Doha Do's And Don'ts
This is not my composition but something I found on the web. Everyone is welcome to contribute to this.
Cultural Do's And Don'ts
Alcohol is a very sensitive subject in Qatar and the utmost discretion must be shown at all times by those permitted to consume it. This means drawing as little attention as possible to the possession or consumption of alcohol, practices which are restricted to the private homes of authorized liquor permit holders. The resale or giving of liquor by individuals is strictly forbidden and result in severe penalties. Alcohol must only be transported in your vehicle to your residence on the day it is purchased.
The traffic laws of Qatar should be strictly obeyed. It is against Qatari law to drink any alcohol and drive. Anyone involved in an accident that is found to have consumed alcohol will be held to blame.
The style of driving in Qatar will be unfamiliar to you. Be patient. When a cavalcade of cars accompanying the Emir or the crown prince pass, other traffic is required to move onto the hard shoulder or side of the road and stop and move as directed by the police.
Gambling is forbidden.
Dress should be conservative. It is offensive to many Gulf Arabs for men in public to wear shorts or sleeveless vests without a shirt. This applies especially to shopping in supermarkets. Do not wear or imitate Qatari national dress as it is considered disrespectful. Women should also respect local customs and feelings by refraining from wearing shorts, sundresses, low-necked or very short dresses or tight jeans in public places. These recommendations do not apply at the beach or at the hotel swimming pool, although again there is a need for discretion.
Any intimacy in public places between men and women (including teenagers) is frowned upon.
Qataris are sensitive about the taking of photographs. Whenever possible seek permission. Do not photograph official buildings, industrial plants or military camps/installations without specific permission. Photography at the airport is banned.
Throughout the month of Ramadan, it is forbidden to eat, drink or smoke in public during the hours of fasting (between dawn and sunset). It is also advisable to take particular care not to offend Muslim customs and traditions during this period.
Always carry identification.
i hope these wearing girly girly thing really applies these days... i love wearing short dresses n all that jazz.. i dont wear jeggings bt these denims called skinny jeans
what do we expect now at this year? i see comments were all pasa, pls update me whats dos n donts for 2012.il be visiting qatar come july and im so comfi w short dresses :(
i know he left but maybe he will login again and check some treads?
who knows.
never say never again.
:-)
swissgirl ... mr ac dc left ages ago.
hope you are fine wherever you are right now.
;-)
wow another resurrected thread :P
On a side note
"Dress should be conservative. It is offensive to many Gulf Arabs for men in public to wear shorts or sleeveless vests without a shirt."
Myself and all my friends have worn that for years and it's fine.
"Do not wear or imitate Qatari national dress as it is considered disrespectful"
That is absolute BS. Alot of Qatari's that have been on these forums have clearly shown that it would be a sign of flatery. I for one would love to see it because it shows a person wanting to accept a new culture. Plus it's comfortable!
@dreamz, thanks for generalizing. However don't include myself, friends, or family in your opinion. *sighs*
__________________________
love the one about empty plate....so true....
I dont see the problem with westerners imitating the cultural dress. I saw a westen woman once wearing this and i thought it was kinda nice and repectful. After all she could be a muslim? Islam isnt confined to arabs.
Its also a bit hypocritcal to say dont wear traditional wear and then outline what a western woman shouldnt wear..Why dont people just have a uniform for women that they hand out at the airport..not too traditional but not too western..western women cant really win..its a lose/lose situation whichever way she goes...
There is also lots of ego with regards to their nationality
wow useful thread.
DO-go to a Qatari wedding if you're invited, don't refuse the invitation, simply because it's the experience of lifetime (well for the ladies side at least).
DO-make yourself aware of the segregation between men and women here, so in case you are in a waiting area make sure you are in the right one (either ladies or men), whew I made that mistake at the bank.
triple post - computer is having issues
double post
I know it is a sign of friendship, that's why if gay act gay in ME, no-one will notice :)
for myself ... I don't care what other women want to dress, but i don't really feel comfortable when people staring at you. I don't dress fully cover up. But i don't do bra strap top or miniskirt either when I am in Qatar.
i still think we are lucky enough living in Doha you don't have to wear an abaya and cover up your hair.
i think that woman so hairy, thats why...
Men holding hands here isn't a sign of intimacy; they call it friendship. But they can't act intimate as a hetero couple would (and can't here).
There was a headline in the Independent (I thin) a couple of years back:
"We can hold hands and kiss in public": Gays in Saudi Arabia
Kissing the cheek that is, lest natalie think otherwise.
They can act gay!!!! I've seen many guys acting gay here, holding hands and all that.
straightish mmmmmm think that can be a problem for them ha ha.
They can come but just act straight(ish). And don't advertise the marriage thingie.
Don't remind me.
Highlight this DON'T.
No smoking (horror), eating or drinking in public for a month. In Lebanon it's a matter of choice, even in the Muslim areas.
so they are best not coming to visit us then??
i dont want to wear bra tops or miniskirts just want to be able to wear tight jeans!!!
appreciate the tip about leaving a bit of food on the dinner plate, next week we are invited to go to a qatari house for starting of ramadhan party. Will make sure i dont eat all the food on my plate when i have enuff. lol...
hmmm i see ok
So they should be. Homosexuality here is a criminal offense!
but plenty of gays around.
hmmm
ah i knew i had a question. How are a married gay couple treated?? as my friends want to come over but he is frightened.
Don't worry about what people might think as long as you know what you're doing.
I always say that to my wife, but the more revealing stuff belongs to the night scene; clubs, restaurants, etc.
As for the tight jeans, you and a thousand other women. Big deal.
It's the guys in the tight tops and jeans that I worry about.
so next fri if you guys see a young blonde scottish girl walking around in tight jeans then probably will be me ha ha
:)
Cheers butterfly. I am a girly girl so i cant help wanting to wear girl things rather than dress like an old lady or a guy. Of course i will not be disrespectful but hello i am a girl!!!!
Don't worry...Yes you might be frowned upon on occasions, so what? I see plenty of tiny tops and tight clothes around here. I wear skirts and tank tops and tight jeans everyday, no prob.
Don't worry be happy! :)
Only if invited.
double post
hey butterfly
i think your last comment about a girl wearing a miniskirt does not mean she is a slut is so true it angers me when guys think that. So what she has a good pair of legs why not show them off. Also, someone mentioned girls should not wear tight jeans why??? Thats all i wear as baggy ones look terrible on me. Does this mean i will be frowned upon???
I am getting a wee bit concerned about what i should wear and not.
Natalie
so...look... :D But don't stare, staring is rude. And never, ever touch.
I love it!
We've talked about it before and, well, my opinion is if you don't like it then don't look. Pretty much: my body, my clothes, my taste my business.
Never seen pubic hair sticking out though. Only on the beach, and had to be very close to the person to notice!
Anyways, I'll contribute to the Dos and Dont's :
Dos:
Learn some patience. It will come handy here. I suggest some yoga and relaxing breathing exercises.
Do bring some books. You will be craving for a good read once you get here.
Dont's:
Don't stand in a line when trying to get served. It's a complete waste of time.
Don't lose your cool. Never. A bit of sense of homour will make your day worth it.
If it looks dodgy, don't eat it. Really. The heat makes food poisoning very very likely.
AND...
Just because the light is green, doesn't necessarily mean that you can cross safely.
Just because they are holding hands and looking intimate, doesn't necessarily mean that they are gay.
Just because she is wearing a miniskirt, doesn't necessarily mean she is a slut.
When a person walks around with a tight tank top and guys starring at her and following her and snickering is difficult not to notice, and yeah like e46M3 said, anybody can get tempted and everybody can see she is flaunting her wares, maybe she was a hooker only god knows there seem to be a lot of those around here lately.....
You're not going to be able to get the shmagh (head-dress) right, you'll look comical and might be presumed to be making fun.
As for the genital thing, if a woman's pants are so low down then, yeah, I'll look to see how far down they go. It would occur to me, even if I'm with my wife.
Haven't seen anything like that though. Ever. Anywhere.
how did your wife realised about the hair sticking out? It would never occur to me to low my gaze to anyones,be it a man or a woman's, genital area.
Great advice....just wish some of the women follow the dress code there has been more than one occasion where I have seen a woman with really revealing clothes, I mean low hip Jeans, cleavage showing tank tops and sometimes you can tell if she is wearing a bra or not.. WOrst of all my wife once pointed out to a woman at city centre where you could see her pubic hair stickin out and a band of Qatari youngsters were following her around trying to get a sneak preview...oh my god, isn't that a little above the limit. Of course back home this is more common, and is ignored or some guys get a good perv and move on, but here its just inviting stares and makes men, especially local men consider all western women as sluts... Just hope everyone considers the sensitivity of the culture here and at the same time protect or own cultural dignity.....
been wondering about that. But it seems only people like Roger Federer and other tennis players who come for the Qatar Open are allowed to do so!!!
Why shouldn't non-Qataris imitate Qatari national dress?
These are mine:
Do not give the finger to anybody no matter how angry you are.
Do not sit with the soles of your feet/shoes pointing in someone's face.
Do try to say a few words in Arabic. Greetings and thanks are easy to learn and say.
You should be particularly careful about shaking hands with Arabs from the opposite sex whom you've just met. If your host/new acquaintence extends his/her hand then shake. Otherwise just say hello.
Do leave a little a bit of food on your plate if you're invited to dine at an Arab home. Failing to do so will result in more food being piled on to your plate.
That piece of info is very very helpful.
So thank you for taking the time out to do that.
Natalie x