I. Venue
II. Hotels
III. Education City
IV. Where to Visit
V. About Qatar
I. Venue
The 17th World Congress of Bioethics will be hosted at Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC). QNCC offers a range of amenities including pick-up and drop-off dedicated area, nearby metro station, free Wi-Fi service and accessible wheelchair entrance and facilities.
Getting There
From the Airport
Once you arrive at Hamad International Airport, QNCC is a 25 min drive. If you plan to drive, simply head West from the airport and follow the F Ring Road, then Doha Express Highway. Turn to Al Amir Street and finally Al Luqta Street to QNCC. You may also take the metro at Hamad International Airport metro station and follow the directions below to QNCC.
By Metro
QNCC is accessible via the Metro Green Line service. Exit at Qatar National Library (QNL) Metro station. Once you have arrived at the station, proceed to walk through the underground tunnel for approximately 11 minutes, following the signs directing to QNCC exit. All metro stations in Doha are air-conditioned and fully wheelchair accessible. A single ride on the metro costs 2 Riyals (€0.50). Riders will need to buy a metro card (10 Riyal, €2.50), that can be topped up using cash or card. Tickets and metro cards can be purchased across all Qatar Metro Stations.
You can download Qatar Rail, the official mobile app for Qatar’s state-of-the-art rail network that has all the information to get around Doha by metro or tram (available on iOS and Android).
By Car
QNCC is embedded within Education city and can easily be accessed by car. QNCC has a dedicated a public pickup and drop-off area. You can drive with a non-Qatari license and rent a car if you are 25 and above and have held a valid driving license for at least 12 months. All traffic signs are bilingual in English and Arabic, and drivers drive on the right-side of the road. Note that driving without a license is a criminal offence. For more information, Driving in Qatar.
By Taxi
Taxis (called Karwa taxi) can easily be recognized by their Turquoise-colored vehicles. All taxis are metered and operate 24/7, and you can pay by bank card, mobile payment or cash. Karwa taxis can be ordered or pre-booked through the Karwa Taxi App (available on iOS and Android), or by phone (+974) 800 8294. Karwa taxis can accommodate people with disabilities and/or limited mobility. To book, call Mowasalat directly on (+974) 4458 8888, providing as much advance notice as possible.
Uber and Careem are widely used in Doha and accepts payment by cash or card. Book using their apps, which are available for iOS and Android.
We strongly advise transportation via train, bus, Karwa taxi or Uber. Avoid taking rides with strangers offering paid rides without official affiliation with Karwa or Uber.
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II. Hotels
For participants joining us in-person in Qatar, we highly advise making hotel reservations as early as possible as prices tend to increase closer to the date of booking.
Below, you will find a list of nearby hotels to Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), where the congress will take place. Hotel reservations can be made through the hotel website, or third-party booking platforms such as Booking.com.
For proximity, below are the closest hotels to QNCC:
**Kindly note that this is a provisional list that is subject to change as we are working on securing discounted rates for congress attendees.
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III. Education City
Exploring Education City
The 17th World Congress of Bioethics is hosted at Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), situated at the heart of Education City. Here are some recommendations of surrounding facilities, buildings, restaurants and cafés. Running through the Education City is a free-of-charge tram for a comfortable commute and tour of its landmarks.
Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar
Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar (WCM-Q) is the first American medical school established outside the United States. It hosts biomedical research programs and labs focusing on various areas including biostatistics, epidemiological research, genomics, organ transplant, bioinformatics, women’s health, and AI in medicine.
Sidra
Sidra Medicine is a state-of-the-art facility committed to providing women and children in Qatar with world-class tertiary healthcare services. Sidra specializes in maternity, gynecology and reproductive medical services as well as precision medicine using whole genome sequencing, zebra fish modeling and immunophenotyping.
Qatar National Library
Qatar National Library is a research library and a manuscript heritage library situated at the center of Education City. It can be easily accessed via underground tunnel at the opposite exit of QNCC at Qatar National Library metro station. It has more than one million books in its collections along with more than 500,000 e-books, periodicals and newspapers. For more information check QNL Visit Qatar.
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
Mathaf is home to a unique collection of modern and contemporary art bringing local and global perspectives to conversations on art and society. Situated within Education City, Mathaf is a 7-min car ride from QNCC.
Café and Restaurants
Safahat Coffee Bar and Bakehouse
Safahat is located in Qatar National Library (QNL) and can easily be reached through QNL station tunnel across from QNCC. It offers freshly baked goods and specialty brewed coffee.
Multaqa (Education City Student Centre)
The Multaqa is the student Centre hub of education city, housing a variety of options for lunch, a hot meal or coffee. Including Flat White Café, Graze, Zaat’ar w Zeit and Papa John’s pizza.
Chef’s Garden
Chef’s garden offers delicious meals made from locally sourced ingredients, bringing the farm-to-table concept right to the heart of education city.
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IV. Where to Visit
Touristic Attractions
Souq Waqif
For an authentic experience of Doha, visit Souq Waqif to be immersed in the traditional Qatari history, with its mud-daubed buildings, authentic Arabic food, gold souq, falcon souq, camels and horses and shop-lined alleyways. To make the best of your time, here are 12 things to-do in Souq Waqif.
The Pearl-Qatar
The Pearl is a man-made island featuring Mediterranean-style yacht-lined marinas, villas, hotels, water cannel and vibrant food scenery. It is the meeting point of European style and Middle Eastern flair, culminating at Porto Arabia with its restaurants featuring marina view.
Katara
Katara is the cultural village of Doha, including an array of museums, galleries and public art. Settled between the financial district of West Bay and the half-moon towers of the Pearl. Highlights include the Gold Mosque and Katara Mosque, which was designed by Zeynap Fadilloglu – the first female architect to specialize in mosques. It is also home to a classic Greek style Amphitheatre, and the luxurious Galeries Lafayette open-sky shopping mall.
Msheireb Downtown
Msheireb is the first sustainable downtown regeneration project globally, uniquely distinguished by its modern yet simple architecture, variety of dining options and spacious courtyard. Embedded within Msheireb Downtown are Msheireb Museums, a series of four museums celebrating Qatar’s history and its people’s diversity of origin and cultures.
For information on adventures in Qatar, including safari, scuba diving, rock climbing, skydiving and kitesurfing check Visit Qatar Adventures.
Arts and Culture
Qatar is well on its way to becoming a beacon of art and culture in the region, as well as on the wider canvas of the world. Below are a few suggestions for museums worth exploring during your short visit to Doha, from traditional Islamic craft and historical objects to modern and contemporary art.
National Museum of Qatar
The iconic National Museum of Qatar is a must-visit, with its desert-rose architectural structure and diverse galleries bridging local history with contemporary art.
Museum of Islamic Art
Qatar’s Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) is globally recognized as one of the world’s greatest collections of Islamic Art, hosting masterpieces from three continents and over 1,400 years.
Fire Station Gallery
Fire Sation Gallery is Doha’s leading contemporary art space and supporter of creative residencies. It is committed to supporting artists, curators and the wider public. It includes extensive studios and workspaces, a fabrication lab, Café #999, Cass Art and gallery spaces housing local and international art exhibitions.
For further details check Qatar Museums and Galleries.
Research Centers
Qatar Biobank
Qatar Biobank is a long-term health initiative launched by Qatar with the aim of utilizing research to reduce chronic illnesses and improving the health of future generations through biomedical research. Qatar Biobank was established in collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation and the Ministry of Public Health, it also received the support of Imperial College London.
Qatar Genome Program
Qatar Genome Program (QGP) is a nation-wide population-based research project that aims to study the genetic makeup of the Qatari and Arab population to develop precision medicine and personalized healthcare.
Qatar Biomedical Research Institute
Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) is a leading research institute focusing on stem cells, structural biology, flow cytometry, advanced microscopy and imaging, and clinical research core. QBRI has also established three research centers: Diabetes Research Center, Cancer Research Center and Neurological Disorders Research Center.
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V. About Qatar
The State of Qatar is one of the safest, modern, culturally diverse and continuously developing countries in the Middle East. Qatar has earned the number one rank for “Safest Country in the World” on the Numbeo Crime Index for two consecutive years in 2021 and 2022. It is a proud host of the 2022 World Cup, Expo 2023 and is home to Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel and Qatar Foundation’s Education City. A pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030 is to create a safe, secure and stable society based on effective institutions. Qatar prides itself in its tolerance, openness and constructive sociocultural dialogues within the context of its Arab and Islamic roots. For more information check Visit Qatar.
Climate
Qatar enjoys warm days all year round, with the temperature ranging between 77-120 F/25 - 48 C in the summer with cooler temperatures prevailing in the evenings. The heat is eased by air-conditioned amenities, buildings and transportation system. Indoor shopping is advised in the morning, while evenings can be spent in outdoor exploration of Souq Waqif, Doha Corniche, Msheireb Downtown and the Pearl-Qatar, which are particularly well-suited to pedestrians with many museums and sights to explore.
Currency
The Qatari Riyal is the official currency of the country with a fixed exchange rate of $1USD=3.65 QAR/ €1=3.83 QAR. All major establishments accept credit cards such as VISA, Master Card, and some may accept U.S Dollars/Euros.
Language
The official language of Qatar is Arabic, but English is the prevailing lingua franca across Doha, especially in formal, business and academic settings.
Culture and Dress Code
Qatar is home to many expats coming from various ethnic, linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Qatar is known for its diversity and welcoming nature, with hospitality being a cornerstone of local culture. Visitors can wear their clothing of choice and are expected to dress in a style that is respectful of the local culture. Modest clothing is recommended, where shoulders and knees are usually covered when visiting public places. Swimwear is commonly worn at hotel beaches and pools.
In business and formal settings, men usually shake hands. Male business associates will shake the hand of a female business associate if she extends her hand first. If a person places their hand on their heart, it is a sign of greeting in preference over handshaking. Public displays of affection are not part of the local culture but making new friends and enjoying mixed gatherings is.
For further information on Qatar’s culture, kindly check Weill-Cornell’s dedicated page and Qatar 2022 cultural awareness.
Alcohol
Alcohol is served in licensed restaurants, bars and hotels. Drinking alcohol outside of designated areas is prohibited as well as bringing alcohol into the State of Qatar. Visitors should avoid travelling with alcohol from their country of origin or purchasing duty free products en route to avoid confiscation upon arrival into Qatar. For further information, check Hamad International Airport’s Security and Customs.
Visa
Qatar welcomes more than 100 countries visa-free; others may be eligible to apply for an e-visa via the Hayya online platform. For more information on visas, e-visas and application process, visit Visit Qatar and Visas & Immigration.
We look forward to welcoming you to Doha, for any further questions and inquires feel free to reach us wcb@cilecenter.org.
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For questions regarding abstract submissions, registration and general organizational issues kindly reach us at wcb@cilecenter.org
