Foreign Office updates warning to Brits travelling to popular destination

The Foreign Office has updated a travel alert, directing those jetting off to Qatar for holidaying to be aware that if convicted people could face a very different processes and laws to those in the UK. 

Officials have previously flagged up “very poor” road discipline and high incidence of traffic accidents in the Gulf state.

The advice particularly concerns UK motorists who might visit the Middle Eastern destination, with its appealing resort cities like Doha. It mentions that vehicles there generally move at alarmingly high speeds and mishaps are not unusual.

Adding to this note of caution, the advisory specifies that anyone involved in any kind of vehicular accident while in Qatar must remain with their vehicle until law enforcement arrives on the scene. The only exemption to this requirement is if no injuries were sustained in the incident – then the vehicle can be relocated to a safer location.

The official travel guidance from the Foreign Office regarding Qatar states: “Road discipline is very poor; speeds are high and accidents are common. If you have an accident, stay with your vehicle until the police arrive and tell you that you can leave.”

Continuing the advisory, it says: “It’s illegal to leave the scene of the accident, but if no one has been injured and it’s safe to do so, you can move your vehicle to a safer place. You’ll need to get a police report for insurance purposes,” reports the Manchester Evening News.

Lastly, it explains that “accident investigation processes and punishments for violations may be different to the UK.”

Brits have been advised to exercise caution when choosing their mode of transport in the desert, with recommendations emphasising the necessity for a “properly-equipped 4×4 vehicle”. While traversing the desert, Brits are also urged to travel in convoys with other vehicles, ensure they have an ample supply of water, a functioning mobile phone, and keep friends or family informed of their travel plans.

Standard driving laws in Qatar stipulate that both drivers and passengers must wear seat belts at all times and refrain from using a mobile phone while behind the wheel. Failure to adhere to these rules can result in fines of 500 riyals (just over £100).

To avoid breaching Qatari driving regulations, the Foreign Office advises: “Check the Metrash2 app before attempting to leave the country, which lists any outstanding traffic violations. If you have an unresolved violation, you could be detained at immigration and denied onward travel. Fines for all violations should be settled in full prior to your journey.”

Drinking and driving is strictly prohibited and carries severe penalties, including a prison sentence ranging from one month to three years, as well as a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 riyals (approximately £2,100 to £10,500 respectively).