Doha: Difference between revisions

There is informal segregation in place to prevent migrant labourers, who are overwhelmingly male and in Qatar without their families, from mingling with Qataris. For example, some shopping malls and public spaces enforce a "Families-only entry policy" (which includes single Qatari women), either on a regular basis or for significant holidays. In theory, this should apply to all single men (Qatari or otherwise), but in practice the level of enforcement will vary based on your ethnicity and gender. Asian (East, South and SE Asian) or African men and women may be prohibited from entry during this time, while white or Qatari men may face no issues, or at least are expected to simply acclaim that their female partners or mothers have already entered the mall. Even if you can prove you are a tourist or hold a westernWestern passport, it is generally not wise to contest being banned from certain public spaces, or else you risk being further questioned or detained by police. One workaround is to join a tour group that is touring the public space you want to enter, as these groups will clearly and obviously signify that you are a tourist and not a migrant worker. Most notably, the eight largest malls in Doha and most parks ban access to all non-Arab and non-white men on weekends and holidays (or any other periods where a large number of migrant workers are likely to be on break). The Villaggio mall and Souq Wakrah also bans access to non-Arab and non-white men on Fridays.