South Africans can enter Qatar visa-free for short stays. Here's what to check on your passport, accommodation and route before turning a Doha stopover into a break. Doha is, for most South Africans, the airport between here and somewhere else – a layover en route to Europe, the UK or further east. But, with visa-free entry for South African passport holders and a small, walkable capital, it doesn’t have to stay a transit stop. Central Doha – closest to the museums and public transport if you’re short on time.