That is the popular sentiment in the tiny Gulf Arab country of Qatar, whose residents have been furiously filling the Internet with support for Egyptian protesters, criticisms of Mubarak and statements of pride for Doha-based Al Jazeera for its no-holds-barred reporting of the week's events.

The peaceful peninsula has even experienced two protests in the past week, the most political activism Qatar has seen since the 2009 War in Gaza.

During the first protest against embattled Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, which took place on Friday after jum'aa prayers, Qatari police intervened quickly, saying the event was “mamnua” - prohibited.

Protesters gather near the Egyptian embassy in Doha on Tuesday, calling for Mubarak to step down (Photos by Miko Mayer)

Freelance journalist Omar Chatriwala reported about the event on his blog, Synthetic Jungle:

Around 100 people gathered in Qatar to protest against the Mubarak government of Egypt, in a sign that the Gulf nation is not completely isolated from the unrest witnessed in other parts of the Middle East.

The crowd - decked out in Egyptian flags and wielding signs - assembled after Friday prayers in the capital Doha, a block from Egypt's embassy, which had been cordoned off by police. Authorities, meanwhile, sought to deter onlookers from joining the protest, saying it was a banned assembly.

After chanting slogans calling for democracy and an end to President Hosni Mubarak's rule, protesters held janazah (funeral) prayers on the street for those killed during recent demonstrations in Egypt…

Less than an hour after the gathering began - and at police urging - the demonstrators began to disperse, chanting a thank you to Qatar for allowing them to have their voices heard.

On Tuesday, a much bigger crowd - reportedly around 500 people - gathered near the Egyptian embassy. Police blocked off the area again, but this time seemed to allow protesters to have their say.

Al Jazeera English assistant news editor Malika Bilal, who was at the scene, tweeted about the events.

@mmbilal said:

Ppl of all ages gathering in doha for #egypt solidarity rally. #tahrir square http://yfrog.com/h3v5rlj

And then:

‘Ya mubarak sa7 al nowm, alnaharda akhir youm' - the #doha crowd's fav chant #egypt #tahrir http://yfrog.com/gzvs2jj

@hussdajani chimed in:

HUGE march for #Cairo #Egypt #Jan25 in West Bay area in #doha #qatar ! Down with #mubarak http://yfrog.com/gye9znoj

When asked about the growing police presence, @mmbilal said:

the #qatar police are staying a considerable distance away from the crowd, so no, no arrests! #egypt #tahrir

And finally:

Last of the close to 3-500 ppl leaving #egypt solidarity rally in #doha as rain starts to fall. http://yfrog.com/h8guzytj

Not everyone has been excited about Qatar getting in on the protest action.

On Twitter, @DohaBen said:

Hope Qatar doesn't get too involved in protests like that…don't need any bad publicity.

Still, even in academia, support for recent events around the Middle East persists.

On Wednesday, Northwestern University in Qatar released an open letter signed by 18 faculty members (myself included), pieces of which were blogged by Al Jazeera English.

It reads:

Over the last few weeks throughout the Arab World, hundreds of thousands of people of all social backgrounds have felt a surge of freedom to express themselves to one another out in the open, a fundamental human impulse. They are neighbors gathering in cities, bloggers and tweeters getting word to one another, and journalists covering what matters …

We at Northwestern University in Qatar are a small part of the whole world that is watching, and we appeal to Arab governments to remove barriers to free expression. Let your people speak.

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For most of January, Qatar played the ideal host of the Asian Cup, delighting fans with the perfect mix of football, fireworks and fun.

But the games ended on a sour note Saturday when thousands of fans were reportedly denied entry from Khalifa Stadium to watch the final game between Australia and Japan (Japan won).

Jassim al-Rumaihi, operations director at the tournament, told the Associated Press that the gates were closed five minutes after the match started for security reasons.

But many fans said they showed up early for the match and still couldn't get in.

Online, reports ranged from furious to heartbroken, some going as far as to question Qatar's ability to host the World Cup more than a decade down the road in 2022.

Qatar-based Al Jazeera English sports reporter Andy Richardson, or @AndyR_Sport, said:

Thousands of fans with tickets turned away from #asiancup final. Fans we spoke to said they were given no explanation

He continued:

#Aljazeera camera and disc of footage were taken by police. Camera was eventually returned but disc ‘impounded by internal affairs'

@QueRicco said:

Went to #asiacup with 9 friends. We all had tickets. None of us got in.

@ref_RIJA_rator said:

i was furious!!! we PAID for those tickets shouldn't their priority be the fans??

@78Benjamin

Epic failure @ Khalifa Stadium. Dispatched riot police w/ kids around. Qatar has never been further away from 2022 than last night

On popular social networking site Qatar Living, disappointed ticket holders called on fans to complain to the Asian Football Confederation.

Commenter TT.Boy said:

We all need to highlight the same to Asian Football Confederation that what had happen to Foot Fans in Qatar and ask for refund.

Angry fans also got involved on Facebook, forming a new group called AFC Bump Off on Sunday and attracting some 28 members within five hours of its creation.

The group's description reads, “We waited and waited. we got the tickets and they didnt let us in.”

Not all reacted with indignation. Some quietly accepted last night's disappointment and challenged Qatar to be better.

In the blogosphere, expat Sybil Knox of Qatari Adventures, normally a cheerleader of all things Qatar, said she was too disappointed to say much about Saturday's events. But she added, “I still expect amazing,” borrowing the country's 2022 World Cup bid slogan.

She blogs:

I'm like the mom whose child has done something wrong but can't talk about it because after all, it's my angelic child. The same is happening here. My home away from home, World Cup 2022 hosting country, Qatar, has disappointed me and it hurts. I'm a huge supporter and defender of most all when it comes to this country, so today I fall a bit more silent than usual because I have no answers…

Such a shame, for up until that moment, Qatar had executed a nearly perfect tournament. If one can find the silver lining in all of this, and you know that would be me, Qatar has to have learned a good hard lesson here. You cannot fool the masses. Play the game right and let the chips fall where they may. You have eleven years to work this out, Qatar, so I still Expect Amazing. Don't let me down.

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Qatar's World Cup delegation reacts to FIFA's announcement on Thursday (BBC screen grab)

Euphoria, disbelief, jeers and cheers filled the Internet following FIFA's announcement that Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup.

In Qatar, a tiny, oil-rich desert country that beat out bids from the United States, South Korea, Japan and Australia in hosting the football world cup, the mood was jubilant among expats and nationals alike.

On Twitter, Qataria78 said:

I had tears in my eyes when they announced the 2022 will be held in Qatar , thats how proud I am to be a Qataria

osamaalassiry said:

It will take some time to sink in : The FIFA world cup in 2022 is #Qatar2022

@rachelannmorris said:

To all those (mainly in dubai) who told me I was nuts moving to #doha all those years ago…don't make me say “I told you so”

And on the popular social networking forum Qatar Living, congratulations poured in.

Commenter jack9999 said:

I'm on Annual Leave in India, but still could not stop myself from following the events second by second. Congratulations to one and all. I am throwing out a party to my friends over here.

memphis7 added:

The world's eyes will be on Qatar…this is the time to show how professional, well mannered, and disciplined all the while expressing the love for the sport of football, the citizens of qatar are.
Let this be somehow a bridge towards better understanding of the middle east, arab nations to the world and vice versa.
Congratulations…proud to be here on this historic announcement.

Fans celebrate following FIFA's announcement (Photo courtesy of Kyle McDonald)

Though most expats don't plan on living in Qatar during the 2022 World Cup, many reveled in the good news.

On Qatar Living, Ice Maiden said:

In 12 years, most of us won't even be here , but let's soak in the present moment

On Qatari Adventures, expat blogger Sybil Knox explained her elation:

I don't know why I'm so passionate about the cause, as surely I won't live there in 2022. Maybe it's just my compassion for the underdog that drives me to cheer for my “other” hometown, or maybe it's that I know that Qatar can deliver what it promises… I, for one, do Expect Amazing.

But not everyone had good things to say about FIFA's announcement.

At Hack the Bone, a former expat congratulates Qatar, and then it gives it a stern talking to.

Right now, there is no way Qatar could host the World Cup. The infrastructure simply isn’t there…
Luckily for FIFA, Doha is developing at an alarming rate, thanks to the thousands and thousands of Sri Lankans and Nepalese who are building the country from the ground up…
I can’t help but wonder where they’ll hide these modern slaves when the international press rolls into town.

Even Qataris have mixed feelings about hosting the World Cup. On Mimiz Blog, Mimi provides a breakdown of the arguments.

When I asked why do you support 2022? people said that it will change Qatar forever, bring more investments and develop the economy. It will put Qatar on the map side by side with greatest countries in the world. It will also force a change in Qataris’ traditional mindset towards more openness which is necessary for development.
Those who disagreed on the other hand argued that the 22 billion budget will be spent on foreigners while it could be better spent on local development and help improve the condition of poor Qataris. 2022 could infringe citizen’s rights rather than improve life quality. It has no benefits whatsoever for Qataris and will only lead to more loss of identity.

Many on the Tweetosphere expressed disbelief that Qatar beat out the US for the bid, painting the victory as David vs. Goliathesque.

@leiandroid said:

It makes me smile knowing that a country people can't even locate won against… well, the US. Maybe it'll motivate people to grab an atlas

And @elizabethw723 said:

The question on everyone's mind today: Why did America lose to that tiny, oil-rich Gulf country? http://ow.ly/3j4eE

Speaking of Twitter, Qatar's Twitterati finally got their wish for the nation to become a trending topic, but it was a bittersweet victory. Instead of #Qatar, #Quater and #Kattar made the list.
@toxic said:

Today, Qatar got #worldcup2018. In the U.S. “Quatar” is a trending topic. Apparently, our spelling skills are about as good as our soccer.

In Doha, Ammar Mohammed listed Qatar's achievements in hosting sporting activities:

Elsewhere in the Gulf, netizens are rejoicing.

Bahraini Yacoob Slaise tweeted:

I'm looking forward to taking my 12 yr old son to Qatar and watch the World Cup and tell him “Dream Big and Work Hard, this is what you get”

Hala Al-Jurayed, from Saudi Arabia, congratulated Qatar on its win:

In another tweet, she noted:

And from Khobar, Saudi Arabia, @3abdulaziz said:

In 2022 i'll be 47 he he he, maybe i'll be grumpy and won't like football then :-) #Qatar

On the effort made by Qatar's Ruling Family to secure the bid, Mishaal Al Gergawi, from the UAE, remarked:

One thing is clear: the Al Thanis are the Gulf's Medicis and Rockefellers in one.

Still in the UAE, Yasser Hareb suggested:

Today should be declared as #Qatar's new national day :)

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Fans rally to support Qatar's 2022 World Cup bid. Photo credit: http://www.qatar2022bid.com/

Two weeks ahead of FIFA's December 2 decision on which country will host the 2022 World Cup, fans in Qatar are trying to keep up with a flurry of speculation about its chances and are turning to the world wide web for comfort.

For the past few months, media reports have alternately identified Qatar as a long shot and a favorite of the FIFA inspection team, for a variety of reasons.

The country is flush with cash, and dazzled the world with images of its nine concept stadiums, which would be fully air-conditioned and operate on solar power. Additionally, if awarded the bid, Qatar would be the first Arab nation to host the World Cup.

But concerns over the desert country's tiny size and scorching summers, which can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius, continue to grow. A FIFA report released earlier this week branded Qatar as the only “high-risk” candidate among the nine bidding countries for 2022. As one FIFA executive put it, “You can air-condition a stadium, but I don't see how you can air-condition an entire country.”

That comment, made by Chuck Blazer, the sole American member of FIFA's executive committee, set off a storm of responses on Twitter.

@lastingvalues said:

Dude is from the US and right now its US v. Qatar for 2022. Obviously he's gonna say “Qatar sux.”

@qatar65 noted:

QATAR will b a great host for the world cup 2022…Qatar will make it the best ever I'm a Palestinian born in Doha and LOVE QATAR

And @zippyapplelips responded:

…CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. RT @dohanews FIFA exec - “You can air condition a stadium, but I don't see how you can air-condition a…country”

The official response in Qatar was more muted initially, and then less so, reports one sports correspondent.

@james_Corbett said:

Qatar bid team furious. Casts serious doubts over their chances.

On the bid's Facebook page, even more people voiced their support.

Syedahmed Quadri said:

Qatar will win as it will be the first Arab nation to host such a prestigious world event. Qatar has resources and the zeal and enthusiasm to host this event. Thumbs UP

Some were more pragmatic.

@a77med stated:

too bad last summer was skin blistering. Can't argue against that.

And others, like the London Telegraph's chief soccer writer, Henry Winter, were just plain rude.

@HenryWinter said:

“Best bid for 2022 is Australia. Obvious. Legacy, fun, facilities, atmosphere, it has to be Oz. Qatar too steamy & soulless. Fact.”

Following FIFA's disheartening report, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson threw his support behind Qatar's bid, saying he was particularly impressed with the country's plans for its climate-controlled stadiums.

After the finals, Qatar said it will dismantle and ship them to developing nations to be reconstructed for their own use.

A few other developments this week:

Qatar hosted an exciting friendly match between Brazil and Argentina on Wednesday, which the Wall Street Journal reported would give the country “another chance to endear themselves to the leaders of the two countries' federations—both of whom sit on the 24-member executive committee that makes the final vote.”

Indeed, Argentina's football coach did express support for the bid.

On Twitter, @abdalla_abdalla said:

RT @PeninsulaQatar: Argentina coach backs #Qatar’s World Cup bid http://bit.ly/9F95nl (expand) #worldcup

But fans held mixed opinions on the game.

On the popular social forum Qatar Living, commenter HDY wrote:

After the spectacular football match between Argentina and Brazil I would like to thank the organizers for their efforts and of course the security guards for their friendly attitude. As a result, Qatar is surely capable of sponsoring the world cup 2022 in a very professional manner and will successfully secure all its necessities in terms of playgrounds, infrastructure, side events, family atmosphere and hospitality.

On the opposite end, commenter whyteknight replied:

Are you kidding me??? They first let in the locals out of line, then all the “Families” means anyone accompanied by a female.. Meanwhile they were pushing the single guys away from the entrance not letting them enter even though we were standing in the line for over an hour while the ones accompanied by females could simply walk in and enter.. Only after there were no females left did they allow us to enter, that too as if a huge favour was done to us..

Finally, on Thursday, FIFA's ethics committee cleared Qatar on separate corruption and collusion claims.

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Hukoomi, Qatar's government website, explains the change:

Under the plan, the first digit of both the fixed and mobile numbers will be repeated.

Thus, if your old number started with 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 all you need to do is to repeat the first digit such as 33, 44, 55, 66 and 77…

All emergency telephone numbers within Qatar, including 999 and 112, will not be affected by the change, and the country code will remain +974.

Numbers beginning with 1, 2, 8 and 9 will not be changed.

Though residents were initially worried that the change would cause widespread confusion, the transition seems to have been made with little incident.

That's thanks in part to several renumbering applications for mobile phones that automatically update users' contact lists.

The apps, however, didn't appear to work for everyone.

On Twitter, @NazQatar said:

Thanks to screw my phonebook with those apps!! it DOESN'T recognize all numbers start with 00974 #Qatar

@omerm27 said:

its getting kind of annoying already. it's only been two hours

Others were more accepting (and tongue-in-cheek) about the new number scheme.

On Facebook, Fahad Qureshi said:

because too many people are moving to this country, they ran out of phone numbers lol….so now the first digit of every number is repeated….if you ever plan on calling me in the future lol…update your phone books.

On Twitter, mohamed said:

The upside of the telco's in Qatar changing the number format is that I will have to speak to fewer people today. #antisocial

And though the change seems to have gone over peacefully, some continue to worry about the inconvenience having a new number would cause.

On the popular social forum Qatar Living, ajmani said:

All business cards, stationeries, resume's, job sites, other sites, etc etc needs to be updated… i doubt if everyone has fixed it already! Hope there will be a recorded message whenever someone calls on the old number, guiding them to add 3, or 4 or 5 or 6…!

Indeed, for the next three months, those dialing seven-digit numbers will hear an automated message advising them of the new scheme.

Whether that gives people away for the summer and Ramadan enough time to acclimate to the renumbering plan remains to be seen.

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Some complain that too many Qataris are sitting on the sidelines while expats build their country (photo courtesy of Mohamed Nanabhay)

Pride swelled and well wishes rang out across Qatar over the weekend as it became the first country in the Middle East to submit a bid for the World Cup.

But it was a bittersweet victory for the tiny, image-conscious Gulf country, which also on Friday was the subject of another less than favorable New York Times article.

The story, Affluent Qataris Seek What Money Cannot Buy, opens with:

Citizens of Qatar appear to have it made. They tend to drive big cars, live in big houses and get big loans to pay for big watches and an outsize lifestyle. They have an army of laborers from the developing world to build a sparkling skyline and to work whatever jobs they feel are beneath them. And their nation has enough oil and gas to keep the good times rolling for decades.

So why do so many people here seem so angry?

It goes on to outline the blame game played by expats and the minority local population, both of whom feel victimized by the other.

The piece, written by Michael Slackman, who a few weeks earlier reported on rising obesity rates in Qatar, has drawn fire from Qatar residents for what they called unsubstantiated assertions and shallow reporting.

On Twitter, @glcarlstrom, who runs a commentary and analysis blog about the Middle East called The Majlis, says:

Slackman's Doha piece is like a caricature of foreign reporting: Visit for a week, interview 10 people, BOOM! Trend story

@NazQatar says:

RT W@G_E: what does the #nytimes have against #Qatar? Last week they were fat, this week they're lazy?

Bloggers also weighed in.

In a post titled “New York Times Ridicules Qatar,” Marjorie in Qatar blogs:

So it's nice to see the New York Times addressing something that I think IS a hot issue here… but the way they go about it makes me cringe a little. I think it'd be more interesting for them to have dug deeper into Qatarization and its effects, or the role of nationality in expats' experience of Qatar, rather than just making mocking digs about people's restaurant etiquette.

On her blog, Qatari Derhamiya takes issue with the article’s description of a local woman mistreating her maid, saying that she is not a representative example.

All I have to say in the end is that not all people are good and not all people are bad, and if Moza Al-Malki will be the one representing “the bad” side of Qatari Women to the world on the New York Times, then I’ll be the one setting “the good” side of Qatari women on my blog, the Filipino woman that works at my house is well treated and respected by my sisters and I, she sits on the table with us during meals, and the smallest example for us respecting her is the fact that we call her “Ate” and Ate is a Filipino word used for Respect, which means Big Sister.

Despite its shortcomings, the article has struck a nerve here for highlighting the invisible line that divides many expats and locals. It’s a reality that has both sides blaming the other.

On the popular online forum Qatar Living, commentator Happy Happy says:

It's so funny how when I sit with my Qatari friends they complain that “Qatar is not for Qataris, we've become second best”.

Then my expat friends badmouth “the Qatari slackers are getting all the benefits for doing nothing!”

Wallahi (I swear by God) unbelievable!

As is often the case, when this common conversation hits a wall, the discussion always turns to the Qatari government and its role in resolving the problem.

On Qatar Living, commentator Linc says:

Qataris seem much like the poor people who win a giant cash lottery in the West.

Most winners immediately start living a lifestyle of along the lines of what they had always imagined wealthy people to enjoy–i.e. what they see on TV. This means lots of excess, waste, leisure, and feeling superior to everyone else because of the size of their wallets. Only a minority of the winners work hard, better themselves and their family through education, remember that they were once poor and treat other poor people with dignity, and never forget that their wealth came from luck rather than skill.

Not surprisingly all but a handful of these winners waste all of their money and ultimately die lonely and poor. That is what the government leadership is trying hard to avoid for Qatar when the oil and natural gas run out. Good luck to them. Judging from the article and the majority of Qataris whom I know and work with, it will be an uphill battle. And the next generation just seems to have a much greater sense of entitlement and more likely to believe all the hype about their “superiority” (but then who could blame them if they grew up in this sheltered, censored environment; one would think, reading the press here, that Qatar was the globally acknowledged center of the universe populated by the most industrious, high-achieving people on the planet).

This article just confirms it all in a humorous way.

But local Qatarisun counters by asking for an understanding of context:

Qatar is developing for very short period of time. 1-2 generations ago education was not a part of the local culture at all… so it is simply not in qataris’ blood to study hard and to achieve any goals.. That’s what Qatar government is doing, is pushing Qataris hard to accustom them to study and to accustom them to work.. well.. it needs another at least 1-2 generations (or even more, depends on how correct the current path is) to change their mentality… Government is doing great job, but something else should be done, some other instruments and incentives should be brought up, rather than excessive unjustified salaries for qataris.. Some image of working Qatari should be created, so that it would become prestigious for Qatari to study and to work.. much more prestigious than flying on Land Cruisers..

Indeed, Qatar has invested a great deal in education, pouring billions of dollars into higher education and revamping its secondary education program to prepare its residents for competition on a global scale.

But it is still a conservative Islamic country, and co-ed education does not sit well with everyone. As test scores rise and time passes, however, some are confident that reform will happen.

On QL, commentator John Of Arc calls for patience:

Don't get me wrong. I think qatar has great potential, but is a potential that will be met in time with hard work, good education and proper training. It isn't something you can force to happen successfully overnight in my opinion.

Photo Credit:
Mohamed Nanabhay

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Starting May 1, visitors from dozens of countries must apply for visas before traveling to Qatar instead of obtaining them at the airport (Photo by Jamie Sanford)

Rumors are swirling following a local news report that Qatar has made plans to scrap its visa-on-arrival policy for dozens of nations.

According to the Gulf Times, the change, to take effect May 1, will require nationals of 33 European, Western and Asian countries to obtain visas before arriving in Qatar by contacting the Qatari embassies in their home countries.

The United States, British and French embassies in Doha have confirmed that their nations are among those affected by the change, but officials from other countries said they are still making inquiries.

The news was greeted with dismay by many Doha residents on Twitter.

Some bloggers here said they suspected that the change was spurred on by “reciprocity” - a tit for tat response to countries that require Qatari nationals to apply for visas before arrival.

Marjorie in Qatar said:

This is part of Qatar's new “reciprocity” kick. A few months ago they switched to a reciprocity system for driver's licenses: American licenses can't be automatically converted to Qatari ones, because the US doesn't automatically convert Qatari licenses.

Others mused that it was Qatar's way of securing its borders following the assassination of Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in January. He is suspected to have been killed by men holding falsified European and British passports. Dubai blames Israel's national intelligence agency Mossad for the slaying.

On Twitter, ibnkakfa said:

Linked to Mossad's Dubai murder?

On the popular online forum Qatar Living, where a post about the policy change generated more than 100 comments,Bleu said:

Seriously, this could be a temporary measure after what happened in Dubai… It could be anything.

genesis added:

i agree with bleu in this being a national security measure. Again, Qatar is frequently visited by Iranian, syrian & Hamas officials.

canarybird theorized a profit motive:

I don't think that this is an issue of how many expatriates live and work here, but it will certainly affect the whole economy and many expat wives who don't have visas make short term visa runs, and many on short business trips to. It will certainly make a whole in the money making business of visa runs.

Whatever the reason, most agree that the additional paperwork required to visit Qatar and the lack of Qatari embassies in many nations are likely to hurt the country's efforts to boost tourism.

QL commentator fubar said:

The Tourism Authority must be overjoyed by this news.
If you were a multinational company arranging a conference for 1000 high spending delegates from Western countries, like the recent CITES conference, or a similar UN conference, would you come to Qatar, where almost everyone will need to apply for a visa before travelling, or go to Dubai?

Others said they thought the move brought fairness to the system.

UkEngQatar said:

Qatari Nationals have to have a visa beforehand before visiting Britain. So if that is the case then what Qatar has done is fair. We Brits and other European and US nationals will just have to get used to it.

ace.auteur said:

Fair deal! Getting a US/UK visa is a nightmare for many. Why should it be easy for the “33″? By any means it is still going to be a whole lot simpler than standard US/UK visa processes. Reciprocity is not just fair but the right thing to do.

Still, those living far from family and friends worry that the change will make it even more difficult to keep in touch.

Mandilulur said:

I know half a dozen Brits who are working for international companies here in the Gulf (based in Qatar) with business visas. Their wives make visa runs to Bahrain monthly. Evidently no more. They will leave. Are these the kinds of ex-pats you want to see gone? The really talented ex-pats will be able to find a job anywhere! … Sometimes I feel like a lobster in a pot - when will the discomfort of decisions such as these outweigh my love for Qatar? I can tell you one thing - it certainly affects what I tell prospective professionals thinking of coming to Doha.

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“I, the Indian origin painter M.F. Husain at 95, have been honoured by Qatar nationality,” the artist wrote in a sketch published by the widely read English-language Indian daily The Hindu, which broke the news.

Husain, arguably one of India’s greatest painters, has been working in Qatar on a project involving the history of Arab civilization at the behest of the country’s first lady, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al Misned.

The conferment of citizenship has surprised many as Husain faces numerous obscenity charges in his home country, which he left in 2006 after nude paintings of Hindu deities he produced in the 1970s were brought to light, spurring protests, vandalism and threats.

On Twitter, @Iveegee said:

This is bizarre news. What does Qatar stand to gain from giving him citizenship?

N. Ram, a journalist for The Hindu, called the development “an honour to Mr. Husain, to his artistic genius, and to the India-rooted civilisational values he represents. Nevertheless, it is a sad day for India.

On the popular online forum Qatar Living, the news generated 116 comments before the site was shut down for maintenance over the weekend.

Some applauded Qatar, a Muslim monarchy's support of artistic freedom, while others wondered where India, a secular democracy, went wrong.

Commenter Landcruiser_Qatar said:

Very talented person and crappy countrymen running hate campaign. Hats off to MF Hussain.

Thoufy said:

is this democracy….?????? is this democracy….?????? Very Shame to our country…

Husain's exile from India is admittedly self-imposed, and Indian politicians are saying he is free to come and go as he pleases.

However, as dual citizenship is not possible in his home country, Husain will have to give up his Indian passport to become a Qatari.

In India, Twitterati have been responding to the news with a steady stream of messages, ranging from penitent to petulant.

@gurgaonharyana said:

m f hussain accepts qatar citizenship.big loss for india.we r such jerks.

@gulpanag said:

So Hussein accepts Qatar citizenship.Well,if his country of origin cannot guarantee his safety/wellbeing,he does have a case.

@rajizm said:

if he so couregeous let him paint some muslim painting in qatar nude and u will see he is dead next moment

What kind of freedom of expression Husain will be afforded in Qatar remains to be seen.

Qatar Living commenter heero_yuy2 said:

I hope he won't have a hard time florishing his artistry here if we still even have some trouble on media freedom around here.

And svelte_saggi said:

Anytime that religion has been represented as art in a derogatory manner,it has ended in chaos.

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@WeirdWeb writes:

RT @dohanews Doha, Qatar opens Wal Mart http://is.gd/6uUUh

It quickly become known, however, that Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, was not responsible for the new store.

On Here, There and Everywhere, the source of the breaking news, commenter adiamondinsunlight said:

love it! and love that the Qatari authorities approved the name (when the owner registered for limited liability status)!

To which intlexpatr, who reported the news, replied:

LOL – you think they really got permission?

Back on Twitter, @ExpatCookie mused:

do you think they have similar shoppers to the US walmarts? http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/ :)

Sure honey, I’ll go get the car for you. That long walk could be detrimental to your health.

Probably.

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A recent series of Qatar-bashing posts on QL have fueled the outcry and prompted college student Amal to start a Facebook group called anti-qatarliving.com on Sunday. The description reads:

This group is to protest against a website called qatarliving.com where many expatriates who live in Qatar post long threads where they criticize the Qatari citizens and culture using very rude and vulgar vocabulary.

Many of the expatriates on this website (not all of them but most of them) use bad language when talking about Qatari people. They have called us names such as pigs, uncivilized, racist barbarians, and many other hideous names. They say that we cannot survive without them and that we cannot handle or manage our country. They also say that they are the ones who built our country fo us and the ones who are teaching us how to behave like humans.

Our aim is to have this website closed for good and teach whoever is attacking our Qatari identity that Qataris should not be underestimated and underrated and we want all of them to see how vicious we are whenever anyone goes beyond their limits while talking about Qatar.

These people have no appreciation of what this country has given them and we will not let them get away with all of this.

Over the past week, various threads on Qatar Living contained scathing critiques of the country's people and culture. One such thread, which has been removed by QL moderators, included a rant by commenter PM, who was upset by the rowdy behavior of some local teens on Qatar National Day (Friday).

PM's post angered many locals, who called on advertisers to pull their support of QL.

According to local newspaper The Peninsula:

Some remarks against the festivities and the people of Qatar as well as Asian expatriates were in bad taste and smack of racism, said Mohamed Al Jufairi, a civil engineer.

Al Jufairi said he has received American education right from school to university levels and know what constructive criticism is. “But the comments about Qatari nationals and National Day are really humiliating.”

“We are all for freedom of expression but that does not mean you cross boundaries and heap insults on us,” he said.

Remarks that all Qataris are arrogant and egoists are not correct since a large number of them are simple-minded and good people. “Some of us may be bad but to say that all of us are arrogant cannot be true.”

In another QL thread, posted two Decembers ago but resurrected by commenters on Sunday, a disgruntled Canadian woman lists all the reasons “Qatar sucks,” including the weather and “lack of culture.”

gabaee writes:

And finally my biggest problam about Qatar is how they allow all these labours to come and work here like dogs. They should at least be allowed to bring their wives here with them, so that they dont' ****** stare at women like hungry animals. They disgust me and I find them subhuman in the way they act towards non-Qatari women. While I don't cover up like the Qatari women, I dress very conservatively with loose cloths and don't show any skin while outside. Nevertheless, I have been made feel sooo uncomfortable and harressed by sick words, sounds, and animal-like stares. It's sickening and infuriating.

So my advice to those females out there who have a good active life back in the homeland, with a good family and a good man, DO NOT even consider the idea of moving to Qatar. It's BORING, DISAPPOINTING and DISGUSTING!

The post prompted dozens of responses, many of them from expats defending Qatar and its people.

Commenter Gypsy said:

I have to agree that Qatar is a difficult place for a single gal, and I think they should allow labourers to bring their wives,however I disagree with the rest. I know lots of nice Qataris, and I think the architecture here is pretty neat. Much cooler then anything being built in Canada at the moment.

mx1o0o said:

I have been here for 20 years …Im proud to live here all my life, and will always be proud, even though its not my home country, but Qatar and My home country are one in my heart. We are visitors here. We respect Qatar, those who don't, know where the airport is…

On another QL thread,

genesis said:

I think this is blown out of proportion .This is not about Qatarlivning! QL is a site where both locals & expatriates share useful information about Qatar.In addition to organizing many community services throughout the years. The ND thread was deleted by MODs, Many have expressed their nonacceptance on what's written already In Local internet forums like Qatarshares , many locals also criticized the unfortunate behavior of many during the night parade. I do agree with you that many comments by posters were racial , but it only shows complete ignorance of certain individuals Demand to block the site & then what? People will always find a way or another to vent. Only with understanding of one another can we overcome this clash of cultures.

In a post on the Peninsula article regarding Qatar Living,

Qatar Visitor, a website for expats, writes:

The article and the attack were not really fair on QatarLiving.com, especially as they had both promoted the event themselves and removed the offending comments - I personally can't see what else they be expected to do! …Qatar Living has been a huge success, not just for the website owner but also for Qatar. The website demonstrates that, online at least, Qatar has a measure of freedom of speech. (A measure, because, as the removal of comments show, Qatar Living, like all of us, practises self-censorship…What's more, it's Qatar's number one English language social networking site…With Qatar and ICT pouring money and effort into developing IT and the internet in Qatar, Qatar Living is unlikely to be closed down any time soon. But the website does need to be careful!

On Twitter, there was little support for shutting down QL.

Qatari hndqtr said:

the hell is wrong with them, we'll everybody just let it go!!

Expat VEE6 said:

Sad and small minded individuals.

Amal, founder of the anti-QL Facebook group, which already has 91 members, stressed that her campaign was not against all of Qatar's expats.

She writes on the group's wall:

I want to make sure that everybody knows that were are not against expatriates at all. We are very aware that many people who live and work in Qatar are largely contributing to our country's development. Many of these people are as well our teachers and instructors whom we hold a great amount of respect for. However, the people we are addressing by this protest are the ones who constantly use bad language when talking about Qataris. We are addressing the ones who act as if they like us and are inspired by our culture in front of our faces go talk about us behind our backs calling us retards and uncivilized. We do not want expatriates to leave the country, but we surly demand respect and will never accept being described as savages. Now for those who are not willing to be appreciative of all the benefits they are getting by working in Qatar, they surly are not welcomed to stay in Qatar.

Also on the wall was a plea for peace and an invitation to Qataris to join QL.

Amerah Egab said:

I do hope many of you do read the comments where many of the QL community would like to see more Qataris join us and become active members of this community, there are tens of thousands of members, a couple of loud mouth idiots do not represent us all.

On Monday, a few threads apologizing to the Qatari people were posted on QL. Those who run the site issued an official comment in the afternoon.

Ahmad said:

Over the last few days it seems that instead of facilitating discussions and conversations, Qatar Living has become the conversation.

We just want to point out that Qatar Living is not for or against anyone. It is a website dedicated to helping people make the most out of living in Qatar. From finding the best restaurants to selling you car, from helping people volunteer to organizing social events, Qatar Living is designed to be a place where everyone can feel comfortable and welcome.

Of course, with over 150,000 members and 500,000 people visiting each month, there are bound to be disagreements. And unfortunately, like everywhere on the internet, there are bound to be a small number of people who make comments that are offensive. It is unfair for these comments to generalize and stereotype people.

In the same manner, the objectionable comments by a number of individuals should not be seen as indicative of most of the Qatari's and Expatriates who make up the Qatar Living community. We use our Community Guidelines to clearly indicate what is acceptable on our website. We do apologise if any users have fallen short of these guidelines - we aim to treat every member of this community with respect and dignity.

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Cartoon published in Gulf Times Nov. 22 2009

Is it satire, or just bad taste?

A cartoon of a crazed, angry-looking woman threatening a child with a dripping bowl of tainted gruel has left many Doha bloggers scratching their heads and looking for answers.

The sketch, titled ‘Housemaid's revenge,' was published in Sunday's Gulf Times, a local English newspaper.

The cartoon depicts a maid - presumably Indian, judging by the red bindi on her forehead and gold hoop earrings - threatening a toddler after being scolded by her employer.

The text reads:

Your mum shouted at me today just because I broke a plate. And I am going to strike back. Count on me you brat, you won't sleep at home tonight! You will stay at Al Sadd Children's Emergency. Open your mouth now. This dish I have made will make you so sick that it will make you dizzy for hours.

Many Doha bloggers strongly condemned the cartoon, but were undecided about the artist's intentions.

On Twitter, Weirdweb said:

No, really, Gulf Times, let it all out. Tell us how you REALLY feel about Indian maids. #racism #paranoia

On the forum Qatar Living,

Commenter Olive said:

There's so much wrong about this cartoon I'm not sure what the editor was thinking when he allowed it to be printed.

Some wondered if the message behind the cartoon was lost in translation.

On Twitter, tomgara said

What is worse in this Gulf Times (Qatar) cartoon - hectic racism or awful 6th-grade writing? The answer is both.

On Qatar Living, the debate turned to treatment of maids by their employers, who sponsor their stay in the country.

genesis said:

Mohammed cartoons are never meant to be funny. Most of his work is dark altough sarcastic. I think it's badly translated, the intention is how cruel some sponsors treat their maids

rMs_000 responded diplomatically:

It describes about the cruelty of some sponsors.. and devilish reaction of house maids. Editor doesn't show any partiality to both of them i say. So its neutral..

britexpat said

The message is quite simple..Abuse the maid and you risk her abusing the child

Satire or not, most found the cartoon to be in poor taste.

On Twitter, rachelannmorris said:

Not funny in any way shape or form

On Qatar Living,

Commenter Amoud said:

I don't like this at all…..Even the bad translation doesn't cover what bad taste this is in.

And Adham Essam chimed in:

Oh my God! I CANNOT believe that was printed. How on earth could they allow something like that??? Which ever angle they were going for, it is completely wrong of them to present the issue like this. For the maid. For the child. For the parents. Disgusting…

For more on the discussion, visit Qatar Living.

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“Our system is based on equality and justice,” Attorney General Ali bin Futais Al Marri said in a recent program aired on Al Jazeera and reported by local newspaper the Peninsula.

Bemused, incredulous and wistful, Doha bloggers have been debating the merits of Al Marri's remarks all week.

On Twitter, IvanGiesbrecht said:

hahahahahahahahhahaha!!!!!!!!

According to the Peninsula:

The Emir has never interfered with the judiciary. The Constitution gives him the authority to grant pardon to a convict only after the court has issued its sentence. So during a trial he has never ever tried to interfere, said Al Marri, adding that it was at the Emir’s directives that his office as well as the judiciary have been separated from the executive. Such is the level of fair play and equality in Qatar that once a senior police official was accused of slapping an Asian. The allegations were investigated and after the charges were proved, trial was conducted and the policeman was sentenced to six months in jail and stripped off his job.

On the forum Qatar Living,

Nic said

We, who work here, all, know the level of integrity this countries displays and this reputation is becoming well known in the west among those who have never been here. Qatar is starting to be known by its hunger for fame and good reputation and instead of improving things, they just hide the problems under the carpet! Look how the article puts it: “In other Arab countries, the political will to combat corruption is missing.” What makes these guys think that they are any better from other Arab countries?!?!?!

genesis was more optimistic:

But we are learning. Why do you think they opened all those universities at EC and encourge critcal thinking among locals? They know that once those who graduated from those universities will demand change. Why all those institutes are established? Why sign all those International agreements? The Emir yesterday have given full support and power to the public attorney office & Audit bureau on tracking down corruption cases. We are a “new” country in the world stage. 15 years ago, there wasn’t even a system. Just a copycat from other bureaucratic Arab systems.

On Twitter, peterlada pointed out someone in Qatar is indeed above the law:

Actually the Emir is. By definition.

Though press freedom is guaranteed to a certain extent in Qatar's constitution, the Advisory Council in June recommended harsh punishments for Qatar-based journalists who write against the Emir, national security, religion and the Constitution.

But the State Cabinet last week called for a new press and publications law to “keep pace with the demands of the changing times,” stressing the importance of opening up communication between journalists and government officials.

Yesterday, during a forum for media experts held by the Doha Centre for Media Freedom (which has had its share of controversy over press freedom), journalists called for a revamping of the “outdated” law.

Local newspaper Gulf Times reported:

Nasser al-Othman, a former chief editor of Arrayah Arabic daily and a trustee member at the DCMF, called for abolishing the imprisonment clause in the current press law and replacing it with monetary penalties. “I believe that suggestions made at today’s meeting could be useful if taken seriously by lawmakers,” said al-Othman, who was named as the dean of Qatari journalists.

Other journalists wondered at the point of the roundtable, as no government official attended the session.

From the Gulf Times:

Abdullah bin Hamad al-Azaba, a columnist at Al Arab, criticised the absence of a government representative at the meeting, saying that such an absence had turned the discussion into a “dialogue of the deaf”. “I was saddened that HE Sheikh Hamad bin Thamir (the Al Jazeera TV network chairman) was absent while HE Sheikh Jabor bin Yousuf (chief of the official Qatar News Agency) left before the end of our discussion,” he lamented. DCMF deputy director general Mariam al-Khater, who moderated the discussion, said the DCMF is supporting the issuing of a “modern press law” that considers the changes in all fields in Qatar. Al-Khater pledged that the Center would continue its efforts until a new law press law, free from any imprisonment penalties against journalists, is issued.

For now, however, press freedom in Qatar - Al Jazeera notwithstanding - is still a goal to strive towards.

On Qatar Living, Xena, who works in print media, said:

I got here at the start of the paper, everyone was gungho about being in a new country with new possibilities. The atmosphere was electric…Then come the blows - you cannot print anything vaguely opposite to government stances, you can only print press releases, and you are not allowed to change them, bad english or not… Trying to get interviews with people is like trying to reach the US president - impossible - phone call after phone call, lists of questions, approval of questions, wanting to see the story before it goes to print and then frequently changing or retracting statements.

On Here, There and Everywhere, intlexpatr reprinted one man's comments on the typical newspaper formula in Qatar, saying “I almost split my sides, I was laughing so hard.”

Truthful Stranger writes:

Hence you always get the presence of evil (there’s always an Asian gang being deported for doing something dreadful like burglary or selling liquor) page 1, bottom of the page, that covers the Evil In Our Midst; then the sycophantic article about HH who has just made some pithy pronouncement on The Necessity For Mutual Understanding And Education Across The World, page 2; some phony figures about how much more the Pearl property or other investments have increased pages 3 – 5; some baloney about how safe the country is for investment, page 6; then the gushing op-ed about how the best societies in the world are so great because they have been enforcing Islamic values, pages 6 – 8; Qatar Airways wins award for best in-flight hot towels, page 9, and a new order for 500 Airbus aircraft (thanks to the strategic profitability of the airline! ha!) . And not to forget, Gulf Escapes Economic Downturn for the fourth week in a row, page 10 ad infinitum.

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Barechestedness and public drinking are not things you'll see at the friendly in Doha this weekend (Photo by Charles Fred).

The game has drummed up a great deal of excitement and apprehension here, as residents wonder how conservative Qatar will handle the inevitable influx of rowdy football fans this weekend.

On the forum Qatar Living, family man HDY solicits advice on whether to buy tickets to the match:

Do you think that such matches are suitable for families? Shall I expect harassments? Overall, it is a matter of culture, and I hope that I will not regret this experience.

Secret1 tried to reassure him, but caused a stir with his comments:

I really think theres no problem here for families…. Its Qatar man not Europe…. Even though its gonna b a lot of Brits, here theyll have to behave….

Though the exact number of people flying in for the match is unknown, the England Supporters Club reported that 10,000 tickets were sold to British football fans within 48 hours of the box office opening.

Khalifa International Stadium, the main venue for the Doha 2006 Asian Games and where Saturday's match will be held, holds 50,000 people.

Qatar Visitor comments:

Qatar, though far more liberal and tolerant that neighbouring Saudi, practises the strictest form of Islam, Wahabbism. Many women still cover their faces from public view with black veils or masks, while Muslims who get drunk can be lashed and deported. Meanwhile, “bad smelling” and “badly dressed” Asian labourers are barred from places where they could spoil the view of families relaxing on the weekend. England football fans, on the other hand, are famous in Qatar for their drinking and fighting.

The match, added QV, will be a test for Qatar, which is bidding for the World Cup in 2022.

The Qatari police have little patience for yobbish behaviour in this well ordered country. But Qatar will also have a lot riding on this match. The country also has its eyes on a future world cup, and there is little doubt that relevant bodies will have their eyes on Qatar when it holds this friendly. How it handles belligerent fans could well have an effect on its success at holding larger sporting events in the future.

Some residents drew on past experiences to reassure others that the football match will be a family-friendly event.

On Qatar Living, commenter Muhammadshaikh said:

I have seen many Football matches in Qatar. I am 99.99% sure that there will be no problem. I have gone with my friends and my own kids. For me Qatar is among the few safest place on earth with/without family…Here there are more moral, social, ethical, and cultural values then anywhere in the world.

Indeed, such values are why British football fans should take care not to offend, warns one organization.

The Footballer Supporters' Federation said:

The consequences of falling foul of the authorities in Qatar can be pretty drastic.

It added that public drunkenness, going bare-chested, rude gestures and overt PDAs could also lead to court
in the Gulf state.

In a separate thread on Qatar Living, forum members debated the best way to handle any potential bad behavior.

ES said:

It's going to be really interesting to see how the hooligan brits are going to be dealt with. As has been said, treat them too harshly and bye bye world cup, or else treat them with kid gloves and piss off the entire muslim community. Watch this space.

Jervis was more optimistic after being impressed by Qatar's hands-off approach to the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF).

The DTFF surprised me. I expected a lot more censors. If they could relax the rules for the Film Festival, surely they would be more considerate towards a sport that the locals enjoy and follow. Given that they are bidding for the 2022, this would be a prelude. The press relase may be just a show to deter things getting out of hand.

idealman summed it up:

Undoubtedly most of the England fans coming over will respect Qatars laws, if they dont, then they will obviously pay the price. Thankfully most of todays England supporters are undoubtedly the best fans in the world, and not one country has a larger away following. But there are still some young muppets about that dont know respect. lets hope these plastic hard boys stay at home. I have no time for pissed up wannabes who can only fight in packs and terrorise the innocent. it will also be nice to watch the lads put a few past Brazil.

On another note, many Qatar bloggers expressed disappointment that English footballer David Beckham won't be playing in Saturday's match as his American Major League Soccer team Los Angeles Galaxy progresses to the MLS Western Conference final on Friday.

On Twitter, v3nomous, who flew to Doha for the match, said:

Damn.. Beckham is not playing this Saturday.. :( bummer..

IvanGiesbrecht was more concerned about Mrs. Beckham:

What about Posh? Any chance she'll still be able to make it?

And Sybil at Sybil & Kristi's Qatari Adventures said:

Not to worry, I plan on it being a lot of fun, nonetheless. It will be my first big league soccer game to attend and his absence will not deter me.

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According to the study's findings, which were reported by local newspaper Gulf Times, average productivity per hour in the country declined from 4.8 per cent between 1990 and 2000 to 1.8pc between 2000 and 2007.

“This is very low compared to what has been achieved by China (10.1pc), Bahrain (5.13pc), India (4.1pc) and Oman (4.18pc) in 2007,” the study stated, citing a recent report from the Conference Board, an independent international business and research organization.

According to the story published in the Gulf Times, the study “held the large numbers of the low-skilled expatriate workforce responsible for the low output per hour experienced by the country.”

The study reports:

What is alarming is that over half of the expatriate workforce (55.9pc) are either uneducated or below secondary education level.

Low participation by nationals in the private sector “means 99.40pc of the private sector jobs are manned by expatriate workforce.”

One can hardly find another country in the world where foreigners fully control the private sector as is the case in Qatar. This situation should be seriously considered when it comes to developing the labour market policy.

The report prompted a torrent of scornful comments on Twitter and the forum Qatar Living, where the general sentiment seemed to be that companies here get what the pay for.

On Twitter, @adnandawood said:

This is so ridiculous its hillarious

On Qatar Living, commentator Don Robert said:

Human trafficking and expat exploitation is the reason for the slowing down of progress here in Qatar.

MagicDragon noted:

You are not the owner of the company. You have no rights. Why should you be more productive? Pay me 3 times my salary and I'll be 3 times more productive. That's the equation.

And Bthomas said:

I know a lot of people who are getting paid peanuts considering their education & work experience. Qatar needs to stop gambling with employees about their salaries and need to set a standard across various industry sectors. Without any motivation or comfort, employees will not remain loyal to their organization or their work.

In response to the study's recommendation to “decrease the reliance on the expatriate workforce especially those who are unskilled,”

@VEE6 asked,

There's an alternative?

On Qatar Living, commentator Alumnar added:

It would be nice to see how Qatar would do with local people only doing all the jobs for a year. Can a country go bankrupt? If not the case, it can sure be CHAOS!

He suggested instead:

Review everything - Pay skilled workforce decent salaries. Invest in training programs. Don't overwork and underpay them. Use incentives and show them appreciation. Give them proper accommodation and allowances so they can eat enough to be able to work properly…

The conversation regarding workers' rights in the Gulf was continued yesterday in a Huffington Post piece by architect Cameron Sinclair, who calls laborers “boom and bust refugees.”

In Dying To Work: Human Trafficking and the Construction Industry, Sinclair writes:

It is easy to point the finger at local officials and higher authorities, but let us not forget that it is the private sector that is equally, if not more, accountable…

Forget our environmental footprint, what is our ethical footprint? What good is building a zero energy, carbon neutral complex if unethical labor practices are jeopardizing the lives of those who build this architectural wonder?

CosmicChaos comments:

The point is that all laborers no matter their origins or where they are working deserve fair wages, safe housing, and a safe work place. Anything less is criminal.

I find it horrible that I have no clue if the people I hire to do a construction job are fairly paying their workers and making sure that they have the proper equipment to prevent injuries. I doubt any of them have health coverage if they are injured.

Somehow we need workers around the world to be able to say, “Enough!” However, this is difficult to impossible when you and your family is starving.

To see more comments on Huffington Post, click here.

For more on the discussion at Qatar Living, click here.

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Ramadan in Souq Wagif, a view of the Islamic cultural center

Daytime in Doha, Qatar has become much quieter this week, as residents in this Muslim country acclimate to Ramadan, which began last Saturday.

As it is the holiest month for Muslims, Ramadan should be a time for reflection, writes Qatari K Saleh:

You’re supposed to be kind, gentle, pure, and appreciate the fact that you are lucky in life to have food and to think more about those who have less in life in order to be giving.

But in reality, Ramadan takes on a different significance for most in Doha, as it is commonly associated with (government-mandated) shorter workdays, sumptuous feasts and socializing late into the night.

Mohana of A Day in Doha explains a common criticism.

Many speak critically of the lavishness of the modern day meals post the breaking of fast iftar, or footor, as it's know in the Gulf. After the dates and laban to ease the empty palate, there is a spread of food that seems far from the poverty and poor that Ramadan calls people to reflect upon.

She also shares the non-Muslim perspective. For some, she writes, Ramadan is about a lack.

All the restaurants, eateries, and entertainment outlets such as movies and bowling alleys are closed in solidarity with the community. No alcohol is served in the country, even at the hotels which normally function as evening waterholes.

Even eating or drinking in public is prohibited, with offenders facing a hefty fine and possible jail time.

That rule has been especially hard to follow this month, as Doha experiences record-breaking heat and humidity.

On the forum Qatar Living, commentators debated the merit of the restrictions.

Tallg writes:

It is a very weak person who can't resist the temptation to eat just because they see someone else doing it. Muslims in the UK have to fast for much longer hours than here (during the summer) and see people eating all around them… to force us not to eat against our will is inhumane.

Commentator Mandilular adds:

I do love Ramadan but I prefer to be in the US for the holy month. There's just something incongruous about a spiritual time of prayer and family and fasting that threatens non-observers with three months in prison.

Fluffy123 counters:

I'm from the states I would rather [be] here than there for Ramadan. Yes people eating in front of you shouldn't stop your fast. But it will make your fast a lot easier if people weren't chowing down on some food right in front of you. And secondly for people who are not fasting it's not that big of deal to not be able to eat in public. No one is telling you not to eating during the day they are just saying don't eat in public.

More on the discussion can be found at Qatar Living.

Though adjusting to the month can be hard at times, many non-Muslims have found the experience to be instructive.

Meredith at Hack the Bone says she will use Ramadan as a month to detox and catch up on blogging. She writes:

My Muslim colleagues told me to enjoy Ramadan as a “vacation” but I’m trying to fast while in the office, out of respect for those around me. It’s tough (it’s been one day, I suck) but weirdly satisfying. I didn’t know what to expect for my first Ramadan, but the city feels peaceful.

Mohana at A Day in Doha shares how her perspective on the month evolved, from seeing it as an inconvenience to taking it as an opportunity.

She says she will take advantage of the shorter workday by spending her extra free time

“catching up with friends who are otherwise too busy in the course of the year to stop and chat, or writing, exercising, or any number of things I put off because I'm too busy.”

Some expats are also spending Ramadan trying to learn more about the Muslim faith.

Intlexpatr, who has written a Ramadan Guide at Here There and Everywhere, says:

Most Westerners don’t understand Ramadan…the season is as holy to them as our Lent and Easter are to us. Ramadan was the month when The Qur’an was transmitted to Mohammed by the angel Gabriel.

During church services in Doha, she adds:

Our priest asked the congregation if any of us had literature explaining why the Muslim God was not the same as the Christian God. We all looked at him in shock. Not one person raised his or her hands. Then he smiled, a great big broad grin and said “Good! There is only one God, and our Moslem brothers and sisters worship the same one-God we do.”

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