Qatar Welcomes 2.614 Million Visitors in First Nine Months of 2026

Qatar received 2.614 million visitors through its land, air and sea entry points in the first nine months of 2026, according to figures released by Qatar Tourism.

In September alone, arrivals reached 276,000. That is 1.1 percent more than the 273,000 recorded in September last year. From January to September, Qatar averaged about 290,000 visitors a month.

Visitors from fellow Gulf Cooperation Council states formed the largest group, with 1.069 million arrivals, or 40.9 percent of the total. Asia and Oceania came second with 548,000 visitors, or 21 percent. Europe followed closely with 538,000 visitors, or 20.6 percent. The Americas accounted for 190,000 visitors, or 7.3 percent. Other Arab countries accounted for 184,000, or 7 percent, and other African countries for 84,000, or about 3.2 percent.

The GCC lead reflects the weight of short-distance regional travel. Visitors from the region can drive in through the Abu Samra crossing on the border with Saudi Arabia, Qatar's only land border, or take short flights between Gulf capitals. Long-haul visitors from Asia, Europe and the Americas arrive mainly at Hamad International Airport, the hub of Qatar Airways. Sea arrivals come through the Grand Cruise Terminal at Old Doha Port, mostly during the winter cruise season.

Fewer than 10,000 visitors separate Europe from Asia and Oceania. This shows a near-even split between Qatar's two largest source markets outside the Arab world.

Tourism is a central part of Qatar's plans to diversify its economy under Qatar National Vision 2030. The national tourism strategy aims to attract six million visitors a year by the end of the decade. Qatar Tourism publishes visitor arrival statistics every month.