Opera Singer Helen Massey will be holding a concert at the Qatar Auditorium in Education City on Sunday. Tickets are priced at QR 50 and can be purchased at Qatar Foundation. You can reserve a ticket by ringing 4540950/ 4540963/ 5223073.
On Helen Massey's website you will find more information about the young opera singer, and can listen to examples of her music.
Brazil have been named as the 2014 World Cup hosts.
Relevance to Qatar? It's just increased Qatar's chances of getting the 2016 Olympics. In fact, just by a process of elimination, Qatar's chances do not seem too bad at all now.
Rio De Janeira now has a major tournament two years before the Games. Europe has it in 2012, and China in 2008, so given the Olympic committee's preference for rotating continents that would put Madrid, Tokyo and Prague at a disadvantage.
Azerbaijan doesn't have the infrastructure and has no serious chance of winning. Meanwhile, America has had the Olympic Games twice in the last two decades (and a bit) and, let's face it, is not the most popular country in the world.
Qatar, on the other hand, is adept at being everyone's friends. They manage to keep relationships going with Iran, Israel and America at the same time - not a bad achievement! And, as we mentioned in our previous post on the Olympics, the Olympics have never before been held in an Arab country – surely a strong selling point.
Also see: Beijing Visitor - our sister site and guide to the 2008 Olympics.
Qatar's 2016 Olympic Bid
In our latest post on the Cost of Living in Qatar we have a look at the cost of household items. The prices here are taken from the supermarket Family Food, which is neither the cheapest nor the most expensive shop in Doha (you'll find cheaper in Carrefour in City Centre or Villagio Mall.)
For comparison purposes, exchange rates at time of writing: 1 Qatar Riyal is equal to 27 US cents, 11 Indian Rupees or 12 Filipino Pesos. However, exchange rates can change rapidly, and if you want to be totally sure of the prices use our Universal Currency Converter.
To see our other posts on the cost of living just click on the label below the post.
Household Items | Price in Qatar Riyals | Price in US Dollars |
| Washing powder 4 kg | 23.50 | 6.45 |
| Washing up liquid 1 litre | 7.75 | 2.10 |
| Ordinary bulb | 2 | 0.60 |
| Floor Cleaner 2 litres | 12.25 | 3.35 |
| Hair gel | 10 | 2.75 |
| Shampoo 450ml | 7.75 | 2.10 |
| Soap | 4 | 1 |
| Tooth paste (colgate) | 6.25 | 1.70 |
| Colgate Mouthwash | 20 | 5.50 |
| Tea (100 bags) | 9 | 2.50 |
| Coffee (100 grammes) | 12 | 3.30 |
| 6 Boxes of tissues | 14 | 3.85 |
| Toilet paper (8 pieces) | 14.50 | 4 |
| Nappies (pack of 64) | 54 | 15 |
| Baby wipes | 12 | 3.30 |
| Baby formula (Aptamil 3) | 38 | 10.50 |
A talk is to be held on Water in Islamic Art and Culture, with topics ranging from water supply and distribution to its role in religion and culture. The talk, which will feature thirteen international speakers, is being held by Virginia Commonwealth University in partnership with the Qatar Foundation and will take place from the 4th to the 6th November. For more information contact Diane Tepfer at dtepfer@vcu.edu or visit the Islamic Arts Doha website.
Returning visitors will notice that we have redesigned the blog. We had to upgrade to the new blogger template and it seemed like a good opportunity to redesign - I've personally never been happy with how the old blog appeared in Internet Explorer.
You'll also notice that I got rid of the chat box - unfortunately one user left obscene messages, so it had to go.
As usual, we'd really appreciate any feedback on the change in design (or anything else) - email us or leave a comment!
The 2007 Qatar Squash Classics will begin on Tuesday at Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex. The competitiion will feature some of the best players in the world, including the current number one's on the men and women's tour: Malaysian Nicole David, two times world Champion, and Egyption squash star Amr Shabana.
In November and December 2006 Qatar held
the Asian Olympic Games, which was widely acclaimed a success – although it did lead to gridlock on the roads in the build-up to the games, something residents will have to put up with again in the future.
Less than a year later, on 25th October 2007, Qatar launched their official bid for the Olympic Game on Doha’s Corniche.
They did so against a fanfare of fireworks, aerial acrobatics and jet-ski displays. It culminated in the new logo for the games being projected on a screen rising from the sea.
Still, Qatar have a tough battle ahead of them if they are going to win the Olympic Games. They’ll be going up against Tokyo, Chicago, Madrid, Rio De Janeiro, Azerbaijan and Prague.
They’ll also have to persuade the Olympic Committee that the Games can be held in Qatar’s ferocious heat. The Asian Games were sensibly held in the cool season, and while the Olympic Games don’t have to be held in August, even in September and early November the heat can still be fierce.
One trump card here may be Qatar's recent announcement that they are building an all-weather underground stadium, located close to Al Ahli Stadium. That’s not all the building that goes on – an minimum of 30,000 hotel rooms are needed for an Olympic bid, and to reach that number Doha has promised to build more than 20 new hotels. (According to local paper the Peninsula the number is even higher at between 30 and 50 hotels!)
To Qatar's advantage, apart from the heat, is its location. The Games are usually rotated between continents, and with Beijing getting it in 2008 and London in 2012, that would leave Chicago and Rio De Janeiro and Qatar as the two strongest contenders by location. What’s more, the Olympic Games have never gone to an Arabian country. Relatively moderate, and currently politically stable, Qatar would make an ideal Arabian choice.
Did we also mention they have wads of cash – and that they are not afraid to use it? Qatar would be happy to build anything that might increase their bids, and with tonnes of imported labour paid a fraction of wages in the West, they can do so cheaply.
Not that they need to do it cheaply – they are, after all, the third richest country in the world by GDP per person.
One disadvantage is one not even whispered in the papers here, and that’s the Jewish question.
Qatar is generally very good at remaining neutral (a handy talent in such a small country), and has maintained low key relationships with Israel. However, an Israeli team, let along Jewish athletes, coming to Qatar might well cause an outcry in neighbouring countries such as Saudi Arabia.
Such an outcry has been effective in the past. In 2000 Arab pressure forced the Qatar government to close an Israeli trade office, albeit temporarily.
Qatar will have to deal with this problem, and persuade the Olympic committee that it can do so successfully, before they have any chance of winning the Olympic Games.
The Doha Players annual Ball will be held at the Intercontinental hotel on the 1st November. For more information see the Doha Players website or email doha_players@yahoo.com or doha_players@
Also see:
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This Qatari road crossing sign on Doha's Corniche shows a women dressed in traditional Qatari clothes: the Hijab.
The official launch of the Doha 2016 Olympic Bid will take place at the Corniche on Thursday October 26th. The event will start at six o' clock.
Also see:
Beijing Visitor - information for the 2008 Olympics.
Qatar Olympics: The Asian Games and the 2016 Olympic bid
Qatar Visitor e-store (U.S.)
Qatar Visitor E-store (U.K.)
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Qatar Doha Middle East corniche
Location: Ras Abu Aboud Road, between the Oasis Hotel and Doha Club
For a change of venue we decided to try a night out at the Cigar Bar in Doha's Ritz Carlton Sharq Village and Spa. This is one of Doha's newest hotels - only completed this year - and probably also the most luxurious.
We weren't even sure if we'd be allowed in, but we were greeted with the utmost politeness at the entrance and then escorted to the bar.
Don't expect a buzzing night out here - besides being small (but luxurious), we were the only people there. This is a place to relax, and to watch strange tropical fish flit about in their brightly coloured aquariums. Or you can do as we did, and sit outside and admire the hotels superb fifteen thousand metre pool.
Afterwards, take the opportunity for a stroll round the hotel's fifteen courtyards, or walk along the private beach and admire the lights reclecting from the port. The only thing likely to disturb your piece is planes - unfortunately the hotel is located in the flight path of Doha Airport, although that should change when the airport is relocated next year.
The Asian Optimist Sailing Championship will start on the 24th of October and will continue until the 2nd November. The event will be held at the Doha Sailing Club.
The Qatar Natural History Group’s first field trip, a tour of Qatar’s Northern Forts, will take place on Friday 26th October.
The group will meet at 10 a.m. at the left turn to Zubara from the main north road to Al Ruwais, just after the tall communications tower and the police station with the Qatar flag flying.
Four wheel drives are required – although those with out four wheel drives can probably get a lift in another vehicle.
Non-members will be able to join at the meeting. The joining fee is QAR 30, and there will also be a levy of QAR 10 per vehicle.
For more information contact Francis Gillespie.
The Inch Cage has recently opened in Doha and is one of the trendier establishments in the city. At this cafe, which is in City Centre Mall (close to the cinema), you can relax on a swing while sitting your frozen mint lemonade and watching the world go by.
The Oktoberfest is coming to Doha with events on at several hotels.
There will be music and dancing at the Ramada Hotel on the 18th and 19th October in Shehrazad bar (old Ramada) to the tune of German band Dirndjlager. Tickets will be cost QAR99 and will include a traditional German buffet. The event starts at 7pm and Bavarian beer will be on sale. You can get more information and book tickets on 4281555.
Meanwhile the Intercontinental is having their Oktoberfest on the 24th, 25th and 26th October in a Bavarian tent. They will also feature German beers, a buffet cooked by two guest German chefs and entertainment from a Bavarian band - ring 484 4919 for details.
You can continue nights out with the Laughter Factory, which will be taking place in Ramada on Sunday 21st and Monday 22nd October - again at Shehrazad bar. Shows start at 8.00 p.m. and will feature Dave Fulton, Paul Tomkinson and Michael Smiley. Ring 4417417 for details.
The Peninsula has reported that Qatar is planning a dress code for visitors and expats. A campaign is due to kick off after the end of the Eid festival, and fliers have been printed urging expats to repect the traditions and cultures of the country.
Qatar has been very liberal regarding clothes in the past. However, some expatriates have been pushing the boundaries further and further - with some women wearing tank tops and very short skirts.
It doesn't need a very deep understanding of the culture here to realise that showing your stomach and thighs here is deeply offensive to locals. Also the relaxing of local dress here amongst some female Qataris - with head coverings slipping further and further back - may also have raised fears that the liberalism of some foreigners is spreading!
Also see: Qatar Clothing
Qatar's first race meeting of the year is to be held on the 18th of this month with "Club Cup Day". Racing takes place every Thursday during the racing season and entrance and a program is free. In addition to the racing, children can enjoy a bouncy castle and pony rides. Although no gambling is allowed, there are plenty of prizes to be won, and you can enjoy the spectacle from the club's restaurant, set high above the race track. For more details of the races this year, see this PDF file Proposal of the Race Programme.
Also watch out for the friendly football match between Iran and Qatar on 16th of this month!
Eid Ul-Fitr takes place today, and not tomorrow as predicted by the head of the astronomy section of the Qatar scientific club.
Maybe he was not so wrong. The first glimpse of the Shawwal crescent (Shawaal being the tenth month of the Islamic calandar) was not seen in Qatar - according to the moon-sighting committee not one person came forward with a reported sighting.
Only in neighbouring countries has the new moon been seen. Indeed, Oman and Egypt will continuing to fast today, and will celebrate their Eid tomorrow.
The news that it would be Eid today was released last night and within half an hour the roads became impassible as residents rushed out to shop. For Muslims, today will be a time not just for prayer but for feasting and for family.
And also, in the house we have just come from, weighing and ruing the weight gain that's seem to be an inevitable part of this time of year. Still, dieting can come later - now is time to enjoy the festival, and to say blessed Eid or:
Discovering Qatar is now available on-line on our website. Discovering Qatar takes an in-depth look at the history, natural history and culture of Qatar. The book is by long term Doha resident, former Qatar Natural History Group Chairperson and Gulf Times journalist Frances Gillespie.
Ramadan is coming to a close, and it will soon be Eid Ul Fitr - the festival of breaking the fast.
A local astronomer has predicted that Eid Ul Fitr this year will fall on the 13th November. It can be difficult to predict the holiday exactly, as the date depends on the moon - the new moon has to be sighted before the season of fasting can finish and the festival of feasting can begin.
Before Eid Ul Fitr does begin, all Muslims must pay zakat, or alms. This consists of two parts: the head of the family should contribute enough to feed one person for every person in his family, and also 2.5% of his total wealth. The first zakat should be paid directly to the mosque, who will redistribute, whereas the second zakat can be donated directly to the poor.
On Eid Ul Fitr, most Muslims will arise very early in the morning and have a small amount to eat, before attending a special prayer. While this may be held in a mosque, it is often also held outside. In Qatar prayers are sometimes held at embassies.
After that, it is customary to spend the day visiting relatives - and eating! New clothes are bought prior to Eid and all will dress up, while small children are often given presents.
Eid Ul Fitr should normally be a time of joy. However, for many Muslim expatriates in Qatar it is a time when they miss the families, friends and relatives back home.
It's noticeable that rents do not seems to be increasing at quite the same rate as they were a year ago. However, the decreases in rent that were hoped for after the Asian Games have failed to materialise. Which is a shame, as the high rents have forced many families out of Doha, often to be replaced by more transient bachelors.
The high prices no longer seem to be driven by demand, but by landlords holding out in the hope of achieving good rents or of rents sufficient to service the loans taken out to purchase or build the properties.
In this short post we have noted down prices as advertised in a local newspaper. For more information about renting accommodation in Qatar see our website article: Renting in Qatar.
For comparison purposes, exchange rates at time of writing: 1 Qatar Riyal is equal to 27 US cents, 11 Indian Rupees or 12 Filipino Pesos. However, exchange rates can change rapidly, and if you want to be totally sure of the prices use our Universal Currency Converter.
Advertised Accommodation
Shared room near city centre QR750
2 bedroom villa Al Wakra (Out of town) QR5500
Flat for rent: 3 bedroom unfurnished Najma QR7000
Studio apartments near Corniche QR7,500
3 bedroom flats Ras Abu Aboud unfurnished QR 8,500
Villa in Al Rayyan 5B/R 14,000
Luxury Villa in Al Hilal 5 bedrooms fully furnished QR18,000
Villas in West Bay Lagoon 4 bedrooms 4 bathrooms QR 25ooo
Also see:
Hotels in Qatar
The Cheapest Food in Qatar
It’s been a few months since we did any posts on the cost of living, and with inflation still sky high we thought it was time to start again.
This time we are going to look at the cheapest way to eat out in Qatar. If you are Indian – especially if you are from Kerela – there is good news for you. Without a doubt Indian food, much of it from Kerala, often provides the best value there is around.
In addition to the table below, many residents choose to pay a restaurant monthly. QR250 to 300 will buy you two meals a day for a month in a typical Indian restaurant.
Before we hit you with our list of prices, it is worth noting that there are plenty of medium and high class Indian restaurants. (We particularly recommend the Chingari Indian restaurant in the Ramada – see our restaurant reviews here.) However, the focus of this post is on budget food rather than the range of cuisine available.
For comparison purposes, exchange rates at time of writing: 1 Qatar Riyal is equal to 27 US cents, 11 Indian Rupees or 12 Filipino Pesos. However, exchange rates can change rapidly, and if you want to be totally sure of the prices use our Universal Currency Converter.
Prices may vary from place to place!
Dish | Price (Qatar Riyals) |
| Briyani rice | QAR 5 |
| Chicken Briyani | QAR 8 |
| Chicken curry | QAR 7 |
| Mutton Curry | QAR 8 |
| Mutton Briyani | QAR 8 |
| Paratha | QAR 1 (2 pieces) |
| Sandwich (any type) | QAR 2 |
| Whole chicken (small) | QAR 15 |
| Whole chicken (large) | QAR 25 |
| Kubus (Arabic bread) | QAR 1/packet |
| Fried fish | QAR 5 |
| Idli (steamed rice cake) | QAR 1/piece |
| 4 Idli + sambal + chutney | QAR 5 |
| Dosa | QAR 1 |
| Onion dhosa | QAR 3.5 |
New traffic signs have sprung up around Doha in the last few weeks, warning of the dire consequences of breaking the strict new traffic laws.
There has been some scepticism as to whether the new traffic laws would be effective. I must admit that I started to share in the scepticism on the day the law was introduced, when as I was sitting in my car, I noticed the man besides me on his mobile phone. In front of me and to the left was a police car, and behind the police car was another man on his phone. Neither man took any notice of the police vehicle.
Other people have pointed out that there is no way that many expatriates will be able to pay fines. This could lead to people not registering their cars, as fines have to be paid before cars are registered. Other people have worried that residents will take out bank loans to pay the fines and then flee the country.
Our sceptism may have been misplaced. The Peninsula has reported today that traffic violations are down 90% since the introduction of the new traffic law. It seems that changing the law has been rather more effective than Qatar's road safety campaigns.
Five Indian shows are scheduled over the next six weeks. The first will see Indian musician Sonu Nigam performing at Khalifa tennis stadium on the first day of Eid. This will be followed by a three hour performance by Kerala mimic KS Pramad on the same day.
The next day will see a comedy and music show which will include a come back performance by singer Rimy Tomy, while on the 24th October singer S.P. Balsubramanium will perform in a musical at Doha Cinema. Doha Cinema will also also be the venue of a “Grand Indian Musical Evening”, which will feature two southern Indian singers, Vitup Pratap and Manjari Babu on November 9th.
Qatar has regular Indian shows, sometimes including top Bollywood stars. This is perhaps not surprising given its huge Indian population: Indians make up 20% of the population of Qatar.
Former Indian celebrities who have come to Qatar have included Salman Khan, while Karisma Kapoor - or Lolo - came to Qatar in January of this year to launch her Eros range of gold jewellery at Qatar's Gold Souq.
The Malaysian Embassy is to hold a second Ramadan Bazaar at 2 pm. The bazaar is organised by the ladies group Perwakilan Doha, and all are invited to attend. There is no entry fee.
View a list of Foreign Embassies in Qatar
The Indian embassy effectively put a ban on Qataris hiring maids from India earlier this week by refusing to register them with the embassy. Maids have to be registered with their embassy before being allowed to work in Qatar.
The ban has coincided with several gulf times report of abuse, beatings and non-payment of maids. Only today, yet another domestic worker filed charges against her employer at the Indian embassy today, alleging that her employer's wife had inflicted injuries with a cigarette butt and a hot iron box.
In implementing the ban, the Indian embassy has effectively followed in the steps of Indonesia, which, while not actually banning maids, has done a lot to discourage them from coming here. In fact, as locals enter the Indonesian embassy to register their domestic worker, they will see a poster showing the scars of a tortured maid.
The Phillipines, in the meantime, have imposed a minimum wage on Qatari workers.They hope to export "super-maids", maids with superior househild and culinary skills. Whether they will be successful or not is another matter - the immediate effect seems to be a big increase in new Indonesian workers.
Many embassy staff I have met have a very negative view of Qatar and Qataris. This is perhaps not surprising, as they deal with problem cases and abuse: the maids that have jumped out of three storey buildings or are burned with hot irons. However, not all maids are mistreated.
One Indian maid I interviewed spoke very highly of her elderly Qatari employer, who divorced his (foreign) wife after she abused the maids. When her employer eventually died, his family went to great lengths to find her employment in the family. As none of them had any need for an additional employee, she didn't have much work to do.
Other domestic workers have worked with the same family for twenty or thirty years. I remember a Qatari telling me that his mother would cry when her maid would return to Indonesia on holiday. I've also heard of a Filipinno lady who had a stroke while working in a Qatari household. Not only was her treatment here paid for, she was flown to the Philipinos where all her medical costs were covered by her Qatari sponsors, and told there was always a job here for her if she recovered.
These are perhaps the extremes. Most domestic workers I have met have been unhappy - not because they are beaten or mistreated, but because they are homesick.
The Emir discusses Iraq, Pakistan, democracy and other issues on the Charlie Rose show.
The Qatar Natural History Group will meet on Wednesday at 19.30 at the Doha English Speaking School. Existing members are requested to visit and renew their membership and new members can join. The annual fee is QR30 per adult.
Doha’s Traffic Police authorities can’t be blamed for feeling frustrated. Despite committed and comprehensive campaigns to increase road safety, Doha’s roads remain a menace, and road accidents are the leading cause of death in this otherwise very safe country. Things can’t be helped by a continual inflow of expatriate workers, some who have a driving culture even more reckless than Qatar.
Therefore it should be of no surprise that penalties have been stiffened again. The law is based on a complicated system of points, but penalties can include a fine of up to QR50,000, permanent suspension of driving licenses and even imprisonment of up to three years. For details of the law see Traffic Offences.
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