The desert nation of Qatar gets seriously hot – here’s how to cope and enjoy a more comfortable visit.

Qatar is hot and arid for most of the year | **oliverdelahaye / Shutterstock**

If you aren’t particularly clued up when it comes to geography, or indeed an expert when it comes to your Koppen Climate classifications, let’s just quickly establish that Qatar, and its main city, Doha, is an extremely hot chunk of arid desert slap bang in the middle of Arabian peninsula.

That means it gets seriously hot – to the point it can even be dangerous to do anything too strenuous outdoors. Summer temperatures regularly top 45°C during the day, with high humidity and next to no rain.

But, don’t let this put you off visiting. In this guide, we’ll navigate Qatar’s heat, discover the best times to visit, and some easy tips and tricks to prevent you from turning into a sweaty, dehydrated mess on your Qatar adventure!

A quick intro to Qatar’s weather

Doha registers temperatures above 40°C in the summer months | **vladivlad / Shutterstock**

With more than 3,400 hours of sunshine a year, Qatar doesn’t really do cloudy, grey days. The sun is almost omnipresent, blasting the sands during the day, with its heat lingering at night, especially in built-up areas like Doha.

Rain is extra-rare, with extreme downpours here and there in the winter months, and a flat 0mm recorded each July, and often August.

As Qatar is surrounded by the Persian Gulf, winds and the sea air bump up the humidity, meaning it can feel very stuffy, and sometimes hotter than it actually is.

And between March and September, the Shamal Winds whip up dust stroms and coat cars, windows and everything else in an ultra-fine layer of desert dust.

The hottest time of year

Qatar’s hottest months are June, July and August where temperatures rarely go below 30*C and regularly surpass 40°C. The country’s record temperature of 50.4°C in 2010 (yikes) may sound extreme, but super-hot high 40s days are becoming more common.

Top tips for handling the heat

Staying cool can be essential | **living-southafrica / Shutterstock**

The following top tips will help you to handle Qatar’s desert heat and stay safe in the sun.

Drink More Water Than You Usually Would

The desert and wildlife around you may only need 100mm of rain a year to get by, but you’re going to need to up your water intake way beyond what you may think is enough.

When temperatures start getting past about 30 degrees, you need to think about pushing the recommended two litres of water per day to at least three, four or maybe more if you’re doing anything strenuous. Monitor your bathroom breaks, and if you aren’t peeing every 2-3 hours minimum, you’ll need to drink more water!

If the thought of chugging boring old water doesn’t sound too appealing on your vacation, skip the fizzy drinks or alcohol and grab an AirUp bottle. This uses specially-designed capsules to ‘flavour’ the water just by using your sense of smell, so you can enjoy a sweet beverage without any calories!

Just remember it’s still possible to drink too much water, which is equally as dangerous, so listen to your body and get the balance right.

Dress to Stay Cool

Traditional Qatari clothing is loose-fitting with extra cooling layers | **Wanna Thongpao / Shutterstock**

It may be tempting to go for t-shirts, shorts or swimsuits (remember that in Qatar, moderate dress is essential in public areas for both men and women), but you’ll soon notice the locals do it differently. With intense heat, breathable layers can offer better cooling than relying on your skin to do all the work.

Grab light-coloured, loose-fitting clothes made from cotton or linen and cover up as much as you can – not just for modesty purposes, but to trap layers of air between you and the air around you. This trapped air offers better insulation than just bare skin, and you’ll likely end up sweating less as your clothing does all the hard work.

Play Out Early or Late

Souq Waqif is popular when the temperature dips at night | **SLSK Photography / Shutterstock**

Qatar’s highest UV ratings and highest temperatures usually occur between 10am and 4pm, so aim to squeeze in as much as possible at the start of the day,

Visit markets or the Mina District first thing before retreating to the pool or some air con, or head to the beach after 4pm when the sun’s rays aren’t as damaging.

Although nights can remain very hot and stuffy, you’ll usually find temperatures drop significantly as soon as the sun dips behind the horizon, so plan your strolls and exploration for evenings. Qatar is an exceptionally safe country so wandering at night is fairly risk-free.

Protect Yourself from the Sun

A wide-brimmed hat is essential in Qatar, as are a pair of high UV-rated sunglasses. However, you’ll really need to be on top of your sunscreen application and top ups, especially if visiting with your family.

UV levels can be extremely high between May and August, so seek shade during 10am and 4pm and maybe consider avoiding sunbathing altogether when the sun is at its highest.

Don’t Feel Guilty About Staying Indoors

The Mall of Qatar is packed with things to do – and is air conditioned | **SLSK Photography / Shutterstock**

Qataris are fully aware of the sapping heat, so there is plenty to see and do inside. Qatar has doubled down on the sweltering temperatures by building sprawling, air-conditioned shopping malls and a multitude of museums, galleries and indoor attractions where you can escape the sun.

Plan a trip to the National Museum of Qatar, where you can browse artefacts, artworks and exhibits with the cooling chill of air conditioning following you around. Or, if you prefer, shop at Doha Festival City or the Mall of Qatar where you don’t need to go outside to dine, watch a movie, go rock climbing or catch a live show.

If you’re travelling with kids, then Kidzmondo and Rush Action Park, both in the Mall of Qatar, are the perfect way to play and blow off steam without having to deal with UV rays and extreme temperature outdoors.

Visit in Winter

Clouds and cooler days are common in winter | **Photo Drive / Shutterstock**

Qatar does experience a slight dip in temperatures in the winter months (you may remember the Football World Cup being held in December to reduce heat stress on players), making it an ideal spot for winter sun without the sweltering heat.

You’ll find that days remain around the mid to low 20s in December, January and February, making it the ideal time to explore without breaking into a sweat after 10 steps. You may also find that, with this being the low season, hotel room rates and flights may dip slightly, so make sure you shop around for the best flight and hotel deals with Expedia, Booking,com or Google Flights.

Make Every Day a Pool or Beach Day

Shady, cool pools abound at Desert Falls Water & Adventure Park | **Q world / Shutterstock**

If you do end up visiting when the days and nights barely dip below 30°C, then make sure your hotel has a chunk of seafront or at least a pool to hop into when the mercury rises. Just remember to grab plenty of shade and apply waterproof sunscreen, as being cool in the pool doesn’t block out the sun’s rays!

Families should definitely check out Desert Falls Water & Adventure Park, with plenty of shady pool, water slides, rides and a lazy river to cool off in.

Don’t Walk

It may seem so wrong to take a taxi or transport short distances, but trust us, you don’t want to get halfway into your journey and start feeling dizzy from extreme heat. Taxis are relatively cheap and you can use your usual ride-hailing services.

Alternatively, the Qatar Metro is the slightly more sustainable option, and the stations and carriages are fully air conditioned.

Save your strolls for evenings or the winter months, if you have that luxury.

Rounding Up

Staying cool in Qatar | **SLSK Photography / Shutterstock**

Armed with these tips, your trip to Qatar will be a lot more comfortable regardless of the time of year you’re visiting. Just remember, extreme heat needs to be treated the same way as extreme cold, with the right preparation, right clothing and of course extra hydration and sun protection.