LIVING IN QATAR

Despite its small size, there is much to do in Qatar. In addition to the cultural, artistic, academic and other activities available to students in Education City, Qatar offers opportunities to enjoy exhibitions, book fairs and trade shows, musical and theatrical performances at the Qatar National Theatre and much more. The cultural diversity of the population is also a source of many cultural and social activities that are open to the public.

The weather in Qatar is pleasant for most of the year, allowing people to participate in numerous outdoor activities, including trips to the desert, beaches and parks.

Qatar maintains a strong commitment to preserving its heritage and residents and tourists may enjoy browsing in the many souqs, visit a heritage village, explore old forts, and take guided tours of the National Museum and Weaponry Museum. A number of new venues are opening soon, including a cultural village and the stunning Museum of Islamic Art. The shopping malls contain many well known retail outlets and the many hotels and restaurants of Doha provide excellent opportunities for fine dining.

Qatar is an Islamic state and, as a courtesy, visitors and expatriates should dress modestly. Crime statistics in Qatar are amongst the worlds lowest, and visitors and residents have frequent opportunities to experience national hospitality.

Immigration

All students, who are not citizens of a GCC country and whose parents' reside outside of Qatar, will be required to apply for a residence visa. The residency application is an extensive process that begins before students arrive in Doha. Once a student is admitted to a university in Education City, they will be sent information from their branch campus about the residency application process. For more information about residency application procedures and requirements, please click here

About Qatar

Qatar is a peninsula that juts into the Arabian Gulf. The State of Qatar is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and has one of the fastest growing economies and one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. The total population is about 900,000, almost half of whom live in the capital city of Doha. The official currency is the Qatari Riyal (QR 3.65=1 USD). The official language of the country is Arabic but English is widely spoken. Islam is the official religion of the Country and Shari 'a is the principal source of legislation.