Infrastructure

Transportation Communications

Total: 1,230 km Paved: 1,107 km Unpaved: 123 km (1999 est.) Ports and harbors: Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id (Musay'id).

Merchant marine

Total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 525,051 GRT/772,635 DWT Foreign-owned: 6 (Kuwait 6) (2005) By type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 5, container 8, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1

International Airport

Doha International Airport offers top-level service and security to visitors from around the world, and the recently completed renovations to the multi-million dollar terminal further enhance the services available to regional and international travelers. Friendly and efficient staff is available to assist as you make your way into Qatar or catch connecting flights to many global destinations.

Twenty-two airlines presently operate through Doha International Airport, which also serves as the hub for Qatar Airways. With 44 check-in desks, eight gates, three baggage-claim belts, as well as many other services including large parking areas, banks, cafeterias, car rental agencies, and gift shop.

Doha International Airport has everything you will need during your travels located in Doha International Airport is the 1500 square metro, bright and spacious Duty Free Shop offering gifts for the international travelers. Electronics, cosmetics, wines, spirits, tobacco, and food items can be purchased with assistance from the 100 trained multilingual staff. Over 10,000 products are available including many luxury gifts and souvenir items designed from brass, onyx, and wood.

Construction will begin in Qatar on the new state-of-the art Doha International Airport. When completed, it will have two parallel runways and an estimated capacity to handle and process nearly 12 million passengers every year. The terminal will have 24 contact gates in the first phase and will accommodate up to six A380-800 Super Jumbos when fully developed. The complex will also include three high-star classification hotels for the convenience of visitors. When the new airport opens, it will position Qatar as a leading regional aviation hub. The 2,200-hectare airport site will be developed in three stages with onsite work to start during 2004 and final completion of the ultimate development scheduled for 2015. Until the new airport is opened, the existing airport will be significantly upgraded to handle the increase in passenger growth.

Qatar's modern telecommunications system is centered in Doha. Its elements include:

• 215 telephones in use per 1000 persons
• Troposphere scatter to Bahrain
• Microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and the UAE
• Submarine cable to Bahrain and the UAE
• Satellite earth stations o 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT o 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT o 1 ARABSAT
• 2 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV broadcast stations