In and Around Qatar

Nov 27 to 29, 2008 - Doha Players' The Wishing Well
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Friday, April 18, 2008

Checklist for Residents/ Visitors Departing at Doha, Qatar International Airport

Here are some things I'd like to share to travellers/ residents/ visitors departing at Doha, Qatar International Airport.

  1. If you are holding a Qatar work visa or if you came in business visa and you stayed in Qatar for at least one month, make sure you have valid exit permit. Your employer/ sponsor will secure the exit permit for you. An exit permit is valid for 7 seven days upon issue. Residents holding a family visa and those who came on visit/tourist visa do not need an exit permit.
  2. Check from the MOI website if you have any traffic violation. According to the papers, residents with unsettled fines are not allowed to leave the country. If you have a traffic violation, you can pay the traffic fines in the Traffic Department or online through a credit card [check here].
  3. Qatar airways (economy) passengers are allowed to check-in multiple luggage as long as the total weight do not exceed 50 kgs; however, each check-in luggage must be less than 32 kgs. Those travelling to US are allowed to check-in 2 bags per person up to 23 kgs each. The weight limit for carry-on is 7 kg but from experience, Qatar Airways allows up to 10 kgs. Qatar Airways Privilege Card holders are given additional weight-allowance depending on the membership status. For other airlines, check the baggage weight limit from your travel agents or directly from the airlines. Note that flying back to Qatar, only 20 kgs of check-in luggage is allowed. If you are coming from the US, you can check-in 2 bags per person up to 23 kgs each.
  4. Check the current restrictions for carrying liquids and creams.
  5. It is common that passengers are asked to remove shoes, shoes, belt, watch etc. during security screening. Consider wearing shoes that can be taken off easily and less accossories. Electronic gadgets like laptop and mobile phones are usually taken out of the bag so prepare them for security check.
  6. If you are transiting in London, check the current restrictions in London Airport. Last time we had layover in London (June 2007), passengers are allowed to carry only one bag during the security check. If you have a carry-on and a laptop, you have to combine them in one bag.
  7. Check the restrictions in your layover/destination country.
  8. Check Qatarairways response to some FAQs.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Dunestock 2008

Dunestock 2008 (D0ha, Qatar) will be happening on April 18th! Checkout the details at http://www.dunestock.net/ and the list of performers.

Join Doha Pinoy Shooters Group!

Walter and I just joined Doha Pinoy Shooters group. It is a group formed by Pinoy residents in Doha who are interested in photography (newbie and experienced). The group has 73 members (current as of today) and still growing. There are also other nationalities who joined but majority of the members are Pinoys. By joining Doha Pinoy Shooters, we hope to learn from other members and be inspired by them. Actually, I'm just a wannabe. My husband is the one really interested in photography. If you are also interested to become a member, visit the Doha Pinoy Shooters Flickr page.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Photo Hunt - Twist(ed)

Come and join the hunt here.


Photo Hunt - Twist(ed)

A roundabout is a type of road junction at which traffic enters a one-way stream around a central island. In the United States it is technically called a modern roundabout, to emphasize the
distinction from the older, larger type of traffic circle.

This is called the Oryx Roundabout because of the Oryx on top of a TWISTED stand. There are many roundabouts here even on the main road and most of them are named based on what is built in the center of the roundabout or nearby building, office and shops. Some of the popular roundabouts here are named Sports, TV, Museum and Dhow Boat. Accordingly, these names were coined by the expats because there are really no official road and street names ten years ago.

Roundabouts work well in the past when the roads are less busy. Currently, many of the roundabouts along major thoroughfare have already been converted to traffic signals and in some, traffic signals were installed. It's crazy to drive around busy roundabouts during peak hours so even if it's a bit weird, traffic signal in the roundabouts are helpful to keep the traffic flow in order.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Renewing Car Registration in Qatar

It's renewal time for my car registration again. The steps are quite staright forward. If the car is less than three years old like mine, technical inspection is not required. Renewal may be done at the nearest Traffic Police Department in your area. The best time to go is always early in the morning.

Requirements for Renewal:
-Insurance
-Technical inspection certificate (for cars three years and older)
-Expired registration card (Istimara)
-QR 100 fee by NAPS or credit card

Steps:
1. Renew the insurance.
2. Bring the car to the technical inspection center. Read the step by step Procedure for Technical Inspection and the locations of inspection centers.
3. When the requirements are complete, go to the Traffic Police Department. Don't forget to get a number at the entrance.
4. When the number is called, processing takes less than 15-minutes if the requirements are complete.
5. Pay the QR 100 fee by NAPS or credit card. Cash are not accepted.
5. Make sure that you will be given a registration sticker for your car plates. I read from the newspapers in the past that cars without registration stickers will be penalized.

Delay in registration is sometimes experienced due to delay in technical inspection (i.e., when a problem is identified and repair is required). So be prepared and allocate ample time for technical inspection.

Hope this helps!


Related Blog:

The Long and Winding Road

Photo Hunt - Glass

Come and join the hunt here.

As much as possible, I would like to feature photos from Qatar. But since I do not have a Qatar photo for the GLASS theme, I am posting a photo from Oman, which is a neighbor country and additional two related photos from Paris, France.



Photo Hunt - Glass




1. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Oman, 2. St. Chapelle, Paris, 3. Rose Window of Notre Dame de Paris

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.


The first photo is a stained GLASS found in Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat, Oman, which is the only mosque (in the world, I believe) open for non-muslims and tourists. The Grand Mosque can accomodate up to 20,000 worshipper at one time. Its main prayer room has the largest hand-woven single piece Persian Carpet in the world measuring 60 meters x 70 meters. In addition, this mosque has the biggest chandelier in the world, weighing 8.5 tons.


The second photo is the stained GLASS at the upper chapel of Sainte-Chapelle in Paris while the third photo is the stained GLASS Rose Window of Notre Dame de Paris.

More Photos:








Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Muscat









Paris, France