Middle Eastern countries often attract our attention, either for their landscapes or unique culture, which is different from the way of life in the West. These places have fantastic customs and some particular rules of etiquette. Qatar, a small country neighboring Saudi Arabia, is a perfect example. If you’re considering traveling there, we have prepared a list of their habits and culture.
1. Men greet each other in a different way.
In most places, men greet each other only with a handshake, but Qataris go further than that. There, it is common for men to touch the tip of each other’s noses when greeting as a sign of mutual respect. This shows that both are on the same level, and neither is superior to the other. So, if you meet a Qatari, wait for the person to offer you their hand first. Or the nose.
2. “How are you feeling today?”
This can be a good way to start a conversation with a Qatari. While some of us may feel tempted to go straight to the point, in Qatar, before beginning any kind of talk — whether in a job interview or a business meeting — the polite thing to do is to ask about the health of the interlocutor. You don’t need to ask for details, but it is important to show interest. The person who asked the question will get the same question back. This initial conversation may take longer than expected.
3. Be careful when taking photographs.
Nowadays, we’re used to seeing people taking pictures and filming everything in public. In Qatar, people must first ask for permission whenever they want to photograph something. We are talking about religious places, shopping malls, large areas at the airport, military installations, construction sites, industrial zones, and government premises. Taking photos in a public place is considered an offense, and if you don’t respect the law, you have to pay the consequences.
4. Avoid showing the soles of your shoes.
The smallest details make a difference in Middle Eastern countries. Another cultural fact worth knowing is that showing the soles of shoes is frowned upon. For them, shoes are an extension of the feet, one of the dirtiest parts of the body. So, for Qataris, carelessly exposing them is disrespectful.
5. Couples sleep in separate rooms.
If you’re traveling to Qatar with your couple, there are some social customs you need to respect. Until recently, unmarried couples were prohibited from sharing a hotel room. However, that rule has now become more flexible for foreigners, but it still applies to Qataris.
6. They are very strict about their dress code.
In Western countries, people wear the clothes that most identify them in the street, and they don’t need to worry about any specific dress code. On the other hand, Qataris do not have the same freedom, as their country has regulations on what residents and visitors can and cannot wear, even with the high temperatures that last throughout the year.
In the West, people normally wear shorts or a miniskirt out in public, whereas in Qatar, more conservative clothing is the norm. In addition to the traditional suit, men can also wear dress pants or a shirt in public. Women must wear suits that cover their shoulders, arms, and knees when out on the street. However, this is unnecessary if they’re in hotels or private clubs.
7. There are rules for eating.
In Qatar, good manners dictate that eating with others from the same plate is a great form of interaction. Another welcoming gesture is for someone to put food on your plate with their hands. Besides that, food is usually eaten with the hands, although this may vary from one household to another. But you’d better pay careful attention to which hand you use since only the right one should be used for eating, as the left hand is considered unhygienic. Interesting, right?
8. Spiced tea is the favorite drink of Qataris.
Qatar is a nation that loves to drink tea. Just as we, throughout the day, have a cup of coffee at home, they love to enjoy a cup (or more!) of tea in a bar or tea house. They have a beverage called karak, introduced in Qatar by Indian and Pakistani expatriates in the 1950s. In the traditional Qatari version, it is a drink that mixes tea, milk, water, sugar, and cardamom but can also include cinnamon, cloves, or ginger. Sounds delicious.
This beverage proves that a country’s culture can change over time. Although the drink is not original to Qatar, its inhabitants fell in love with it when it was first introduced, so much so that it became a craze. Besides being tasty, flavorful, and easy and cheap to prepare, its spices can benefit health. That is why people drink karak in their homes and when they’re out.
9. Nevertheless, coffee is still a typical beverage.
Being Arabia’s great producer, coffee is present in the culture of Qatar and is part of the national folklore. To begin with, it is a symbol of hospitality, served as a sign of welcome to guests and also in the most traditional parties and meetings. It is customary to serve coffee in a small metal cup without a handle, which is considered an insult to fill it to the brim. For this reason, they serve a maximum of 3-quarters of a cup. Visitors can ask for more, but drinking more than three cups is not common.
If you wish to know more about Qatar, a good tip is to watch movies filmed there. For example, the first film in the Transformers franchise has scenes that show a bit of the country. So does Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre, an espionage/comedy film starring Jason Statham. Part of it was filmed in the capital, Doha.
