Laws and etiquette every Qatar resident should know

The everyday rules that matter most when you live in Qatar: dress in public places, behaviour, photos and social media, alcohol, medicines, cheques and debt, greetings and Friday prayers. What the law says, what is simply good manners, and how to stay out of trouble.

Last reviewed: 13 October 2026

Dress: Cover shoulders and knees in public; strictly enforced in government offices, hospitals and banks
Online: Insults and sharing people's photos without consent are crimes, with fines up to QAR 100,000
Alcohol: Only in licensed venues or with a QDC permit; 21+; never in public
Money: Bounced cheques and unpaid debts can lead to travel bans and prosecution

Qatar is a safe, welcoming country with a strong sense of tradition, and most of its rules are easy to follow once you know them. Some things that are casual elsewhere are criminal offences here: posting a photo of someone without their consent, insulting a person in a WhatsApp group, drinking in public or bouncing a cheque. Other points are simply good manners that people notice and appreciate, like how to greet an elder or accept a cup of Arabic coffee. This guide covers both, starting with dress and public behaviour, then photos and social media, alcohol, medicines, money and travel bans, and finally greetings, hospitality and Friday prayers. It summarises official guidance and published laws; it is not legal advice, and if you are ever in a dispute or under investigation you should speak to a lawyer licensed in Qatar.

Before you start

Modest everyday clothes that cover shoulders and knees, for malls, offices, clinics and banks
Your original QID on you at all times; bars and hotels check original photo ID, not copies
A prescription and a medical report (English or Arabic, issued within the last 6 months) for any regular medicines
An MOPH permit for any controlled medicine you or your family bring into Qatar
The Metrash app (the Ministry of Interior app), which also shows any travel ban against you
A list of cheques you have signed, including post-dated rent cheques and 'security' cheques given to banks, landlords or employers
A prayer-times app or the Qatar Awqaf prayer timetable, so you can plan Friday errands
A few Arabic greetings: 'As-salamu alaykum' (peace be upon you) and the reply 'Wa alaykum as-salam'

Step by step

Dress modestly in public places
UK government advice for Qatar asks both men and women to cover their shoulders and knees in public, including when driving. This is enforced most strictly in government buildings, hospitals and clinics, and banks, where you can be refused entry or asked to leave. Malls and many workplaces expect the same standard, so a T-shirt and knee-length shorts or skirt is the practical minimum. Swimwear is for pools and beaches only. When visiting a mosque, follow the dress instructions given at the entrance.
Keep public behaviour calm and respectful
Public displays of intimacy between couples, including teenagers, can lead to arrest; holding hands is generally accepted, but kissing and hugging in public are not. Swearing and rude hand gestures are treated as obscene acts and can lead to prosecution or deportation, so stay polite even in a road-rage moment or a heated argument, and especially with police and officials. Protests and public gatherings need advance permission from the Ministry of Interior. Raising your voice and losing your temper in public reflect badly on you here, while patience usually gets problems solved faster.
Know the smoking and vaping rules
Smoking is banned in all enclosed public places, such as malls, offices and public transport, so use designated smoking areas only. Vapes and e-cigarettes are illegal in Qatar, according to UK government travel advice, so do not bring them in or use them. Spitting in public places is an offence under the Public Hygiene Law. If a family member visits, tell them about the vaping ban before they pack.
Think twice before photographing people
Qatar has strong privacy laws. Under Article 333 of the Penal Code, photographing or filming people in private places, or recording their conversations, without consent can bring up to 2 years in prison and/or a fine of up to QAR 10,000. Amendments in Law No. 14 of 2024 added the same penalty for filming people in public places with the intention of harming or defaming them, and for filming injured or dead people at accident scenes unless legally authorised. Always ask before you photograph someone, especially women and children, and avoid filming near military, government, religious or construction sites; people have been arrested for this. Drones need licences or permits.
Read guide: After a car accident in Qatar: police report, Metrash and insurance →
Never post other people's photos or videos without consent
Law No. 11 of 2025 added Article 8 bis to the Cybercrime Law (Law No. 14 of 2014). It punishes publishing or circulating photos or video clips of people taken in public places without their knowledge or consent, with up to 1 year in prison and/or a fine of up to QAR 100,000. That covers posting on Instagram, TikTok or X and forwarding in WhatsApp groups. Before you post a video of a queue, a fight, a bad driver or a staff member, blur faces or do not post it at all. If something needs action, report it to the police or the relevant authority instead.
Do not insult or shame anyone online
Article 8 of the Cybercrime Law covers insulting or defaming people online and publishing news, pictures or recordings about someone's private or family life, even if they are true. Penalties include prison and fines of up to QAR 100,000. This applies to private WhatsApp messages and voice notes as well as public posts, and to angry reviews that name and insult a person. People have been detained and convicted over such posts. If you have a complaint against a company, landlord or employer, use the official complaint channels rather than social media.
Read guide: Filing a labour complaint in Qatar: unpaid salary and other disputes →
Follow the alcohol rules
Only licensed hotels, restaurants and bars may sell alcohol, the legal drinking age is 21, and venues ask for your original photo ID. Residents can buy alcohol for home through a permit from Qatar Distribution Company (QDC); its published requirements include being over 21, holding a valid QID, at least 3 months' residence, a minimum basic salary (QDC lists QAR 2,500) and a stamped letter from your employer. Drinking in public or being drunk in public is illegal, with penalties of up to 6 months in prison or a fine of up to QAR 3,000. Never drive after drinking, keep alcohol at home, and remember that QDC and many venues change their hours or close during Ramadan.
Respect the zero-tolerance drug laws and check your medicines
Qatar has zero tolerance for drugs, including small amounts of cannabis, with long prison sentences, heavy fines and deportation; airport scanners are very effective and this applies even to transit passengers. Some medicines that are legal at home, including certain prescription and over-the-counter products, are controlled here. Carry a prescription and a medical report in English or Arabic, issued within the last 6 months, for any regular medicine. For controlled medicines, apply for a permit through the Ministry of Public Health's online service before you or a visiting relative travel.
Read guide: Get your health card (now linked to your QID) →
Treat cheques and debts seriously
In Qatar a bounced cheque, including a post-dated rent cheque or a 'security' cheque given to a bank or landlord, can be a criminal matter, as can fraud and unpaid bills such as hotel or car-hire charges. You can also be held liable for cheques you signed on behalf of a company. Consequences can include prison, fines, travel bans, deportation, frozen bank accounts and seized end-of-service benefits. Only write a cheque when the money will be in the account on that date, and if you are going to miss a payment, talk to the bank or landlord before the date and agree a plan in writing.
Read guide: Personal loans and credit cards in Qatar: rules, limits and travel bans →
Check for a travel ban before you fly
Unpaid loans, court cases and other financial commitments can stop you leaving Qatar, and many people only find out at the airport. The Supreme Judiciary Council has said that citizens and residents can review travel ban orders in the Metrash app. Check before booking an important trip, and again before you leave Qatar for good. If a ban appears, contact the court or the creditor, or a lawyer, to settle or challenge it.
Read guide: Leaving Qatar for good: a step-by-step exit checklist →
Greet people and accept hospitality the local way
Say 'As-salamu alaykum' when you meet people and stand up to greet someone, especially an elder. Men should wait for a Qatari woman to offer her hand before shaking it; many people place their right hand on their heart instead, which is a polite way to greet without touching. If you are offered Arabic coffee (gahwa) or dates, accept, take the cup with your right hand, and gently shake the small cup from side to side when you have had enough, or it will keep being refilled. Take your shoes off when entering a home, and avoid sitting with the soles of your feet pointing at your host.
Plan around Friday prayers and Ramadan
Friday is the main day of congregational prayer. Under Ministry of Commerce and Industry Decision No. 80 of 2025, shops and businesses must close for one and a half hours from the first call to Friday prayer, so plan errands for before or after that window; pharmacies, hotels, hospitals and clinics, fuel stations, bakeries and some other services are exempt. The exact time of the call changes through the year, so check a prayer-times app. During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public during daylight hours, including in your car, and expect changed opening hours.
Read guide: Ramadan in Qatar: what changes for residents →

What it costs

Publishing or sharing people's photos or videos without consent (Cybercrime Law, Art. 8 bis)	Up to QAR 100,000 and/or up to 1 year in prison
Online insult, defamation or publishing someone's private life (Cybercrime Law, Art. 8)	Up to QAR 100,000 and/or prison
Filming people in private places, or injured or dead people at accident scenes (Penal Code, Art. 333 / 333 bis)	Up to QAR 10,000 and/or up to 2 years in prison
Drinking in public or being drunk in public	Up to QAR 3,000 or up to 6 months in prison
Spitting in public places (Public Hygiene Law)	Up to QAR 10,000 (settlement amounts vary; see the public hygiene fines guide)

Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.

Common mistakes

Forwarding a video of a stranger, an accident or an argument in a WhatsApp group, assuming that only the person who filmed it can be in trouble.
Sending an angry, insulting message or voice note to a landlord, colleague or ex-partner; the message itself can be evidence of a crime.
Wearing shorts above the knee or sleeveless tops to a government office, hospital or bank, and being turned away.
Bringing a vape or an unpermitted controlled medicine into Qatar because it is legal at home.
Giving a 'security' cheque for rent or a loan without realising it can be presented and bounce later, even years afterwards.
Booking flights home without first checking Metrash for a travel ban.
Walking from a hotel bar to a taxi visibly drunk, or carrying an open drink outside a licensed venue.
Arriving at a shop or service centre just as Friday prayers begin and finding it closed for 90 minutes.

Questions people ask

Is it illegal to take photos in public places in Qatar?

Taking photos in public is not banned in itself, but publishing or circulating photos or videos of people without their knowledge or consent is an offence under Article 8 bis of the Cybercrime Law. Filming people to harm or defame them, filming accident victims, and filming in private places without consent are offences under the Penal Code. Ask permission before photographing people, and stay away from military, government and other sensitive sites.

Can I post a video of a reckless driver or a car accident?

It is risky. Filming injured or dead people at an accident scene is a criminal offence unless legally authorised, and posting identifiable people without consent can breach the Cybercrime Law. Report dangerous driving or an accident to the police instead of posting it online.

Can I hold hands with my husband or wife in public?

Holding hands is generally accepted. Kissing, hugging and other public displays of intimacy are not, and can lead to arrest. Keep affection for private spaces.

As a resident, how can I buy alcohol for home?

You need a permit from Qatar Distribution Company (QDC), the licensed retailer. QDC's published requirements include being over 21, a valid QID, at least 3 months in Qatar, a minimum basic salary and a stamped employer letter; check the QDC website for the current list. Without a permit, alcohol is only available in licensed hotels, restaurants and bars.

My regular medicine is legal at home. Can I bring it to Qatar?

Some medicines that are legal elsewhere are controlled or banned in Qatar. Carry a prescription and a medical report in English or Arabic issued within the last 6 months, and for controlled medicines apply for a permit through the Ministry of Public Health's online service before travelling. If you are unsure, ask your doctor or check with MOPH first.

Can a bounced cheque or an unpaid loan stop me from leaving Qatar?

Yes. Bounced cheques, unpaid loans and other financial claims can lead to a travel ban, and penalties can include prison, fines and frozen accounts. You can check for travel ban orders in the Metrash app. If you have a problem, contact the bank or creditor early and get any settlement in writing.

Can I be prosecuted for something I wrote in a private WhatsApp chat?

Yes. The Cybercrime Law applies to messages sent through any information network, not just public posts, and people have been prosecuted over insulting messages. Keep disagreements polite and factual, and use official complaint channels for disputes.

Can unmarried couples live together in Qatar?

No. UK government advice states that unmarried couples living together, and sex outside marriage, are illegal in Qatar, with possible fines, prison or deportation. Hospitals may ask for a marriage certificate, and one is needed to register a baby's birth.

Official sources

Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.

Laws and etiquette every Qatar resident should know

Before you start

Step by step

Dress modestly in public places

Keep public behaviour calm and respectful

Know the smoking and vaping rules

Think twice before photographing people

Never post other people's photos or videos without consent

Do not insult or shame anyone online

Follow the alcohol rules

Respect the zero-tolerance drug laws and check your medicines

Treat cheques and debts seriously

Check for a travel ban before you fly

Greet people and accept hospitality the local way

Plan around Friday prayers and Ramadan

What it costs

Common mistakes

Questions people ask

Official sources

Further reading

Related guides