Tips and Information For Visiting Qatar

Very interesting. I sure wish I was going......


2013 Oryx Cup Information

Current Oryx Cup Schedule

Friday, February 8th

8:00AM – 9:00 AM Driver’s Meeting
9:30 AM – 12:00 PM Unlimited Testing
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Lunch Provided Onsite
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Unlimited Qualifying
2:45 PM Podium Event for Top Three Qualifiers, Draws for Heats 1A and 1B
3:30 PM Unlimited Heat 1A
4:00 PM Unlimited Heat 1B
4:15 PM Podium Event for Winners 1A and 1B, Draw for Heats 2A and 2B
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Dinner Provided Onsite

Saturday, February 9th

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Unlimited Testing
11:00 AM Driver’s Meeting
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Lunch Provided Onsite
1:00 PM Heat 2A
1:30 PM Heat 2B
1:50 PM Podium Event for Winners 2A and 2B, Draw for 3A and 3B
2:45 PM Heat 3A
3:15 PM Heat 3B
3:35 PM Podium Event for Winners 3A and 3B, Draw for 4A and 4B
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM Pit Area Open to Public + VIP Tours
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Dinner Provided Onsite

Tuesday, February 12th

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Unlimited Testing
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Lunch Provided Onsite
12:00 PM Heat 4A
12:30 PM Heat 4B
12:50 PM Podium Event for Winners 4A and 4B
1:00 PM Autograph Session
3:00 PM Oryx Cup World Championship
3:30 PM Podium Awards Presentation
8:00 PM Gala Dinner and Awards Presentation


Hotel and Transportation
You’re staying at the Doha Marriott again this year

Luxury Hotels Doha, Luxury Hotels in Doha, Airport Hotel Doha

Breakfast at the hotel is provided for two people per room, but EVERYONE will still be asked to leave a credit card at the front desk for incidentals. Also, any gratuity you put on your bill at breakfast will be charged to the card you left at the front desk. As you know QMSF is paying for a certain number of rooms per team, and the additional rooms will be deduced from the team’s prize payout later on. The credit cards you give at the front desk will not be charged unless you purchase something inside the hotel above and beyond the room and the breakfast, like internet. Rooms above and beyond what QMSF is paying for are $179/night; the cost will be deducted from the final prize payout.

QMSF will provide transportation to and from the hotel, airport, and race site. There will be several busses available to take people to and from the hotel/site all day long. Each team owner will also be assigned a personal car and driver for additional travel needs. Taxis are also available. Here is the shuttle schedule:

Wednesday, Feb.6 : 8 AM – 6 PM
Thursday, Feb. 7: 7 AM – 6 PM
Friday, Feb. 8: 6 AM – 9 PM
Saturday, Feb. 9: 6 AM – 8 PM
Sunday, Feb. 10: 7 AM - 6 PM
Monday, Feb. 11: 7 AM – 6 PM
Sunday, Feb. 12: 6 AM – 6 PM
Monday, Feb. 13: 7 AM – 6 PM

Cultural Do’s and Don’ts – Just for FYI, if you make a ‘mistake’ it’s not a problem! Everyone is pretty westernized.

• Don’t take photographs of local families without their permission, as some strongly oppose their photographs being taken, e.g. especially the elderly and women. Avoid visiting or photographing sensitive situations, such as the police or armed forces.
• Handshaking between opposite sexes is generally viewed unfavorable. Whether in a business or a social context, do not extend your hand to a local from the opposite sex, unless he/she extends it first. A good rule is: same sex- definitely shake hands, even embrace; different sex- do not even shake hands.
• Avoid showing the sole of your feet to Qatari hosts, or sitting with your back to other guests, as a means of respect. When seated with legs crossed, avoid pointing the foot of the crossed leg towards an Arab.
• Avoid handing over or accepting items with your left hand, and if you are eating with your fingers, only use your right hand, following Arab convention (the left hand is reserved for bodily functions).
• Close friends of the same sex often touch faces on greeting, link arms or hold hands while walking together, but public display of affection between men and women is highly discouraged and considered offensive.
• Willingness to adopt conservative clothing is an excellent way to demonstrate your respect for the Islamic culture. Women should cover their shoulders and knees; this is not a requirement but is a sign of respect for the local culture.
• Watch out for separate entrances and separate counters- even separate buildings- for men and women. Most of the banks and utilities have counters especially for woman. Men should not enter a hairdressing shop designated for women only, as the police will be called.
• Do not consume large quantities of alcohol. Alcoholic drinks are only available at a few establishments throughout Doha (including the hotel we’re staying at this year), if you are going to drink them do so in moderation.

Pronunciations
Sheikh – Pronounced ‘Shake’ like to shake someone’s hand
Qatar – Pronounced Kuh-tar, NOT ‘cutter’ like a cookie cutter. When in doubt; just say Doha.

The most popular saying is “Insha'Allah” which loosely translates into ‘God Willing’ It is used to communicate a hope that something mentioned will occur in the future, such as ‘I will get that answer to you tomorrow, Insha'Allah’ or even ‘we will meet at noon tomorrow, Insha'Allah’

US Embassy
22nd February Street
Al Luqta District
Phone: (974) 4496-6000
Exchange Rate/Currency
1 Qatar Riyal (QAR) = $0.27 US Dollars (USD)
1 USD = 3.64 QAR

You can exchange money at the airport, the hotel, or at the Souk.

Visa, AmericanExpress and MasterCard will all work in Qatar the exact same way they work in the US. You can also use your debit card at a local ATM to receive Qatar Riyals. It would be a good idea to call your credit card company and your bank before going to Doha to let them know you’re traveling, so they don’t cancel your card while you’re over there.

Cell Phone Information
You can turn on the ‘international’ feature with your cell phone company while here in the US, or once in Qatar you can buy a ‘cheap’ cell phone and use it while there. When done, keep the phone so you can use it in another country or in Doha next year by switching out the sim card. One of the best places to purchase one of these phones is a store called Carrefour. It’s very similar to Wal-Mart. The nearest one is in the City Center Mall. You will need your passport to purchase the phone. The cost is $30-40 US, plus ‘hala’ minutes, which are very reasonably priced and can be purchased almost anywhere.

Travel Visa
On your way through customs you’ll have to pay about $30 US for your Visa. You can pay for the Visa with your credit card, although some people mentioned that their debit cards did not work.

Passport Copies
It’s always a good idea when traveling abroad to leave a copy of your passport with someone back home and to keep an extra copy in your luggage just in case your passport is lost or stolen.

Outlets
Onsite there will be 120 volts available for the boat camps.

Electricity in Qatar is 240 Volts. The hotel has about 30 adaptors available on a first come first serve basis.

Outlets in Qatar generally accept 2 types of plug:
Three round pins arranged in a triangle
Two parallel flat pins with ground pin