There are no area codes.

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone operators. Mobile phone use is pretty much a national addiction; coverage is excellent.

There are plenty of internet cafes in Doha.

The Qatari media industry is most famous for the TV News channel Al-Jazeera, which launched in 1996. Al-Jazeera English, a 24/7 English language news channel launched in 2006, was estimated to reach 250 million homes worldwide by 2011. Like all Qatari state media, it is owned by the government. And while there has been no censorship of the media since 1995, print and broadcast media tend to self-censor, and rarely criticise Qatar, Saudi Arabia or other Gulf allies.

The main newspapers are privately owned, but still have links to the ruling family. The main dailies are Al-Watan, Ar-Rayah and Al-Sharq, while the main English language newspapers are Gulf Times, The Peninsula and Qatar Tribune. As the expat population of Doha has grown, listings magazines have been launched, including Time Out Doha and Qatar Happening, both free. These are the best places for cultural listings and what’s going on in the city.

Unlike most countries, print media in Qatar is expanding. Oryx Advertising is a major magazine publisher, with titles including Qatar Today and Qatar Al Youm, monthly business magazines (in English and Arabic respectively). It also publishes Women Today, the only magazine for working women and GLAM, a fashion magazine.

The Qatar Broadcasting Service is the state-run radio station, offering programmes in Arabic, English, French and Urdu. The BBC World Service can be received on FM in Doha.

Airmail to Europe takes up to one week.

Sun-Thurs 0700-2000, Sat 0800-1100 and 1700-1900.