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With the summer holiday season underway, many expatriates in Qatar are preparing to travel to neighboring countries or to their home countries by road as a more affordable alternative to air travel or simply to enjoy the journey. Before setting off, motorists are advised to familiarize themselves with the Ministry of Interior's regulations governing vehicle exits, traffic fines and vehicle re-entry to avoid delays or legal penalties. Here are the key rules issued by the General Directorate of Traffic: Vehicle exit permits Motor vehicles leaving Qatar for destinations outside the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) must obtain an exit permit from the General Directorate of Traffic. Applicants must: Ensure the vehicle has no outstanding traffic violations. Specify the final destination (point of arrival). Be the vehicle owner or provide proof of the owner's authorization for the vehicle to leave the country. How to apply for a vehicle exit permit via Metrash Motorists can apply for a vehicle exit permit through the Metrash application by following these steps: Open the Metrash application. Go to Traffic Services. Select Vehicles. Choose the Vehicle Exit Permit service. Enter or select the vehicle registration number for which the permit is required. Complete the required information, including specifying the driver if someone other than the owner will be driving the vehicle and the final destination. Ensure all eligibility requirements have been met, then tap Submit Application. GCC travel exemption Vehicles travelling to any GCC member state are exempt from the exit permit requirement, provided: The vehicle has no outstanding traffic violations. It is driven by the owner or a person authorized by the owner. Goods transport vehicles are also exempt from the exit permit requirement. Outstanding traffic fines Motorists with unpaid traffic fines will not be allowed to leave Qatar through any land, air or sea border crossing until all outstanding violations have been settled. Payments can be made through: The Metrash application. The Ministry of Interior website. Traffic departments. Unified Services Centres. Returning to Qatar Vehicles travelling abroad under an exit permit must return before the permit expires. The permit may be renewed for additional periods if necessary. Failure to comply with the regulations may result in legal action, including the administrative impoundment of the vehicle for up to 90 days. Vehicle registration rules The registration of a Qatari-registered vehicle located outside the country cannot be renewed unless it undergoes a technical inspection within Qatar. If the registration is not renewed within the legal 30-day grace period after its expiry, the owner must surrender the vehicle's licence plates to the General Directorate of Traffic. Failure to return the licence plates may result in referral to the Public Prosecution under the Traffic Law, which provides for penalties of: Imprisonment ranging from one week to one year. A fine of between QR3,000 and QR10,000. Or both penalties.

Qatar Toy Festival returns this year bigger than ever, with the introduction of new zones and experiences. The festival, organised by Qatar Calendar in collaboration with Spacetoon Group under the theme “More to Imagine, A Whole World of Fun”, will take place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) from 1 to 31 July. This year’s edition focuses on delivering innovative, family-friendly activities, as part of Visit Qatar’s “Hala Summer” campaign. The festival spans more than 22,000 square meters across four halls, featuring a diverse range of zones and activities designed to offer a comprehensive experience for all family members. Among the festival’s major new attractions is the Studio Zone, featuring immersive experiences inspired by globally beloved franchises, including Zootopia, Toy Story, Winnie the Pooh, and SpongeBob SquarePants. Another new addition is the Inflatables Zone, offering a variety of large-scale inflatable attractions designed to encourage active play and family participation. Following its success in 2025, the Young Adult Zone returns with an expanded footprint and enhanced line-up of experiences tailored to older children and teenagers. Highlights include the Football Activation and Teen Titans Obstacle Course, alongside interactive experiences inspired by Poppy Playtime and PUBG Mobile. The Girls Zone will immerse visitors in a world of Disney magic, featuring the Mickey Mouse and Friends experience alongside the returning Lilo & Stitch attraction, enhanced this year with advanced visual effects. The Boys Zone will feature action-packed adventures inspired by globally recognised brands, including Tetris, Pac-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Naruto, Hot Wheels, and Spider-Man, complemented by a dedicated gaming area. Younger visitors can enjoy the Preschool Zone, a safe and engaging environment designed specifically for early learners, featuring an interactive Paw Patrol adventure that takes children on fun-filled rescue missions and imaginative journeys. The main stage in Hall 04 will serve as the festival’s central entertainment destination, designed as a fully immersive space that combines light, sound, and motion. The stage will host a wide range of events, including concerts, licensed character performances, and competitions, creating memorable moments for visitors throughout the festival. Adding to the excitement, the festival is launching an exclusive new line of merchandise and collectibles inspired by the festival's characters. This includes mystery blind boxes containing rare editions and limited designs, offering visitors the chance to take home unique souvenirs. In addition to the festival’s wide range of attractions, the Qatar Toy Festival Summer Camp returns this year with a specially designed programme for children aged 4 to 12, taking place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) from 5 to 30 July. Operating daily from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM throughout the festival, the camp offers a dynamic and structured mix of educational and recreational activities, including art and design workshops, science experiments led by Science Street, interactive play sessions with beloved characters, obstacle courses, and movement-based games. The camp accommodates up to 150 children across different age groups and is priced at QAR 750 per week or QAR 2,000 for the full month. Spaces are limited. To book a spot and secure tickets visit https://visitqatar.com/intl-en/events-calendar/qatar-toy-festival.

Doha, June 17 - Qatar Tourism (QT) officially launched the fourth edition of the Qatar Tourism Awards. The Qatar Tourism Awards is an initiative by Qatar Tourism, developed in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), to recognize individuals and businesses across Qatar's tourism and hospitality sector for their outstanding contributions to service excellence. Chief of the Tourism Development Sector at Qatar Tourism Omar Abdulrahman Al Jaber said: "The Qatar Tourism Awards have become an important platform for recognizing the individuals and organizations that contribute to delivering exceptional tourism experiences across Qatar. Since its launch, the program has continued to evolve and expand year after year, reflecting the growth and increasing competitiveness of Qatar's tourism sector. Through our continued partnership with UN Tourism, we remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency, credibility, and excellence while encouraging innovation and continuous development across the sector." Director of International Development and Cooperation at UN Tourism Jaime I. Mayaki said: "UN Tourism is proud to deepen its strategic partnership with Qatar Tourism as the Qatar Tourism Awards continue to expand their reach, influence and regional significance. Together, we are consolidating a leading platform for excellence, one that celebrates outstanding achievements, advances best practices across the sector, and contributes to a more competitive, inclusive and sustainable tourism future for Qatar and the wider region." In line with its efforts to further enhance accessibility and improve the applicant experience, Qatar Tourism has launched a new Qatar Tourism Awards application portal developed in collaboration with Hayya Platform. The new platform offers a streamlined application journey, simplified profile creation, improved navigation, and enhanced user experience, enabling applicants to manage submissions more efficiently throughout the Awards cycle. Applications will undergo an initial assessment conducted jointly by Qatar Tourism and UN Tourism, followed by a final evaluation by an independent panel of local and international experts. The panel members will be announced at a later stage to ensure transparency and fairness throughout the process. To support prospective applicants, Qatar Tourism will organize a series of educational workshops throughout the application period, providing guidance on profile creation, registration requirements, submission criteria, and best practices for completing applications. Throughout the Awards cycle, applicants will also be able to access support and submit inquiries through Qatar Tourism's existing 106 contact centers. Winners of the fourth edition of the Qatar Tourism Awards will be announced at an official awards ceremony to be held later this year, as part of Qatar Tourism's ongoing efforts to support excellence across the tourism sector and recognize impactful contributions that enhance Qatar's position as a leading global tourism destination To apply follow the link https://www.qatartourism.com/en/qatar-tourism-awards Create account and fill the application and good luck!

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