What does it mean to be Qatari?
I am very interested in identity and how people of different nations describe themselves. Is there a strong sense of Qatari identity despite the low percentage of citizens in the country? Do Qataris see themselves as Arabs first and Qataris second? What has the amazing pace of growth and development done to the sense of Qatari identity? Is there an active effort to maintain and preserve the poetic, artistic and cultural traditions of traditional Qatari life? Are these traditions seen as distinct from the rest of Arabia? Is there a distinct Qatari dialect? What will happen in 20-30 years when the first generation that remembered the pre-modernization era passes away?
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to understand the culture you have to mix with Qataries, mind you they are like any other people, you have to fined the right people for you, they ll invite you to their houses and take you to different places and maybe intreduce you to their families, talk to them , learn how they think, you ll fined answers to your quistins.
If you want to design a robe, you could go to a tailor. They will take your sizes of shoulders, arms, neck, height,....
It costs about QAR 110 by going to a tailor. Ready made are available too for less that QAR 110.
You will need white cotton underwear. A white cotton pants might cost QAR 10 & a white cotton t-shirt underwear might cost QAR 7.
A white skull hat could be purchased for about QAR 10.
Another example of keeping Qatar's cultural aspects is camel races. They now use robots on camels.
They have it sorted out correctly here, the Emir certainly looks after his people.
I've got involved with there driving habits as well, although some of them are plane suicidal!
I'd even consider wearing the white robes out here as I think they look super smart plus obviously they are worn to keep cool. The only problem is, I'm not sure they'd take kindly to a westerner wearing them. Although on the flip side of the coin maybe they'd appreciate me getting involved in there culture.
As for the development of this country. I think they only aim for 95%. Everything is left unfinished! But things will change, these issues will be resolved. In 10 years time I can see Qatar being on par with Dubai and in 20 years I reckon Doha will be the primary location of choice for people visiting the middle east! I'm glad I've got to come now.
Martin
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." - Hunter Thompson
Thank you for your responses: I look forward to learning more about the distinctiveness ofQatari culture when I arrive in August.
It is interesting to me how the subject of apocalypse came up in this conversation!
Muslim culture doesn't disappear but there is a danger that it might. The rate of developement here is so fast that some things get abandoned.
I was looking at 40 year old pictures of Doha. It looked really nice but now nearly everything has gone. Qatar should preserve the historic sites that remain while there is still time.
Maybe Qatar's Muslim culture will be disappeared. Will we hear the Athan after 100 years? I hope so.
richard123 also as I know in Islam at the end of the world most or all people will not believe in the existance of God. The mosque in Mecca will be abandoned & wolves would live in it.
As I know, in Islam, Muslims beleive that at the End of the World, there will be no religion at all (i.e. no Islam, no Christinanity, no Judaism, no Buddhism, no Hinduism, no Shintoism ...). I wonder if that means all societies will be same.
I hope Islam is right, that is a nice thought. Souq Waqif is lovely. BBKSIU as a Qatari, you should get involved with preserving the cultural heritage of Qatar. There are too many old forts and palaces that are just abandoned and closed. Even the heritage village on the corniche is hardly ever open. Also, what about setting up a Qatar art and poetry exhibition. Maybe you can go to Qatar Foundation to get the money to do this.
Being Qatari means you have to drive like a maniac in a land cruiser.
Architicture of Souq Waqif is also an example of the effort to maintain the traditional arts of Qatar.
Yes, there is sense of Qatari identity. Men who were traditional clothes would feel more comfortable being with each other. Qataris have a special dialect. It is little different than Bahrini. It is a lot similar to the Eastern Section of Saudi Arabia.
Yes there are efforts to maintain & preserve the poetic, artistic and cultural traditions of traditional Qatari life. In Al-Sharq newspaper there is a section about poetry. Parties & events in schools take place when there are traditional events.
As I know, in Islam, Muslims beleive that at the End of the World, there will be no religion at all (i.e. no Islam, no Christinanity, no Judaism, no Buddhism, no Hinduism, no Shintoism ...). I wonder if that means all societies will be same.