Charging the iPad Air when visiting Qatar

A guide showing you how to power the iPad Air with a Qatari power outlet using a Lightning Apple cable and a 3 pin Type G power charger and charging the iPad Air using a Type D USB charger.

Qatari power outlet

When organizing a trip it's useful to know if you can power your devices when you get there. By not knowing which power socket is used you may end up either weighing yourself down with too many adaptors or pack the wrong power charger, leaving you having to borrow a suitable power adaptor on arrival that might be incompatible and cause damage to your iPad Air. Differing voltages and region codes can all lead to confusion when planning to travel to a new country especially for the first time traveller. This guide has been written to stop you worrying if you'll be able to charge your iPad Air when staying abroad.The following guide tells you exactly how to supply power to the iPad Air when you're travelling to Qatar using the Type G or D Qatari 240 volt 50Hz power outlets, please be aware Type G power outlets will be used by a majority of Qataris. If you are visiting Qatar from another country make sure that the iPad Air can be used with a 240 volt supply. If your iPad Air was purchased from a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110v make sure your iPad Air is dual-voltage (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) else you may need to use an additional power transformer to avoid the device from overheating during charging. If you're planning to stay somewhere such as Doha or Al Khor read the Qatari Wikipedia page [1] for further details. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Air.

Charging the iPad Air in Qatar

Can you use the iPad Air in Qatar?

You can use the iPad Air in Qatar by using a power adaptor.

What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPad Air in Qatar?

If you are travelling with more than your iPad Air the best international travel adapter for Qatar is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two standards of plug sockets in Qatar (G and D) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for type G. As these chargers come with interchangeable pins and can handle 100 to 240 volts will mean you can travel to multiple countries around the world just by changing the heads. If your iPad Air supports Fast Charge (please note not all USB devices can) then you'll benefit from faster recharging times with one of these types of travel chargers, and compatibility with certain power hungry devices.

Having a four port adapter means you can recharge multiple devices at the same time without needing to buy individual travel chargers or using up additional power sockets. Because you are only packing a single lightweight travel charger will also keep the size and weight down, making it perfect to fold up in hand baggage and on hand for recharging your iPad Air at the airport or on your flight. Due to their space saving versatility these types of travel chargers can be used when back at home so when you’re not travelling they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple phones and tablets with just a single wall outlet.

We recommend buying this type of flexible travel charger at your preferred electronics retailer. The multipurpose power adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for powering multiple USB devices in numerous countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for Qatar

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country who only have USB devices such as the iPad Air, however for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power converters offer surge protection which is useful when visiting regions with unreliable or unstable power grids. These power converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Europe, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular portable option for travellers originating from America going to Qatar using 3 pin type B American plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico is also aimed at travellers from the US using type B plugs. This is a cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with only 1 less AC outlet for almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 2 AC outlets but offers a more flexible 5 USB charging ports. This versatile power strip is compatible with both American plugs and popular plug types A, D,E/F, G, H, I, L and N making it ideal for a majority of travellers from around the world visiting Qatar. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for recharging the iPad Air in Qatar?

How to use a Type G power charger for charging your iPad Air from a Qatari power outlet

Using a Lightning connector and a 3 pin Type G power adapter to recharge your iPad Air with a Qatari power outlet.

  1. If you want to power the iPad Air from a Qatari power outlet you'll need to buy a Type G USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], the cable is typically already included with the device by Apple.
  2. Start by inserting the Type G USB power plug adapter into the Qatari power outlet. This plug supply (technically called the Type G power outlet [3]) looks like 3 vertical holes containing plastic shutters in a triangular configuration for live, neutral and earth.
  3. Connect the USB end of the Lightning cable into the bottom of the USB power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector is situated at the base of the iPad Air.
  4. Switch on the Qatari power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of the tablet will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is recharging, typically taking between one-four hours to recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type G power charger for charging your iPad Air from a Qatari power outlet

How to use a Type D power charger for recharging your iPad Air from a Qatari power outlet

A guide showing how to charge your iPad Air with a Qatari power outlet using the USB Lightning Apple cable and a Type D USB charger.

  1. In order to supply power to the iPad Air using the Qatari power outlet you'll need a Type D USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (this USB cable is normally already supplied with your iPad Air).
  2. Begin by taking the Type D USB power plug adapter and plugging it in the wall supply. You can identify the power supply by the three holes forming a triangle shape for live, neutral and earth.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple power cable into the bottom of the USB mains adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector is situated at the base of the iPad Air.
  4. Turn on the Qatari power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the tablet will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad Air is charging which should take between 60 to 240 minutes to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type D power charger for recharging your iPad Air from a Qatari power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Qatari Wikipedia page
  2. Apple - official iPad user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type G power outlet
  4. Type G USB power plug adapter - Suitable for use in England, Ireland, and Scotland, a grounded three pin Type G adapter turns UK electrical power outlets into USB ports for reliable charging..
  5. USB to Apple Lightning cable - The Apple Lightning cable is a charging and syncing cable for more recent Apple devices and connects compatible iPhones and iPads to a USB port.
  6. iec.ch - Type D power outlet
  7. Type D USB power plug adapter - Designed for usage in South Asian countries such as India and Nepal, the Type D USB power plug adapter offers a practical solution for converting local 3-prong grounded outlets into USB ports, providing reliable charging for a range of USB devices..
  8. 4 Port USB Wall Charger - A 4-port USB wall charger is an electrical device that provides simultaneous charging for up to four USB-compatible devices. It often includes interchangeable international plug adapters for global use..