I'm sorry for your embarrassing and upsetting experience. It certainly would color my perceptions of Qatar as it does yours. I'll try to address some of your concerns as a long-term ex-pat. Kissing your husband is not, of course, a "right," nor are public displays of affection a shared cultural value here. But the primary problem with these questions in Doha is that there is not a single, simple answer. I would have thought that it was perfectly acceptable for you and your husband to dance and kiss in a five-star hotel as did you. But in this circumstance it was not allowed. There ARE NO written, consistent rules and when "rules" are enforced they appear arbitrary and capricious. I'm sure you would have been fine in other hotels MOST of the time as well - but who knows? There are many who will tell you that you should have known better but if there are no signs, no laws and no clear regulations except word-of-mouth, how would we know? As I have said before, in a culture and country different than mine I am perfectly happy to paint my face green and wear an orange wig - but you will have to show me in writing where this is the rule and everyone else will have comply as well.
Mandi
I'm sorry for your embarrassing and upsetting experience. It certainly would color my perceptions of Qatar as it does yours. I'll try to address some of your concerns as a long-term ex-pat. Kissing your husband is not, of course, a "right," nor are public displays of affection a shared cultural value here. But the primary problem with these questions in Doha is that there is not a single, simple answer. I would have thought that it was perfectly acceptable for you and your husband to dance and kiss in a five-star hotel as did you. But in this circumstance it was not allowed. There ARE NO written, consistent rules and when "rules" are enforced they appear arbitrary and capricious. I'm sure you would have been fine in other hotels MOST of the time as well - but who knows? There are many who will tell you that you should have known better but if there are no signs, no laws and no clear regulations except word-of-mouth, how would we know? As I have said before, in a culture and country different than mine I am perfectly happy to paint my face green and wear an orange wig - but you will have to show me in writing where this is the rule and everyone else will have comply as well.
Mandi