I spent a day in Doha on my way back to London from Hanoi. Qatar Airways’ flight-with-stopover deal was weirdly cheap so it just made sense to book it. We didn’t realise until later that the flights were that cheap because we would be in Doha in Ramadan.
In case you’re thinking of doing the same, here’s what I observed about being in Doha in Ramadan.
It’s quiet
You’ll find that there aren’t many people out and about in Doha in Ramadan. Although this means Doha’s usual character is toned down, it does mean that you get places almost to yourself.
You’ll also find that some of the museums will be on reduced or adjusted hours during Ramadan. For example, the National Museum of Qatar closed at 2pm and reopened at 8pm when I was there.
Doha’s Ramadan quietude is broken five times a day by a call to prayer echoing through a speaker system. The sound of a single muezzin through these speakers in Doha is certainly an orderly contrast to the jumbled echoes from every mosque in the area that I’ve heard on trips to Jordan and Türkiye. I have to say I prefer hearing lots of calls to prayer at once – it feels much more atmospheric! Anyway, unless you’re observing Ramadan, you don’t need to do anything when you hear the calls to prayer.
Eating and drinking
During Ramadan, Muslims are not permitted to eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. Even if you’re not observing Ramadan, it’s not respectful to eat or drink in a public place.
Some restaurants and cafés remain open during the day so you can pick up some water or snacks if you need them, but you’ll have to take them away and eat/drink them in a secluded spot.
However, you’ll be relieved to hear that most hotels will still serve breakfast. We treated ourselves to a very substantial hotel breakfast so that we didn’t need to have lunch.
In the evening, Qataris will head out to celebrate the Iftar: the breaking of the fast. This means that Doha has a celebratory atmosphere in the evenings. I recommend eating dinner in Souq Waqif.
What to wear
Although Qatar is very westernised compared to other countries in the Middle East, remember that it is a Muslim country.
Everyone will need to cover knees and shoulders. I have read that this dress code is more strictly enforced during Ramadan – I didn’t see any evidence of this myself but it’s best to err on the side of caution.
I wore a long dress with a t-shirt over the top on my full day in Doha. Even when travelling through the airport, I wore loose trousers and a t-shirt.
Is it worth visiting Doha in Ramadan?
Yes!
In fact, there are several advantages to visiting Doha in Ramadan. One is that you’re unlikely to encounter crowds during the day. Another is that you’re likely to get a good deal on flights and accommodation.
I found Doha to be a really pleasant place. It’s definitely worth a visit, whether during Ramadan or otherwise.