Social life in Qatar

Qatar is home to more than 85 different nationalities from around the world and has the lowest crime rate globally. 

Qatari society is known for its openness to various cultures and religions, as well as its rich social life, which offers residents and visitors a modern lifestyle in a safe environment where the rule of law prevails.

Public parks and shopping malls

Qatar is not only a business and investment-friendly environment, but is also home to hiking environment-oriented activities. The Qatari government has pursued efforts to foster green spaces and public parks in line with international specifications and standards across the country. Public parks are considered one of the leading family destinations, featuring high-quality facilities and services, such as restaurants, free internet, and parking space. The public can also enjoy a unique shopping experience at leading malls that feature dozens of brand outlets,  making it unnecessary to travel abroad for shopping.

The most prominent and leading malls in Qatar include:

Souq Waqif

Souq Waqiif is one Qatar’s most renowned markets and tourist attractions. The market highlights the nature of Qatar’s traditional markets and is home to a wide range of shops. The market combines modernity and originality, and is a leading tourist and heritage landmark. The Waqif market is located in Al Wakra, which overlooks the Gulf directly, making it an excellent and distinguished location to attract investors and visitors.

Villaggio Mall

Villaggio Mall is one of Qatar’s largest malls. It includes an international mall and a cinema complex consisting of 13 halls, a water channel, an Olympic-sized skating arena, an entertainment city for children, and the first of its kind, four-dimensional theater in Qatar.

City Center Doha

City Center Doha is a leading leisure destination in Qatar and one of the most prominent retail centers in the region. City Center lies in the heart of the economic district of Doha in West Bay, 25 minutes far away from Hamad International Airport. The shopping mall building is connected to international hotels and is home to local and international brands and services.

Qatar Mall

Located 20 minutes from downtown Doha, Qatar Mall is an exceptional gateway to inspiration, excitement, fun, enthusiasm, and comfort and relaxation with open and spacious spaces.

Doha Festival City

Doha Festival City is strategically located north of Doha with direct access from the Al Shammal Road and Lusail Road. The city features a myriad of entertainment and dining options, with more than 100 restaurants, catering to a large client base, as well as large cinema screens and international entertainment centers, providing an exciting experience for all family members.

For more on tourism in Qatar, you can visit the National Tourism Council website.

Education in Qatar

Education in Qatar is free for all citizens. Every child has the right to free education from kindergarten through high school. There are many types of schools in Qatar, including:

Independent Schools

Independent schools are government-funded schools. Enrollment in independent schools is free of charge for Qatari students, while registration fees for non-Qatari students are subject to the policies set by each school. All public schools have become independent since 2010.
 
Private and international schools

Qatar is home to large number of private and international schools that pursue different languages and curricula, which allows children to learn their native language and learn about their culture, among other traditions.

College education

College education in Qatar began in 1973 with the establishment of two education colleges at Qatar University. Today, Qatar University is home to nine colleges: Education, Arts and Sciences, College of Law, College of Health Sciences, Sharia and Islamic Studies, Engineering, Management and Economics, College of Medicine, and College of Pharmacy.

Qatar has established a number of institutions that offer higher education programs in arts and design, media, engineering, and science and technology. These institutions aim to equip students with a wide range of skills and empower youth to develop their talents in all fields.

Qatar has also ratified a number of agreements with various educational institutions around the world to establish branches in the country, in a bid to provide opportunities for all residents to access the best possible higher education.

Higher education institutions in Qatar include Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Georgetown University Qatar, Northwestern University in Qatar, Texas A&M University Qatar, Weill Cornell Medical College Qatar, London University College in Qatar, Community College of Qatar, College of the North Atlantic - Qatar, and Stenden University in Qatar.

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development

Qatar Foundation seeks to achieve excellence in human, social, and economic development in Qatar through education and research, community development, and the activation of programs aimed at advancing its mission in these areas. All activities undertaken by Qatar Foundation aim to foster a culture of excellence and innovation in Qatar, and to transform Qatar into a knowledge-based economy by promoting sustainable human, social, and economic development.

Qatar Science and Technology Park

Qatar Science and Technology Park aims to become a global center for scientific and technological innovation and entrepreneurship that attracts leading technology companies and projects. QSTP provides support for technology-driven entrepreneurial projects in Qatar through incubation, training, and networking opportunities with a regional and global network of technology innovators.

Education City

Education City is an initiative by Qatar Foundation, with its headquarters located in Doha. The city, which covers an area of 80,000sqm, is home to many prestigious universities, colleges, and world-class research centers, in addition to student dormitories, recreational and sports facilities, laboratories, and advanced research centers.

Qatar National Library

Qatar National Library acts as a steward of Qatar’s national heritage by collecting, preserving, and making available the country’s recorded history. As a public library, QNL provides equal access for all of Qatar's citizens and residents to an environment that supports creativity, independent decision-making, and cultural development. 

In addition to full-text online resources, the Library currently has more than one million books in its collections, along with more than 500,000 e-books, periodicals and newspapers, and special collections. 

Katara

Katara is one of the main cultural centers in Qatar. Through educational and cultural workshops and activities, Katara promotes local cultural heritage, and contributes to raising awareness and reshaping the Arab cultural scene.

Katara spearheads several projects and multiple cultural competitions such as:

• Katara Prize for the Arabic Novel
• Katara Prize for Quran Recitation
• Katara Award for the Prophet’s Poet 

Health

Qatar has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, whose specialized services are available to everyone regardless of residency or nationality. 
The Qatar National Health Strategy 2018-2022 aims at improving the health of Qatar’s population through an integrated healthcare system designed to meet the needs of existing and future generations. 

Qatar has a wide range of government hospitals that offer all medical specialties, providing free of charge medical services to citizens and subsidized rates to residents and visitors. Medical institutions include Hamad General Hospital, Al Wakra Hospital, Al Khor Hospital, Women’s Hospital, Children Emergency Center, Heart Hospital, Al Rumaila Hospital, Cuban Hospital, Al Amal Hospital, The National Cancer Research Center, and Aspetar.