My family and I are moving to Qatar next year. We lived in Saudi 10 years ago. A co-worker said expat men and women can wear shorts in public in Qatar. I find that extremely difficult to believe. What's the truth?
Generally, it's not the done thing. My husband, a carefree sort, wears knee-length shorts to the mall. But my teenage son got accosted my a couple of non-Gulf Arabs when he wore shorts to the mall - so trousers for him.
Generally, it's not the done thing. However my husband - a carefree sort - wears knee-length shorts to the mall. My teenage son got accosted in a mall when he wore shorts (not by a Gulf Arab, some other Arab national), so I insist he wears trousers now.
Generally, it's not the done thing. However my husband - a carefree sort - wears knee-length shorts to the mall. My teenage son got accosted in a mall when he wore shorts (not by a Gulf Arab, some other Arab national), so I insist he wears trousers now.
If you are an overweight, middle aged heavy drinking and smoking European, I think it is compulsary to wear very short nylon shorts and a muscle vest to the supermarket.
seriously, please don't wear shorts to the malls, it IS in bad taste, you would stick out like a sore thumb and give the rest of us a bad name.
All the answers above are correct; Qatar is less conservative than KSA but not nearly as open as UAE or Bahrain. It's a great place in the middle. As a man wear your "boy pants" you'll be fine; as a woman same, but more importantly keep the shoulders covered. You'll be comfortable and won't get a second look. Coming from Houston, welcome to the nearest corollary weather-wise...!
It really depends WHERE in public you go. On your compound or to your kids school is perfectly fine. I see shorts in all the malls. But really, it is considered offensive in this culture, and while you won't get arrested, you will get stared at.
Are you asking if it's in good taste or if it is illegal? Certainly never in good taste except in swimming situations, as for legal, these things are never written in stone in Qatar. I would say not for women and not a good idea for men.
Yes, you can wear shorts, just not really short indecent shorts. They should be to the knee and shoulders need to be covered ie no singlet tops for either men or women however many ex-pats do flout this.
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Generally, it's not the done thing. My husband, a carefree sort, wears knee-length shorts to the mall. But my teenage son got accosted my a couple of non-Gulf Arabs when he wore shorts to the mall - so trousers for him.
Generally, it's not the done thing. However my husband - a carefree sort - wears knee-length shorts to the mall. My teenage son got accosted in a mall when he wore shorts (not by a Gulf Arab, some other Arab national), so I insist he wears trousers now.
Generally, it's not the done thing. However my husband - a carefree sort - wears knee-length shorts to the mall. My teenage son got accosted in a mall when he wore shorts (not by a Gulf Arab, some other Arab national), so I insist he wears trousers now.
Good answers
It just depends how much you want to offend people.
Number one complaint from the locals is 'indecent clothing'.
They don't take tax thus i respect their wishes.
Wear anything Qatar is not conservative and mad like KSA.
just don't wear short shorts, we don't want to see the little guy pop out.
If you are an overweight, middle aged heavy drinking and smoking European, I think it is compulsary to wear very short nylon shorts and a muscle vest to the supermarket.
seriously, please don't wear shorts to the malls, it IS in bad taste, you would stick out like a sore thumb and give the rest of us a bad name.
All the answers above are correct; Qatar is less conservative than KSA but not nearly as open as UAE or Bahrain. It's a great place in the middle. As a man wear your "boy pants" you'll be fine; as a woman same, but more importantly keep the shoulders covered. You'll be comfortable and won't get a second look. Coming from Houston, welcome to the nearest corollary weather-wise...!
It really depends WHERE in public you go. On your compound or to your kids school is perfectly fine. I see shorts in all the malls. But really, it is considered offensive in this culture, and while you won't get arrested, you will get stared at.
Yes you can.
Are you asking if it's in good taste or if it is illegal? Certainly never in good taste except in swimming situations, as for legal, these things are never written in stone in Qatar. I would say not for women and not a good idea for men.
Yes, you can wear shorts, just not really short indecent shorts. They should be to the knee and shoulders need to be covered ie no singlet tops for either men or women however many ex-pats do flout this.