Local People's behaviours to FOREIGNERS???

Yes Exactly.People should realize also that here is a place to share ideas.Let's respect people's opinions.

Yes Exactly.People realize also that here is a place to share ideas.Let's respect people's opinions.

I'm fine Thanks for asking...

Exactly!! people should realize everyone's opinion are different and everyone has different belief and different culture, in order to keep the peace let other people live the way they want to they way they choose to be!!!

Let's not forget to give respect to other as you want others to respect you!!!

Do unto others, what you want to do unto you!!!

thankyou kiara.

how you doing today?

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i would also add that this is not a open society, its not liberal. they are trying to balance the secularism and islam, but this is an islamic country.lets not forget that.

they are trying to be liberal and open minded and any change takes time. as a non muslim or muslim you are free to do whatever you do, but it shoudl fall within shariah law, dont mess with the shariah law.

for ex: if you are caught drunk driving you will be fined/imprisoned and served with lashes, but if you are a non muslim and caught then you are just fined or imprisoned. shariah strictly applies to muslims. when such a punichement is handed out to muslims i dont hear non muslims protesting.but thats how it is.

qataris dont mix outside their community, they are very close knit, but then for that matter i have not seen my indian communities mix outside their comfort zone either.

doha cant be dubai, dont expect to see a mini dubai here. it will take 2 decades to show signs of dubai.

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No one force anyone to come and work here, same as other nationalities in your own country.

people do prepared to work in abroad for different reasons.

some reasons are: they earn little wages in their own country so they prepared to work abroad, other has no choice but to work where they can earn enough to bring up their children and give them good education so they don't experience what the parents already experiencing, when it comes to poverty living in their own country.

other people prepared to travel and experience different type of culture,

Meaning!!! you won't be too problematic if you just stay in your own country and stop comparing how things should be. We all have different type of culture and if you are stranger, you might as well appreciate what you can see and what you can experience outside your own country!!!

That will make your life easier!!! calm down it's not the end of the world!!!

Do unto others, what you want to do unto you!!!

soulforger,

there is always good and bad, we enjoy to talk about the bad esp if another country and compare it to ours.

i am a muslim, but not an arab. i dont wear a abbaya as traditionally and culturally women do here. i wear scarf because i decided to do so.

theres always 2 sides to the coin.

my point is always to respect, then you will get respect. this is with respect to everything. people come here with a high a mighty attitude that they can do whatever they want, thats when things can get sour.

come with a fresh mind, with no comparisons and unrealistic expectations, you will be happy, because then you are willing to learn, you are not prejudiced.

women are harassed, does this happen everyday, i dont think so. does this happen anywhere else in any other country, definitely.

nothing is ever bad, its just that bad things can happen, need not happen to you, should it?

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U are right about not to generalise.But u was born and grown in Qatar.U are muslim.These are opinions from non-muslim people.By the way they may face more problems than you.People come from totally different cultures to an Arab country.Also i am on the way to decide what to do.As i told you i have lots of doubts.I lived in saudi Arabia 3.5 yrs.Ok there are lots of advantages and disadvantages as well.

I guess nobody scrones anyone.

if you come here and expect everyone to change and dance to your tune, sorry that wont happen.

we come to a new country, so we learn to live by their rules and learn to respect who they are before complaining.

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what are you so bitter about?

you seem to be scorning the arabs.

it takes 2 to tango, you show respect, you will get respect.

lets not generalise everything here.

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Here is the one of the realistic opinion by RP.I agree with RP.Everybody mentioning to respect Local culture,customs.But local customs&Culture not only for Local people.It must cover foreigners who work and live in Qatar too.

Ok here is my opinion.

You do not have to cover up with abaya or head scarf unless you are a local or your religion/tradition requires it.

However, if you are female expect to get harassed on the street. In my experience, even if respecting local customs and wearing loose clothing, no skin whatsoever showing and even possibly pulling your hood of your jumper up... expect to get cars tooting, slowing down, pulling over next to you, harassing you, following you.

Unfortunately, guide books do not explain this factor, stating that it is safe for women to walk around in qatar. I have never felt so insecure prior to travelling to this country. And do not expect it to be the workers that have come into the country (eg indians or pakistanis etc), it will almost always be arabs.

I am so highly disappointed in a country that claims to be liberal and open-minded to find that despite westerners and foreigners having to respect local customs that there is no mutual respect for us.

In my opinion, perhaps it is time for the locals to take a good hard look at themsleves and their insular, inconsiderate behaviour to any non-local living in qatar... until then I don't expect this country to meet its over-expectation of becoming the new 'Dubai' of the region.

women working is no hassle at all.muslim women work wih abbyas, without abbayas, with just head scarf, no scarf, if uniform then in uniform, non muslims are attired in formal clothes as they wish, unless there is a uniform.

she will have to apply once here.i dont know much about her line of work.

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during ramadan too, peopel in offices are tolerant.its out of respect that you dont eat or drink in front of the fasting people.

but like i had mentioned to you about my freind, i used to find it a hassle for her to go to one corner of the office to drink her coffee to avoid drinking in front of me so i used to ask her to drink at our work desks.i had no problem becasue i fast for myself and nothing can tempt me from breaking my fast.why should she be inconvenienced?

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My wife is economist.Nowadays she is working in a construction company as an Acquisition Analyst.can she find suitable job in her field?What do u think about this?And how people behaving to working women?

Here in Middle East during holy month of Ramadan, the Muslims do fasting. and other religions like us we do fast eating. the groceries and super markets are open but all restaurant are close during day time, they only open after the prayer of 6PM.

You're not allowed to eat and drink in the public like having a picnic outside during holy month of Ramadan.

Do unto others, what you want to do unto you!!!

men are not forced to go to the mosques even on fridays.

my dad and my hubby pray at home.its only fridays that they go to the mosques.

ramadan can be a problem becasue you arent allowed to eat in public, this rule is for everyone. but you eat at home. the shopping stores are open. i am not sure of non muslims smoking in public. most restaurants are closed.but thats just one month in the year that one needs to brave out. workdays is 6 hours during ramadan.

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Ok.So honest comments.Thank you.I am almost convinced about women stuff.In romania i even don;t let my wife go out without avoiding to wear such clothes :))

What about muslim men sides.Are they obligated to go to mosques.Or they have to run to their cars and begin to drive it to runaway from this obligation?During the holly month Ramadan,people should starve coz everywhere closed?

dont compare saudi with qatar.its not the same.

i have been born and brought up in this place. i have seen the change thats taken place here in the last 10years and thats a huge change.

it used to be stiffling here before, but not now.

qatari women werent allowed to drive before, but now every qatari girl drives.

there werent proper clubs before, but its there now.

there werent malls, its there now.

there is still scope for good gardens and a better zoo.

but this place is changing and it takes time

previously there was a unsaid rule that women should not wear short or sleeveless clothes while working out at corniche, i had heard of the police warning them about dressing (i have just heard of it, dont know the truth in it). but there were numerous stories about such things. basically they were strict before.

now its more relaxed. western women wear as they like while walking on the corniche.

keeping in mind the kind of culture and muslim society this place is, its requested by womn to dress modestly, ie, avoid trnasperant tops through which you can see the make of the bra, avoid trousers through which th entire world can get a glimpse of your g string. thats sort of stiff. but women still wear them and everybody loves to stare. will someone come upto you and criticise you, i doubt it. the local and nonlocals, may just look, mutter to themselves and be on their way.

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I disagreed.But now ok.

As i posted before i worked in KSA and i know the way of they live in Arabia.And additionally i had trips to Bahrain as many Arabians.That's why i have lots of doubts.

no, nobody will judge you,dont worry about such things.no one will make your wife feel uncomfortable or you.i had a colleague who also became a very good freind of mine, she was a christian and her husbanda muslim. people are very tolerant here.there maybe passing remarks like "you should try to convert her, since you are a muslim and it is sawaab for both of you", stuff like that, but its all harmless, snub such remarks in the bud itself and no one will say anything further.

what was the point of your previous post.are u agrering with me or disagreeing? i didnt get it.

my post is based on what i have seen here.by society and culture, it being an arab land you will find most of the middle east women wearing abaya, but its not a compulsion like in saudi. even there is pressure from society to not observe it, i would still say many women today here want to observe it.maybe the young girls may not want to do so.

here wearing the abbaya is so common that you wont feel out of place if you are wearing one, but yes its probably a different story if you go to another country where they look down upon abbaya.well the women who observe it in such places are truly strongwilled women.they dont do it out of compulsion then, they do it becasue its a part of their identity.

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I wonder!!!I am muslim and my wife is christian.If i come to Qatar and work in a company,sponsored by Qatari or managing by Qatari,what will be the behaviours against to me and my wife?May they judge my marriage or will my wife feel uncomfortable?

Women wear abaya coz they want to wear? I hardly believe this.Of course i cannot blame or judge this idea and the fact.But if there is no any pressure over women from society,i can say that the percentage of wearing Abaya would be decreased.

For example Turkey is the most democratic country in which %99 percent of muslims living.Everybody is free about their belief.They can pray or not.They can go to Mosque or not.I can say that they are rather good muslims but usage of Abaya is very low.Only in small villages or where the society pushing women to wear.

None taking, I personally think that French people are not that bad, some are cool, some are arrogant but overall it was OK at the end of day. The hotel Staff worked their souls for the safety of their clients. It was my bad luck for 36 hours in your country. Every-time I try to do some photo shots shit happened. Too much feces was going on that long week.

ok, fair enought... your mail is like if i said that all arabics are terrorist and all american baby killers...

just not to reply to your provocation, i'm sorry you only get this memories from France...

Nevertheless, if i'm not leaving anymore there, that's maybe for the same reasons....

Anyway, be aware that:

So far french laws regarding employment are probably the best protective in the whole world.

That the kids who burned cars where mainly from suburbs and said "muslim" (!)

That closure and delays occurs anywhere else in the world in airport due to fog or terrorist paranoia.

that the gypsies are quite often from north africa and the same guys burning cars.... But you should go in Germany for a glance!

so i'm disappointed that you don't show much interest in good things or at least you don't ask before judging.

Nothing personnal, of course...

I did not now that french people are tolerant, friendly and Law abiding citizens?

Lovely wine and food choices.

I need to ask the owners in France, who lost 4,000.00 cars to vandalism, burning and the business that were scorch by the law abiding French citizens revolting, because of discriminatory laws of employment; How they feel about France Democratic laws?

Lets not forget, the closure of major Airport in France and you are stuck for 12 hours in that medieval romantic place.

How about the gypsies hazing you in the streets and trying to pick your pockets. While the Cops are standing and smoking a cigarette like nothing is happening.

OK, I know that not all French are not alike, but close enough.

Nothing personal but my first Impressions of France are not the great ones.

Guys,

i have been travelling since a while, and believe me when i say that Qatar and Qataris are the most tolerant people i have met.

This is a country of freedom as far as you respect the local culture and the law. which i hope peolple would do the same in my country...

So, Respect!

But, why are they so agressive as soon as they are driving? ;o)

thanks to all of you for the 20 months i have spent here.

mister, i dont think there is a specific dress code for qatari women either.

they wear the abbaya because they want to, no other way.its not a dress code on them.

the muslim women who dont want to wear it, dont.

i am with you on the last statement.

bbksiu live and let others live.

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I don't know if you are a Qatari or not.. But are you living in this country? I don't think so!

There is only dress code for Qatari women and it is not enforced by scholars or any kind of authority. It is the customs of the Qatari community, men and women, to dress in a conservative way.

Being a Muslim myself, I’m not at all in favor of short skirts, tight jeans, and spider tops. But it's there as long as it's within unwritten acceptable standards.

As I know all women either Muslims or non-Muslims should cover themselves. However, you could ask a Muslim scholar who have more knowledge.

Maybe all women should wear Abayas that are worn on the head in Muslim countries.

No need to show any single hair, necks, ears, arms & legs.

No need to wear tight clothes.

No need to wear attractive clothes.

As I know, but ask a scholar, if you think men still look at you; then, there is no need for showing the face .

Not only women have dress code, but also men have dress code.

soulforger,

dont worry.muslim women who want to observe hijab do so and its no compulsion on any other muslim or non muslim women.

respect the culture of this place and the people may appreciate it better.

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None of the above applies here. In Qatar you are free to do what you like and dress as you like. There is no distinction between Muslems and non-Muslems. All you need is be moderately conservative and show respect to the customs and culture of Qatar.