Do you need insurance for Qatar?
Russian citizens enter Qatar without a visa. It is best to check the permitted length of stay before the trip, as rules for foreigners may change.
The insurance situation has two sides. Qatar has a system of mandatory medical insurance for foreigners. A stay of more than 30 days requires a policy from an insurer registered with the Qatar Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), and it must be bought before the trip. Short tourist trips carry no such obligation: a regular travel policy is enough and is strongly recommended. Check how these rules apply before you travel.
A short trip or a long stay
Holiday, shopping, a weekend in Doha
If you are flying for a few days or a couple of weeks, a travel policy from a Russian insurance company covers the main risk: the cost of treatment. There are no sum requirements for tourists, but private medicine in Qatar is expensive, so the calculator offers USD 50,000 by default.
More than 30 days
If the trip lasts longer than a month, for example a business trip, a long visit to relatives or project work, find out in advance which policy will be required of you. The rule on an insurer registered with MOPH applies precisely to such periods. A regular travel policy is useful in this case as additional protection, but whether it meets the local requirement is decided by the Qatari authorities, so check the conditions before the trip.
Transit via Doha
Many Russians come to Qatar not as a final destination but on a connection: Doha is a convenient hub on the way to Asia, Africa and other regions. Choosing the right territory is important here.
- If you do not leave the airport, the destination of your final trip remains the main one in the policy.
- If you take a stopover and go into the city for a day or several days, include Qatar in the insurance territory.
- For a complex route through several countries, the Worldwide territory is more convenient, and for frequent flights with connections in Doha, consider an annual policy.
On long connections the flight delay and baggage options are useful: a suitcase may fall behind during a transfer.
Risks worth remembering
Heat. Qatar is hot for most of the year, especially in summer. Heatstroke, dehydration and flare-ups of chronic conditions due to the heat are real reasons to see a doctor. Travellers with chronic illnesses should add the option covering their acute flare-ups.
Air conditioning and colds. A sharp change from the street heat to chilled shopping centres, the metro and hotels often ends in a cold, a sore throat or an ear infection. Such cases are usually covered by the medical part of the policy.
Cost of treatment. Private clinics in Qatar are expensive, and even a short hospital stay can cost a lot. So the sum insured here should not be chosen at the minimum.
Active leisure. Jeep rides over the dunes, water sports and diving in the Persian Gulf require the active leisure option.
How to choose the sum insured and programme
For Qatar the calculator offers USD 50,000 by default. It is a sensible starting point given the expensive private medicine. For families with children and older travellers it makes sense to look at programmes with a higher limit. A policy without a deductible is more convenient: you will not have to pay extra for every doctor's visit. The most commonly useful options are emergency dental care, baggage, flight delay, chronic conditions and personal liability.
If you are travelling around the region, also see the pages about insurance for the UAE and for Saudi Arabia. All destinations are collected in the travel insurance section.
What to do in an insured event
- Call the assistance company on the phone number in your policy before seeing a doctor, if your condition allows.
- Follow the operator's instructions: you will be referred to a clinic where treatment has been approved. Do not pay yourself without approval.
- Keep all medical documents, invoices and receipts.
The detailed procedure is described in the Insured event section.
How to buy insurance for Qatar online
On polisre.ru the policy is purchased through the Cherehapa service (Polis Re's partner). You compare offers from 16 insurance companies in the calculator, choose a programme and options, enter travellers' details in Latin letters exactly as in their international passports, and pay. The policy is issued by the insurance company you choose and is sent to your e-mail. Some insurers have programmes for people who are already travelling; check the conditions (for example, a waiting period) in the calculator.