If you’ve noticed a touristic boom in Qatar lately, it’s because it’s true! Qatar has been shining in 2025, welcoming more than 1.5 million international visitors in just the first three months of the year! With its vibrant lineup of events, strong global partnerships and a perfect mix of cultural, urban, and coastal experiences, Qatar’s tourism strategy is clearly doing something right. From scenic desert escapes to major festivals in the heart of Doha, there’s something for every traveler and the world is taking notice.

 

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Regional Travelers and Eid Holiday Take the Spotlight

The Gulf region continues to lead the charge, with visitors from GCC countries making up 36% of total arrivals. Europe followed at 28%, while Asia and Oceania contributed 20%. Qatar’s accessibility played a key role — more than half of the visitors arrived by air, while 34% came by land and 15% by sea. The Eid Al Fitr holiday was a major moment, pulling in over 214,000 visitors in just eight days — the highest figure in three years and a 26% jump from 2024. Nearly half of those visitors came from the GCC, and hotel occupancy soared to 77%, reflecting a 10% year-on-year increase.

Events, Experiences and a Thriving Cruise Scene

Big-name events have definitely been bringing the buzz to Qatar! Web Summit Qatar, the Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition (DJWE), and the Qatar International Food Festival all pulled in huge crowds — DJWE alone welcomed nearly 30,000 visitors and racked up over QAR 246 million in sales! Hotels were packed too, selling 2.6 million room nights with a solid 71% occupancy rate. And it wasn’t just the city that was buzzing — Ras Abrouq’s desert activation and Sealine Village were total hits, drawing tens of thousands of adventure-seekers. Oh, and let’s not forget the cruise scene — with 87 ship calls and over 360,000 cruise visitors (including five brand-new maiden voyages!), Qatar is really sailing ahead as a top regional hub.