The Qataris have grand designs to make their country a premier tourist attraction. As such, they have gone to considerable lengths to make life in Doha very comfortable for visitors...and, to a great extent, they have succeeded admirably. The fact remains, though, that people are sinners, and ultimately they aren't any more well-behaved in Qatar than anywhere else in the world.
Furthermore, the government and the society of Qatar are deeply bound to Islam, which--all arguments to the contrary notwithstanding--is an oppressive force in many ways, especially toward women.
Folks are ugly in traffic, just like anywhere else. Women seem to be especially prone to mistreatment. The wife of a coworker was recently rear-ended in traffic, so she stopped and got out of her car, as the law prescribes, but the Qatari who hit her was verbally abusive and physically intimidating, and ordered her to get back into her vehicle and keep going. Unfortunately but understandably, she did not stand her ground but left, ignoring the damage to her vehicle.
Women are not necessarily any safer from molestation here than elsewhere in the world. While violent crime such as rape is relatively uncommon (or at least unreported), verbal and physical harassment is almost the norm. One evening, two of our female friends, both very modestly dressed, were out exercising on the corniche--one of the most beautiful areas of town, oft-touted by the Qataris as one of the reasons to visit Doha--and as they passed a Qatari man, he grabbed both of their backsides. Another Qatari man, sitting nearby on a bench, did nothing. Qatari women receive no better treatment. A woman wearing the black abaya is considered "fair game" by the young Qatari men, and will often be subjected to catcalls and ogling, even in very public places.
The government's PR machine would lead you to believe that Qatar is heaven on earth, but Qatar has a dark side too, with the added injustice that Qatari men can get away with almost anything. Anyone visiting Doha, especially a woman, would do well to remember all the "common sense" advice about being aware of the surroundings, watching for potential dangers, staying away from dark places, and being alert in general. And be wary of men in white dresses.
Posted by jon at February 7, 2005 10:54 PM