Hmm, I dont think it is about the money MD. It has more to do with the massive strain on natural resources. Most of the water we use here is desalinized, which is a massive energy drain. Hardly fair to impose such a fine on the locals and not expats, to which I may add not all conserve water and electricity, some are even bigger abusers than non-paying locals (some get their water and electricity paid so they also dont care).

One of the Qatari posters also pointed out that this was a step in ontroducing water and electricty tariffs to locals.

"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock - Will Rogers"