Qatar Airways refusing bribes

There's a nice blog post on Like the Clock today. The writer, Seth, described how he tried to bribe Qatar Airways to take his overweight bag. Four officials politely refused a bribe but waive the additional overweight fee anyway. Qatar is taking a lot of stick at the moment over the World Cup, some of which has to be bitterness from losers, but in five years in Qatar I have never come across corruption.

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How to get plastic surgery done in Qatar - at a fraction the normal price!

Qatar is undergoing a plastic boom, with more and more women (and some men!), both local and expat, going under the knife.

While the procedure is free for locals, expats also benefit from prices which are a fraction of those in the West!

In our latest article on the QatarVisitor website, Yousra Samir reports on whose getting it done, where, how much it costs - and how to choose a good surgeon.

See Plastic Surgery in Qatar for the full article.

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Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways is the fastest growing airline in the world - and with a gigantic new airport under construction it's likely to stay that way. It's also an integral part of Qatar's plans - the airline's advertising positions Qatar "half way to anywhere" - and as such the idea location for the stop over market needed to fill the rapidly increasing number hotels in its capital.

All of which mean it is well overdue some attention from a website dedicated to Qatar! Following on from our interview with the Qatar Airways HR team, we take an indepth look at the Qatar airline. See Qatar Airways for the full profile.

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Qatar Airways Jobs

Qatar Airways is a huge employer, with thousands of employees working for them both directly and indirectly, and both within and without Qatar.

Unfortunately for job seekers, there can be intense competition for these jobs. So in our latest article for Qatar Visitor Yousra Samir asks the people in the know, the Qatar Airways HR team, for tips for finding jobs with the Doha based airline.

Check out Qatar Airways Careers for the full interview!

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Qatar sponsorship changes coming!

Update: After double-checking, we have been told that this is still under discussion, with a decision to be made safely.

As long term Qatar residents know, employees leaving their jobs (and failing to obtain a letter of no objection from their employer) face a ban of two years before they are allowed to return to Qatar.

A reader recently wrote to us asking if it was true that the two year ban had been changed to six months.

We have been asked this before, and always upon checking had found that the ban was still six months. However, we thought we had better check again.

To our surprise our HR contact (no use checking with Qatar embassies - they never reply!) informed us that the sponsorship ban will be changing from 2 years to 6 months in 2011. He also told us that big changes were going to happen to the Qatar sponsorship situation as a result of the 2022 World Cup.

We are still trying to verify this information, but it looks like the Qatar sponsorhip system could face some drastic changes!

Also see: Qatar Visas

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Qatar Comedy

A message from Amesia at ILoveQatar. net:

Don't forget that famous comedian Edwin San Juan will be performing in Qatar this Wednesday along with Erik Griffin , Mohammed Kamal, and Fahad Qureshi! But that's not all, Ahmed Ahmed has also just announced that he's going to be bringing some laughs too!

Click here for details.

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Qatar wins world cup bid!

The UK bookies who recently pushed Qatar into the the favourite position for the World Cup were right.

Against all odds, Qatar has won the 2022 World Cup.

Admittedly, Edwin Eduardo, writing about Qatar 2022 World Cup chances for QatarVisitor.com earlier this year, had assessed their chances as being extremely good:

Qatar is very close to going down in history as the first ever Arab nation to host the World Cup.

And as we quoted then, the Fifa President was keen on the idea:

The Arabic world deserves a World Cup. They have 22 countries and have not had any opportunity to organise the tournament.

Huge hurdles

But Qatar still had huge hurdles to overcome in winning the bid.

The FIFA team assessed Qatar as having the riskiest bid, while the US queried whether Qatar intended to air-condition the whole country.

Not so often voiced were other problems: the difficulty of a conservative Islamic country playing host to thousands of drunken fans, the issue of Israel...

These hurdles still have to be overcome. But for now Qatar, which will be the first Arab country ever to win the Qatar World Cup, can ignore the inevitable sniping and celebrate.

Also see:

Hundreds of Thousands of New Jobs in 2022 World Cup

Qatar Asian Cup
Qatar Football
Qatar Football Crowd and the Qatar National Anthem

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Want accommodation in Beverly Hills, Qatar?

The following is a message from a QatarVisitor reader:

We live on the Beverly Hills Al Rayyan compound. We have a three bedroom family apartment.
We are leaving Doha on 14th December 2010 (this month)

Anybody interested in taking over our apartment please contact us:

email address: david_lewington@hotmail.com

mobile number: 33210543

David and Natasha Lewington

Note: If you are looking for accommodation be sure to check out Qatar Accommodation: Essential Do's and Don't.

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Birds of Qatar

Hot on the heels of her book Common Birds of Qatar, Fran Gillespie provides an introduction to the birds of Qatar for QatarVisitor readers.

In Qatar Birds Frances explores the surprising variety of birds the tiny country attracts - a variety of species which in part are due to the changes in the environment caused by both industry and a desire to green and beautify the country.


Fran follows up with an Introduction to Birdwatching in Qatar, a great guide to (desert proof!) equipment and identification for less experienced birdwatching.

The articles are accompanied throughout by superb photography by Dileep Kumar, who also took the images here.

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Blogging Competition

This is completely unrelated to Qatar, I am afraid, but over on TheDisabledShop I am helping to run a blogging competition. If you are disabled or have a connection with disability (through work or friends/family) check it out. There is a cash prize of £250 ($400) and the chance to win a permanent blogging position. Click here for more information!

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Zubara

Our latest article on the QatarVisitor website is not about the fort which can be found on every Qatar postcard (and which is not actually that old!) but about the ancient town of Zubara.

Continuing excavations are finding new evidence of an extensive town at Zubara, including evident town planning, wealth and large walled houses. This wealth may not be surprising - because as our article reveals, at one point the town was the largest center of pearl fishing in the Gulf.

To read the full article see: Zubara.

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Qatar Birds: The Book

Fran Gillespie, Qatar Visitor writer and author of Discovering Qatar, has published her latest book, Common Birds of Qatar.

The first field guide to Qatar birds ever to be published, the book covers 215 birds illustrated by more than 400 pictures - pictures taken by world famous photographers Hanne and Jens Eriksen.

For more information about the book or to purchase it see Birds of Qatar on the Qatar Visitor website.

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Where can I learn Arabic in Qatar?

That's one of the most frequent questions we get from readers.

We've covered the question to an extent in our article Language Schools in Qatar. Sadly, one of the best places to learn Arabic in Doha, The Language Institute, has closed after nearly 40 years in business. However, our writer Yousra Samir has been digging to find other places - check them out here in Where to Learn Arabic in Qatar.

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Qatar Professional Women’s Network’s Launch Event!

Don’t miss the Qatar Professional Women’s Network’s Dream Big! Launch Event!

All ladies in Qatar are being invited to attend and take part in the celebrations at the Qatar Professional Women’s Network’s official launch event, which will take place on Tuesday evening, 7 December, 2010, from 6-8.30 p.m. at the Four Seasons’ Apres Spa Café. This special event marks the QPWN’s official launch to the community and a celebration of its early success.

The theme of the event is “Dream Big!”, a celebration of the personal and professional dreams and aspirations of all women. The launch will begin at 6.00 p.m. with networking over mocktails, hors d’oeuvres and musical entertainment. The official “Dream Big!” programme will commence at 7 p.m., featuring inspiring speeches by QPWN's founder, Christina Zini, and prominent Qatari and expatriate women leaders.

QPWN’s launch event is a unique opportunity for women to meet with other like-minded professional women, expand their networks and re-energise their careers. There will also be exciting prizes and give-aways up for grabs from the Four Seasons and other exclusive local businesses.

It will be a strictly women-only, non-alcoholic event and tickets, costing 175 QR each, must be purchased in advance.

To learn more about QPWN and how to purchase a ticket, visit QPWN's website www.qpwn.org.

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Qatar Jobs

Snapshots from Doha

Journalists Shabina Khatri and Omar Chatriwala teamed up this month - Shabina with her pen and Omar with his camera - to provide a stunning photo essay of Doha.

To view the full article, along with ten supber photos from the capital of Qatar, read Snapshots from Doha!

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Qatar's Hidden World of Magic

Black magic may be a forbidden art in much of the Arab world, but that doesn't stop billions of dolars being spent on it every year. Qatar is no exception, with many practising magic to get revenge on employers - or using the evil eye to spite a rival. It's not just black magic that is used, though, as we explore in our latest fascinating article on the QatarVisitor website. For the full story read Qatar's Black and White Magic.



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Arabic Phrases

Learn a new Arabic word, expression or phrase every day with this handy tool.

Learn more Arabic »

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Qatar Visitor Friends Qatar Jobs Doha Hotels Tags Qatar Arabic

Mums in Doha

In our latest article on the website Roxanne Davies from Doha Mums tells us what it is like to be a mother in Qatar, and reveals that there is a huge support network available - so long as you are ready to get involved!

Check out Mums in Doha for the full article.

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Qatari Women

In our latest article on the QatarVisitor website Yousra Samir spills the beans about Qatar women. From 'barbies' to 'tomboys', she puts Western misconceptions as well as Qatari women under the spotlight - and comes up with some fascinating observations. For the full fascinating article see Qatari Women

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Lonely in Qatar? Check out our Qatar Personals.

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How not to lose your job in Qatar

Over the years I have known a number of people lose their jobs in Qatar. Some were people I knew, some were close colleagues, some I just heard about through the rumour mill.

Many of these people did not lose their job because they were incompetent, but because they had a poor understanding of the culture and environment they worked in.

In our latest article, we have compiled tips for keeping your job in Qatar. They may sound rather different from what you would expect in the West, but they are based on our direct experience in Qatar. See Keeping your Job in Qatar and the Middle East for the full article.

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Brazil v Argentina Football Friendly

The two giants of South American soccer Argentina and Brazil will face off in a friendly international at the Khalifa Stadium in Doha on November 17.

Doha, within easy reach of Europe, is becoming an increasingly popular venue for international football friendlies and with many of the stars of both teams based in Europe the location makes sense. England played Brazil in a previous match last year.

The match is an opportunity to showcase Qatar's increasingly impressive bid for the 2022 World Cup.

Stars who might be on the field include Argentina's Lionel Messi and Brazil's Kaka.


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Qatar Visitor Friends Qatar Jobs Doha Hotels Tags Qatar Doha

Garangau

Ramadan is underway. Adult Qataris abstain from water and food from dawn to dusk - and are often joined in this by their children. Young children will usually fast for a few hours, or until midday - but soon they will enjoy a reward for their sacrifice. Garangau, the children's festival, is approaching and in our latest article on the website Yousra Samir explores the songs, traditions of and origins of the tradition. For the full fascinating article, or to watch and listen to this ancient song, see Garangau.

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The Battle of Al Wajbah

New on QatarVisitor.com: The Battle of Al Wajbah.

It's 1893 and Sheikh Jasim bin Mohammed Al Thani is in a quandary. The Ottomans are in Qatar in force, both on land and at sea - where they hold his brother Sheikh Ahmed amongst 15 other tribal elders. Should he do battle against the better equipped Turkish troops and risk the lives of both his men and the captives, or should he concede - and risk the autonomy of Qatar? Read the Battle of Al Wajbah to find out what happened!

Also see our other recent articles:

Learning Qatar Arabic
Finding a job in Qatar: An Employer's Advice

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Qatar Number Change

Qatar's numbers have changed - but ours haven't. Our programmers are in the process of making a program to automatically change all numbers, but it is taking them rather longer than established. In the meantime, please double the first digit of numbers in Qatar to make a valid telephone call: for details see Qatar's Number Change.

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Cancelling your Qatar Visa

Leaving Qatar can be a nightmare, at least according to many employees. However, the bureaucratic confusion is caused by employers' procedures (designed to keep them from assuming employees' debts) not by the actual process of cancelling your visa - as we see in our latest article on Qatar Visitor - Leaving Qatar: Cancelling your Qatar Visa.

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Recipes from Qatar

The latest article is now on the site this time featuring an array of delicious Qatar Recipes!

What happens when lightning strikes the desert?

What happens when lightning strikes the Qatar desert?


Just as rain on the sea...


Brings oysters to receive the raindrops that will grow into pearls...


So does lightning on the desert give rise to the desert delicacies known as truffles.


At least, that's what the Qatar Bedouin say.


For more information, see Fran's latest article on Desert Truffles.

Images Attribution

Pearl Image by Feminist Julie
Rain at Sea by Shellorz
Stormy Sunset by Azglenn

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Salukis in Qatar

Salukis: Son of the Desert, Wind Drinker, Daughter of the Tent and Desert Eye - just some of the names the Saluki has been called by its Bedouin masters. But is it being forgotten in Qatar? Yousra finds out in her latest article for QatarVisitor.com: Salukis: The forgotten dogs.

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Keep those wheels straight - or else!

I was in line at the basement of the City Centre, waiting to pay my wife's parking fine.

(If you need to pay a fine, by the way, and are having problems doing it online, this is a quick and fairly hassle-free way to do it.)

I started chatting to the ladies in front of me, and told them about the fine.

"Ooh, you've got to be careful," one said. "Last time we were here the guys who wash the car said the police had come and booked every car which didn't have their wheels straight."

I was 90% sure this was rubbish, and the car washers had either been winding up the ladies or there had been a major failure of communication.

But I decided to ask some Qataris what they thought.

"Most police won't bother you," said Ahmed. "But you know, there are some crazy cops. If you don't park your car straight they will come and book you."

"Whaaat," said his friend, who was a copper. "That's not true. It doesn't happen like that."

The conversation quickly moved into rather lively Arabic - I suspect Ahmed may have been booked recently and was still feeling sore about it.

I remain sceptical about whether you would get a parking fine for not parking straight. But at QAR500 a pop, I'm not going to take any chances.

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Exclusive Interview with Tim Sebestian

In the final of a series of articles for QatarVisitor.com on freedom of speech and the press in Qatar, Yousra Samir talks to Tim Sebastian in an exclusive Qatar Visitor interview.

In the interview she covers the purpose of the Doha Debates, asking whether it is a showcase for medium freedom or a genuine attempt to improve people's freedom of speech.

See An Interview with Tim Sebastian for the full story.

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Tags Qatar Tim Sebastian

Alcohol Receipts

Do you keep your alcohol receipts?

To be honest, I am the sort of person who loses receipts within several hours of receiving them.

But after picking up some booze for a party today and trying to beat a hasty retreat towards the exit, I was warned that perhaps I shouldn't.

"Please wait for your receipt, sir," said the polite lady on the desk.

"I don't need it," I said, imagining some impossible position where employees could claim back their booze against expenses.

"But what if the police stopped you, sir?"

"Well, I have my alcohol permit," I reassured her.

Not enough, apparently.

You should also have proof of purchase to show that you and you alone bought the alcohol.

The police are on the lookout for people who have bought their alcohol illegally - meaning you need proof of purchase, even if you have a permit.

So keep those alcohol receipts!

See Alcohol in Qatar for more information about alcohol rules and regulations in Qatar.

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Qatar Falconry

In our second article on falconry Fran Gillespie, author of Discovering Qatar, writes about falconry in Qatar.

She takes us through from the trapping of the birds just before the hunting season, their training, and the hunting of the Arab falconer's favourite prey, the Houbara - and we finish off with a video about breeding falcons in the Gulf.

For the full article check out: Qatar Falconry.

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Tags falconry falcons

Thai Snack Set to Shut?

Rumours are spreading round Facebook that Thai Snack is set to shut.

The event may seem unimportant on a country level, but this is a small country and there is a tremendous amount of affection (or should I say drooling) for the restaurant's products.

In fact, I sometimes wonder if the establishment, which many consider to be the best Thai restaurant in the country, although it is a fraction the price of some other Thai restaurants, doesn't slip some addictive substance into its food.

My wife just has to mention Thai Snack (which she does on a regular basis) and saliva starts to generate in my mouth.

I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't like the place.

Anyway, rumours, which have been grumbling round the city for a year, have again surfaced that the family who run the restaurant are to leave the country.

I sometimes wonder if they don't start the rumours themselves to boost business. Although they hardly need to - the place is almost always packed.

Anyway, I'm not taking any chances - I'm off to get my fill of good Thai food while I still can.

Check out our review of Thai Snack.

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