Does Qatar have money, and how is it spent?
In this Holy month of Ramadan, we all sit and pray for the world to be a better place. We hope we no longer see the poor and needy. We wish people would live a well-off life and not need others sympathy and charity. We dream of the death of racism and prejudice. But how?
Have you ever thought about the Country that you live in? How much its making? How its spending, and where?
Just a few things Qatar has done:
1. Qatar paid Porsche $9.87 billion?
2. Soccer players worth millions, for local teams and championships.
3. Conferences
Who benefits from all of this in Qatar?
This is the real reality that everyone is afraid to address.
Why not increase the salaries of the low paid Qatari citizen?
Why not provide passports to the families have given their life up for the growth of Qatar?
Why not provide housing for the poor and needy?
Why not support the women in the country?
And this is about Qatari's in Qatar. The Foreigners are getting more than what they could ever dream of, and that isn't my concern.
Why?
Qatar needs to educate her people. Goverments duty doesn't end just by establishing schools and Universities, but thet need to motivate people and stress on the need of education. But I agree with genesis many Qataris are reluctant and have very less initiative.But they are common people and it's goverments job to guide them for a better future.
sugar_qtr is trying to tell you that,, any country needs to take care of their citizens welfare. before they think about spending on needless affairs.
"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." Abraham Lincoln
i thinks it's just the same...the country's money is their money... they have all the right to do whatever they want with it... for all i know... they have plenty of it :P
Qatar Poor & needy!!!
What about Ministry of Social affairs
The many Charity houses (Q charity, Eid & red crescent)
QF social Development Center
All those goverment entities support local needy families
Most cases are way above the international poverty line
As for low paid qataris, I've written in a previous thread...
It's not the government fault when its citizen failed to educate themselves or Take loans to live a life they can't afford.
Qataris complain about education. Yet refuse co-ed universities
Qataris complain about not getting jobs. Yet object to work in mixed offices.
Qataris complain about getting higher education scholarship. And when most government entities offered that this year, they complained that education supreme council approved lists are limited to the top universities in Europe/US/Asia Pacific and doesn't include universities in arab countries like egypt (aka Fraud certificates)
the bottom line, why would the government support a high school dropout who works as a clerk in a government office, has no interest in enhancing his career, barely show up for work.Yet get a loan after the other to have two cars, hire a maid & a driver and spent his summer holidays abroad
snowjewel, you really think so? Is it their money or the Countries money?
~*Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret*~
it's their money anyway...they can do whatever they want with it...
Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference - Mark Twain
amnesia, I'm not lazy at all. Why would the country donate millions to other countries when there are many cases that need help? If we didn't need the money, not personal use, then we wouldn't have all the charities and drives and campaigns here FOR the poor and needy.
Have you no heart for them?
~*Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret*~
@sugar, you're being a bit one sided.
These are called INVESTMENTS. Our oil and gas isn't going to last forever and if we're going to progress as a nation we need to integrate, that means business.
Look at all of the countless donations Qatar has given the world, look at the benefits Qataris get.
You want more?? That's just being lazy now.
__________________________
Mr. Q's Blog - A Qatari's view on Qatar.
The greatest asset of any country is its people!!!
Qatar needs to empower their citizens with more rights and voice.
anybody point me a qatari well known outside except for the Emir and his associates.?!
wallah ana miskeen i dunt have money :(
but I don't believe it is really in the best interest of Qataris in the long run.
Governments take lots of decisions that are not in the best interests of the people but promote interests of a limited few. Look at the American decision to go to war in Iraq. At least buying athletes won't result in so much death and destruction (although I still don't support it).
I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM
PM, so you are agreeing that Authority are taking things into their own hands for their own benefit and satisfaction?
~*Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret*~
There is certainly is a lot money spent on things that I don't think are worth it and pay off in the long run. Importing athletes is the most obvious. Better to take the time, grow and train your own. You will have more to be proud of with regard to their achievements.
Buying athletes is a perfect example of the impatience of some Qataris to have everything handed to them quickly without having to work for it. I don't believe they represent the majority of the Qataris and I hope your voice will be heard.
I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM
As a Qataria, I don't want to be spoon fed by anyone. All I want is a chance.
Lets go back to my soccer example. The teams are random and there are players that get QR400,000/ a month! and that is just the salary. Where does that money come from? The club ----> Olympic Committee ----> Government (one of HH's son's)
~*Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret*~
Sugar Qtr..
Don't take what I'm gonna say as a fact but it's my opinion.
All this seemingly immense expenditure on expats and international image is necessary and temporary. As a Qatari I appreciate the speed at which modernisation is taking place. It's costly all right but the cost of reinventing the wheel is even greater.
As for Qataris, as I said in another thread, education and empowerment is more important and feasible than immediate gratification.
You need to look outside the Arab world and Asia with regard to Qatar being on the World map. yes, Qatar has made amazing progress but consider this:
1. The Asian games are not really followed by most of the world (primarily the Arab and Asian countries)
2. The conferences held here are again rarely something that would interest the world outside the Middle East and Asia (with a few exceptions)
3. Al Jazeera is looked upon as the Fox News of the Arab world and went from having the chance to be considered a legitimate informative media outlet like the BBC to now being viewed with suspicion as perhaps the greatest source of Arab propaganda (and I had such hope for them).
4. No one outside of the Gulf knows what Qatar Foundation IS. Arab countries are starting to know about it because of the American universities there that they want their kids to be able to attend. As far as making an international impact, though, it's not there yet.
Now that said, I believe there will be a great future for Qatar if they continue on this path but I believe many Qataris want everything handed to them very quickly and are too impatient to do the hard wok to invest their time and energy to advance their country on the world stage. I don't think MORE government handouts for poor work performances and low achievement in education is the answer. Take care of the truly needy, yes. But increase the handouts to people who are learning to live beyond their means -- NO.
I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM
Sugar don't get me wrong but Qatar has been over shadowed in Middle East in the past by Saudi Arabia, Dubai or nearby Iran and Iraq. It is starting to make news but only by making expenses like the ones you mentioned in the opening post. That is why they are bidding for one major sporting event after another.
People all over the world look for loans while starting a new venture or making a major investment so no issues there.
" Pele good, Maradona better, George BEST"
Don't misunderstand me, I am not asking Foreigners to leave, not at all. They have been doing a good job here, and live here as if it is their own home town. I know a lot of retired Germans and they call Qatar their second home.
Qatari's seek loan when they are in need for a good capital to do anything. I got a loan when I first got a job, so what? Does that make me dump, irresponsible or what? It actually makes me who I am and who I will become.
And about Qatar being on the map crap, that is nonsense. Qatar is on the map already. Qatar Foundation, Al Jazeera Network, World Conferences, Asian Games, isn't that enough already?
~*Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret*~
where is the money going ?!!! qatar still not have infrastructures ,we are soooo late
I just want to weak up one day and see Arab countries acquire nuclear technology .
Stone - yes the hydro (specifically oil) will run out but Qatar had the 3rd largest NG reserves in world only behind Russia and US and what, 250K people>
You are SPOT ON if Qatar is to be the country it seems to wish to be the people, however few there may be, must be willing to lead and be in total control of their own destiny.
-----
A wise young crackpot knows no fear - Ian Dury.
Theres always the saying that one day the hydrocarbon reserves will run out dry and Qatar needs to be ready for that instances. Emulating the UAE for its whole range trade and businesses will be one. Training new generartion of qatari to be self reliance and having the expertise will be next. The argument is that money is not always everything. While Qatar is at its peak now with all these financial resources to invest as country foreign reserves, they should not forget to invest in her very own human resource.
Sugar just an example, when I decided to move to Qatar, I called up my Mom and told her I have taken up a job in Qatar and will be moving there. Her first question was What is Qatar? I had to explain it is near Dubai. Qatar wants to be on the world map like Dubai is.
Regarding investment in its own people and citizens, sure that must be a top priority. If I am correct, Even Sheikh Zayed in UAE first invested in his own people before they exploded on the world map.
I wasn't aware though that even among Qatari nationals there are poor people. Good eye opener for me.
" Pele good, Maradona better, George BEST"
There are many poor Qataris- many of them poor because of crippling bank debts. A young Qatari will get into debt once he starts work in order to buy a car and then get married, then comes the house building-ok they get assistance for building but it only covers the basics.
>
May your dreams take you travelling all through your life.
Ya... its true....sugar when the money flows...all you will need is the help of few irish yanks to lighten the burden of money off your shoulder.....That's why I love Ireland.
OK - sun I am US, half Irish.
To be honest I love both countries... indeed I am so pleased to be here in Qatar as well, but that is not relevant.
Sugar - the hard thing is Qatar has so few Qataris. Is totally opposite than Bahrain and KSA and much more like Abu Dhabi. How can a country which has only 50K more people than my suburb outside of Chicago run and deliver on one of the largest and most important natural resource reserves in the world?
I admire, deeply, the Qatari Higher Authorities desires to educate and uplift the nation. But there are so few. So while investing in the Qatari people is needed and encouraged, it will be 3-4 more generations until Qatar is able to manage its own destiny without us expats helping.
I do hope that is the future. In the meantime let us all work together.
-----
A wise young crackpot knows no fear - Ian Dury.
sugar.........it's called personal observation
sandeepkadian and Midfielder 4, don't you think Qatar has done enough for the world? Isn't it time to invest in its people and citizens? As for your open question Midfielder 4, I can't say what they are supposed to do, but I would like them to pay more attention in gaining their peoples love and respect, for starters.
and sun26872, What made you think that Qatari's are lazy?
~*Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret*~
I thought I saw an irish flag stuck to an American or an irish citizen with amerikan passport.
sugar, you are right. Your country should spend money for the benefit of your own citizen......one small question .....why are you Qataris so lazy?
Sandeep is right - and to add to the point in another 2-3 years with the LNG trains humming, Qatar will have so much more falooz per capita as to make the entire world look poor.
What else are they supposed to do with their money (open question)?
-----
A wise young crackpot knows no fear - Ian Dury.
Qatar is looking to establish it's identity on the world stage sugar, maybe that is why all these big spendings that you mentioned. Just my opinion.
" Pele good, Maradona better, George BEST"