IX. BUSINESS TRAVEL Language: Arabic is the official language in Qatar, but English is widely spoken and is generally acceptable in private and public sectors. U.S. business representatives will find it very useful to bring promotional material and brochures in English and/or Arabic when travelling to Qatar. Business hours: The Government of Qatar's official working hours are 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM, Saturday through Thursday. Banking hours are 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM, while private sector hours are generally 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM, Saturday through Thursday. Friday is a day of rest for all sectors, including all embassies. The U.S. Embassy hours are 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Saturday through Wednesday. Holidays: Officially, Qatar uses the Gregorian calendar year for all purposes. The Hijra (Islamic) calendar is also widely used. Religious holidays vary from year to year. Eid Al-Fitr (four days) marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and Eid Al-Adha marks the conclusion of the pilgrimage (Haj) to Mecca. The only fixed holidays are: Anniversary of the accession of the Amir - February 22, and Independence Day - September 3. The months from October through April are generally considered the best period for foreign business representatives to visit Qatar. The summer months are usually very hot and very frequently humid. Decision makers in both public and private sectors are absent from the country during the period June to September. Entry Visa Requirements: All travellers to Qatar should have passports valid for the next six months at least, and should hold valid entry visas. The Embassy of Qatar in Washington, DC, and the Qatari mission to the United Nations in New York are the only parties in the United States authorized to issue entry visas. Four passport-sized photographs, a visa application and a letter from the sponsor in Qatar should be submitted for this purpose. This procedure will usually take four working days or more. However, during the last few years, the Government of Qatar has eased restrictions on entry visas issued upon arrival at Doha International Airport. This procedure enables business representatives to have a seven-day visa if the local sponsor submits a special request to the Immigration Department three days ahead of the visitor's arrival at the airport. While no photographs are required, visitors should provide the local sponsor/agent, well in advance of the proposed visit, with passport details, religion, date/time of arrival, as well as name and flight number of the carrier airline. If approved, the entry visa is issued upon arrival against a fee of US$ 30.00. This fee may be waived if the visitor is sponsored by an official government department. Transportation: Road Transportation: Qatar has developed a good highway system which connects all the main points of the peninsula. The country's road connection with the rest of the world has to go through Saudi Arabia via the Salwa border town on the Saudi Arabia side of the South Eastern shoreline of the Salwa Gulf. There are over 1000 miles of roads, most of which are hard-surfaced. Qatar is now connected with Europe via the Trans Arabia Highway in Saudi Arabia and with the United Arab Emirates and Oman via a hard surfaced route. A very large portion of Qatar's imports are now brought in overland by trucks with increasing amounts coming from container facilities at the ports of Dubai and Sharjah in the U.A.E. Port Facilities: Qatar is currently serviced by two ports capable of handling cargo. General cargo usually enters through the eleven berths at the Doha port. After completion of the current dredging operations to widen and deepen the port's main channel, the Government plans to establish a new container service port at the Doha port. Similar dredging operations are simultaneously ongoing to establish a smaller port facility for Qatar Flour Mill Company to handle wheat imports to the country. Bulk shipments are handled at the nine-berth Umm Said port, 30 miles south of Doha. General cargo is usually unloaded at Umm Said and brought by barge to Doha by the Qatar National Navigation and Transportation Company. Currently under construction, the Ras Laffan port facility (US$ 800 million), about 50 miles north of Doha on Qatar's East coast is meant for exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) to world markets as of 1997. When completed, the Ras Laffan LNG port will bring the number of ports in Qatar to three adequate port facilities. Air Transport: In addition to the recently established Qatar Airways, Gulf Air is the country's national carrier. Doha International Airport is served by 20 international passenger airlines, including Gulf Air. The only one of its kind in Qatar, the airport is capable of handling large amounts of air freight. To cope with the increasing passenger and freight traffic (15 percent increase in 1993) the Government plans to construct a new large airport facility on the area adjacent to the premises of the present one. Offers including finance programs presented by international contractor are under consideration. Communications: Qatar enjoys excellent local and international telephone and fax facilities. A second earth satellite station was completed in 1988 and mobile telephone service was inaugurated in February 1994. Automatic telephone and fax dialing is available to more than 150 countries worldwide. The cost of international phone calls and fax from Doha to the United States are 30 percent higher than prevailing rates in the United States. Internal calls, however, are free of charge. Housing: Doha is the capital of the State of Qatar. It is simultaneously the country's commercial, marketing and banking center. More than 80 percent of Qatar's population (estimated at 400,000) live in Doha and suburbs. To meet the growing demand for houses, the Government and the private sector have resorted to establishing housing complexes of various oriental and western designs. It has been a common practice in Qatar for employers in both the Government and the private sector to provide furnished accommodation for their expatriate employees. Alternatively, some employers provide housing allowances. Contrary to the 1970s and the early 1980s when a small apartment fetched a rent of US$ 5000 a month, houses are now available at about half or less of this rate. This depends, of course, upon locality, type of house and facilities. At the most recent housing complexes, three-bedroom villas are available at a monthly rent of US$ 2200, and four-bedroom villas at US$ 2,700. Qatari landlords usually require a one year lease with advance payment of six months' rent, although exceptions exist. However, such arrangements, as well as the above rates, do not apply to larger single villas and palaces built for the use of higher management bankers and leading businessmen. Electricity, water and gardens represent additional costs. In recent years, the lease contract in some cases has included a provision for the Qatari landlord to meet the cost of basic maintenance. Health: All residents of Qatar have enjoyed free State- provided medical care ranging from outpatient clinics to hospitalization. However, due to declining oil production and revenues, the Government has instituted an austerity program in recent years. According to recently issued regulations, expatriates have to pay fees for certain medical reports and for birth registration. While medicines are mostly dispersed free of charge for Qatari and non-Qatari patients, the expatriate communities have to pay for certain expensive drugs. A visitor to Qatar holding no residence permit has to pay for all medical services required throughout his/her visit to the country. Recently, a new form of payment has evolved: prior to undergoing surgery, a resident expatriate patient is required to donate blood. Import of all blood groups to Qatar has been suspended after discovery of some infected shipments of blood. Apart from a few private clinics, medical care is provided by the State through the Ministry of Public Health. The nation's hospital needs were largely met in 1982, when the 660-bed Hamad General Hospital was inaugurated. Operating under Hamad General Hospital is the 300-bed Maternity Hospital, the only one of its kind in this country. The Government owns and operates two other hospitals. One, the Rumaillah Hospital, is meant to handle geriatric and disability cases and the other provides basic treatment for psychological diseases. In recent years, Qatar has eased restrictions on private medical institutions. In addition to the State-owned and State-operated 20 health care centers, the Government has licensed about 20 private clinics including some advanced dental centers. Future plans include charging all expatriates in Qatar for all medical/medicinal services. A private children's hospital is already licensed and more private clinics are under consideration. In addition, visiting medical and surgical consultants from various countries provide treatment on difficult cases to supplement local medical services. It should be noted that health insurance is not a common practice in Qatar. Food: Makhbous ( rice with roast sheep) is the most common food in the Gulf area. Qatar is no exception. Mutton figures prominently in the fare of most Qataris. Fish is also widely available and popular. Dishes prepared with grouper ("hammour") and sea bass are common. Chicken and beef are given second and third on their list of meats. In recent years, Qataris have been giving up their age-old tradition of hosting ceremonial dinners at home. Instead, they have started hosting large, elaborate parties at one of the four five-star hotels in Doha which have international standards. A wide variety of foodstuffs is usually imported to the country throughout the year in order to cater to the tastes of the large expatriate community drawn from several different countries. Several supermarkets in Doha have a wide range of foodstuffs readily available at all times. U.S. business representatives visiting Qatar should not turn down an invitation to lunch or dinner at home extended by their trade partners. Reciprocity is expected when the host visits the United States. Alcoholic drinks are served only to visitors residing at the major hotels. Only holders of a special permit from the British Embassy may serve alcoholic drinks at home. In accordance with Islamic laws and regulations, pork and pork derivatives are not allowed to be brought into the country.