How Qatar treats Visitors???

For example, look at all the 'bedspacers' and shared accommodation adverts. They all specify the race of the others, as well as social status(although that helps to weed out the unaffordable ads for the non-execs)Filipino males or Pakistani family only, Indian maids required. This is by the people who are placing ads for roommates and westerners(we think we should know better) who require domestic help. Qatari's are not phrasing the ad for the Western families placing help wanted ads.

I have realized that I have to accept what I perceive as some injustice in Qatar-it isn't MY country, my religion or my way of life. It will probably annoy every bit of me that is female, American, and the mother of a mixed race (white/Indian) son. But I also know that my parents generation was entirely different than my own and their actions from the 1960's/70's in the US are no longer socially condoned or acceptable-legally or ethically. This country has transitioned more than my own in the last 50 years. There is probably some stuff that will change because of the cultural interaction and stuff that won't-because of the prevailing religion. It is THEIR little corner of the world.

When in Rome. . .enjoy the pasta and get out of the way of the drivers.

vinod you understood me very well.Everybody wants money, but this is not the way to get it.Expat includes all those who are not Qataris.Tell me how many of them have self respect(including white skin).Most of the expat think there is no need to do hard work or upgrade their knowledge because they can do very well even otherwise. And you are right it's not the fault of expats.It's the fault of Qatari system because such kind of people should be kicked out, so that other's learn a lesson from it. And beside this issue, your personal negative comment towards me shows your level of immaturity, but at least you have some self respect left in you. I appreciate that.

i like your comments on poor qualification and competency , well i dont think thats the case with every one probably its right for a minority(including you)

but high salary is totally wrong , people are paid for their job, not as charity by some one , and regarding greedness , can you please tell me some nationalities who are not greedy, or who dont want money , well dont make such statements generalising all foreigners as greedy , in competent , poor qualified , etc etc.

i applaud the actions for preferential treatment and service.

obviously the government has procedures on who should be allowed in this country and how they are classed. without the subclasses or public order there would be complete anarchy.

we can't have that now.

The racism in Qatar is promoted by the greedy expats and not Qataris. It is the fault of the system. I know in certain hospital, the lower level staff (usually expats) will try to attend the Qataris first irrespective of the fact that this favour was never requested by the Qatari. The reason being it's only Qatari opinion which counts for their promotion. Opinion or complaints of expat doesn't matter. Any customer service related should be taken seriously.Otherwise, Qatar will be left with only those greedy expats with poor qualification and competancy despite of the fact that they pay such high salaries.Unfortunately, Qataris are very susceptible this kind of ass licking. ..........Unfortunately

is something only a few nations are proficient in. Some are even famous for it :)

Anyhow, when I did the medical I was far more concerned for my health than anything else. The place was filthy beyond description and for the x-ray they were queuing up INTO the x-ray room. I hid behind the door jamb until it was my turn. All the while impatient asians (and not qataris) were pressing forward, I let them pass, since they were so eager for the radiation!

I think, bad behaviour has no skin colour but comes with inanity and lacking upbringing.

This issue of the malls is explanable, i have been to the malls with my family on fridays before this ban and it is jsut flooded with Indian, srilankan, nepali bachelors and so on who eye up women and make passes at them. Many of the women they make passes at are even married.

I used to see some of them go to the womens underwear section and lift up and hold the underwear in provocative manners. I feel this is what prompted the ban. I mean whatt do bachelors do in wome's underwaer section. Unless they are buying for their wives back home,But for many of them that is no the case, the go there touch and make passes then leave the place and go. usually when i go shopping with my wife or my girls, when we walk around i ofetn leave them to go here and nad there to pick up what they need while i go to sections that interest me.But if i see weird men in the underwear section I would not let my wife and daughters alone there.So what some call racist day boils don't to a matter of attitude of teh foreign workers.Since they are here alone and unmarried they think they can come out and flirt with the women in the malls.However the locals don't like that idea.So they ban them, it is not a racial thing otherwise they would ban indian and philipino families if it was an issue of race.

I know of some Indian and Asians here would hold some very high and well paid positions. Some even earn more than me and I am British.So it is not a matter of racism here, I think it is the attitude of these people themselves who make the locals act in a certain way.

Look at the housing market.

It recently came to my attention that many qatari home owners out of compassion and pity for these asian/indian expates who earn so little, give them Massive villas at low rates to share with their large families.Knowing they are doing a good act by helping out some people who are desparate.These indians however abuse the kindness, they take the Villas and split them into little rooms and rent them out at high rates and make a mint on them.I have seen a lot of this in front of my face.

So don't actually blame the qataris.Some of the expats have to change their attitudes infront of the locals

One point we have to bear in mind some of those manning these offices here speak English, some basic others very good, sometimes it may be communication breakdown as the person spaeaks little English.I went toa health cente the other day for a job related issue and the girl behind the counter wa stelling the person who was applying for a health card that he needed confirmation of his address from his employer and that the paper provided was not enough but the way she was putting it across would have sounded like she was being arrogant and shouting but when i understood her level of English I concluded that was the best way for her to get the message out.

May be more training should be givien to these people. but I work with great Qataris who are always bring food and sharing with others.

(now after all this praising qataris I need a promotion LOL)

I find the qataris very good people, they have helped me a lot during my 7 year stay here. They are very generous and give with no questions asked.

I found a qatari who even gave me his villa very cheap and when he found I had children he even gave me more discount, and went to the shop and brought loads of drinks for the kids free, so don't knock them all.

how can we entertain such things.they cant take us for granted.we also hold rights.

I have met some nice, kind and respectful Qataris. It would be unfair to generalize Qataris as being racist. Unfortunately this is the widespread perception because of the rude, racist personnel manning frontline services who are not properly trained in customer service. These kind of people should not even be promoted to higher positions, much less hired. Qatarization policy is not an excuse to hire or promote incompetent people.

The common perception -- and my acquaintances' experience -- is also that the police would hesitate to act on complaints about Qataris, particularly in regard to traffic violations.

exiledsaint, I sympathize with you on the "racist Friday" thing. My man experienced this same treatment only last Friday. He left me inside the mall to have a smoke outside, and when he went back he was prevented by the Indian guard from entering. This would be fine if the same guard did not also allow another unaccompanied Indian from entering, which he did, making up some excuse about the latter carrying a basket.

Pitstop, I think it is the duty of the Qatari government to do something about the widespread racism in Qatar, not only by Qataris but also by people of other nationalities. I think it boils down to education and training. I believe that people are the same everywhere; racism is strongest among those who are not properly educated.

As for complaining to the mall owner, do you really think this is practicable for the average customer? What the government can and should do in this case is to ban the Family Day policy altogether, because not only does discrimination happen in connection with this policy, but it also causes inconvenience for working people, particularly single workers whose day off happens to fall on a Friday. Single workers have to come from places as far away as Ras Laffan Industrial City to spend their only holiday in Doha, only to be prevented from entering the malls because of this irrational policy.

shoeaddict, perhaps it would not solve the problem but this is a forum which IS intended for discussions. Here we communicate to each other our thoughts and experiences. I believe that even if we don't automatically solve the problem, we could at least promote awareness of the situation through this medium. Awareness of the problem of racism is the first step towards eliminating it. If we are all aware of what is racist or not in our mentality and behavior then we can take steps to change it and encourage others to do so too.

mmyke, Caucasians are not as frequent targets of racism as we non-Arab Asians are.

johnpur, unfortunately that is how many of us feel the way things are at present.

My bad experience is..one evening,i brought my boy for a walk in his stroller.We passed by a huge villa and there were 3 little boys (5-8yrs) playing in front of the villa. The youngest among 3 of them ran out and towards us and touch my son. I thought he wanna play with him.Suddenly he gave my son a violent push on his face. My son was only 17th month old. I was mad and yelled at those kids.He ran into the villa.I'm not sure are they Qataris/pakistanis as they were not putting on the white gown.But they looked like one and they are staying in the luxurious villa.I really feel like to go in to see their parents but will they speak for their son? or speak for the right? I just forgive them since my son was not injured. If this happen again, will I be entertained if I report to the police?

sorry Pitstop... I too had a bad experience there - I was the only one standing in the queue - I stood infront of the lady, she looked at me and rudely told me to go to the next lady, so been there and done that, but I wouldn't generalise - In govermental departments you cannot get away from it in any country though.

"if you don't like the heat... get out of the kitchen... but stop trying to fan the flames before you leave... it will burn you on the a** as you go through the doorway...." ME

visit www.qaws.org

:))))

Same thing happened to partner when she was getting health check for visa, arab women tried to push in front of her, she also made sure that women did not push in front of an phhilipino who was behind her.

No qatari love for the dhimmis :(

Arien, it's the next step that I'm anticipating, that's why it's between parenthesis.

In Qatar or any other gulf country i have worked in, I Never faced any attitude from the locals.. Got a lot of attitude from Mallus though from whom I have heard similar comments to the one you got..

" Your Faith is what you believe, Not what you know"

I dont see any sort of bashing or hatred against Qataris in the thread but plain offense most do face out here. Its not the people but the systm to be blamed.

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- Listen to Many...Speak to a Few -

LOL, keep complaining (and bashing), if it makes you feel better...

Truly sorry to have to say, but I have to agree.

No one cares about any complaints. Just Shut up, Put up, Finish and Leave.

& Hopefully you can leave ay bad habits you have picked up behind....

this is one of those countries where complaining is not an option...better keep quit, finish our job here then get the F out of here.

go to america, eat hotdog and enjoy being free

I think it's a half-full/half-empty issue..you see what's congruent with your personality.

I've always heard that Germans are arrogant and "refuse" to communicate with tourists in English but when I went there they were nice and did their best to communicate with me in English

it was a bad experience what do you want me to say.

Yes, they should give out numbers and yes, they should be a little bit more helpful and yes, it wouldn't hurt them to say please and your welcome or things like that.

Why do you have to be like that?!

lol, not again!!!!!

get it all out, please include our driving, landcruisers, how we disrespect expats/women, how we rape our filipina maids, ...etc.

Then you'll all agree that this is our culture, and we need to be educated ...

LOL!!!

it was horrible there, I was in shock going there. LOL

I seen the lady pull out all the maids in the row and put them right back on the end of the row, even though they have been sitting there just like everybody else...

Anyways, I have been ignored , for finding out where to go and what to do , and you only get some short answer and on the end you have to run around headless and try to find out what to do . And I found the ladies working there rather unfriendly, they ignore you and you have to force yourself on them . You never hear them say please or thank you , or any of that,makes them seem very unfriendly and unlikeable.

In other words by the time I was finished there I was very pissed :(

yes the system needs to be changed BIG time

6 foot, white Canadian professional man and I have never encountered racism here in Qatar,,,not even Fridays at the malls,,,,,,honestly.

I think that you guys are making this all up!!

Come-On. this started as an inocent observation (I happen to think is very true and I have witnessed it my self), to a story tale that is worthy a short novel.

In Qatar there is a very large percentage of foreigners versus the locals.

It is wrong to say that ALL of anything, but when the locals are a minority, then it is easier to notice.

An example, single male trying to get to see a doctor. This is a story in itself.

Who is 'they'. Those who generalize are just as racist.

Don't you see it? You don't like being treated differently or in a racist manner but you do the same yourself.

As someone quite brightly said, it's not "Qataris" it's the system.

Why doesn't the hospital have proper management? Why aren't there tickets or a numbering system?

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Mr. Q's Blog - A Qatari's view on Qatar.

Finally you also one of US

I wish I could delete my unintended posts!!!

If there is a way to do it, can someone pm me?

Signature line > "You can't fix stupid"

Maybe it was just your unlucky day to get someone like that on duty. When I went (with a bunch of other Canadians) we stood in line with all nationalities, including Qatari and other Gulf Arab ladies - and when someone tried to jump the queue (in a shayla and abaya) the Qatari lady who was guiding us to the various counters told her to get back into line - same thing when we stood in line for the blood test and xray.

Sorry your experience wasn't positive, but as I say, it may just have been a matter of luck (either good or bad) for both of us.

Signature line > "You can't fix stupid"

but though i'm sure u know those bad cachiers and others are not the most..right? :')

and pleaz make sure if u have the self confidnce u wont hav wrong Preconceives mabe becuz if an old qatari woman comes they sure would take her first

reGrdz"

well thats ignorant behavior from thos Qataris or whatever nationality behave like that .,

some people take islam by name and looks not implementation.

Trust me if I would face such conduct from thos poeple

i want blame their humanity ,

No i will attack their claim that they islamic fixed.

In Islam : قال الرسول عليه الصلاة والسلام "كلنا لآدم، وآدم من تراب، فلا فرق بين عربي وأعجمي إلا بالتقوى" وكذلك "لا فرق بين أبيض وأسود إلا بالتقوى"}

Translation : Said the Prophetmohamed, peace be upon him, "We're all to Adam, and Adam from the dust, there is no difference between Arab and non arab only piety" and "no difference between black and white only piety")

^^

Advice if u had to face such conduct again tell them in the face : excuze me Is This A RaCist action ? :'(

LEARN to make peace with it and let it go,,,

you know who you are...

and i LOVE being vague....err,,,VAGUER!!!

.

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falling of my coffin here;-)

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.

tarzan was born in your country?im in awe!!!

.

.

Johnny Weissmuller (Tarzan)was born in Timisoara, Romania,

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.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919321/bio

so thinking it and saying it openly in a forum would solve the problem?alleviate it perhaps?

that we are all racist and we dnt mix well really?

im cringeing from my wooden chair,,,and im not falling from it...:(

falling of my chair here;-)

How well do you think it would be recieved if I posted here about the virtues of Christianity.

Would that go down well?

I don't think so.

So why these posts promoting Islam and then condemming the West?

QL is about promoting Qatar not about what we hate or love.

If I was looking in, I would view this (me included) as a bunch of people who hijacked this forum to talk about the negative side of Qatar and religion.

Lets get back to what QL is about. That is promoting Qatar as a place to live not to become a cynical, racist, bigot who hates.

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Man makes plans...............God smiles ;-)

im on observation mode,,,,,,,,

i really have to say this- its not about cultures or races,more on the individual.

you just say it as you see it.

I do understand what you are saying and I respect that.

We are all a bit racist though with a massive dose of cultural clash.

We don't mix well really.

We like to think we do but looking at threads and posts on here and working over here albeit part time, there is a massive problem with racism and culture.

Most of the time it is not the 'Westerners' that cause that.

It is other cultures.

Look back at the threads and posts on here. Yeah I admit, I would be foolish not too, there are Westerners that are openly racist.

On the whole though, I am quite offended (sometimes) by what the Arabic/Asian/Others say about us 'Westerners'.

Difference is; we take it on the chin they don't.

Which makes me ask, are we really that racist compared to those people?

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Man makes plans...............God smiles ;-)

I do believe that. All humans have some failings. However, the secret is to realise this and act to deal with it.

I believe that there is a bit of racism / bias in all of us. However, I agree that a lot of it is to do with different cultures.

The more one travels and experiences other societies, one realises that we all have our own idiosynchosies and hangups, but at the end of the day are not that different from each other.

Or are we just bugged by others culture?

Is that racism or not seeing their way or them not seeing our way?

I don't think that is racism, that is a culture clash.

Thats my thinking;-)

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Man makes plans...............God smiles ;-)

They took Rolls Royce and Bentley from us , but gave us Claudia Schiffer and Tarzan :)

Alexa: I think Qataris on the whole DO KNOW what is going on. Having said that, I've worked and lived in a places which were a lot lot worse.

Bl**dy Germans, honestly lol.

Aren't they also responsible for world hunger and the unbearable Qatar Summer?

You just can't trust them, they will be driving Land Cruisers at 200 Km/h, whilst flashing their lights right up your behind, with no care for anybodies safety, next.

Come the revolution brothers!!!!

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I say what I like and I bloody well like what I say

has not anyone seen racist day at the malls? I did not mention the Qataris at all, but who cares if Germans run the malls??? If the Qataris knew what was going on things would be different??? Really are the Qataris now blind?

and pitstop you are a joke. If racism happens in the UK in terms of denying people entry to certain people for some shopping centres due to the colour of their skin do you think its all right for the UK govt to say its down to the owners?? How naive can you be.

UkEngQatar, if you are being sarcastic, it isn't funny.

Good Point PITSTOP.. Does anyone know where the German Embassy in Doha is?..:)

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HE WHO DARES WINS

Concerning the malls - the City Center, if I'm not mistaken, is run my Germans. If people are upset for this rule which restricts specific people from walking in, then this should be addressed to the mall owner/manager and not the Qatari government.

I am not saying that ALL Qatari's are saints, but the flooding of racinst threads against the locals is getting ridiculous.

PitStop.. Qatari are definately nice people but unfortunately the practices of many departments very very racist, and driven by nationality.

So just because Qatari are wonderful people and never have to que up for getting these processes means that they are not aware of what is going on.

Qatar is a great Nation and may God give them eyes to see what is happening in the wonderful country, so they can make sure no one can ever point a finger at them because of the processes here.

Just my opinion.

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HE WHO DARES WINS

to do with the Qataris but the malls do operate racist day on Fridays. Myself being white I can walk in without female company but the people of a darker skin get stopped. I sat there and watched as the Nepalese, Sri Lankan and Indian security people turned their fellow brown skin people away. So what apart from racist would you call it? Poorist because me and the Qatari single men have more money in our pockets.

What is with all the threads about how Qatar is so racist, and how they are so inhumane, and how equality has no directions with them, and how rude, how bla bla bla .. ?? Why can't you just say, the secretary or employer, or whatever jerk you are referring to in your story without generalizing the nation?!?! Qatari's are nice people, very down to earth and kind to most people they meet. If you want to meet good locals who live on an average income and SEE how they live their lives - please let me know and I will invite you over for dinner and you will see what racist, rude, inhumane remarks you are making against them by what you say saying. They won't care that you are indian, filipino, sri lankan, american, jew, christian, catholic - or whatever.

I lived abroad most of my life and I was pushed and shoved and yelled at by different nationalities, does that give me the right to say that ALL people from that same country are donkeys? or whatever else?

This is getting boring.

Wait until you encounter Racist Day on Friday at the malls.............

U r right qatarisun,its just the begining.they look down to other nationalities,especially asian.its really upseting when the country is thriving and developing and our metality has not change,isnt it?

ha, wait.. it is only beginning... no equality here, whatsoever..

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“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry