Camping in Qatar During COVID-19

During winter in Qatar, camping trips are an ideal getaway especially as most people are staying in the country with travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The 2020–21 winter camping season began in October 2020 and will continue until March 2021.

Private Camps

The registration for the five-month-long winter camping season opened on 14 October and continued until 31 December 2020. Campers registered electronically through the Municipality and Environment (MME) website mme.gov.qa and its mobile app, Aoun, as well as through government service centres operating across the country. According to MME, at least 2,400 camps were booked in the 2020–21 winter camping season. 

A total of 17 areas are included, such as Sealine, Al Shamal, Zubara, Dukhan, Zekreet, Al Khor, Khor Al Adaid, Al Waab, Fuwairit, Al Mazrooah, Al Ghariya and more.

Registration for the 2020–21 winter camping season opened in phases. Registration for camp sites in Al Shamal, Al Ghashamiyah, Sealine, Ras Matbakh, Arida, Zekreet, Al Naqiyan, Al Kharara, Ashiraj, Al Sariyah, and Umm Al Maa opened during Phase 1. Applicants pay QAR10,000 as security, which will be refunded after the camping season. The regular charges in Al Shamal, Al Ghashamiyah, and Al Naqiyan are QAR3,000. Campers interested in Ras Matbakh, Arida, Zekreet, Sealine, Ashiraj, and Umm Al Maa will have to pay QAR10,000. The camping period in these areas for Phase 1 runs from 13 October 2020 to 28 March 2021. 

Registration for camp sites in Al Reem Reserve, Al Marona, Al Mazrooah, Umm Al Aafa’i, Al Hasham, Abu Zahlof, Al Zubara, Al Udaid, Al Khuraij South, and Bu Samra opened during Phase 2. Applicants will have to pay QAR3,000 for camping in Al Mazrooah, Umm Al Aafa’i, and Al Hasham. However, those who want to camp in Al Reem Reserve, Al Marona, Abu Zahlof, Al Zubara, Al Udaid, Al Khuraij South, and Bu Samra pay QAR10,000 as charges in addition to QAR10,000 refundable security money. Camping season for Phase 2 runs from 16 October 2020 to 4 April 2021.  

Registration for Phase 3 camping began on 18 October for camping in Rawdat Rashed, Rawdat Aisha, Al Khor, Al Waab, Imgaitna, Al Ghariya, Al Mufair, Ras Al Nouf, Al Otouriyah, Al Sane’ah, and Al Rees West.  

Phase 3 applicants will be charged QAR3,000 for camping in Rawdat Rashed, Rawdat Aisha,
Al Khor, Al Waab, Imgaitna, Otouryah, Al Sane’ah, and Al Rees West. Campers who register for
Al Ghariya, Al Mufair and Ras Al Nouf will have to pay QAR10,000 as charges in addition to the refundable security money. Camping season for Phase 3 began on 20 October 2020 and will conclude on 8 April 2021. 

Applicants should be Qatari citizens aged 25 or above, and should adhere strictly to camping terms and conditions, and follow environmental protection laws. 

All these areas are still open to the public with beaches and entertainment for all. In addition to the imposed restrictions of COVID-19, MME has introduced measures against violators to protect and clean the environment in cooperation with working observers. In addition, MME has launched the Best Camp Award as an incentive aimed at pushing the camps to preserve the environment. 

Individual camping

Sealine or Mesaieed Beach

Home to the Sealine Beach Resort, a Murwab Resort and Qatar’s popular sand dunes, Sealine or Mesaieed is the most popular desert and beach destination in winter and throughout the year. It’s also the most popular destination for camping with most tourist or adventure companies setting up camp there. 

This is where people can spend a day, or a night or more to enjoy the outdoors by swimming, sand duning or bashing, bonfires, barbecues and more.

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) opened its medical clinic at Sealine on 31 October 2020 in time for the 2020-21 winter camping season. Operating for the 10th year, the easily-accessible Sealine Medical Clinic is located on a main road adjacent to the busy beach, resort, mosque, shopping area, and other services and amenities in the area. 

The fleet is ready to respond to all emergency calls from campers in the Sealine resort and surrounding areas during the camping season. 

The new 4×4 ambulances have been modified to cope with the special terrain in the Sealine and surrounding areas, to enable them to reach patients safely and swiftly.

The clinic will operate from 3 pm on Thursday until 5 pm on Saturday throughout the camping season and will remain open until at least the end of March 2021. 

Camping during COVID-19

It is mandatory for all campers to download and activate Ehteraz mobile app and not allow anyone without the app or ‘green’ status to be in the camp. 

The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has issued COVID-19 precautionary measures for winter camping season 2020-21, banning the entry of infected or suspected cases of coronavirus in camps.

Do’s

• Campers should follow the guidelines and policies related to the prevention and preventive measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, including maintaining social distancing, and wearing face masks. 

• Campers should take suspected people with COVID-19 symptoms to health centres designated for that category as soon as symptoms appear.

• Campers have also been directed to follow rules regarding the size of the gathering determined according to the area and the nature of the place and in line with COVID-19 restrictions.

• As per the rules and regulations, camps should have numbers, which are issued by MME. The numbers should be displayed prominently in at least A4 size. Campers are required to show their licenses to the inspectors whenever needed and allow them to inspect the premises to ensure compliance with rules and regulations.

• Campers should also strictly adhere to provisions of laws and ministerial decisions, especially those related to protecting the environment.

• Campers should maintain necessary hygiene and preserve marine and coastal environment. 

• Campers should cooperate with patrolling units. The licensee of the camp bears full responsibility for the camp, and the safety and security of people and properties inside the camp. In addition, there should be security guards at large camps.

Don’ts

• Campers should also not rent their camps to other individuals.

• People infected with COVID-19, those coming in direct contact with coronavirus patients or showing symptoms, and those awaiting the results of their screening tests are not allowed to camp, as per the safety procedures issued by the health authorities.

• It is prohibited to use camps to quarantine or isolate infected people or those coming in contact with infected persons or suspected cases. The license issued to a camper is for personal use and it is not allowed to rent the location of camp or give it to someone else. It is also prohibited to use the camp for other activities or using materials which are harmful to the environment. 

MME has the right to carry out inspections to ensure compliance with prescribed precautionary measures.