True Fact About Qatar

Amazed... How many are crying for qatari passports.... :((

I know many Qataris who are Iranian originally or orignate from India, pakistan, or Blushistan. They all got the citizenship few years back. So good luck as far as you are not an Arab origin. You still have a chance compared with arabs living here for decades with no citizenship:)

i've seen one guy will serve 4 vehicle at a time in Petrol stations here in Qatar, and thats the obvious reason for getting more salary.

Pathetic mentality

Well Your family has not served Qatar for free ... all the ex pats are being paid for their work ... they are earning more than what they will earn in their respective countries. Qatarisation is necessary otherwise there will be no job for Qataris as the nation is flooded by expats.At some point one has to return to its respective place. Qatar has given lot to ex pats as ex pats has given to Qatar.We should be thankful to Qatari people and Qatari govt.

s what are you complaining about?

None of you are slaves. Everyone is working for a salary. That salary is the reward for your work, not citizenship.

Get this right, mate: There is no such thing as an "almost Qatari National". End off.

If you want an advantage, go to Pakistan. I really don't think any of us are in the position to expect Qatar to do something for us. It is not our country. On the other hand, I would not expect to go to Pakistan for however many years and expect the same rights as citizens.

jo jis matti ka bna hota he wahan hi acha lagta he

So I was right, you were in fact educated in an Arabic country!

Education was brought up as it’s linked to the degree of active participation people have in the fate of their country! Certain cultures (not only Arabs) are "educated" to obey and never to challenge those in power.

Your action of publishing your story is atypical, perhaps your international exposure has empowered you to do so. Congrats and continue to say what you think, that’s the philosophy of Qatar Foundation!

On the other hand, let me remind you that certain changes will only happen when the right pressure is applied.

International Media seems to be a more effective way!

i think the topic is getting diverted...instead focusing on studies i think we should continue with the topic...

I studied in my national school here in Qatar, not in a qatari school. like indians got MES, Pakistani got PES there are also some bangladeshi, british, canadian school where they are teaching according to there culture....after my high school i went abroad for higher studies...well i hope for the best and thanks for the support.

Salman Sohail,

You said that you were born in Qatar and now you are saying that you were not educated in Qatar?

Not being educated in Qatar means that you were educated overseas, spending the majority of your life away from Qatar. In that case do you think that Qatar will give you the Qatari Nationality?

(My initial recommendation was to expose your case to International Media, not the local one as it does not have a voice outside Qatar).

qatar or any GCC conutry will not give nationality even u live 100 years here..thsi is something bad abt gulf.

bt in europeon countries its different..thry give the nationality if u live 5 years there.

salman can u please post the link of media (gulf-times)where ur article was posted ?

dude. this is the disadvantage of living in the gulf. at the end ur just a visitor who needs to go back home and u have no right to buy an appartment or a land which is an investment. That is why if you are looking for such privileges, in the next life just go to europe or US.

SS, would you want to get nationality in a country where you will be always treated like a second/third class citizen, only because of your ethnicity??

I AM NOT EDUCATED IN ARAB COUNTRY. NOT ONLY ON QL I HAVE POSTED MY ARTICLE ON GULF TIMES ALSO...SO ALREADY I APPROCHED THE MEDIA. I DONT CARE AND HAVE NO FEAR TO FACE MEDIA. WHATEVER I HAVE MENTIONED HERE IS TRUE SO HAVE NO WORRIES AT ALL...

they need to refresh their minds with famous "Tariq Bin Ziyad" saying, when he was landing on the coast of Spain.

Genesis,

He might not be an Arab, but he was educated in an Arab country.

He did speak out here in QL and he was asking how to approach the international media.

There are so many ways to be an activist, and by exposing the problem might contribute to its improvement.

He sure does not need to disclose his identity when reporting it!

In case you missed out , he's not an Arab. Why would he jeopardize his entire family residency over speaking out & demanding a right that actually he's not entitled for. It's not like he doesn't have a country of origin.

But i agree with you on the context of your post, Culture of fear is over consuming Arabs

Salman Sohail,

the other day I was watching Doha Debates about "is education worthless without freedom of speech" and a point discussed was that the education system in the Arab world (generally speaking) conditions people in a way that they are educated to accept their fate and to ensure that it's repeated generation after generation!

The fear to stand, speak out and to be actively involved in one's society's development, has taken a huge toll (you being just an example of many others) on the Arab world!

bro its my country, even without passport i am qatari from top to bottom...thanks for the suggestion...problem is only this that if i throw stone in shit, in return it will come over me...

Genesis,

You’re right, I was just trying to reply to Salman Sohail's request (Wed, 12/01/2011 - 9:09am), providing him a strategy to access the international media (to approach journalists that are eager to unveil the real Qatar).

I don't see how is this relevant to the issue discussed here!

Anyway,have you checked out WSJ latest article. Take a look

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203513204576047681613086452.html?mod=WSJEUROPE_hpp_MIDDLESecondNews

It is very sad! but you must look for options rather to wait and live unhappy life here or simple you accept it (sorry but this is truth)!

I have many friends who are willingly/unmillingly surviving in one the western countires after migrating from one of the gulf countires I mean UK (rest of EU), Australia, Canada with a hope that atleast they will be considered for nationality or a status to live/work/business.

I know you have to suffer a bit in the start but i can bet you it'll be much better in the longrun.

genesis,

Let me explain what you missed with my recommendation:

The point here is to use Qatar's current spot on the world' stage, to apply pressure to improve your society, my dear friend.

I gave an example of a journalist who was not successful in reporting facts because of her ignorance. And as such, maybe if she is fed with facts that prove her point, she will be more than happy to publish them and consequently Qatar may start to feel the international pressure and (maybe) it recognize the need to change and address issues like the OP and many others!

Do 14 years old thing this way? if yes, then good for them and for the future of their countries!

I don’t know, could you please inform us what was it.

And as you are at it, may I also ask you what was the local official’s reaction to those journalists who came here to Qatar to do “journalism secretly sponsored" (aka promotional sponsored material) by local authorities?

As an example let me quote Louise Taylor from The Guardian.

Here is her objective and impartial “journalistic” article (worth it to have a look at the readers comments): http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/nov/25/world-cup-2022-qatar-fifa

Here is its review: http://football.altweet.com/2010/11/guardian-gifts-qatar-2022-world-cup-bid.html

And what was the local officials reaction to those so called "not corrupted" journalist articles?

sometimes you mindlessly comment like a 14 years old ;) without taking into account the world affairs

Salman Sohail,

Start by contacting those journalists who wrote some articles criticizing Qtar upon its nomination for hosting the WC 2022.

Most of these articles had little substancial backed up facts.

I am sure they will be eaguer to unveil the hidden dark side of Qatar.

Here is an example (Ann Killion in Sports Illustrated):

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/ann_killion/12/14/qatar/index.html

There are plently others.

These journalists who obviously were not yet corrupted by payments, will be more than happy to report facts!

I think the reason why some people want nationalities in a country like Qatar or other GCC countries is because people want a shortcut to all the best opportunities that they can get as a national in Qatar. It is true that there a lot of such families here who have spent the best parts of their lives serving this country and there has to be some regard for that.

On the other hand, I am also in favour of the Qatari government because as we all know that Qatar won the 2022 bid.. I think the Qatari government is working for its own people first. They are building their country and the lives of their youth. I think 15-20 years ago they were nothing.. it was shocking to know that a lot of westners or europeans didn't even know a country called Qatar. But look where they are now. Qatar has become a nation which is working for its future so that some day they might rely less on the expat workforce and more on their own youth or their own nation.

So, when they get over this phase, they might focus on pleasing the expats.. LOL

Or if they are pressurised to give out nationalities before 2022.. that can be an exception.

Having said all this, I think if somebody is well qualified they can have a good, luxurious and peaceful life here without any need for a nationality.

Sorry for people who might get bored reading this or might not agree with me.. but its just my opinion.

Good Day to all!

I will agree to go with the International Media; since Qatar is in world's lime-light now after winning the bid for 2022 FIFA World Cup. Qatar will do everything to preserve and upgrade its image on the International Market. I am sure in coming years the laws related to Human Rights will see betterment than before.

Trust me friends, the human right conditions in Qatar are much better than neighboring Saudi Arabia.

However, another neighbor "Kingdom of Bahrain" has been giving Nationalities to the long-residing expatriates. I am sure Qatar will soon follow suite and your case may come through.

Good Luck.

Well said.... But Mr. Bthomas i think there must be realization by the new Qatari youth..there must be some laws or humanity for the expactriates whose families are serving Qatar for more then 5 decades...

As I've said earlier, this is the situation of many here in Qatar & neighbouring GCC countries.

But, we forget, the reason for the scenario is, our elders wanted fatter paychecks....we then became the confused breed interacting with only the limited set of people here...

Acceptance to the truth that we are only expats here comes with not only education, but EXPOSURE too...to know our value, the respect people give to us as individuals, to know about graduate opportunities, development in basic infrastructure etc.. we have to visit & live in other countries as well...

I was at a recent forum "Youth to Economy 2010" forum, where one of the key speakers was a part of my group discussion team. The lovely Qatari lady, was amazed that I was part of this country for so long, and I haven't received a Qatari passport yet!! This ponders me to think, that maybe the the present Qatari generation is not aware of such a scenario!

Anyways, we can't keep complaining over what we can't achieve yea? As someone suggested in the forum, check out eligibility for immigration to countries that will reward us for our lifelong service.

Also, getting too comfortable in any place will make us redundant!

Thank you Qatar for facilitating my family & myself for these many years, my academics & my work!

Signed -Qatari by birth/not by passport- (lol)

I AM NOT WASTING MY TIME HERE...AND REASONS Y I DONT WANT TO LEAVE QATAR IS BECAUSE ITS A PEACFULL COUNTRY, VERY CLOSE TO SAUDIA, PASSED MY ALL CHILDHOOD, ALL OF MY LOVED ONES ARE HERE, ALL OF MY FRIENDS...ETC

WHY TO LEAVE ALL AND RUN AWAY FROM LIFE TO FIND ANOTHER LIFE SOMEWHERE, WHERE NO ONE IS THERE FOR YOU...

It time to realise that you aint gonna get what you looking for. Best try Canada or Australia.

VERY TRUE...ACTUALLY MY ALL FAMILY IS HERE IN DOHA..MY UNCLES MY AUNTS AND THERE YOUNG ONES...

I am not sure why expats got so hurt when they dont get citizenship in qatar or anyother country.

I left my country who gave me everything and made me capable to get a job in qatar.

now i didnt care for all that what my country gave to me and left it for my own benefit (100% cases ppl leave their home countries for MORE MONEY)

so once i was not loyal to my country how i can expect other people or country to be so generous?

i think we have come qatar at our own will and not somebody has forced us to come.

if someone is not happy here, he should look for some better place.

learn from your father and grandfather and don't make the same mistake for your children. Apply for Immigration in the west or australia.

I would recommend do not waste your time any more. you can return to Qatar with your new citizenship and land a better career.

@ Salman Sohail : you dont need to go to international media. just try to get some experience working in small companies and then keep applying for better jobs.

i am also here in Qatar for almost 2 decades, my father served Qatar for 14 years and went back. i like the country, its peaceful and safe. the only problem is growning up here, chances are less for expacts. we are fully dependent on sponsors.

try to make yourself more and more qualified, chances comes in life. you are still young and there is a long way to go. life is not easy in any part of the world. Qatar in terms of getting chances are tough, but once u get chance then life is very easy comparing to most parts of the world.

the major problem here is getting job for the expact youths fresh graduates.

all organizations government, semi-government and private needs experience with the education. how young fresh graduates can get experience if they dont get any chance.

there is Qatar Career Fair every year, which helps only Qatari nationals. Government should help expacts youths whose parents have served Qatar also in the simillar way.

i know also many people has served Qatar for decades, they educate their kids also. but when it comes to jobs, it is really very hard for fresh graduates to get any good job here even with the best education qualifications.

Even if you get the citizenship, yet you will be treated as a second class citizen if not third, you don't have the surname (tribe).

What about the UAE and other GCC? Do they offer citizenship to those born/ lived for over a period in their country?

This is his country (as he sees it). He has lived here all his life as did his parents and grandparents.

They want recognition for that loyalty.

the problem here is they have never been to their own country, so they don't know many people there :-(

Even their relatives have been here for decades, so there is no family back home either :-(

Hope it may helps you..

Well said... I think it's the lack of landing a good job that makes the expat youth (who treat Qatar as their home because they are born and lived their life here) all teared up and nostalgic :-(

Hope it may helps you..

Hope it may helps you..

To be honest, I would have expect Qatar to loosen up it's citizenship law few years ago. But now, I doubt that. Qataris now cling to their identity more than ever, anyone who witnessed the national day must have saw how each tribe were proud to demonstrate their traditions through the sword dance "arda".

I don't think any member of the current advisory council ( which are representatives of different Qatari families & tribes) would approve a drastic review of the law.

Citizenship for the offspring of Qatari women married to foreigners have been under review for years and still not given a final approval, which in my opinion are more entitled to the Qatari nationality than any other cases.

It's important to highlight that The emir every now & then grant citizenship to those who serve the country in many fields like education, medicine, police and military.

Complain about what? Did they promise him anything?

Please dont send it to International media, it's betwen you and qatar, you have to solve the problem here, this is why, we arabs are weak, everytime something happen we call outside, try hard, God will help you, not the media, reading news everyday makes me seek, try to find the right place to complain you will get there one day. Good luck

Elegance I think its the weather..everyone is feeling Nostalgic today..:)

When People whine about not giving citizenship.. I know few people who are here only for 16-18 yrs..they got citizenship... I wonder what is the criteria though.. yea all are Muslims...they all speak Arabic...

We could hope for good,nothing else:)

Tell me and guide me towards the international media...i am ready...

@Mohammad Jasim, dont let your hair turn white...lols

I have been living in the gulf for the past 15 years.Gave up my career and life back home because the guy meant for me worked in the Gulf.

We have no plans to migrate and have set up a small home as a stand by in case we need it, considering our situation.We gave up the option of renting it too.

I joke that I just need to wash my curtains and bed sheets and sweep and mop the floor and we are settled in India.. :-)

The energy you spend to change a situation can be utilized to make the situation better in another way.

Consider other options available.

My grandfather and father migrated from a river bed area in a village to the city, around 65 years back. We struggled and made it big in the city. But when asked we still say our native place is in the village where we dont own anything other than the spirit and memories of that beautiful laid back place.

Just a bit nostalgic, today.

:-) :-(

my grand father came 1955 when the gulf war was happend we are in doha my grand father told us dont run any where this is our country we have to live here and we have to die here this is my country same thing i am searching for my self good jobe but i think that it is not possible becuse my hair turns to white i love doha very mutch but we are strangers accept this .........

How sad. You and almost all of your family have been serving Qatar and yet that is what happens. One thing I don't like is that they don't have jobs for freshers, you have to start from a very low position lower than what you have finished in college. Patience is the key to success but at situations like these, I just don't know. :(

Yup many such cases.

You have tactically not put in from where your grandfather and father came.

Send your story to the international media, maybe the pressure from the outside will force them to change!

its not only yours story, but many people are living here in qatar from very long time, but still waiting for any good change in their life for them or their children.

there are lots and lots of such cases in here.. no one cares.. at the end they say.. sorry we cant do anything.. although our fathers, and grand fathers have been serving in this country for years.. lets hope for the best..

They don't give a shyte, trust me.