doha
69Introduction to Doha
Doha Facts
Arabic: Ad Dawhah
Translation: According to my Arabic friends, the meaning of Doha is: "A beautiful place where there are large trees that offer protection." A bit of a misnomer as there are not many trees, and some of those trees that are left are now dying for lack of water.
Alternative name: Al Bidda
Population: Over 900,000 (2008 estimates)
Climate: An arid climate, with what rainfall there is generally confined to the winter, Doha suffers from extreme heat in the summer. Temperatures have been known to hit 50 degrees centigrade in the summer, and conditions can be exaceberated by high humidity. In late autumn, spring and winter the weather can be quite pleasant, and has even know to be distinctly chilly in December and January.
Doha's place in the world
Doha: Where is it?
Looking for recognition
Although tiny in the grand scheme of things, Doha has been working steadily to place itself on the world map. It held a very successful 2006 Asian Games, is host to the controversial but successful Al Jazeera network and holds the Doha Debates, which deals with controversial issues in the Arab world. Sports events are held throughout the year, apart from in the blazing hot summer, and recently Doha won world wide acclaim for its role in resolving the Lebanon crisis.
History of Doha
Many websites charting the history of Doha claim the city was established in 1850.This ignores the fact that the Village Al Bidda, an alternativename for Doha, was present where Doha is today. Around 1850 Al Bidda was joined by two further towns, less than a kilometre away: Doha and Little Doha.
Al Bidda and, later, Ad Dawhah, as the city is known in Arabic, was good at getting itself bombed - normally as a result of piracy. The village suffered at least several major attacks in the nineteenth century, including two by the British. After the final attack in 1867, when it was destroyed by the Khalifas from Bahrain (aided by `Abu Dhabi') the British stepped in.
When the British arrived in Qatar they were met by the headman of the Doha, a certain Al Thani. While the agreement that was reached did not recognise Sahikkh Al Thani as the ruler of Qatar, it did recognise him as the pre-emninent chieftain of the Qatar peninsula. That fateful day was a very good one for the Al Thani family - they are now the rulers of the richest country in the world!
Traditional Starter
Doha Eating
Doha has numerous restaurants, and you can eat most nationality's foods. There a host of Indian restaurants, ranging from small cheap eateries serving a standard Bryani for a few dollars to more upper class establishments, such as that in the Ramada Hotel which flies in Indian musicians to entertain its guests.
There are, of course, Arabic restaurants, although not as many as you might expect. You'll also find Iranian restaurants, including Shatter Abbas which serves up huge platters of delicious barbecued meat, as well as plenty of Turkish restaurants - we love to start a meal off their with their mezza: houmous, olives and other delicious appetizers.
Our favourite restaurant, though, has nothing to do with Arabic food. It is a Thai restaurant called Thai Snack, as soon as you walk in you feel like you are Thailand. Efficient waiters run around shouting inThai, the decoration is Thai, the music is Thai - but it is the aroma that takes me back. At least once a a week we head over there to gorge ourselves on Pat Thai and other Thai delicacies.
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I had no idea Doha was the richest country in the world--did no in the back of my mind that Al Jezeera was headquartered there, but have never given the place much thought otherwise. Thanks for all the info--waiting for more:-)
Paraglider - sometimes I love Qatar and sometimes it drives me mad. I don't like the blatent discrimination which exists in the country, but then I have never lived in a country which is not racist. I am lucky enough to work with Qataris and other locals, both men and women on a daily basis, and I must say that while I often disagree with their opinions and beliefs I personally like 90% of them.
In a way it was strange for me to find that women who are totally covered up, and who I had seen as some kind of alien in the past, could be great fun and full of a sense of humour. That is not to say they live in a fair society - I have met a number of brighter women who are bitter at not being allowed to drive by their family, or having to seek permission to travel abroad because they are under 25, or angry because they had to marry too young. But that doesn't stop me from liking them.
There are things I really don't like about the country, but then there are things I don't like about my own country. In Qatar I enjoy the fact I can go to a football match without worrying about being beaten up by a drunk yob, that I can walk down a street in the center of town at two o' clock in the morning without feeling intimidated. I like the fact that when the people you work with become your friend, they are fiercely loyal.
I know there are some assholes around, and I have met some of them. I have also met some great people. Qatar has its problems, for sure. But they are not nearly as bad as some other countries I have worked in - people don't tend to go chopping each others heads off, as they did when I was living in Borneo, or turn up washed up on a local beach after last being seen at a police station, as happened when I lived in another Asian country very popular with expatriates.
If you read my blog you will see I am not always complimentary about Qatar. It certainly has its own problems, but it is also the country wheremy family and I have lived happily and comfortably for the last three years so I also have my affection for it.
Robie 2 - Thank you for your comments. This is not a complete hub, as I think you noticed, but I will keep working on building it up gradually.
QV - the safety on the streets is nice. Long may it continue. But you are here with your family. Most of the immigrant workers here are not allowed to bring their wives. The state defines them as 'bachelors' and denies them freedom of the city. I've seen people rounded up like cattle and made to sit in circles in the midday sun. The rounder-uppers were in military fatigues. They were carrying batons. The fact that there are worse regimes doesn't of itself exonerate this regime of responsibility. If these oil & gas states treated and paid their workforces properly, oil would cost maybe 50% more per barrel. So let's all keep a low profile, hmm?
I don’t want to argue you against you on the labourers point because I have often said the same thing on my blog. Although I haven’t seen what you have seen (I do take your word for it though) I think it is appalling the conditions labourers work in. Although it is not just Qataris who treat labourers badly. My wife has worked for a British company which paid exactly the same wages to labourers, feeding them fish curry three times a day seven times a week because it was cheap, cramming them together into tiny rooms. “It’s a hard job,” said my wife’s boss - but he was talking about himself. (Maybe his job was hard but he was recompensed with a 4000 pound tax free salary a month + car accommodation e.t.c while his employees earned less than a hundred pounds.)
But obviously, private companies will treat people badly if allowed to - the Qatar government should be protecting these people.
In every country I have ever been in some expats seem to spend the whole time criticising it. I have done the same, only to get back home and wonder if my own country is so wonderful after all. But I am not saying that Qatar is a perfect country, only that is has it good points as well as its bad points, and that it is worth pointing out both.
As for comparing countries - maybe it doesn’t exonerate responsibility. But if you are saying you can’t only write negative things about countries with issues, there is not much travel writing you can’t do. I wouldn’t be able to write about the food in Thailand, the volcanoes in Indonesia or anything at all about America.
Don't get me wrong. I like Qatar. Why else would I have lived here for nearly 4 years? I regret, though, that so much of the development is misguided and that there are so many abuses of human rights. The Qataris are no worse in this respect than many of the multinational companies, except, of course, that ultimately the abuses should be stopped by Qatari law. I do like Qatar's determination to take a serious place in the world - to have more substance than Dubai, for example. And in that, they are succeeding, deservedly.
Point taken. I noticed you said somethin positive about Al Jazeera in your recent hub :) While I have said negative things too - check out Qatar: First world or third world http://qatarvisitor.blogspot.com/2006/10/qatar-fir
And spotlight on Qatar Internet censorship: http://qatarvisitor.blogspot.com/2007/12/purpose-o
My mom visited Qatar several years ago and absolutely loved it. Thanks for the info.
Paraglider Level 5 Commenter 3 years ago
It's good that we're both writing about Qatar & Doha, though I'd have to say you are less critical than I am. Maybe we move in different parts of town :)