What are the differences of Doha today and Doha 7-10 years ago?

one of the big differend 7 years ago, labour who have salary 400 qr he can live doha.but now who got salary 4000 not enough for atleast accomodation

Going back to 1982 the place is now nothing like what it was.

The only large shop was The Centre. The site of the Sterling group (caravan corner) was desert. Anyone living outside the "C" ring road was considered to be living "in the sticks".

The last part of the road to Dukhan was black bitumen single carriageway and still exists to the north of the new road.

There was no road from the Sheraton to what is now the lagoon area. The only access was by 4 wheel drive.

Too many other changes to mention.

well, taxi was no problem before. Just go on the main road and you'll get one, however, you have to bear with the smell of the driver. Now a bit different, more beautiful cars, only sometimes stinking indian drivers but not like before.

novita --- and don't forget the famous crazy roundabout..

Don't know about 10 years, but 20 years ago, when I was first here, I live in a portacabin off Airport Road. The airport was a tin shed, smaller than the current VIP building is now! There were rondabouts all the way down airport road with cheerful guys selling newspapers at each one.

I worked in the industrial area, but D Ring was still a pipe dream, so we had to drive across desert to get there!

It took 3 months for a Brit to get onto the waiting list to do a driving test (there was a big hooha with the cheif of police in UK - ask me offline!) and a similar time to get a liquor license - needless to say, I didn't stay long - more fool me; I went to Jeddah instead!!!

Difference is..........

inflation

skyline-plunging (sheraton being the only noteworthy)

relaxed traffic.

no qatarization

residence permit, driving licence and other yearly etc has increased 10 folds.

to sum it up: Doha was "cute".

I have read the comments of some of you and am sorry to say that I have to correct some of them.

International schools. They were here. Dess, Park House, French School, Independant, Doha College & the International school are some of the ones I can sum up now.And even before that they had the Shell (Dutch) school which closed earl 90"s

Also Qatar Foundation was here. It was in its infant stages. It started with the Shaqab boarding-school for girls & Qatar Academy at Rumeillah. In 1998 the Qatar Academy opened its doors at the location it is in now and started with the junior school. I have to 1998 yearbook to prove. The seniors joined the location in 1999 and then the Family development Centre opened its doors in Rumeillah.

I remember things from even more years ago and then the Centre was the place to go to. No alcohol in hotels, and the liquer permit was QR 500 per month only.

I've been living here for 11 years now, and you guy's have just about named everything, except for one!

The Thursday-Friday weekend! Hehe who remembers that?

P.S It would also be great if someone had a pic of crazy roundabout, i'd love to see that again!

People used to visit Aladin's kingdom for entertainment.

Sattelite tv was banned, only QCV was allowed.

There was only 56 Kbps internet connection, that used to run on 28.8 Kbps instead.

People had special no.s for their beepers.

There were Orange + white colored taxis, no sign of karwa.

Less women were on streets.

Women exposing their thighs or cleavage were sensored even in big advertisments at city center or The Center shall I say.

The center, The mall and Salam towers where the real deal back then, now its Villagio and City center.

There was no Qatarliving nor living in Qatar.

Oasis was the real club or the party place.

Most of the Private parties used to happen at Al Andalus compound.

Garvey's was something big.

The population was only 500,000. Most of them were Pakistani or Indians.

Now there is a Traffic light at that spot, but back in the days we actually had crazy round about.

Corniche, Wakra Beach and Palm tree island were the picnic spots.

There was actually a museum near the corniche.

Alot of people used to visit the Zoo.

Qatar University was the only source of Higher education.

Gulf Cinema was the best cinema and the biggest one. Umm Said had a cinema.

Qtel didnt have anything blocked.

People were getting ready for the Millenium virus.

Salam was the tallest building in Dafna.

We didn't have neighbours lol.

People were definelty more humble.

People used to go to the "IRANI SouQ (current souq waqif)" and throw their numbers on a piece of paper at girls... now they just use bluetooth lol.

Security was at a very high level and romace was at a very low level.

If u were a woman walking in a shorts that go up to ur knee, people would stare at you. Which I believe still happens lol.

There was NO professionalism. Different depts were working in differnt Ministries. There was no set up of Corporation like Kahrama ( QGEWC ) or Postal Corporation. All were struggling under the bureaucratic "red tapism" of the Ministries.

There was no Qatar Foundation, or any of the foreign universties like Carnegie, WellCOrnel, Bridge Arts, ........

Family Food Center, Food Palace and some groceries were the only shopping outlets. City Center, Lulu, Hyatt, Land Mark all came later.

Resident ID number was not connected to each other as now. Nowadays you are caught with your ID , which is linked to your Health card, credit card, Bank Account, Elecricty, Qtel Phones, Vehicle number !!!!!

Marriott hotel was called as Gulf Marriott. And Sheraton, Ramada was the only other....... Four Seasons, Ritz, Movnepick ,Rygdges, all came later.

Young foreign educated Qataris were not much. In the Ministries, you were asked bluntly, in the middle of a discussion, "Are you a Muslim" ?

Airport signal, Muntaza Signal, Midmac overbridge, Crazy signal ,, all were round abouts.

There were no International schools.... only Qatari, Iranian, Jordanian schools. Only two Indian schools ( now the number is six )

many more difference

i am afraid, our readers may be bored

Doha was very different. I have seen the changes the past 17 years. From the oversized village where every body knew each other to the now a days impersonal city with lots of strangers. Check this website it might answer a lot of your questions:http://catnaps.org?islamic/gulfarch.html

novita77 is exactly correct, and to add, fridays before are for all walks of life, when you go to the malls. not like now, most of the malls are for families only! also before only few radars on the main road. not like now, every traffic signal has a radar! also again traffic fines before are less than your salary now its more than your salary!

Beverly Hills compound only cost QR 6500 for rent (and at that time we thought it was expensive !).

Most traffic light in C ring road were roundabout.

If there is more than 10 cars in Ramada Junction we consider the road very busy.

Hummer showroom, Starbucks, Le Notre in Ramada were empty ground. So does crept away, mint, chopin, diet shops et all.

There is no Karwa Taxi, only orange and white taxis.

Sheraton was the only 'tall' building in the corniche.

There were no Hyatt Plaza, leave alone villagio. City Centre only have carrefour open.

We stayed in Marriot for valentine, and it cost QR 500 for 1 night including dinner and breakfast for 2 person !

Midmac fly over was Midmac roundabout, one of the major killer roundabout in Doha.