Discovering the Best Ways to Get Around Doha: Your Ultimate Guide to Easy Travel

One of the many questions you will thinking about before you move to Qatar is how will I get around. Work, school, shopping sightseeing. Once you get set up in your new life you will probably decide to buy a car, however, before you take that step there are many easy and affordable options available:

Why Opt for Car Hire Vs Buying a Car?

Like any major city all the major multi national car rentals are available from the airport supported by local companies providing generally longer term deals (click here to view the options).

Pros:

-You don't need to deal with any issues with the car if something goes wrong. The carhire company will give you a replacement which takes away the hassle, cost and down time of not having a car.

-It gives you flexibility. I see alot of expats renting cars until they are fully settled in Qatar. It might be wise to do this until you have passed your probation at work- just in case! You just never know what might happen so having a car rental intially might be a good move.

Cons:

-It can be quite costly if you use this option for a long period of time. If you're planning on staying in Qatar for a number of years it doesn't really make sense to do this.

-Due to the cost of car rental, expats' a smaller car option which might not be ideal for the Qatar roads. For those of you that have already visited Qatar, you will know that the roads are quite busy and fast so the majority of people prefer a bigger 4x4 car to have some presence on the road.

Second-Hand Car Market

 Due to the transcient nature of Qatar, with alot of expats coming and going every year, there is a good second-hand car market. The most popular places to find second-hand cars are on Qatar Facebook pages where people list them for sale. There are some companies which also sell both new and second-hand car:

- Oasis Cars

-Qatar Sale

-Knightsbridge Automotive (if you're after a super car-when in Doha!)

-Or if looking for a new car, there are many showrooms around Qatar with every brand you can think of available (its no surprise that the most popular car in Qatar is a Land Cruiser!)

2) Taxis

Taxis are probably the most popular mode of transport aside from having your own car. They are easy to book, safe and affordable with numerous options. Karwa taxis are the local taxi company that you will see everywhere in Doha and the surrounding areas. Their distinctive turquoise colour are part of the scenery. You will find them waiting at designated points outside the airport and shopping malls. Other popular taxi services can be found below:

• Uber

• Careem

• Doha Cabs (these are more expensive but are great as you can request car seats in the taxi)

3) Metro

The metro system was constructed for the 2022 World Cup. It is made up of three main lines with the central hub being Msheireb. It is a cheap and affordable way to get about the city. It is really dependent on your proximity to a metro statio and where your end destination is. Unless you are going somewhere that is within walking distance, then you are unlikley to use this regularly. This is even more true when the Qatar Summer is in full swing! Nobody wants to be walking to a metro station when it is 50 degress outside let me tell you!

I recommend downloading the Qatar Rail app where you can plan your route, register and top up a travel card and learn more about the operating times of the metro (note that it has limited operation on Fridays).

4) Private Drivers

If you want a more personal and regular service, people often get to know and make a verbal or written contract with a driver for daily work or school drop offs. It is quite common for working parents to use this option to help with school runs. In these cases, the driver would often pick up a nanny or helper first so they are accompanied in the car. This is a great option for consistency and peace of mind knowing that someone who you know and trust is driving your children.