documents are expected to be digitised and uploaded to the portal.

The second phase of the QDL, announced in January 2015, builds on the ongoing success of the tripartite agreement and aims to digitise and add an additional 1,125,000 pages of historical documents from the British Library archives to the portal. ©

QATAR NATIONAL LIBRARY.indd 3

Qatar National Library

• The Collection contains medical, pharmacological, and astronomical artefacts along with the famous works produced by Ibn Sinà and Al Ràzì.

The Collection also holds one of the most highly regarded ophthalmological manuals written by 'Alì b. 'Isà entitled ‘Tadhkirat al-kahàlìn’.

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

199

7/1/16 11:08 AM

Sports

Sports

in Qatar Qatar’s Best BLOG! 220 Sports An overview of the local sports scene, including Qatar’s Sports Federations

marhaba.qa

and Olympic Committee

Calendar 222 Events Details of upcoming sporting competitions

225 Feature – Zoom!

226 Feature – The Road to Glory

Motorbikes and cars will be whizzing around the Losail International Circuit in two high profile events making their return to Qatar.

Qatar is hosting the UCI Road World Championships, the first time the event has been held in the Middle East!

228 Sports Activities

A full listing of clubs, societies and activities for adults and children, from Badminton to Watersports

©

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

219

Sports in Qatar

International sporting events held to date: • 15thA Asian Games (2006) • AFC Asian Cup (2010) • 12th Pan Arab Games (2011) • FINA World Swimming Championships (25m)

(December 2014) • Men’s Handball World Championship (January 2015) • 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships (October 2015) Coming up: • UCI Road World Championships (2016) • FIG Artistic World Gymnastics Championships (2018) • 2019 IAAF World Championships • 2022 FIFA World CupTM Annual international events: • Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar (MotoGP) • Commercial Bank Qatar Masters (golf) • Longines Global Champions Tour (equestrian) • IAAF Diamond League (athletics) • IHF Handball Super Globe • Qatar Classic Squash Tournament • Qatar ExxonMobil Open (ATP tennis) • Qatar Ladies Open (WTA tennis) • Qatar Table Tennis Open • Sail the Gulf Regatta • Tour of Qatar (mens and women's cycling)

220

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

M66 SPORTS IN QATAR.indd 1

• Paralympics • Rugby • Sailing and Marine Sport • Shooting and Archery • Sports for All • Sports for Women • Squash • Swimming • Table Tennis • Taekwondo and Judo • Tennis • Volleyball • Weightlifting • Wrestling

Aspire Zone C5 Sports, sports medicine, research and education at Aspire Dome, Aspire Park, Hamad Aquatic Centre, Khalifa Stadium, and the Ladies' Sports Hall. Aspire Active offers fitness programmes to all. 4413 6570, 4413 6219, aspire.qa Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence provides applied sports science support to coaches and student‑athletes, and hosts international sports teams using the extensive training facilities.

4413 6570, aspire.qa Aspetar is the first specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital in the Gulf region, offering treatment for sports‑related injuries.

4413 2000, aspetar.com Other sports venues include: • Doha Golf Club • Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex • Losail International Racing Circuit • Lusail Olympic Shooting Range • Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club • West End Park Stadium Get moving with Step Into Health, an initiative

by Aspire Active

Qatar Olympic Committee Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) was established in 1979 to oversee sports events and subsequently became members of the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Council of Asia, and the Arab Sports Games Federation.

Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani has been elected President of the QOC until the end of 2016, replacing the Emir, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The new Secretary General is Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, replacing Sheikh Saoud bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani.

QOC runs the 'Sport for Life' campaign to engage residents in keeping fit and healthy, and the Schools Olympic Programme, an annual event for schoolchildren. olympic.qa, schoolsolympic.com

Get Involved

Checked & Updated June 2016

Sports Federations and Associations • Athletics • Basketball • Billiards and Snooker • Bowling • Boxing • Chess • Cycling • Equestrian • Fencing • Football • Golf • Gymnastics • Handball • Karate • Motor and Motorcycle

Sports Venues

Sports in Qatar

Sports in Qatar

Sport is an important part of everyday life in Qatar and most sporting venues are open to the public to encourage a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise.

A vast range of sporting activities is on offer in Qatar – see Sports Activities for full details of classes and clubs. The Sports Calendar has an overview of events taking place in the coming months – and don't forget to keep up to date with news and events at marhaba.qa m

MARHABA

6/30/16 5:33 PM

For all the up to date details about sporting events in Qatar see the calendar on our website marhaba.qa ©

SPORT FILLER.indd 1

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

227

6/30/16 5:37 PM

Education Useful Numbers

245

Education in Qatar

300

Map of Education City

306

Education Courses/Lectures

310

Arabic/Islamic Culture Courses

311

Feature – Maktaba: One Story at a Time

• Nurseries and Preschools • Primary and Secondary Schools • Specialised Schools • Special Needs Education • Universities and Colleges of Higher Education • Academic Organisations and Learning Centres

• Nurseries and Kindergartens • Primary and Secondary Education • The Public Sector: The Supreme Education Council; Independent Schools; eEducation and eLiteracy; Education for All; Increasing the Choice of Schools; The Outstanding Schools Initiative • The Private Sector: Nurseries and Kindergartens; Preschools Attached to Schools; Primary and Secondary Schools • Special Needs Education • Specialised Curriculum Schools • Tertiary Education • The State Sector: Qatar University • The Private Sector: Qatar Foundation; University Campuses in Qatar Foundation • University Campuses in Doha

Education

239

• Language Courses • Community Classes and Extra-mural Courses • Lectures/Discussions/Workshops

A local children’s library is encouraging young readers to look at the fun and immersive side of books and storytelling.

313 Feature – Oxy Promotes Local Talent

Creating a higher education institution that is globally minded and promotes research excellence.

©

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

237

238

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

MARHABA

Useful Numbers Tots Corner* High Scope Approach 4467 8008, 3100 7117 info@totscornernursery.com totscornernursery.com Treehouse Nursery* B3 British Curriculum 4493 3936, 6600 0486 treehouse-nursery.com Twyla NurseryA4 British Curriculum 5574 3008 twylanursery.com

Useful Numbers

Primary/Secondary Schools ACS Doha* B2 American Curriculum 4000 9797, 3026 6800 acs-schools.com

Nursery/Preschools Busy Bees Nursery* D2 British Curriculum 4447 2319, 6656 3265 busybeesnurseryqatar.com Calgary International Pre-school D2 Alberta Early Childhood Curriculum 4416 1760, 5582 3005 cips-qatar.com Central English Speaking Kindergarten (CESK) D2 British Curriculum 4413 5675 ceskonline.com Elder Tree Nursery and KG* British Curriculum Ain Khaled (KG) E2 4498 4984 Al Markhiya (KG) B3 4488 8493 Al Nuaija (Nursery) E3 4455 1020 Luqta C2 4435 5223 elder-tree.com The English Kindergarten* E3 British Curriculum 4491 9319/8 tek.com.qa Fun First Nursery* B3 British Curriculum 4411 0952/3 funfirstnursery.com Giggles Day Care B2 4480 4447, 4488 0017 my-giggles.com Gulf English Nursery UK EYFS Development Curriculum 4457 8777 gulfenglishnursery.com

Kanga's Pouch* B3 Australian and British Curriculums 7788 6171 kangaspouch.com

Al Jazeera Academy E3 International Baccalaureate (IB) Programmes/IGCSE 4469 3777 ext. 242 aja.edu.qa

Little Genius Nursery* B2 American Curriculum 4483 3591 littlegeniusnursery.com

Al Khor International School UK and Indian Curriculums 4473 3688 akis.sch.qa

Montezine Nursery* E4 4466 1250 montezinenursery.com

American School of Doha D2 American, Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Elementary/Middle/High School 4459 1500 asd.edu.qa

Mulberry Bush Nursery D3 British Curriculum 4450 2545 mulberrybush@yahoo.com Perles d’Avenir Nursery* B3 4481 7611, 5502 6244 perlesdavenirqatar.com Rising Stars Kindergarten* E4 British Curriculum 4467 3069, 5561 3869 rskqatar.com Starfish Lane Kids Australian Programme Al Jelaiah B2 4411 0355 Al Markhiya B2 4487 5939 Qatari Diar A3 4497 7673 starfishlanekids.com Summit Academy* American Curriculum Al Manaseer (main) C5 4468 8590 Al Nuaija West (KG) E3 4466 3802 summitqatar.com Steady Steps Nursery B2 4447 9687, 6616 3682 steadystepsnursery.com

Bright Future Pakistani School E3 National Curriculum (UK) FBIS Islamabad, Pakistan 4451 4516 bfpis.qa Choueifat Voltaire School French/Qatari Curriculums Al Dafna B3 4412 8105 Al Waab D2 4451 7129 lyceevoltaire.org Compass International School* International Primary Curriculum/ British Curriculum Al Gharrafa C2 4034 9666 Al Rayyan D1 4034 9777 Madinat Khalifa B2 4034 9888 cisdoha.com Doha British School* E2 National Curriculum (UK), IB 4019 8000 dohabritishschool.com Doha British School* National Curriculum (UK), IB

* See the advertisements in this section for more information Š

USEFUL NUMBERS Education M66.indd 1

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

239

7/1/16 12:29 PM

Education in Qatar

nation’s workforce needs. It advises individuals on career options and study opportunities that match their abilities and interests, and meets the needs of the labour market. It supervises scholarships and grants for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Qatar, the Arab world, Australia, the UK, Europe, the US and Canada.

Currently there are 675 colleges and universities on the HEI’s approved list. The Hamad bin Khalifa and Tamim bin Hamad Grants Programmes offer suitably qualified Qatari students scholarships to 30 select universities. HEI has an Advising Career Development Centre and a Scholarship Office as well as a Standards Office, which licenses and accredits higher education institutes and programmes in Qatar.

The Institute assists students with online college admission procedures and the Ministry is promoting the mission of Qatar’s cultural attachés in scholarship countries, reopening some which had previously closed.

Independent schools Autonomous government-funded independent schools reflect Qatar’s ‘Education for a New Era’ values through internationally benchmarked curriculum standards in Arabic, English, mathematics and science. Schools must meet the Qatar Comprehensive Educational Assessment and other evaluation tools to measure student learning and school performance, and must comply with periodic financial audits. Core subjects such as mathematics and science are taught in English.

Tuition is free for Qataris and others eligible for public education. The Ministry is framing a new curriculum for independent schools to better meet job market requirements while preserving the values and traditions of Qatari society.

eEducation and eLiteracy The Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Communication (previously ictQatar), has created a technology-based framework in independent schools that enhances, supports and accelerates the reform initiative.

The eLearning portal project enables teachers to prepare their lessons electronically, uploading them for students to access any time, anywhere.

Teachers and students are provided with personalised email addresses, and ultimately, every independent school student and teacher will receive a free tablet PC along with educational aids and applications that conform to the national curriculum standards. The Ministry publishes a ‘white list’ of the hundreds of websites accessible to students through their free tablets. The 266

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

EDUCATION IN QATAR M66.indd 6

available websites are listed by curriculum subject content, eg mathematics, English, science, etc.

Additionally, the eLearning portal provides access to online courses covering topics in information technology and business, offering more than 2,500 different courses and allows for flexible learning. Individual enrolment is currently on ‘indefinite hold’, but organisational enrolment is open. elearning.ictqatar.qa

Education for all The Ministry has established a system of ‘parallel’ education (evening classes) at primary, preparatory and secondary levels in line with the UN ‘Education for All’ programme. Admission is open to Qataris, children of Qataris, GCC citizens and residents.

Lessons are from 4 pm – 8 pm. The Education Institute aims to provide continuous education for all people, irrespective of age, increasing the choice of schools.

Increasing the choice of schools Many students who are eligible for public education in Qatari schools have experienced a wider choice and variety of educational opportunities since the introduction of the Ministry’s Educational Voucher programme (certain restrictions apply) which covers tuition fees, books and transportation costs up to a maximum value of QAR28,000 per year.

Costs in excess of that remain the responsibility of the parents.

The Outstanding Schools Initiative This initiative aims to open additional private international schools in Qatar over the coming years. ‘Outstanding schools' are invited to participate in the Ministry’s Educational Vouchers programme and are selected from a pool of applicants in the UK, the US and Europe.

Established examples are:

MARHABA

6/29/16 2:18 PM

The Private Sector Qatar’s private-sector Arabic, international and community schools currently serve over 250,000 students. New licence applications are regularly submitted, and while there are a sufficient number of British and American schools, there is currently a shortage of spaces in Indian, Syrian and Egyptian schools as well as for other curriculums in some specific areas of the country. In 2015, figures showed that there were more than 262,000 students enrolled in 433 schools across the country.

Parents and guardians are advised to consider the future adaptability of the curriculum offered by the school of their choice should the child return home or move to another country.

Nurseries and kindergartens (KGs) Nurseries, and kindergartens, must be licensed and headed by a female director over the age of 21. The facility is required to have a nutritionist, nurse and a resident or visiting physician in addition to an adequate number of hygiene workers, guards and drivers (who may be male).

Some accept babies from two months upwards; several take toddlers from 18 months, others from the age of three, finishing at four. The range of activities and facilities varies, but several offer more than one language. Licensing is stringent, with all facing strict regulation. It is important that parents/guardians check the facilities are licensed as nurseries or kindergartens rather than 'supervised play areas’.

In 2014, Qatar enacted Law No 1 of 2014 that mandates childcare facilities, also known as crèches and nurseries, to be licensed by the Ministry of Administration Development, Labour and Social Affairs. The Social Affairs Department of the ministry has an administrative unit that licences and regulates nurseries. Illegal nurseries are liable to be fined up to QAR100,000 and their owners can face a jail term of up to two years, or both. The law puts the maximum age of children that can be left in the care of nurseries at four years and stipulates strict licensing criteria.

Children under five at school (as opposed to kindergarten/nursery) can currently, by law, only attend for four hours per day, so for some working parents the longer hours provided by private KGs are more convenient. Timings vary, but usually run from 6 am – 7 am to between 1 pm – 3 pm, although some stay open until early evening.

Nurseries and independent KGs often close for holidays so check if you are a full-time working parent with youngsters who need year-round care. Fees are usually paid monthly and many establishments ask for a one-off registration fee.

Preschools attached to schools Places are in great demand, since admission almost ensures a later main-school place. To avoid wait-listing for admission, register well in advance. Some private schools insist that a newly admitted child starting Year 1 should have received a full-time preschool education.

Primary and secondary schools Private sector schools operate as commercial establishments or non-profit-making community schools. A number are run on a coeducational basis through to graduation, others segregate the sexes during, or after, primary level. Newer schools, or those serving small communities, often begin operations at primary level, expanding into secondary schooling as and when required.

Many schools teaching in the English medium base their curriculums on those of the UK and the US, working towards IGCSE and A Level examinations or the American High School Diploma. Others meet the home-nation requirements of Asian families.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) is now offered by an increasing number of secondary schools. Due to its almost universal availability, these qualifications are often the choice of geographically mobile families. Most schools have excellent websites, which are a good source of information for families moving to Qatar.

Employers and embassies can offer guidance on schools serving their communities; you can also find a list of private schools and curriculums in Useful Numbers in this section. The Private Schools Office has set up a special portal for private schools, with necessary information for parents and students. edu.gov.qa ©

EDUCATION IN QATAR M66.indd 8

Education in Qatar

In February, the SEC announced 14 new Indian schools were scheduled to open in an attempt to help meet the demand, which has seen enrolment at one school, MES Indian School, soar to 10,476 – almost double the permitted number of 5,400 students. Community schools aim to serve specific expatriate groups and are run, sponsored or overseen, by their diplomatic missions. Some international schools modify their curriculums to accommodate non-native speakers of the language of instruction.

Nurseries should not be confused with kindergartens (lower and upper KGs) which, being education institutions, are licensed and monitored by the education sector regulator, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

277

6/29/16 2:19 PM

Education Courses/Lectures Language courses and Tuition Al Seraj Learning Centre English, science and maths courses, and preparation for standardised testing. 4029 5665, serajlc.net E3

Education Courses/Lectures

Berlitz Language Center Offers tuition in more than 10 languages. 4455 0506/7, berlitz-qatar.com E4 British Council A wide range of English language courses as well as access to a library and computers. It is also an IELTS centre.

4425 1888, britishcouncil.qa D2 Institut Français du Qatar A range of French courses for adults and children, certifications in French language and Canadian Immigration Tests.

4493 0862, institutfrancais-qatar.com B3 Score Plus Offers classes in English, Business English, French, Spanish, German and more, for groups and individuals. 4436 8580, princetonreviewme.com D3 Study Plus Academic tutoring centre. 4442 4294, thestudyplus.com D3 Stenden University Academic Bridge Programme teaching English at various levels. 4488 8116, roffice@stenden.edu.qa, stenden.com C3

Community classes and extra-mural courses College of the North Atlantic Qatar (CNA-Q) Courses in business, accounting, leadership, human resources and more. Competent English is required. 4495 2222, cna-qatar.com B2 Enertech Qatar Safety training centre.

4401 0888, enertechqatar.com E3

Qatar Financial & Business Academy (QFBA) Offers various courses in finance and investment.

4496 8333, qfba.edu.qa B3 Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar (VCUQ) Holds community classes four times a year.

English and Arabic. 4402 0555, qatar.vcu.edu C1

Lectures/discussions/workshops Belgravia Centre for Education British Curriculum, AS and A Level 1 and 2 year courses in varied disciplines. 5550 0693, belgraviadoha.com E2 Brookings Doha Center Holds regular policy discussions about topics of interest in the region.

4422 7800, brookings.edu/dohacenter B3 306

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

College of the North Atlantic Qatar CNA-Q Corporate Services delivers relevant, value-added and innovative training and development solutions Qatar for industry, government, businesses and organisations. 4495 2222, cna-qatar.com B2 Institut Français du Qatar Regular discussions and conferences about cultural issues and topics of interest in the region, in French and English. 4493 0862, institutfrancais-qatar.com B3 Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art Holds lectures, workshops, artist encounters and an annual Global Art Forum. 4402 8855, 4402 8830, mathaf.org.qa C1 Museum of Islamic Art Education Centre offers talks, art workshops, programmes and training courses for families and adults. 4422 4444, mia.org.qa C4 Qatar Foundation Research Division Distinguished Lecture Series. qf-research-division.org C1 Qatar Science and Technology Park QSTP TECHtalks, a series of networking seminars about technology-based industry. qstp.org.qa/home/techtalks-registration C1 Qatar Skills Academy Offers vocational training, education and professional development..

4416 1622, qatarskillsacademy.com E3 Texas A&M University at Qatar Distinguished Lecture Series. 4423 0201, qatar.tamu.edu C1 The Center for International and Regional Studies, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar. Holds a Distinguished Lecture Series and other scholarly events.

4457 8400, cirs.georgetown.edu C2 University College London Qatar Lecture Series on the archaeology and cultural heritage of Qatar, the Gulf and wider region. Held through the year, though more frequently between September and May. 4457 8680, a.saadi-cherif@ucl.ac.uk C2 Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar Holds workshops and lectures including an annual fashion show each spring. qatar.vcu.edu C1 m

Checked & Updated June 2016

Geometric Personalised English and Maths Learning Programmes. 4427 9295, 3333 2468, geometric-centre.com D2

Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar Distinguished Lecture Series. 4454 8400, qatar.cmu.edu/dl C1

For a list of contact numbers of educational institutions see Useful Numbers in this section.

Arabic language courses can be found in Arabic/ Islamic Culture Courses in this section.

MARHABA

EDUCATION COURSES-LECTURES M66.indd 1

6/29/16 2:36 PM

Health & Beauty Useful Numbers

320

Map of Hamad bin Khalifa Medical City

321

Healthcare in Qatar

• HMC Hospitals • Ministry of Public Health • Primary Health Care Centres • Private Medical Centres/Doctors • Dental and Optical Centres • 24‑hour Pharmacies • Support Groups/Helplines

Locations of hospitals, outpatient departments and emergency services.

• Healthcare News • Primary Healthcare; The Primary Health Care Corporation • Supreme Council of Health • Hamad Medical Corporation; Hamad General Hospital; Fahad Bin Jassim Kidney Center; Women’s Hospital; Rumailah Hospital; Al Maha Children’s Unit; Enaya Specialized Care Center; National Center for Cancer Care and Research; Al Khor Hospital; Heart Hospital; Al Wakra Hospital; The Cuban Hospital; Ambulance Service; Walk In/Pediatric Emergency Centers; Hamad International Training Centre; Academic Health System; Medical Education; Blood Donation; Organ Donation • Private Healthcare and New Developments; Sidra Medical and Research Center

336 Feature – Your Health First Sawtak Awalan is an initiative by Weill Cornell Medicine‑Qatar to educate members of the public, particularly children, about leading a healthy lifestyle.

339

Health and Wellness

342

Spas & Beauty Centres

Health & Beauty

318

• Holistic Wellness • Pilates • Yoga

• Spas • Beauty Centres • Complementary Clinics

©

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

315

Mum had a good heart.

It was her wish to give it to someone who needed it.

Susan was a registered organ donor.

When she passed away in Doha, her family wanted to fulfill her wish to donate any of her organs that could save a life.

By respecting her wish, they made sure she saved the lives of four people who could not have survived otherwise. Sue will always be in the hearts of her family and the families she has helped.

To give the gift of life, register as an organ donor at Qatar Organ Donation Center (Hiba) at Hamad Medical Corporation.

The gift that lasts a lifetime.

+974 6618 9586

324

M66 AUTUMN 2016 Š

MARHABA

Hamad Medical Corporation Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is the main provider of secondary and tertiary healthcare in Qatar and one of the leading hospital providers in the Middle East.

For more than three decades, HMC has been dedicated to delivering the safest, most effective and compassionate care to all its patients.

The delivery of these seven new hospitals – including new facilities for women’s health and the region’s first specialist ambulatory care centre – reinforces HMC’s commitment to giving the people of Qatar high quality, world-class hospitals, facilities and healthcare.

The seven hospitals are: • The new purpose built, 65-bed Communicable Diseases Center which will be dedicated to the care, treatment, prevention and research of communicable diseases.

In early 2016, HMC achieved the significant distinction of becoming the first healthcare system across the globe to have all its hospitals accredited by Joint Commission International under the Academic Medical Center accreditation programme. Additionally, the National Ambulance Service, Home Healthcare Service, Stroke Service and Palliative Care, have all received this prestigious accreditation since 2011.

• The new Women’s Wellness and Research Center (WWRC) will be a tertiary care provider and specialist hub for women's health services with capacity for up to 15,000 births per year. The WWRC will offer 260 beds and 53 neonatal intensive care cots and 48 step-down (intermediate) cots.

HMC is leading the development of the region’s first academic health system – combining innovative research, top-class education and excellent clinical care – and is committed to building a legacy of healthcare expertise in Qatar. HMC collaborates with key partners who are experts in Qatar and beyond, including Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and Partners Healthcare, Boston.

HMC is also the first hospital system in the Middle East to achieve institutional accreditation from the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education – International (ACGME-I), which demonstrates excellence in the way medical graduates are trained through residency, internship and fellowship programmes.

Expansion plans HMC is currently embarking on its busiest expansion programme in more than a decade as part of a government-wide programme which will see seven new major hospitals open in Qatar over the next 18 months, creating more than 1,100 new hospital beds before the end of December 2017.

In the biggest boost to hospital bed numbers in Qatar in recent memory, the equivalent of almost 60 new beds each month will be created in specialities where there is high demand for services and will enable more patients to be able to access care at these new, state-of-the-art hospitals.

• The new Ambulatory Care Center will provide outpatient clinic services together with a range of elective clinical procedures to adult patients who will not require an overnight stay, some of who will require anaesthesia or a period of post-procedure observation, or both.

• The 38,000 sq m Qatar Rehabilitation Institute with 193 beds will provide comprehensive and integrated rehabilitation services for adults and children.

• Three new Industrial Area Hospitals will also open – in Doha, Al Khor and Mesaieed Industrial Areas – each with 112 beds and a range of services to cater to the healthcare needs of the male labourer population.

The opening of the four new facilities in and around Hamad bin Khalifa Medical City (HBKMC) – the Communicable Diseases Center, the Women’s Research and Wellness Center, the Qatar Rehabilitation Institute and the Ambulatory Care Center – will represent the delivery of an important milestone for HMC and will form the cornerstone of the HBKMC campus, while the three new hospitals for male labourers will provide easy-to-access, high quality healthcare closer to their communities.

New customer service programme – Nesma’ak At the start of June HMC launched a new Customer Service programme to better engage with patients and the public. The launch is part of an HMC-wide initiative to improve the patient experience under a single customer service brand – Nesma’ak – which means ‘We are Listening.’

©

M66 HEALTHCARE IN QATAR.indd 4

Healthcare in Qatar

HMC manages eight hospitals – five specialist hospitals and three community hospitals – as well as the National Ambulance Service and home and residential care.

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

325

6/29/16 4:41 PM

Banking & Commerce Banking and Finance

354

Economy

355

Commerce Useful Numbers

356

Feature – In the Zone

• • • • •

Currency • Useful Numbers: Banks and Exchange Houses The Banking Network in Qatar • The Banking Sector; Changes to Regulations Qatar Central Bank • Qatar Credit Bureau Loans, Bank Charges and Interest Rates • Accounts • Offshore Banking Financial Services and Insurance • Islamic Banking

• Economic Growth and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) • Trade surplus • The Budget • Inflation and cost of living • Population and the labour force

Three new special economic zones have been given the go-ahead to open in Qatar, offering small and medium enterprises the chance to open businesses with fewer restrictions.

358

Investment and Trade • • • • • •

Incentives • Investment Regulations • Choosing a Business Structure Company Structures • Commercial Registration Import and Export • Taxation • Intellectual Property Business Etiquette • Regulatory Bodies and Government‑owned Entities Qatar Financial Centre • Qatar Exchange Real Estate • Developers and Real Estate Agents Selling Property

©

MARHABA

Banking & Commerce

349

M66 AUTUMN 2016

347

Banking and Finance Bank

Currency & Exchange Alfardan Exchange 4433 5132 Sun – Thu 7:45 am – 9 pm Fri 2 pm – 9 pm

4420 4494 4449 4445 4447 4430 4440

5222 0000 0000 6000 8000 0000 7777

ahlibank.com.qa alkhaliji.com cbq.qa dohabank.com.qa ibq.com.qa qdb.qa qnb.com

4438 4441 4453 4442 4408 4465 4444

7878 4646 7163 4722 3333 8555 1314

arabbank.com.qa bsi.com.qa mea.bnpparibas.com hsbc.com.qa mashreqbank.com/qatar sc.com/qa ubldirect.com

Al Mana Exchange 4448 9050 Sun – Thu 8 am – 8 pm Fri 4 pm – 8 pm

800 8555 barwabank.com 4425 3333 alrayan.com 4448 3333 qfb.com.qa 4484 0000 qiib.com.qa 4444 8444 qib.com.qa

Arabian Exchange 4443 8300 Sat – Thu 7:45 am – 11:45 am/ 3:45 pm – 7:45 pm Fri 3:45 pm – 7:45 pm Habib Qatar International Exchange Pakistan 4432 8853 Sat – Thu 7:30 am – 11:45 am/ 4 pm – 8 pm Fri 4 pm – 7 pm Qatar-UAExchange 4498 4932 Sat – Thu 9 am – 10 pm Fri 9 am – 11:30 am/ 1 pm – 10 pm Western Union At all Doha Bank branches and exchange houses, also some supermarkets

4405 6666 qinvest.com 4496 7515

Al Sadd Exchange 4432 3334 Sat 8 am – 12:30 pm/ 4 pm – 8:30 pm Sun – Thu 7:30 am – 1 pm/ 4 pm – 8:30 pm Fri 4 pm – 8 pm

Banking and Finance

Regional Banks Ahlibank Al Khalij Commercial Bank Commercial Bank of Qatar Doha Bank International Bank of Qatar Qatar Development Bank Qatar National Bank Branches of Foreign Banks Arab Bank Qatar Bank Saderat Iran Doha, Qatar BNP Paribas HSBC Mashreq Bank Standard Chartered Bank United Bank Limited Islamic Banks Barwa Bank Masraf Al Rayan Qatar First Bank Qatar International Islamic Bank Qatar Islamic Bank Investment Banks QInvest Wealth Management Barclays

Telephone Website

wealth.barclays.com

The Banking Network There are approximately 220 bank branches and 650 ATMs across the country, with most in Doha but also further afield. They are located in nearly all of the malls, hotels, souqs and petrol stations. Visitors can usually access funds in their home accounts by using their ATM cards here – check with the relevant bank(s) for details of commission or exchange rate fees. Major credit cards are widely accepted. Exchange houses provide remittance services and foreign exchange and are licensed by Qatar Central Bank. There are no exchange control regulations, but movement of money in and out of local accounts is monitored. Account holders may need to provide a declaration of origin for large cash deposits.

Opening hours: Generally Sun – Thu 7:30 am – 1 pm, however many banks have extended branch operations.

Check the respective bank's website for the up to date list of timings and locations for branches and ATMs. All day/extended hours: Ahlibank, City Center-Doha: Sat – Thu 10 am – 3 pm, Friday 4 pm – 10 pm al khaliji, The Pearl‑Qatar: Sat – Thu 11 am – 6 pm Qatar Islamic Bank, The Pearl‑Qatar: Sun – Thu 11 am – 6 pm Evenings: Mashreq Bank, Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha: Sun – Thu 6 pm – 8:30 pm IBQ, Al Sadd: Sun – Thu 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Friday: al khaliji, City Center-Doha: 4 pm – 9 pm QNB, City Center-Doha, Lagoona Mall and Salwa Road: 3:30 pm – 9 pm Saturday: HSBC Head Office, Airport Street: 8:30 am – noon Mashreq Bank, C Ring Road: 8 am – 12:30 pm QNB, City Center-Doha and Lagoona Mall: 9 am – 2:30 pm/3:30 pm – 9 pm ©

M66 BANKING AND FINANCE.indd 1

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

349

6/26/16 8:42 AM

Import and Export According to the CIA World Factbook, imports totalled USD37.15 billion in 2015 (estimated), comprising machinery and transport equipment, food, and chemicals.

Investment and Trade

Import tariffs Importers of goods into Qatar must sign up to the Importers' Register and be approved by Qatar Chamber. Customs duty and legalisation fees are levied on all commercial shipments, irrespective of its value.

Customs tariffs fall under these categories: • Exempted – fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh and frozen fish, dairy, meat, books, and newspapers.

• 5% – clothing, perfumes, cars, electronic appliances and devices.

• 100% – tobacco, with the customs tax based on number or weight, whichever is greater.

There are 672 goods exempted from customs duties under the Common Convention of the GCC States, as well as exemptions granted to certain bodies and persons under Customs Law No 40 of 2004. There are fees for the attestation of the Certificate of Origin (from Qatar Chamber) and a tariff for the attestation of the Commercial Invoice, based on shipment value.

No customs duty is applied on cargo of which at least 50% is manufactured within the GCC; if less, duty is applied only on the percentage of the cargo which is GCC manufactured. This cargo must be accompanied by a GCC Certificate of Manufacture from the Chamber of Commerce in Riyadh, KSA. Import regulations All commercial shipments are subject to examination by the General Authority of Customs (GAC) prior to clearance. There is a 'single‑window’ system to help facilitate trade, with e‑government systems, a 24/7 call centre, a personal smart card and use of a state‑of‑the‑art payment system. The process is now much faster following the introduction of an e-link between GAC and Qatar Ports Management (QPM), and integration between Al Nadeeb and QPM. Al Nadeeb The Qatar Clearance Single Window.

Visit the website for company registration, user guides, and tariffs as per the Harmonised System (HS) Code. ecustoms.gov.qa New regulations were introduced in 2013 to prevent fake products from entering the market.

It is now mandatory for all general goods to have non‑removable marking of their place of manufacture to be eligible for customs clearance.

This applies to both air and sea freight. The import of vehicle tyres, spare parts and electrical home appliances now has to be based on a 'certificate 360

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

M66 INVESTMENT & TRADE.indd 3

of conformity' issued by the authority concerned.

All general cargo for customs clearance must be backed by an original commercial invoice on the shipper’s letterhead, with stamp and signature.

They also require attestation by Qatar Chamber.

The packing list of each consignment must have the number of pieces, weight and volume.

GAC states all importers must obtain an HS Code, an international system for classifying traded products. This must be linked to the trader's Commercial Registration and import licence.

There are no restrictions on bringing personal effects into Qatar. Banned imports include alcohol, pork and e‑cigarettes. The import of pets is allowed. customs.gov.qa Points of entry General cargo usually enters via the Salwa Overland Terminal, Hamad and Doha International Airports, or Doha Port. Commercial cargo may also enter via Mesaieed Port and Ras Laffan. Work is well underway at Hamad Port to ease pressure on the current facilities.

Exports According to the CIA World Factbook, Qatar exported USD77.74 billion (estimated) worth of goods in 2015, comprising liquefied natural gas, petroleum products, fertilisers, and steel.

There are no duties on exports.

Taxation There are no personal taxes, value added tax (VAT) or statutory deductions from salaries in Qatar. Under Law No 21 of 2009, companies must pay tax on all profits at a flat rate of 10%.

This is on all corporate income from sources in Qatar, whether the entity has a physical presence in Qatar or not. The share of the profits due to a Qatari or GCC partner is exempt from tax.

Tax exemption applies for certain activities, and companies listed on the Qatar Exchange are also exempt, but companies must pay a 2.5% contribution to charitable and cultural activities.

Taxpayers must register with the Public Revenue and Taxes Department. Auditors must be a firm based in Qatar and registered with the Ministry of Economy and Commerce or approved by the QFC. In May 2015 officials from GCC member states signed a draft agreement on VAT, and in January 2016 it was reported that the regime may be introduced from 2018. The VAT rate is likely to be set at 5%.

Intellectual Property Under Law No 9 of 2002, a trademark registration is valid for 10 years from the date of filing the application, renewable for further consecutive

MARHABA

6/29/16 4:57 PM

periods of 10 years. The court may be ordered to cancel a trademark registration if the owner fails to use it in Qatar within five consecutive years from the date of the registration.

Copyright Law No 7 of 2002 gives protection to authors of original literary and artistic works.

Protected works include books, lectures, musical works, photographic works and computer software.

The economic rights of the author/owner are protected during the lifetime of the author, and for 50 years after his death.

In 2013 a draft law was approved by the Cabinet on the registration of trademarks in GCC states. In 2014 Qatar signed a cooperation agreement with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to jointly improve services.

Business Etiquette Doing business in Qatar depends just as much on personal relationships as on the quality of the company or service. Networking and exchanging business cards is important. Men should wear suits, ladies should cover elbows and knees.

Handshaking is common but when meeting Arab people of the opposite sex it is best to wait for them to initiate a handshake.

Bear in mind a few other cultural nuances: do not rely too much on email; oral commitments at face-to-face meetings may be considered binding, written agreements may not; appointments should be reconfirmed on the day; while English is widely spoken, the language of government is Arabic; and finally, sit and talk with your host on general matters before approaching business.

Regulatory Bodies and Government-owned Entities Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) C3 Creates commercial policy for both private and public sectors in order to boost regional and international trade relations and support the development of businesses across the country.

This should be the first stop for information when opening a company and investing in Qatar. The Investment Promotion Department conducts studies on income diversification for sustainable economic development, and promotes joint

The MEC_QATAR app is available for iOS and Android, and is part of the ministry's smart electronic services to speed up the delivery of services, and promote trade and investment in Qatar. mec.gov.qa Ministry of Finance (MOF) C3 Prepares the State budget and proposes objectives and tools of financial policy in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. The Central Tenders Committee is reponsible for releasing, receiving and awarding tenders, ctc.gov.qa. The General Authority of Customs monitors the import of all goods. mof.gov.qa Qatar Chamber (QC) D3 Provides a wide range of services and support to local and international businesses, including certificates of origin for import/export and ATA Carnet, acting as liaison for international business delegations, and providing training courses. qatarchamber.com Qatar Development Bank (QDB) D4 The bank plays an active role in the economic and industrial development of Qatar in the private sector by promoting and financing SMEs. The bank is 100% owned by the State of Qatar and provides loans for start-ups and existing businesses, operates Tasdeer, the Qatar Export Development Agency, and funds housing loans to Qatari nationals. The SME Toolkit is an online resource to support private businesses in Qatar.

QDB has merged with Enterprise Qatar (EQ), originally established under the MEC. EQ provides entrepreneurs and SMEs with the support that allows them to promote their capabilities, continue to build their businesses and successfully carry out their operations. qdb.qa Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) B3 An independent regulatory authority to supervise the financial markets and firms authorised to conduct activities related to securities in or from Qatar, and empowered to exercise regulatory oversight and enforcement over the capital markets. In September 2013 QFMA was granted full membership of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions. In April 2014 new legislation was issued as part of modernising the legal infrastructure. qfma.org.qa Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) C4 The country's sovereign wealth fund is a major investor in Qatar, owning 50% of Qatar National Bank, 55% of Ooredoo, and 100% of Katara Hospitality. QIA is also a key shareholder in three Š

M66 INVESTMENT & TRADE.indd 4

Investment and Trade

Patent Law No 30 of 2006 provides for the registration of inventions and foreign patents at the Qatar Patent Office. A GCC patent can be obtained from the Patent Office in Riyadh, KSA. Qatar has joined the Patent Cooperation Treaty which allows the filing of international patent applications that are valid in all member states of the treaty.

ventures between Qatari/foreign investors and investment opportunities.

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

361

6/29/16 2:02 PM

A Closer Look at…

Seven special cars featured in this issue 376

378

380

382

384

386

VW Beetle Cabriolet

Volvo XC90 Momentum

Nissan Altima 2.5 SV

Audi Q7 2.0 Quattro

388

Porsche 911 Carrera

366

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

MARHABA

Chevrolet Camaro SS

Honda Pilot Touring

www.woqod.com.qa L parking: The first test you do in the yard. Here you'll make a right turn up the slope.

Take this, your passport, two passport-size photos and QAR125 to any reputable travel agency.

Box or perpendicular parking: The box parking is the second test done in the yard. It's akin to parking in a regular parking lot.

Getting your car tested for a road permit

Road test: If you pass your oral and parking tests, your examiner will take you out of the testing grounds on to the road to test your proficiency. You may also be asked to do a hill-start before leaving the grounds.

Please note that all transactions at the Traffic Department must be paid for using either a credit or debit card, or by using the Ministry of Interior eCASH card (see Living in Qatar in the Discovering Qatar section for information regarding eCASH cards).

Licences/Permits A temporary Qatari licence Apply in person at the Traffic Police office in one of the driving schools within seven days of your arrival in Qatar. You will need photocopies of your valid national driving licence and your passport, together with the originals, five passport-size photographs, QAR10 for the card and QAR150 for the application. You will also need to take an eye test.

Temporary Qatari driving licences are valid for the duration of your visa, but may be extended on application.

International driving permit To obtain an international driving permit you must be in possession of a valid Qatari driving licence.

Honking in Qatar Did you know it is prohibited to use your horn in Qatar unless in an emergency?

Take your car to the Fahes testing site in the Industrial Area on the corner of Al Kassarat Street and 24th Street, 6 am – 5:30 pm daily (except Friday). Additionally, you could visit the new testing centre at the WOQOD station on Industrial Area Road as well as next to the WOQOD station in Wadi Al Banat zone, near Lusail. The fee for testing a private car is QAR75, and you need to take your expiring estimara with you. Mobile testing centres operate at Abu Hamour, Al Wakra and Al Khor and Qatar’s BLOG! are open from 7 am toBest 4:30 pm.

Check with the main switchboard in case of changes in timing, marhaba.qa 4460 4029 In addition to a satisfactory vehicle report, make sure that you renew your insurance policy as there has to be a full year's insurance on the vehicle at the time you take it for the estimara. Take your renewed policy and the vehicle report to your local Traffic Police and they will issue your new estimara, though now you could have everything done at one location with Fahes.

Licence renewals, vehicle registrations and fines The cost of renewing a driving licence is QAR250.

Driving licence renewals, vehicle registration and payment of traffic fines can be done at any of the Traffic Department offices listed at the beginning of this section. Offices are open Sunday to Thursday 7 am – 7 pm (may be closed around

Honking shall be restricted to matters of emergency, such as:

- The horn is not a way to say 'hello' as you drive past your friends.

- To avoid imminent traffic accidents as a result of sudden braking or turning of vehicles or traffic flow obstructions violating traffic rules.

- Honking your horn cannot magically clear a traffic jam.

- Alerting pedestrians crossing the road of the risk of his safety as well as other motorists.

- The horn is not meant for getting the attention of a grocer to complete your grocery shopping while you are in the car.

- Sometimes honking may be necessary outside the city to avoid collision with animals crossing or standing in the middle of the road.

- Don’t use your horn to express your frustration at another motorist.

©

MOTORING ESSENTIALS M66.indd 2

Motoring Essentials

Once you have passed your driving test, your driving licence will be issued while you wait. The licence will cost you QAR250 and is valid for five years.

Vehicles more than three years old must pass an annual inspection before the Traffic Department will renew the road permit, or estimara. New private vehicles will be issued registration valid for three years.

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

371

6/26/16 1:28 PM

www.woqod.com.qa 12:30 – 1 pm for prayer) and on Saturday from 8 am to noon. Please note that the ladies' section is open in the mornings only, but ladies are also welcome to use the normal channels if they wish.

Please check hours of operation with the specific venue. Alternatively to process these transactions online (unless you have black points) visit eservices.moi.gov.qa

Motoring Essentials

Metrash – SMS Service METRASH is a free electronic service provided for the public by the Ministry of Interior. Residents of Qatar can receive SMS messages alerting them to traffic violations, driving licence expiry and car registration expiry.

Metrash 2 Smartphone users who have the Ministry of Interior's Metrash 2 application can now send photos of traffic violators directly to Qatar’s Best BLOG! authorities.

Log in and go to ‘General Services’ and select marhaba.qa ‘Take Photo.’ Enable GPS in your phone, take the photo, write your comments and then click on the ‘send’ button. It will reach the concerned department.

With Metrash 2, citizens and residents can access more than 35 services of the Ministry within and outside the country. Smartphone users can download Metrash 2 by sending a text message typed as M2RE followed by the Qatari Identity card number (QID No.) and QID expiry date (M2RE + QID No + QID expiry date) to 92992, as well as on the App Store and Google Play.

Visit gov.qa and subscribe to METRASH in the eServices section.

Driving conditions Traffic Law No 19 of 2007 introduced a system of tough penalties for traffic offences. They include points and fines for speeding, parking violations and using a hand-held phone while driving. These, and other measures for road traffic safety, remain a priority for government as part of the National Development Strategy 2011–2016.

However it is necessary to be vigilant at all times. In spite of the authorities' efforts, and good sense, the main causes of road accidents continue to be reckless and negligent driving, dangerous overtaking and illogical lane changing, especially at intersections; and many people using their phone while at the wheel.

Road rage is a global problem and is on the increase in Qatar. Motorists are warned to be aware of drivers ‘tailgating’ and flashing their lights to force the driver ahead to move out of 372

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

MOTORING ESSENTIALS M66.indd 3

the way, even if there is no space to safely move into. Drivers changing lanes without signalling are a constant problem and drivers often weave through the traffic, continuously changing lanes at high speed. You may experience bullying tactics including overtaking from the right and then slowing down as a 'punishment' to the driver who failed to move out of the way.

Safety cameras and radars are installed at most intersections throughout the city in an effort to catch law-breakers who race through red lights.

The installation of many more is planned, including the sophisticated advanced radar systems which allow for the recording of accidents and booking of reckless drivers. The penalty for not stopping at a red light is QAR6,000 and seven penalty points, although it is a common sight to see this law ignored. Traffic lights flash on green before changing through to amber and red. At roundabouts, between signals changing from green to red, the signals will flash amber for a time for drivers to proceed with caution. Be on the lookout for drivers who use straight ahead lanes for turning left or right, and drivers turning into roads on the wrong side.

Traffic Accidents Minor accidents If you are involved in a minor traffic accident within Doha city limits, you must move the vehicles involved to a safe place. Get the information of the driver of the other vehicle(s), ie name, ID number, car registration number, insurance details and mobile number. If you cannot go immediately you must arrange a convenient time for both parties to report to the nearest Traffic Police station. If it is your fault you must pay QAR100 for the insurance report for the other party.

MARHABA

6/26/16 1:28 PM

www.woqod.com.qa

Be aware that the terms and conditions of Comprehensive and Third Party insurance policies will vary depending on the underwriter of the policy. It is advisable that you check your policy documents to ensure you are sufficiently covered in the event of an accident. Should your car be in the garage for over 15 days after an accident it has been made mandatory for insurance companies to provide a substitute car; this rule only applies to those cars waiting for parts to be imported.

Traffic Violations For a complete list of Traffic Violations, and the penalty for infringements, go to moi.gov.qa, also see Traffic Violations: Points System in this section.

To check violations registered to your car, go to moi.gov.qa/TFCViolations.

Some traffic laws to be aware of are: • The driver and front-seat passenger must both wear a seat belt.

• It is illegal for children under the age of 10 years to travel in the front seat.

• Intoxicated drivers are subject to stringent punishment, including deportation.

• Always carry your driving licence with you while driving. You should also have your vehicle registration and insurance documents readily available.

Weather conditions Dust storms Dust-laden winds called shamal (above) can be quite fierce and sudden, tending to blow between March and August, and can seriously Qatar’s Best BLOG! compromise visibility on the roads, making driving extremely hazardous. When driving in a dust storm, marhaba.qa turn on dipped headlights – not fog or hazard lights – and drive slowly. Use the centre line or the edge of the road as a guide.

Fog may occur between November and January and can drastically reduce visibility. Slow down and use dipped headlights and your fog lights.

Rain/thunderstorms There can be a fair amount of rain during the winter months, especially during December and January – limiting visibility, causing flooding on some roads, and reducing sandy areas to mud-baths. Be especially vigilant during the first rainfalls of the season as any oil spills on the road make driving particularly treacherous.

Beware of drivers using their hazard lights while driving in fog, rain and dust (or just because they feel like it).

Petrol stations and other services Most WOQOD stations, in addition to providing fuel, offer a wide range of services such as window cleaning, car washing and oil change; they all have a very busy convenience store (Sidra) and usually an internet café, an ATM, Ooredoo payment machines and sometimes a laundry and fast food. WOQOD at The Pearl-Qatar, two stations in Mesaieed and one at Bu Samra on the KSA border are now open and others, currently under construction or planning, will be opening soon.

Some older petrol stations may only provide fuel, but other small independent companies can easily be found around town for other useful services such as checking tyre pressure, repairing tyres (the aptly named 'punctury'), oil and water levels, and car wash facilities. m ©

MOTORING ESSENTIALS M66.indd 4

Motoring Essentials

Major accidents Should anyone be injured as a result of an accident, neither of the vehicles may be moved and the police are to be notified immediately (dial 999). You will be required to report, with your valid documentation, to the relevant traffic investigation department (you will be advised which one to go to by the attending patrol officers).

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

373

6/26/16 1:29 PM

ALL-NEW

XC90 MOMENTUM

ENGINE Two-litre supercharged and turbocharged DOHC, 16 valves, variable valve timing MAX POWER 316 hp (235kW) @ 5,700 MAX TORQUE 295 lb-ft @ 2,200 – 4,500 rpm ACCELERATION 0 – 100 kph in 6.9 secs DRIVELINE Geartronic 8-speed shiftable automatic with All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) EXTERIOR A new and imposing, unmistakable and totally impressive presence on our roads; this tough, handsome Swede is an upright fellow with just a hint of sleek fashion in the slightly sloping bonnet and flared rear fenders; the grille is proud and flat, the pattern of the LED daytime running lights is called 'Hammer of Thor' in a bow to current cinematic trends and legendary Scandinavian power INTERIOR Beautifully detailed, top quality leather and wood trim give the XC90 unmatchable elegance; distinctively Volvo style, with more room than anybody else, positively asserts calm reassurance; beautiful dashboard and excellent centre screen, almost as large as an iPad, bring closer the era when your car and your phone are seamlessly interconnected; fabulous Bowers & Wilkins hi-fi recreates the sound of the Gothenburg Concert Hall inside your Volvo XC90; CleanZone SAFETY/SECURITY Two new 'World First' safety features add to the industry-leading historic and visionary technologies preventing accidents and protecting all those involved; not enough space here, check it out at the showroom on Khalifa St

Domasco will be pleased to arrange a test drive of the new Volvo XC90 Momentum or any of its range of cars and SUVs for Marhaba readers. Call 4424 6860

382

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

MARHABA

'Everyone travels first class'. The sculpted seats offer 21st-century luxury in look, feel and style while allowing generous rear legroom. You can sit easy knowing they’ve been designed in line with leading ergonomic research. With the new XC90, Volvo has redefined the luxury SUV and, as usual, found elegant solutions to complex problems.

There are several versions of the XC90 but all embody the latest contemporary design for the needs of modern man (and woman). Choosing the Momentum will lose none of the above but will save you lots of cash!

Volvo is uniquely Swedish – not German, nor Japanese. It offers distinct advantages, most importantly regarding safety.

The enhanced City Safety collision avoidance technology can help avoid or mitigate collisions with other cars, pedestrians and cyclists in your path. City Safety also includes Braking in Intersection – another world-first from Volvo Cars. If you should turn into the path of an oncoming car at an intersection, your XC90 will brake automatically to help mitigate a collision or prevent it altogether.

Standard IntelliSafe technologies also include preventive safety features such as Blind Spot warning system BLIS, Road Sign Information, Lane Departure Warning and Electronic Stability Control.

Everything about the all-new XC90 is intuitive and smart, keeping you in touch with your entire environment and your life. In addition to safety advances, Apple CarPlay is a perfect match with Volvo’s Scandinavian Design approach, and the large centre screen is user-friendly and intuitive.

Volvo believe your car should be healthy, too.

CleanZone is their approach to your car’s interior environment. Volvo offers an Interior Air Quality System that checks incoming air for pollutants and closes the vents when necessary. An active carbon filter helps keep out harmful gases and unpleasant odours – so you can breathe happy and healthy.

With Volvo it's not only a strong body that's keeping you safe, it's also an intelligent mind...

Oil, Gas & Petrochemical Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals

397

Qatar’s Oil Industry

399

Qatar’s Gas Industry

401

Qatar’s Petrochemical Industry

405

Company Activities

420

Oil, Gas & Petrochemical

395

www.qp.com.qa

The Global Perspective

www.woqod.com.qa

• • • • • • • • •

Qatar Petroleum • QP Industrial Cities Qatargas • RasGas • Qatar Fertiliser Company Qatar Petrochemical Co • Qatar Plastic Products Co Qatar Fuel Additives Co • Qatar Vinyl Co Qatar Chemical Co Ltd • Ras Laffan Operating Co ConocoPhilips • Exxonmobil Qatar Inc Maersk Oil Qatar AS • Oryx GTL Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd • Sasol Shell Qatar • Total • WOQOD

Qatar’s Best BLOG! marhaba.qa

Feature – What’s in the Barrel?

The humble barrel of oil produces everything from motor gasoline to wax candles and asphalt.

©

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

393

Qatar’s Gas Industry

www.qp.com.qa

An over view by Marhaba Oil and Gas correspondent Gina Coleman, using published information compiled from media sources (June 2016)

©

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

399

Qatar’s Gas Industry

Qatargas delivered the Middle East’s first commercial liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo to Poland’s new Baltic Sea terminal in June – a key step in easing the country’s dependence on Russian gas and becoming a regional distributor.

The Swinoujscie terminal has an initial annual capacity of five billion cubic metres of natural gas, which could grow to 7.5 billion cubic metres, equal to 50% of Poland’s current gas consumption.

In March, Qatargas and Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) executed an agreement to supply half a million tonnes of Qatari LNG to Kuwait over the next four years, beginning this year. Kuwait’s LNG delivery season typically begins in March and ends in November, meeting the growing demand for power during peak summer months. Qatargas has been supplying Kuwait with the majority of its LNG requirements for the past five years through both direct sales to KPC and through third parties.

Qatargas also delivered its first LNG cargo to Port Qasim under a new long-term supply agreement with Pakistan State Oil Company.

QP, Qatargas and RasGas celebrated the loading of the 10,000th liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from Ras Laffan Port in May. It was bound for the UK’s South Hook LNG Terminal.

Despite a potential near term oversupply of LNG, investment in new liquefaction projects will be crucial to avoid a possible under-supply situation in the early 2020s, according to RasGas CEO, Hamad Mubarak Al Muhannadi, speaking at the LNG 18 International Conference and Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas, in Perth, Australia back in April. ‘Approximately 30 countries currently import LNG, twice the number of countries importing just 10 years ago, and RasGas anticipates that the pace of growth will continue, and that many more customers and countries will be importing LNG in the next decade.’

Given this significant increase in global demand,

Al Muhannadi indicated that under-supply could be the market reality in the early 2020s ‘if no new projects www.woqod.com.qa are sanctioned’.

Russia’s second biggest gas producer, Novatek, would be interested in a tie-up with Qatargas, the world’s biggest LNG exporter, as it seeks to expand its gas trading business, according to reported statements

by Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak. Novatek plans to start its own LNG production in 2017 at a USD27 billion plant in Russia’s Yamal peninsula. Its partners in the venture are France’s Total and China’s CNPC and Silk Road Fund. It will be Russia’s second LNG production facility after the Gazprom-controlled Sakhalin-2 LNG project on the country’s Pacific Ocean coast. The largest non-state gas producer in Russia, Novatek is barred from exporting natural gas to Europe Qatar’s Best BLOG! by pipeline as state-owned Gazprom has the exclusive rights to ship gas abroadmarhaba.qa – legislation Novatek is now challenging.

Early in 2016, Qatargas, the Maersk Group and Shell signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the development of LNG as a marine fuel in the Middle East region. The MoU envisages LNG supplies for the initiative to be made available from Qatargas 4, a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Shell Gas BV, with Maersk Line potentially using the fuel for its merchant vessels.

In March, RasGas marked a milestone with its delivery of the 500th long-term LNG cargo to CPC Corporation, Taiwan. The 500th LNG cargo was loaded aboard CPC`s Taitar (TaiwanQatar) No 4 vessel at Ras Laffan port on 5 March 2016, under their long term Sales and Purchase Agreement. In 2011, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (3) and CPC signed a second long-term SPA, which increased the annual long-term sales to over five million tonnes per year to CPC and Taiwan. In addition, RasGas has delivered 72 cargoes, approximately 4.4 million tonnes of LNG to CPC since 2007.

ExxonMobil Research Qatar and its project partner, RasGas, are currently fieldtesting an advanced second-generation dual sensor version of ExxonMobil’s IntelliRed remote gas detection system.

The patent-pending system provides a highly sensitive and accurate early warning of hydrocarbon leaks and is designed to improve process safety and environmental performance at oil refineries, chemical plants, LNG facilities and other gas processing facilities worldwide.

Fieldtesting is expected to run throughout this year. m

Qatar’s Petrochemicals Industry

www.qp.com.qa

An over view by Marhaba Oil and Gas correspondent Gina Coleman, using published information compiled from media sources (June 2016)

www.woqod.com.qa

©

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

401

Qatar’s Petrochemicals Industry

The ORYX GTL Student Awards 2016 recognised the achievements of five recently graduated Masters and PhD students, four of whom were Qatari nationals. ‘We are delighted to celebrate the winners of the 3rd ORYX GTL Student Awards 2016 and proud to acknowledge Qatar’s exceptional academic talent,’ said Mohamed Al Enazi, ORYX GTL’s Chief Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE) Officer. ‘We look forward to discovering more innovative ideas from the brightest and talented young minds in Qatar for next year’s awards.’

With the current generation of oil and gas engineers set to retire by the end of the decade, companies have made significant investments in training and developing local talent. Last year, Oryx launched its GTL industry/university collaboration programme to train and prepare students from Texas A&M University in Qatar for highly skilled engineering and technical jobs in real-world industrial facilities. ‘Valuing people is a core business principle of Oryx GTL,’ said Abdulhadi Barqan, chief administration officer at Oryx. ‘Education is a central theme of Qatar’s National Vision 2030, to which the company is wholeheartedly committed.’ Creativity and innovation are also being encouraged among young university graduates as the industry’s need for new inventions is at an all-time high.

Since the oil price dropped to its lowest levels in 13 years, efficiency and sustainability have become a top priority for operators, with research and development receiving a big portion of their budgets.

While there are challenges associated with the current low oil price environment, companies in the GCC’s petrochemical industry must use the current headwinds as an opportunity to evolve, advised experts at the Research & Innovation Conference in Dubai, hosted by the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) earlier this year.

The Arab region witnessed an unprecedented rise in fertiliser exports to Brazil in Q1 2016, with a total of 1.14 million tonnes. Qatar’s share alone accounted for over 305,000 tonnes, or more than one-quarter of the total, emerging as the second largest exporter of fertiliser to the South American country from the Arab world.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia led the market, with share growth soaring up to 26.8% and 55.9% respectively.

Overall, Brazil posted 21.82% import growth from 2015, however exports of fertilisers from the Arab region registered a double-digit growth of 69% compared to 675,000 tonnes imported during the Qatar’s Best BLOG! same quarter (January to April) in 2015.

Brazil has produced a total ofmarhaba.qa 2.7 million tonnes of fertilisers since January 2016 and has imported a total of 5.65 million tonnes, up by 3.5%, from 5.46 million, compared to its imports during the same quarter last year.

Dr Michel Alaby, Secretary General and CEO, Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, said: ‘Fertilisers enjoy the second largest import from the Arab world.

Brazil’s economy is largely driven by its agriculture sector, heavily exporting cattle meat, corn, soybeans, coffee, sugar and palm oil, among others. Industry experts have predicted the country’s fertiliser market will continue to grow, with demand reaching up to 31 million tonnes.’

Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco) announced in June that it had completed 20 million man-hours without a single lost time injury (LTI). Qapco Managing Director and CEO, Dr Mohammed Yousef Al Mulla, highlighted that the safety performance reflected the company’s unwavering commitment to health and safety and that its integrated HSEQ strategy revolves around ‘operational excellence, stringent safety processes, high standards, strict compliance, comprehensive training, capability building, and vigilant monitoring.’

The challenging oil, gas and petrochemicals environment of the past months has significantly reduced the release of companies’ production and sales figures, or details of future plans. Instead, to remain a media presence, emphasis throughout has been on their health and safety, environmental, human resources and community service programmes. m

402

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

MARHABA

©

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

403

www.qp.com.qa

Company Activities

and South), Al Shaheen Field, Al Khaleej Field, Al Rayyan Field, as well as Al Karkara and A Structure.

North Field The North Field, an area of 6,000 sq km with total recoverable gas of 900 trillion standard cubic feet, is considered the largest single non-associated gas reservoir in the world. The utilisation of this field’s massive reserves has become a primary national goal to continue the development and prosperity of the country. www.woqod.com.qa Halul Island Halul Island is a storage and exportation centre for Qatar’s marine crude oil. The island, which has an area of 1.5 sq km, lies approximately 96 km to the northeast of Doha. It has 11 large crude oil storage tanks with a total capacity of 5 million barrels. The island also has pumping facilities, power generators, desalination plants, a heliport and a harbour suitable for supply boats that support operations. It is also fully equipped with community facilities for almost 1,000 QP staff and contractors.

Refined products QP Refinery The QP Refinery started as a small topping plant 1958BLOG! and has grown over the years into a giant Qatar’sinBest refinery organisation. It has successfully made the marhaba.qa State of Qatar self-sufficient and export-oriented in refined oil and petroleum products, with its designed capacity of 137,000 barrels per day (bpd) of refined products for domestic use as well as for export.

Laffan Refinery Laffan Refinery is a joint venture with international majors and is one of the largest condensate refineries in the world. It started production in late 2009 and is operated by Qatargas Operating Company Limited (Qatargas). The 146,000 bpd refinery processes field condensate from

Qatargas, RasGas and Al Khaleej Gas to produce naphtha, jet fuel, gas oil and LPG. Natural gas liquids (NGL) There are four NGL plants in Mesaieed Industrial City producing propane, butane and condensate, which are mainly intended for export.

Future and ongoing projects Barzan Gas Project The Barzan Gas Project will develop approximately 1.9 billion cfpd of North Field wellhead gas, and produce 1.4 billion cfpd of sales gas for the domestic market (power generation) in addition to associated condensate ethane, LPG and sulphur.

Laffan Refinery 2 QP signed a joint venture agreement with Total, Idemitsu, Cosmo, Marubeni and Mitsui for the new Laffan Refinery 2 (LR2) Project. The LR2 condensate refinery will be similar to the first Laffan Refinery (LR1) and will have a similar processing capacity of 146,000 barrels per day.

Bul Hanine Redevelopment QP is investing in the redevelopment of the existing Bul Hanine offshore oil field, which is located about 120 km to the east of the Qatari coastline. The project is one of the largest to be managed and executed by QP. It is designed to prolong the field’s life by countering its production decline and doubling its current oil production rate. qp.com.qa

QP Industrial Cities Qatar Petroleum’s Industrial Cities Directorate has the overall mandated responsibility for Ras Laffan Industrial City, Mesaieed Industrial City and the Dukhan Concession Area. It is responsible for developing and providing land, infrastructure, facilities and services required by the industries operating in those areas, which altogether

As part of its efforts to effectively develop Qatari leaders, to manage corporate governance, and to sustain growth and development, Qatar Petroleum (QP) has launched the 'Qatar Petroleum High Performance Boards Program' in association with the internationally renowned Global Board Center of IMD Business School in Switzerland. Over the course of 2016, the programme will take over 100 Qatari board directors through five modules covering ethics, corporate governance, finance and risk, strategy and leadership.

406

M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

MARHABA

www.qp.com.qa

Major industries operating in RLIC RLIC provides state-of-the-art infrastructure, facilities and services to major ventures of the oil and gas industry and supporting projects, which are all set to achieve the planned production

capacity of 25 billion cubic feet of gas per day.

These include: • Qatargas and RasGas, the largest producers of LNG in the world.

• Pearl GTL and Oryx GTL, major producers of GTL. • Al Khaleej Gas – lean natural gas for the Qatar market.

• Dolphin Energy Limited – lean natural gas for export by pipeline to the GCC. www.woqod.com.qa • Laffan Refinery – refined petroleum products.

• Ras Laffan Olefins Company – ethylene for petrochemical products.

• Ras Laffan Helium.

• Qatar Power, Ras Girtas Power and Ras Laffan Power – power for Qatar and export to the GCC market.

• Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard – shipbuilding, repair and maintenance services.

Mesaieed Industrial City (MIC) Located 40 km south of Doha, Mesaieed Industrial City is the hub for petrochemicals, chemical fertilisers, oil refining and metallurgical industries in Qatar. MIC also hosts numerous small and medium-sized industries as well as a well-planned, self-contained, sustainable, Qatar’smodern Best township BLOG! with fully-serviced infrastructure providing a high quality marhaba.qa of life for its residents.

Major industries operating in MIC A wide range of products is produced in MIC. These include natural gas, petrochemicals, plastic resins, refined petroleum products, aluminium and steel, which are supplied to local, regional and international markets. The major industries operating in MIC include the following: • QP’s Mesaieed Operations manages the onshore processing, distribution and export of products derived from non-associated gas.

• QP Refinery processes crude oil and condensate into a variety of finished products including naphtha, gasoline, jet fuel, diesel and fuel oil.

• Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO) is one

Company Activities

play a pivotal role in enhancing diversification, industrialisation, and the extraction of the highest economic value from Qatar’s oil and gas resources.

Guided by the Qatar National Vision 2030 and in compliance with corporate, state, and international governance, QP Industrial Cities is committed to: • Contributing to the sustainable social and economic development of Qatar.

• Achieving the highest level of health, safety, security, environmental protection and socioeconomic sustainability.

• Protecting the interests of the State, Qatar Petroleum and business partners.

• Operating highly reliable facilities and providing responsive services to business partners.

• Developing, optimising and sustaining worldclass infrastructure and facilities.

• Developing local talent and acting as a leader in corporate citizenship.

• Directing the development, regulations and operations of Mesaieed and Ras Laffan Ports.

• Acting as the Municipal Authority in the responsible areas as granted by the laws of the State of Qatar.

Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLIC) Ras Laffan Industrial City is situated 80 km from Doha along the northeast coast of Qatar, and is considered one of the fastest growing industrial cities in the world. It is the main base for the exploitation and development of Qatar’s vast resources from the North Field, the world’s largest single non-associated gas reservoir. Since its establishment in 1996, RLIC has evolved into a world-class industrial city, facilitating the needs of the most technologically sophisticated natural gasbased industries..

HE Mohammad bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, presided over the 16th Annual Qatarization Review Meeting of the energy and industry sector in May. HE Al Sada used the occasion to recognise three individuals who have provided a strong contribution and support to Qatarization in the energy and industry sector: Dr Sheika Al Misnad, former president of Qatar University, and Abubakr Al Saiari and Roger Gregson, from Qatar Petroleum (QP). A further award was also presented to Abubakr Al Saiari in recognition of 42 years of service with QP. ©

MARHABA

M66 AUTUMN 2016

407

Index Entries in bold indicate advertiser pages 2022 FIFA World CupTM

109

A Academic Health System

333

Accessible Qatar

15

Index

ACS School

274

Airlines

50

Al Emadi Enterprises

92

Al Farkiya

61

Al Jazeera

85

Al Jabor Vision

341

Al Khalij Commercial Bank Back cover, 346 Al Khor

32

349

The Banking Sector

350

Currency

350

353

Loans, Bank Charges and Interest Rates

351

Common Courtesies

84

353

Newspapers

85

Qatar Central Bank

351

Places of Worship

85

Qatar Credit Bureau

351

Public Wireless Internet

85

182

Telephone

85

Television and Radio

85

Offshore Banking

Barwa Village

99

Beaches

61

Demography of Qatar

14

Beauty Salons

344

Desert Safaris

68

162

DHL Express

68

Birth Certificate

98

Al Shaqab Hotel

121

Al Thakhira

61

Al Thani family

12

Al Wakra

331

Al Zubara

59

Ambulance Service

332

Aqua Park

70, 82

Arabic/Islamic Culture Courses

310

Arabic Phrases

27

Arrivals/Departures

51

Aspire Park

71

Assaha Lebanese Village Audi (Q-Auto)

151

384, 385 B

Baladiya Balmesan Seafood

12 162

Banana Island Resort Doha

by Anantara 129, 128 Banking and Finance Accounts M66 AUTUMN 2016 ©

M66 INDEX.indd 1

Blood Donation British Council Busy Bees Nursery

349 352

8

Dhow Charters

76

Dining Guide Listings

140

Around Town

160

Barwa Village/Al Wakra

156

89

Cafes/Lobby Lounges

158

81

Clubs and Bars

152

Fast Foods

167

Healthy Options

159

Hotels

140

334

Blood Type Certificate

32, 62

Al Wakra Hospital

84

Death

Bird Watching

73

71

Day to Day Qatar

85

64

Al Shaqab

Dahl Al Hamam Park

71

Bin Zaid (previously known as Fanar)

308

55

BBC World Service

329 61

Darwish Travel

Barzan and Simaisma Parks

Al Maha Children's Unit Al Ruwais

D

Islamic Finance

Biella

66

84, 350

353

330

ALRIWAQ Doha

Currency

Financial Services and Insurance

Al Khor Hospital

Al Seraj Learning Centre

422

Banks

246

C Calls, International

85

Katara

160

Calls, Local

85

Souq Waqif

161

Camel Races

74

The Pearl-Qatar

163

Careem

86

Carnegie Mellon University Churches Chevrolet (Jaidah) Cinemas

295 85

380, 381 77

City Center-Doha

174

Climate of Qatar

11

College of the North Atlantic Qatar

301, 302

Commerce

355

Compass Intl School

258

Complementary Clinics

344

ConocoPhillips

415

Courier Services Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park

98 147

Dining in Qatar

139

Direct Real Estate

86

Documents, Translation Doha British School Doha Bus

88 281

Bookmark, 57

Doha City Map

36

Doha College

263

Doha English Speaking School

262

Doha Exhibition and Convention Center

106

Doha Festival City Doha Film Institute

111 25, 288

Doha's Corniche

71

Domestic Staff

89

MARHABA

6/30/16 5:11 PM

Doner Kebab

164

Do's and Don'ts

26

Dress Code

26

Driving Licence

Exit Permits ExxonMobil Qatar

371

Dr Sarah's Dental Centres Dukhan Dukhan Industrial City

319

415

F

370

Licence Renewals

90

Fahad Bin Jassim Kidney Center

327

Medical Emergencies

54

Parking

51

The Airport Hotel

53

Travellers With Animals

54

Hamad International Training Centre

333 111

62

Family Residence Permit

89

Hamad Port

32

Fingerprinting

89

Health Cards

Fire Station Artist in Residence 67 Foreign Embassies

30

321

Hamad Medical Corporation

325

Fraser Suites

114

Healthcare News

321

354

Fun First Nursery

252

Ministry of Public Health

323

Economic Growth and GDP

354

Fuwairit Beach

Primary Healthcare

322

Inflation and Cost of Living

354

Private Healthcare and New Developments

335

eCash Cards

50, 87

Economy

62 G

Population and the Labour Force

354

Gas Industry

399

The Budget

354

Trade Surplus

354

GEMS American Academy Qatar

276

243

GEMS Wellington School

236

Education Courses/Lectures

306

Geography of Qatar

Education in Qatar

245

Edison Intl Academy

Nurseries and Kindergartens Primary and Secondary

247, 277 257, 277

318 318

Georgetown University

295

HMC Hospitals

318

Getting Around Qatar

43

Ministry of Public Health

318

Glow American Salon

340

Primary Health Care Centres

318

Gold Souq

72, 186

Government Online

Qatar Foundation

293

Government of Qatar

13

Qatar University

291

Grand Mosque

65

School Facts

257

Special Needs

284

Gulf Warehousing Company

Specialised Curriculum Schools

286

H

State Sector

291

Hala

Tertiary

287

University Campuses (QF)

295

Hamad bin Khalifa University

University Campuses

301

82 28, 87

2

Private Medical Centres

318

Pharmacies (24 hour)

318

Support Groups

318

Heart Hospital

330

HEC Paris

301

High End Shopping

188

History of Qatar

Hamad Medical Corporation

11

Homes R Us 96 294, 295

239

Hamad General Hospital

Elder Tree

254

Hamad International Airport

170

Honda (Domasco)

386, 387

Hospitality Qatar (HQ 2016)

21

Hotels (Places to Stay)

118

Deluxe Apartments

126

326

Five Star

118

314, 324, 325

Education Useful Numbers

329

339

Dental and Optical Centres

Gondolania

Enaya Specialized Care Center

339

Yoga Healthcare Useful Numbers

265

164

339

Pilates

307

Public Sector

Emirgan Sutis

Holistic Wellness

Geometric

277

90

339

11

Private Sector

eGate Card

Health and Wellness

51

Four Star

124

Arrivals/Departures

51

Standard Apartments

126

Connectivity

53

Three Star

124

Youth Hostels

126

Duty Free

54

End of Service Benefits

88

Food and Beverage

54

Hotel Park

71

Events Calendar

17

Lounges

53

Hours of Business

84

Š

M66 INDEX.indd 2

MARHABA

Index

E

91

Healthcare in Qatar

M66 AUTUMN 2016

423

6/30/16 5:12 PM

Up to date news, special reports,

PRINT

ALL-IN

Print Marhaba Information Guide Each issue up to 20,000 copies

eBOOK

Twitter MarhabaQatar Followers exceed 16,700 Reach June 2016: 188,000

Consistent growth on our website and social media channels now