The Qatar Ministry of Health has placed the UK and several other European countries on its travel red list for inbound arrivals, with foreign visitors from these nations subject to quarantine requirements regardless of vaccination status.

The new rules went into effect on 15 November and apply to arrivals from 21 countries including Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey and the UK, as well as Barbados, Brunei, Ethiopia, Iran, Mongolia, Palestine, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Syria and the UAE.

Vaccinated foreign visitors to Qatar are now subject to two days¡¯ quarantine in a hotel on arrival. Travellers must also obtain a negative PCR test result 72 hours prior to arrival and must take another PCR test on arrival at their quarantine hotel.

Unvaccinated visitors are required to quarantine in a hotel for seven days and will only be released if the result of a PCR test taken on day six of isolation is negative. They will also need a negative PCR test result within 72 hours of arrival.

All hotel quarantine stays must be booked through the Discover Qatar website.

The change was confirmed by the UK¡¯s Foreign Office, though no reason has been given by Qatar for placing these countries on its red list.

The Foreign Office also said that ¡°although we understand the UK¡¯s proof of Covid recovery and vaccination status is being accepted in practice, Qatar has not yet officially confirmed this¡±. It has recommended passengers contact their nearest Qatari embassy for more advice on entry requirements.