Moving to Quatar - any customs restrictions?
I am considering taking a job offer at QP and moving to Quatar in May 2009. Are there any restriction on what we can bring (CDs, movies, books?) ?
Does customs go through your container or suitases the way Saudi does (or used to do) ? Any advice and insight will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
As an English man, you will feel it like home as multi communities live here with peace and harmony.
Most of the stuff required to live happily and comfortably at home is available in Qatar, my suggestion to you is to travel as light as you can and this in return will avoid any surprises (if any) with the custom regulations...
Once you develop the taste of this place you can keep recovering the short comings.
Welcome again !!!
They scan all your cases before you go through customs to check for things.
Others have already mentioned the other things pork alcohol etc - dont make the mistake of buying it in duty free.
I dont know of any westerners have been pulled for full baggage inspection, and if they had anything taken off them.
What about downloaded music CD's? I also travel with a portable hard drive which i have movies on? Will i get in trouble for carrying those?
Nothing is more relaxing than flying like an Eagle in Heaven !!
no prok no alcohol no guns no drugs watsoever! welcome to the 3rd world :)
No pork, no porn, no pirated stuff, no drugs, no alcohol (you can buy it IN the country though), no anti Islam books, etc...
@tallg, sometimes they do check, for one event I had a bunch of cds brought over and they kept them for two weeks to check.
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Mr. Q's Blog - A Qatari's view on Qatar.
I've only ever known them check for booze at the airport customs. I've brought over stacks of DVDs and CDs and books in hand luggage and never once had it checked. Ditto my laptop.
nothing is checked besides booze.
Aana free, jaana free,
Pakde gaye tho khana free.
OK, so customs will go through your stuff when your container arrives. What about when you arrive at the airport: does customs go through your luggage, laptop etc? I usually carry a bunch of DVDs and a book or two with me, because I travel quite a bit.
I am just trying to set this in perspective. I have worked in Malaysia and Indonesia, both Islamic countries, but never had to open my luggage or turn on my laptop while crossing the border.
What is considered porn by Quatari border customs? I am not talking about obivous X-rated things, but what about movies like "The Unbearable Lightness Of Being" or "Eyes Wide Shut"?
as basis and you'll breeze through customs. Welcome to Qatar! :)
and you will be fine. NO pornography at all. And yes, they will go through your stuff. Not always, but you can never be sure. They kept all our videos for approximately 2 weeks longer than the rest of our stuff. Never did get our Little mermaid tape back. I guess her bikini didn't meet the decency standards LOL!