Qatar closes 10% of camping sites amid tighter controls

Qatar has allocated 10,000 mobile homes for victims of the devastating earthquake in Syria and Turkey. The mobile homes will be transported to the affected regions, and an air bridge has been established for relief efforts, with its first flight carrying an international search and rescue team equipped with a field hospital and winter supplies.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Qatar has announced the end of the 2025/2026 winter camping season, which lasted 6 months. Starting today, campers can apply for a refund of the 10,000 Qatari riyal insurance deposit via the ministry's website or the 'Bia' app. The refund will be processed within 72 hours. A total of 2,991 campsites were registered this season, including 1,314 land-based, 1,247 in nature reserves, and 440 marine sites.

Camp owners in Qatar have asked the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to extend the winter camping season by one month. Heavy rains over recent weeks made access to campsites difficult, especially in Sealine, due to waterlogged soil. Campers note that current mild weather supports continued activities, and an extension would allow them to make up for lost time and safely dismantle equipment. A proposal also suggests allowing sea camping in summer on designated beaches.

Qatar's Natural Reserves Department will begin disposing of abandoned cabins and caravans in two areas from February. Owners must pay fees and renew licenses by the end of January, otherwise their property will be destroyed. In the Sailin area alone, there are over a hundred such abandoned units.

Qatari authorities will begin disposing of abandoned cabins and caravans in the Sileen and Al-Ghariya natural reserves from February if owners do not pay fees and renew licenses by the end of January. Over 100 units, some abandoned since 2016, are located in parking areas and were not removed after the camping season ended.

Qatar's Ministry of Environment has called on owners to remove abandoned caravans from designated parking areas in Sealine and Al Ghariya by the end of January 2026. Owners must either obtain required permits from the Natural Reserves Department or remove their trailers. Legal action against non-compliant units will begin from February 1, 2026.