Qatar, Ramadan and Expats
Update: See Ramadan in Qatar for a more detailed article on the same subject.
Ramadan is about to start. My colleagues and I are looking forward to it, because we will all be on dramatically reduced working hours. Of course, it will mean lurking behind closed doors having hidden fags in smoky rooms, but that’s all part of the fun.
Admittedly, everyone in Qatar knows that us Westerners don’t participate in the fasting, but it is considered bad form to eat/drink in front of the locals. If you haven’t had a drink for 12 hours in this heat, you’re not going to be best pleased to see some annoying Westerner slurping down large quantities of deliciously cold water.
How else does it affect us? Well, you can forget about drinking in Doha’s hotels. Alcohol, at these times, is a strictly at home job, done behind drawn curtains.
Restaurants are also closed, although there are still places you can eat and drink. The Doha Sailing Club is one, for some reason. Hotels will continue to serve guests, too. Don’t expect any clubs, though, they are strictly off limits for the month.
Once the day ends, though, there are plenty of fantastic buffets to feast upon. In fact, the whole city changes its schedule, with almost all possible leisure activities shifted to night. There’ll be lots of extra things on – last year these included spectacular laser shows. Unfortunately, this may not be enough to console the alcoholics amongst us.
Still, Qataris are realists when it comes to us and our drinking habits (and making money from them!) We get a triple allowance on our alcohol permits - August, September and October's allowance all rolled into one. So this afternoon we are all off to the Qatar Distribution Company shop. That’s the camouflage for the local booze shop – the only one in the country, hidden away in a patch of desert scrubland miles away from the City Centre.
Tips:
- Tourists who like a drink should come to Qatar before or after Ramadan.
- Expats will need to get an alcohol permit to purchase alcohol at the Qatar Distribution Centre. To obtain this they will need a copy of their I.D. card or residence permit, photographs, and a letter of permission from their sponsor. A 1000 Riyal deposit is required. Muslim expats may also obtain a card.
- You do not need a card to drink in Qatar’s hotels.
- The Qatar Distribution shop is shut on Fridays. On other days it is open from 10.30 a.m to 8.30 p.m.
- The re-sale or gifting of alcohol is strictly illegal.
- You can not bring alcohol (or pork) into the country. You can, however, purchase alcohol at the airport to take out of the country.
- If you are a drinker, stock up on booze prior to Ramadan. However, don’t leave it to the last day (as I did) – the queues are huge and the carparks overflowing.
- You might also consider a last bash at a hotel bar or club.
Also see: Ramadan
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Ramadan is about to start. My colleagues and I are looking forward to it, because we will all be on dramatically reduced working hours. Of course, it will mean lurking behind closed doors having hidden fags in smoky rooms, but that’s all part of the fun.
Admittedly, everyone in Qatar knows that us Westerners don’t participate in the fasting, but it is considered bad form to eat/drink in front of the locals. If you haven’t had a drink for 12 hours in this heat, you’re not going to be best pleased to see some annoying Westerner slurping down large quantities of deliciously cold water.
How else does it affect us? Well, you can forget about drinking in Doha’s hotels. Alcohol, at these times, is a strictly at home job, done behind drawn curtains.
Restaurants are also closed, although there are still places you can eat and drink. The Doha Sailing Club is one, for some reason. Hotels will continue to serve guests, too. Don’t expect any clubs, though, they are strictly off limits for the month.
Once the day ends, though, there are plenty of fantastic buffets to feast upon. In fact, the whole city changes its schedule, with almost all possible leisure activities shifted to night. There’ll be lots of extra things on – last year these included spectacular laser shows. Unfortunately, this may not be enough to console the alcoholics amongst us.
Still, Qataris are realists when it comes to us and our drinking habits (and making money from them!) We get a triple allowance on our alcohol permits - August, September and October's allowance all rolled into one. So this afternoon we are all off to the Qatar Distribution Company shop. That’s the camouflage for the local booze shop – the only one in the country, hidden away in a patch of desert scrubland miles away from the City Centre.
Tips:
- Tourists who like a drink should come to Qatar before or after Ramadan.
- Expats will need to get an alcohol permit to purchase alcohol at the Qatar Distribution Centre. To obtain this they will need a copy of their I.D. card or residence permit, photographs, and a letter of permission from their sponsor. A 1000 Riyal deposit is required. Muslim expats may also obtain a card.
- You do not need a card to drink in Qatar’s hotels.
- The Qatar Distribution shop is shut on Fridays. On other days it is open from 10.30 a.m to 8.30 p.m.
- The re-sale or gifting of alcohol is strictly illegal.
- You can not bring alcohol (or pork) into the country. You can, however, purchase alcohol at the airport to take out of the country.
- If you are a drinker, stock up on booze prior to Ramadan. However, don’t leave it to the last day (as I did) – the queues are huge and the carparks overflowing.
- You might also consider a last bash at a hotel bar or club.
Also see: Ramadan
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posted by Qatarguest at 6:46 am
3 Comments:
hello folks, i just recently returned to canada from dubai due to an unfortunate visa issue.i have been eyeing qatar for sometime since the living costs in dubai have been going through the roof . so now i have been really trying my best to get in to qatar. my line of work is in mep for high rise and residential construction ,i have been in my industry for 17 years .if anyone out there could take the time and guide me on where i should direct my cv , i would be very grateful. my belongins and my fiancee are still in the middle east and so is my heart . its getting colder by the minute in good old western canada and i am ithing to get back to my favorite part of the world. so if you can help me a little , i would greatly appreciate it . cheers
I think you might have more response on my other blog, www.qatarvisitor.blogspot.com - it gets a lot more visitors.
Good luck!
Qatarguest
Great to read. Its the best way for people to learn more about a place through the eyes of an independent. Keep it up
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