Qatar has joined a number of environmental conventions such as the Biodiversity Convention, and the 1969 Kuwait and 1971 Brussels conventions. Moreover, the Supreme Council for Environment & Natural Reserves (SCENR) was set up in 2000 to conserve and protect the environment and endangered species from threats and disasters resulting from oil and chemical spills.
The SCENR initiated an annual Qatar Environment Day, held on February 26, which prohibits any dealing or trading of endangered wildlife, and hunting of animals or birds. Also, ostriches and gazelles have been reintroduced in the Abrouq Peninsula, located on the western side of the country.
Some of the reserves and protected areas in Qatar listed below can be visited:
- Ras Laffan Industrial City is home to birds, lizards, insects, mammals, snakes, fish and flora. Mangrove swamps in the area allow for a breeding area for a variety of shellfish and fish. Marine Turtle Conservation Initiatives was also set up in Ras Laffan Industrial City to protect marine turtles after the beach areas were completely cleaned of all debris, and cameras were set up to ensure that poachers of eggs do not succeed in the area.
- Ras I’sheirii Reserve, located 110 km north-west of Doha, is home to gazelles such as the addax, the al reem and the oryx.
- Shahaniya Wildlife Reserve is 40 km north of Doha and has become a tourist destination where they breed oryx and gazelles.
- Khor Al Udaid Protected Area is south of Doha and hosts gerbils, foxes, snakes, hedgehogs, iguanas and scorpions. It was declared a water sanctuary in 1993 and all commercial fishing was banned.
- Al Mas Habiya Reserve is 120 km south-west of Doha and was established in 1997 for breeding oryx and gazelles.
- Al Safiliya Island Marine Protected Area is 8 km north-east of Doha and contains some of the best marine life and coral in Qatar.
QURANIC BOTANICAL GARDEN
Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Misnad formally inaugurated a new 24-hectare Quranic Botanical Garden located at Education City on September 17, 2008. She planted the idra sapling, symbol of the Qatar Foundation.
The project is fully supported by UNESCO and comprises all of the plants that are mentioned in the Holy Qur’an (including date palms, grapes, pomegranates, figs, and olive trees), in addition to medicinal plants used by the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and still in use today in Islam.
The features of the garden can be found in verses of the Holy Qur’an that mention Jannat Al Firdaous, or the Gardens of Paradise. The design of the garden features plants that are set up in four quarters and divided by canals of water with a fountain in the middle. Sunken beds of flowers will be incorporated to help reduce soil evaporation and loss of water from plants.
The several objectives the project aims to pursue cover areas of scientific research, education, environmental conservation and recreation.
QATAR OR DOHA?
Doha is the capital of the State of Qatar.
Other towns in Qatar are being developed, but at present business and social activities are mostly conducted in the capital.
Doha is in easy reach from the small towns of Al Wakra, Al Khor, Mesaieed, Dukhan, Shaniyya, Ras Laffan and Umm Slal (which is divided into Umm Slal Ali and Umm Slal Mohammed). As of now, Dukhan consists mainly of worker compounds, while the industrial town of Mesaieed provides 60 per cent of Qatar’s GDP and keeps on growing.
GEOGRAPHY
The State of Qatar is a peninsula. It shares a 60-km border with Saudi Arabia, with the rest of the country surrounded by the Gulf of Bahrain to the west and the Arabian Gulf to the north and the east.
From the point where Qatar shares its border with Saudi Arabia, it projects approximately 160 km north. The coastline is about 550 km long and encompasses the east, north and west. The total area comes to about 11,500 km².
Over the years, Qatar and Bahrain had several border issues, but the disputes have been resolved and the two countries maintain amicable relations.
TERRAIN
Qatar is a flat area with a lot of sandy/rocky surfaces. Sand dunes create small hills that can reach an altitude of 40 m (mostly in the west and north), but there are no mountains in the area. The geography of the country is made varied by the
USEFUL INFORMATION
CURRENCY
Qatar’s currency is the Qatari Riyal. The Riyal is divided into 100 dirhams. Notes exist for 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 Riyals, and coins for 25 and 50 dirhams. The fixed exchange rate to the US dollar is at USD 1 = QR 3.65.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
The metric system is officially followed, although some British measures are still in use.
ELECTRICITY
Electricity supply is 220/240 volts (more details can be found in post, Utilities and Services).
TELEPHONE CODES FOR QATAR
Qatar’s country code is +974, with no city code.
DAYLIGHT SAVING
No daylight saving applies in the State of Qatar and the local time never changes in the spring and fall.
LOCAL TIME
Qatar is +3 GMT.
SEASONAL CLOTHING TIPS
When planning your trip to Qatar, it is important to keep in mind that, although it is extremely hot outside in the peak months, everywhere you go you will have air-conditioning indoors. Therefore, layering is key.
- Winter: Qatar does have one. Carry an umbrella and wear light coats, boots, shawls, lightweight scarves, sweaters and cardigans, blazers, jackets and trousers (for info on what to pack, refer to post, Moving).
Summer: One tends to minimize the length of time spent outdoors. Anything that breathes well and is very comfortable should be worn. Do keep a shawl or a light cardigan handy, as you will be constantly exposed to a range of different temperatures — inside being air-conditioned and outside being very hot. And have a handkerchief handy to wipe your glasses, as the minute you step into a different temperature they will fog instantly (this is how you will recognize the sizzling summer months from the less warm ones). Carrying an umbrella during the summer months is not ridiculous, as it will protect you from the sun.