Buzz
Corruption, deserts, oil, and the execution of individuals accused of witchcraft. Plus, an inexplicable closeness with Western leaders. While it's easy and accurate to wrap up our discussions about the Gulf States here, you'd be surprised to discover that the Arabian Peninsula holds far more than just Ferraris, camels, and fatwas.
Today, we delve into the current controversial regime that's on track for some level of democratization—Qatar.
10. Qatar Is Officially The Wealthiest Nation Globally
Global Finance magazine published a report in early 2017 that assessed the GDP of every country worldwide. Qatar ranked as the wealthiest—a position it has consistently held in recent years. The most recent study lists their GDP per capita at $129,726. This is calculated using PPP (purchasing power parity), which considers both the cost of living and a country's inflation rate.
Admittedly, Qatar may be small compared to other countries in the top rankings, which makes a per capita approach a bit misleading. Luxembourg and San Marino also feature in the top 10 for similar reasons. However, there’s no doubt that Qatar’s economy is thriving. Qatar leads the world in liquefied natural gas production and exports massive quantities of crude oil. They are certainly players in the global moneymaking scene.
That said, migrant workers who don’t have residential status in the country are not included in the population count for GDP calculations, and the migrant workforce is substantial.
9. Migrant Workers Represent Over 90 Percent Of Qatar’s Population—And They Are Far From Content
Amnesty International released a report in 2016 that shed light on the disturbing conditions migrant workers face in Qatar. The report revealed issues such as being forced to work excessively long hours without rest, having passports confiscated, enduring physical abuse from employers, and being charged enormous “recruitment fees.”
The report focused on the workers who were employed to construct the new stadium for the 2022 World Cup. The general consensus seems to be that if you're hosting an event that the entire world will be watching, at least make an effort to ensure you're not relying on what are, in effect, enslaved individuals to do the work.
Since Amnesty International's report, the conditions for migrant workers have remained largely the same. An independent review published in early 2017 showed some minor improvements, but migrant workers continue to face exploitation across the country.
8. Being A Woman In Qatar Is A Struggle
In a 2017 study conducted by business school INSEAD, Qatar ranked 117th out of 122 countries worldwide for having a significant gender gap. The study assessed factors like women in leadership roles, the number of women in the workforce, female political representation, and the quality of education provided to women.
Women have minimal involvement in politics and typically receive far less education compared to their male counterparts. While women do attend universities, their campuses are separated from those of men. Arranged marriages remain common, and Muslim women in Qatar generally appear in public only when fully covered.
Female tourists are also advised to keep their arms and legs covered at all times. In short, Qatar is not the most ideal place for women. While slow reforms are taking place, the country still has a long way to go before it catches up with global standards.
7. Robot Jockeys Have Gained Tremendous Popularity—But This Only Happened After The World Took Notice Of Child Slavery
Although Qatar is known for hosting a wide variety of sporting events—football being a major favorite, especially with the 2022 World Cup—the country has a long history with camel racing, dating back to the early Islamic period. While it sounds entertaining, up until the early 2000s, many camel owners resorted to kidnapping children or purchasing them as slaves to serve as jockeys.
Children, being small and lightweight, were ideal for riding camels. While this worked well for the camels, it was far from beneficial for the children. In addition to being stolen for this purpose, the kids were often deprived of food to keep them as small as possible.
The intense, sustained public outrage surrounding the issue eventually led to a ban on child jockeys in camel racing, and now robot jockeys have taken their place. This sounds fine, but what happens if the robots become self-aware and demand better working conditions, or if someone starts a human rights movement advocating for the rights of robot jockeys? In today’s world, that’s not entirely out of the question.
6. Widespread Censorship Is A Problem
Across the country, the Internet is heavily censored. Qatar blocks access to websites it deems inappropriate. While pornography sites were always the main target of censorship, dating platforms and any sites with LGBTQ+ content are also restricted.
Media websites in Qatar used to enjoy some degree of freedom (though mainstream outlets avoided reporting on controversial topics). However, since Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 World Cup, censorship has noticeably increased.
For years, journalists have faced prosecution for publishing anything critical of Qatar’s leadership or Islam. In December 2016, the government blocked Doha News—an English-language news site based in Qatar—raising alarms about the growing scope of censorship in the country.
Even BBC reporters were prohibited from filming migrant laborers following the Amnesty International report. It seems the nation is doing everything it can to block further negative exposure of the workers involved in constructing the World Cup stadiums.
5. Rising Tensions Between Qatar and The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Bahrain
The UAE and other Gulf nations have recently accused Qatar of harboring terrorists and supporting extremism. In an unprecedented move, they have banned Qatari vessels and aircraft from entering their airspace and ports. The Saudi-Qatar border has been closed due to Qatar’s alleged backing of terrorism, which is ironic, as the Saudis are also known to fund terrorism.
Qatari nationals residing in these countries were given two weeks to return to Qatar. Yet, much of the world remains confused about the situation, which mostly consists of threats and petty insults like calling each other takfiris, a sectarian insult.
The Trump administration has openly criticized the decision, arguing that Saudi Arabia has not provided any supporting evidence for its allegations. The White House also indicated that this action appears to be part of an ongoing rivalry between the nations, with no proof that Qatar is involved in funding terrorism.
Like so many political developments today, this is yet another perplexing turn of events that makes little sense. It will likely be a topic of discussion in the media for a few days, until something more 'compelling' grabs attention. After that, it will be forgotten by most, except for the innocent Qataris displaced from their homes and the fortunate accountants working for weapons manufacturers.
4. The Absurdly High Cost of Renting Property
If you plan to move to Qatar and think you can snag an affordable apartment in the city, think again. The average rent for a one-bedroom unit is a staggering $1,933.00 per month, which is far higher than what you’d pay for a similar-sized property in most of the United States.
A pint of beer typically costs more than $10, and that’s not even for a premium brand. This could be due to the country’s discouragement of alcohol consumption.
McDonald’s has franchises in Qatar, and their prices are pretty much in line with what you'd pay in the United States. So, if you're not into drinking and can handle staying in a tent by the beach, it might be a good holiday destination.
On the bright side, gasoline is incredibly cheap at around 45 cents per liter ($1.70 per gallon). However, if you're planning to spend a significant amount of time in Qatar, you'll need a solid income to support your lifestyle.
3. You’ll Always Have Your Falcon By Your Side
If you’re worried about leaving your beloved, tough-as-nails bird of prey behind when traveling to Qatar, fear not! Qatar Airways permits all passengers to bring their falcons aboard the plane, as long as the bird possesses a valid passport.
Falconry has been a vital part of Qatari culture for generations. The falcon is regarded as a symbol of bravery, freedom, resolve, and perseverance.
Owning a falcon is considered a symbol of status, and these birds frequently accompany their owners on global trips. Qatar Airways allows up to six falcons on a flight at once. So, if you plan to fly your bird of prey internationally, it’s wise to arrive early to secure a spot.
In one recent report, a Saudi prince bought 80 seats on a plane to accommodate his 80 falcons, so they could travel together. I suppose if you have the funds, it’s a reasonable decision, right? Although, you might want to consider the cleaning crew who had to deal with that much bird droppings.
2. The Strange Social Norms Around Admiring Someone’s Belongings
Praising someone else’s possessions is a major social faux pas. In Qatari culture, if you openly express admiration for someone’s belongings, they are expected to gift you that item or something of greater value. For instance, if you fancy a Porsche, this might be an inexpensive way to acquire one—if you’re willing to endure the social shame and alienation afterward.
Since women are viewed as possessions, the ultimate taboo in Qatar is expressing admiration for someone’s wife or female family member. You might find yourself married to her before you even understand what’s happening.
It’s considered extremely disrespectful to turn down an invitation. If someone invites you into their home, you must accept. Refusing will bring shame to the hosting family, and you won’t be invited again. Just make sure you only accept invitations from people you actually like.
If you manage to avoid these major social blunders and are heading to someone’s home, remember to remove your shoes before entering. Failing to do so is one of the rudest actions you can take, aside from walking in wearing your shoes and then hitting the host with them as you cross the threshold in your careless American footwear.
1. Snorkeling and Scuba Diving Are Extremely Popular
If you’re planning a scuba diving or snorkeling getaway, Qatar offers a wealth of fantastic diving spots. The country stretches into the Persian Gulf, and most of the diving activities are based out of Doha.
The waters here are teeming with diverse marine life. Barracudas, groupers, and cuttlefish are frequent residents, and Doha is home to the world’s largest population of dugongs. These giant sea creatures resemble what you might imagine your mother-in-law would look like if she sported a mustache and had a more pleasant demeanor.
The region is also home to numerous reefs and shipwrecks, with many buses and cars purposely sunk to provide divers with plenty of fascinating places to explore. For many years, pearl diving has been a cornerstone of Qatar’s economy, with many people depending on it for their livelihoods before the discovery of oil brought prosperity to the country.
Even now, many people still dive for pearls from oysters. If you're feeling adventurous, you can book an excursion to try your hand at oyster hunting. For the daring, swamp snorkeling offers a chance to explore Qatar's saline marshes, which are home to an abundance of marine life. While the visibility may not be as clear as the open ocean, this experience is rapidly gaining popularity as a major draw for tourists.
