Doing business
Expect Arabian etiquette and the pride of a fast-growing regional power in Doha, the capital of Qatar. There’s an unabashed international attitude here which means you may well find yourself rubbing shoulders with Australians, Americans and South Africans as well as Qataris, but the whole thing is done with efficiency and confidence. Visitors must be aware of Qatar’s quickly-changing place in the world and be ready to work.

Cool hotel
The Al-Bustan hotel (albustanhotel.info) is a small and popular boutique-style hotel which is a good option if you can squeeze in. Expect big, stylish rooms and black marble-clad corridors. Doubles start at £160.

Hip restaurant
On a sultry evening there’s nowhere better than Al-Bandar (albandarrestaurant.com) on the Corniche. This is a fun, informal place rather than an upmarket dining experience, but it's also a good place to try out local seafood delicacies.

Happening bar
Qatar is as resistant to conspicuous drinking as elsewhere in the Arabian Peninsula, but you can still get a drink in hotel bars should you really be in need of it.

If you’re not a guest you may need to become a member of the bar for a small fee. Take your lead from your host as it can be frowned upon for Qataris to be seen in bars. You may be better off having a coffee.

Getting there
The recent fast-paced growth of Qatar Airways has seen Doha International Airport stretch at the seams, and a new airport is due in 2011. Qatar Airways serves Doha from London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports; British Airways flies via Bahrain. Alternative one-stop options can often work out cheaper than direct flights.

Getting downtown
Doha International Airport is just under two miles from the city centre, making getting to your hotel a doddle. If you can’t persuade a contact to pick you up, a taxi to your hotel will cost around £3.

The details
Doha is the capital of Qatar, a country made up of a peninsula bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south-west, the United Arab Emirates to the south-east and the Arabian Gulf to the north. Qatar is poised to overtake Switzerland as the richest nation on earth thanks to its enormous natural gas reserves. The currency is the Rial, and there are 5.27 to the pound at the time of writing. Like other Arabian states it is two hours ahead of the UK, or three hours ahead in winter.

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