Doha has a long way to go before in can be considered in the same league as Dubai. Speaking as someone in PR, Advertising and Marketing, Doha and the businesses in it are not savvy enough about the advertising/marketing/pr industry to put themselves on the map.
Take the Marhabra for example, it is a fine tool to use for tourism and business, however look at the advertisements in them, they are horrible. Most of them look like a ten year old could put them together. Why? Because instead of finding an advertising professional and paying for a quality advertisement, they put it together themselves using Microsoft Word. Compare a QP ad (which is done through a firm) to a GDI ad (which is done by themselves), Shell (firm) to Nakilat (themselves).
One of our clients has decided, instead of paying us a reasonable amount of money to create an attractive ad for the Wall Street Journal, they are going to get their receptionist to put together some pictures. Professional.
Qatar tourism doesn't even have a firm, and they don't have any professionals on their staff.
Dubai, on the other hand, has all of the worlds largest advertising firms, and the companies there pay good money to use them, and are reaping the benefits (everyone knows where Dubai is, but how many people know Doha?)
If Doha wants to get noticed than it HAS to start paying for advertising and using quality advertising.
Well I'll give you my point of view. :)
Doha has a long way to go before in can be considered in the same league as Dubai. Speaking as someone in PR, Advertising and Marketing, Doha and the businesses in it are not savvy enough about the advertising/marketing/pr industry to put themselves on the map.
Take the Marhabra for example, it is a fine tool to use for tourism and business, however look at the advertisements in them, they are horrible. Most of them look like a ten year old could put them together. Why? Because instead of finding an advertising professional and paying for a quality advertisement, they put it together themselves using Microsoft Word. Compare a QP ad (which is done through a firm) to a GDI ad (which is done by themselves), Shell (firm) to Nakilat (themselves).
One of our clients has decided, instead of paying us a reasonable amount of money to create an attractive ad for the Wall Street Journal, they are going to get their receptionist to put together some pictures. Professional.
Qatar tourism doesn't even have a firm, and they don't have any professionals on their staff.
Dubai, on the other hand, has all of the worlds largest advertising firms, and the companies there pay good money to use them, and are reaping the benefits (everyone knows where Dubai is, but how many people know Doha?)
If Doha wants to get noticed than it HAS to start paying for advertising and using quality advertising.