Flyaway, it's not so much that Qatari authorities are lax/not lax so much as the system is so opaque. What goes for one is not always consistent with what applies to another. What is the law one day does not seem to hold true the next. I do know that Qatar - of course - would want to avoid at any cost all involvement with a messy international custody issue. I certainly believe you when you say that the biological father has no interest. Is there anything on paper that would indicate she has another father than you that could come back to bite you?
Mandi