Film production in Doha
Between June and December, usable daylight in Doha moves by 3h 08min — from 13h 42min down to 10h 34min. An exterior day in December is a different day from one in June. This page carries sunrise, sunset and golden-hour times for all twelve months.
Light and shooting hours
On 15 June, the sun in Doha rises at 04:44 and sets at 18:26; the evening golden hour starts at 17:53 and runs for 33 minutes. By December that shifts to 06:12–16:47, with a 34-minute golden-hour window from 16:13.
In practice, a spread of 3h 08min means a schedule that works here in summer does not work in winter at the same location — with the same setup count, the hours simply are not there.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Golden hour (evening, from) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:22 | 17:06 | 10h 44min | 16:32 |
| February | 06:10 | 17:28 | 11h 18min | 16:57 |
| March | 05:44 | 17:43 | 11h 59min | 17:13 |
| April | 05:12 | 17:57 | 12h 44min | 17:26 |
| May | 04:50 | 18:12 | 13h 22min | 17:40 |
| June | 04:44 | 18:26 | 13h 42min | 17:53 |
| July | 04:53 | 18:27 | 13h 34min | 17:55 |
| August | 05:08 | 18:11 | 13h 02min | 17:39 |
| September | 05:21 | 17:40 | 12h 19min | 17:10 |
| October | 05:33 | 17:08 | 11h 35min | 16:37 |
| November | 05:52 | 16:47 | 10h 56min | 16:15 |
| December | 06:12 | 16:47 | 10h 34min | 16:13 |
Blue hour and shooting windows
Blue hour in Doha starts at 18:42 in June and ends at 18:52 — a window of 10 minutes. In December it is 10 minutes from 17:02. If you need a city view with lit windows, that window is all you get.
Sunset moves fastest around the equinoxes: between March (17:43) and September (17:40) there are 3 minutes of difference. A schedule running over several weeks cannot work from one fixed "sunset" time.
Planning a shoot here
A schedule that ignores these numbers looks fine on paper and falls over on the day. TillyGen folds sun position, travel and crew availability straight into the schedule — if the exterior no longer fits before sunset in December, the plan says so, not the wrap report.
Frequently asked
When is golden hour in Doha?
In June it starts at 17:53 and lasts 33 minutes; in December it starts at 16:13 and lasts 34 minutes. The table above lists all twelve months.
How much daylight does a shoot day in Doha get?
Between 10h 34min in December and 13h 42min in June. The 3h 08min difference is worth four to eight setups depending on your pace.
Which month is best for exteriors in Doha?
On daylight length alone, June is strongest with 13h 42min of usable light.