that's my experience, too. I guess it's more of the culture, where it's more difficult for the ladies to widen their social circles. But overall the qataris I have met, both men and women were all lovely gracious people.

That said, however, one of my pet peeves here are how "some" ladies in Abayas have no respect for queues. Twice i've had an abaya wearing lady step right in front of me in a queue. The thing is, what made it worse was, both those times the queues were not long. In fact there were 3 people max. I mean, how long am i going to take paying for 1 t-shirt?
Another time, i was in the ladies room at the movies and waiting patiently in front of of the stalls and again, another abaya lady steps right in as soon as the door opened and the person inside came out! I guess next time i shouldn't step away to give the person coming out room and just barge in just in case another person takes my stall!

THe thing is the people I met are just so nice, yet some strangers i came across are so the opposite...but then anywhere you go you will find rude behaviour..sometimes even worse :P