Being abroad in such a unique spectacle of a country such as Qatar has opened my eyes when it comes to the world outside of the U.S. This can be explained in terms of business and the variety of social life the country offers.
Starting with the business aspect of the country, I think my initial impression has changed heavily. We still know that employees are brought from their home countries to work on visas for these companies. We also know that because of the way the Qatari government manages businesses in its own country, it can select the companies it wants operating within its borders.
This of course can lead to complications as stated by some of the companies and individuals we had the pleasure of hearing from. It was reiterated multiple times by multiple individuals that if the Qatari government wants you gone, they will get rid of you and your business fast, especially if you are not Qatari.
After learning this, coupled with the obvious favoritism the Qatari government has for Qatari men, I finally realized I wouldn’t want to do business in this country, regardless of the benefits that exist in doing so. Knowing how short my leash is in terms of freedom of speech, religion, and even business availability creates a massive unattractive opportunity for me. I would want to operate my business without having the threat of being out of work with just a little bit of paperwork.
Although my opinions in terms of business have changed, my impression of their social and city life hasn’t. With everyone in the country being required to hold a job, there is a zero percent poverty rate, meaning no homeless.
The city is clean and mostly safe. There is no reason to be in fear for your life when walking the city at night as there is such a low crime rate. You also will have a hard time finding any trash within the city.
You also will be able to enjoy plenty of spots to eat and drink coffee. You will not go hungry in Qatar, especially with how cheap the food and refreshments are.
The night market and vast number of malls are perfect for visiting and shopping for your clothes, trinkets, and daily home needs. You would need another month in Qatar to visit all the stores and outlets this country has to offer. If you are visiting this country, I can assure you you will never run out of places to visit, explore, and appreciate.
Qatar has once again opened my eyes, especially towards the Middle East. As an American, we are programmed to hear the bad that comes from different regions of the Earth. We listen only to the horror stories that arise and completely ignore the positives and the good people that come from these regions. I deeply regret not being aware of the good cultures and people sooner in life, but I am glad I was able to learn nonetheless.
