Thank you all for your replies!

Apparently it is a gender issue then... I have friends in Qatar who have told me the situation with female visas is stricter than a year ago.

Do you have any idea what should be the next step? Appeal? Apply for a work visa directly? Get there with a tourist one and re-apply? The company I got the offer from will look into it but I would like to know what is the norm in similar situations as I want to know what to expect...