J. Zach Hollo

Eid Al Adha is traditionally celebrated with the slaughtering of livestock.

The public sector in Qatar will be given a week off for Eid Al Adha, the Emiri Diwan has announced.

Taking into account that Saudi Arabia has declared Eid on Saturday, Oct. 4, Qatar News Agency reports that the holiday will run from Sunday, Oct. 5 to Thursday, Oct. 9.

Regular hours for ministries, authorities and other public or government institutions will resume on Sunday, Oct. 12.

Bank holidays have yet to be announced by Qatar Central Bank. A representative of QCB told Doha News that an announcement is expected tomorrow, although last year most banks were closed for three days to mark Eid Al Adha.

UPDATE | 3:06pm

Bank employees are now saying financial institutions, etc, will be closed all of next week, like the public sector.

As far as the private sector, companies typically give employees three days, although it depends on the employer.

We’ll be posting our guide to celebrating Eid Al Adha in Qatar tomorrow.

What are your Eid plans?

(The post Qatar announces one week government holiday for Eid Al Adha 2014 is from Doha News.)

Patrick Gage Kelley/Flickr

Photo of Sealine beach for illustrative purposes only.

Qatar’s environmental record has been improving over the past several years, but it is still among the top consumers of productive land and water, states a new report from the World Wildlife Fund.

The Gulf country is now ranked as having the second-highest ecological footprint globally, down from holding the top spot in 2012, according to the WWF’s Living Planet Report 2014. Kuwait now has the world’s worst footprint.

Despite Qatar’s marginal improvement, the report warns that the state’s consumption remains unsustainable, saying “if all people on the planet had the footprint of the average resident of Qatar, we would need 4.8 planets.”

The study, published every two years, is a health check on the changing biodiversity and ecosystems of the world, and measures the use of natural resources globally.

Qatar’ footprint

The report includes an index of 152 countries’ ecological footprints.

The footprints take into account the amount of biologically productive land and water area (biocapacity) required to produce the resources that an individual, population or activity consumes, and to absorb carbon dioxide emissions they generate. This is measured in global hectares.

Based on the latest available (2010) figures, Qatar’s footprint measured approximately 8.5 global hectares (gha) – the second highest figure in the world. This means it consumed and wasted more resources per person than almost every other country globally.

Only Kuwait fared worse, with a footprint of just over 10gha, while Gulf neighbor UAE trails Qatar with 7.75gha.

The world’s average footprint per capita was 2.6gha, and the global average biocapacity per person was 1.7gha in 2010.

Based on Qatar’s population at the time of 1.76 million, carbon emissions resulting from the burning of fossil fuels accounted for more than two-thirds (70 percent) of Qatar’s footprint.

In the previous (2012) report, which reflected 2008 numbers, Qatar topped the world in terms of its consumption and waste, recording a footprint of 11.64gha.

Energy inefficiency

With such a small population, Qatar’s overall impact on the environment is rather negligible. But residents’ consumption habits stand out in stark difference to those in most of the rest of the world.

The country regularly tops global tables as being among the world’s least energy efficient countries per head and is also one of the world’s biggest consumers of water.

Dean Leu / Flickr

Figures from another recent study state that Qatar residents are among the highest energy users in the world per capita.

The Oil Price report put the country in second place globally in terms of energy consumed per person, just behind world-leader Iceland.

Using World Bank figures, each person in Qatar gets through an average of 17,418kg of oil equivalent – the amount of energy that can be extracted from one kilogram of crude oil.

Free (for nationals) or heavily subsidized energy has been blamed in the past for Qatar’s poor conservation of its resources.

National campaigns that aim to encourage more environmental awareness and conservation such as Kahramaa’s Tarsheed appear to be having limited impact.

Global trends

Globally, ecological footprints continue to grow. This means that the area needed to supply the ecological services people are using has increased faster than the world’s biocapacity – the land actually available to provide these services.

Even taking into account technological advances to improve yields, the report warns:

“The increase in the Earth’s productivity has not been enough to compensate for the demands of the growing global population.”

The report found that overall, the world’s population is using its resources 1.5 times more quickly than they can be replenished, with trees being felled, groundwater pumped and carbon dioxide emitted faster than the earth can replace them.

Its figures also show that between 1970 and 2010, the world’s population of fish, birds, mammals and amphibians fell by 52 percent - far faster than previously thought.

The 2012 report put the figure of decline at around 28 percent for the period 1970-2008, although these figures were based mostly on information from Europe and North America.

The dramatic decrease is primarily due to loss of habitat, climate change and exploitation of species through hunting and fishing, the report said.

Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International said in a statement:

“We are using nature’s gifts as if we had more than just one Earth at our disposal. By taking more from our ecosystems and natural processes than can be replenished, we are jeopardizing our very future.”

Lambertini calls on younger generations to live in a more sustainable way, in a bid to turn around these trends.

Here’s the full report:

Thoughts?

(The post Qatar holds world’s second largest ecological footprint per person is from Doha News.)

Benoy K Behl/Katara

For many Qatar residents, Eid Al Adha celebrations will take center stage this weekend. The holiday commences on Saturday, and we will be posting a special Eid guide tomorrow to give you the rundown on how to make the most of it.

In the meantime, there are several other things happening in Qatar over the next few days, including film screenings, fine art exhibitions and a chance to learn more about the Qatari thobe. Here are our picks:

Indian monuments

The Cultural Village Foundation is holding a photography exhibition on Islamic Monuments of India, in conjunction with the Indian Embassy from 10am to 10pm in Building 19, Gallery 2 in Katara.

The exhibition, which closes on October 4, features the works of renowned Indian photographer, filmmaker and art historian Benoy K Behl. His career has spanned 34 years, and the exhibition features some of his most prominent pieces showing exquisite monuments from all over India.

Painting exhibition

Celebrate the Qatar-Brazil 2014 Year of Culture with new painting exhibition Qatar and Brazil: A contemporary painting dialog, featuring the works of  four Qatari and four Brazilian artists.

See specially commissioned works by local artists like Yousuf Khalif Ahmed Al Sada, Lolwa Al Meghaiseeb, Amal Al Aathem and Ahmad Al Mosaifry on display at the Qatar Fine Arts Association Gallery (Bldg 13) in Katara.

The 40-piece exhibition is free and open to the public, and will run until Nov. 1.

Qatari identity

Local group See My Culture is hosting an event to help people learn more about Qatari clothing.

Mike L./Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

The session will be held on Oct. 1 from 5pm to 6pm at the Al Shaal shop in front of Royal Plaza, and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about the traditional thobe and try it on.

The event is free and open to the public. Prior registration can be done online here, and those interested in having their own thobe stitched can do so at discounted rates after the event.

For more information, contact 5544 6551 or email seemyculture@gmail.com.

Ajyal Youth Film Series

The Kid and the Clown, a Danish film focusing on the life of Angus, a clown who works at the children’s oncology department at a hospital, will be screened this weekend at the Katara DFI Cinema (Bldg 16).

The event, which is free and open to the public, is part of the Doha Film Institute’s Ajyal youth film series. It will run from 7 pm on Oct. 2, and 4pm on Oct. 3. Both screenings will be followed by a question and answer session with the film’s director.

For more information, or to reserve a seat, visit here.

Bonus:

• Networking night: Back 2 Business Qatar, a business networking event organised by the Italian, Dutch, German, British, Spanish, Scandinavian, French, Turkish, and Australian-New Zealand Business Councils in Qatar will be held today, Oct. 1 at the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha from 7 pm. Tickets for the event cost QR300 at the door, and all attendees stand the chance to win prizes via a raffle draw. For more information, visit the website here.

What are your plans this weekend? Thoughts?

(The post Four (non-Eid related) things to do in Qatar this weekend (Oct. 1-4) is from Doha News.)

All photos courtesy of United Developers

Excavation work on a massive new mixed-use development north of Doha is reportedly in full swing as part of the latest luxury real estate project to break ground.

Part of the new city of Lusail, Place Vendôme will cost US$1.25 billion and include serviced apartments, entertainment zones, a pair of five-star hotels and up to 400 retail outlets when it is completed in the the third quarter of 2017.

The project’s backers – who displayed renderings of the complex recently at Cityscape Global in Dubai – say the design is drawn from the central Parisian neighborhood of the same name.

The commercial component is intended to draw high-end consumers; the company behind the project, United Developers, says it will contain an “exclusive section dedicated to unrivaled luxury and the most elite brands.”

The company says Place Vendôme will be 800,000 square meters, or more than double the entire footprint of Villaggio Mall.

Lesley Walker

The renderings of the luxurious development stand in stark contrast to how Lusail currently appears.

Despite being in the works for years, the master-planned city is still largely barren desert interrupted by the odd building site, scattered construction waste and heavy machinery.

The Place Vendôme is one of more than a half-dozen large retail centers that are expected to open in Qatar in the coming years, including Doha Festival City and the Mall of Qatar.

Despite the country’s growing population and wealth, the glut of new malls is expected to lead to an oversupply of retail space in the country.

Speaking at a local real estate conference earlier this year, industry experts say the new high-end shopping centers will likely have no problem drawing consumers and retailers.

However, that’s likely to come at the expense of Qatar’s older malls, which could lead to empty stores and reduced foot traffic.

Thoughts?

(The post PHOTOS: Lusail’s US$1.25-billion Place Vendôme to open in 2017 is from Doha News.)

Ameer Abdul Razak/Flickr

Eid Al Fitr 2014 in Qatar

The Muslim holiday of Eid Al Adha (festival of the sacrifice) begins on Saturday, Oct. 4, and is traditionally celebrated for three days.

But this year, because Eid begins on a weekend, the Emiri Diwan has said that most government employees will get all of next week off and return to work on Sunday, Oct. 12.

Bob

Schools will also be closed for the week, and private sector employees usually get at least three days of break.

Though Hamad International Airport is gearing up for a busy flying season, many residents plan to remain in Qatar – and tourists from neighboring countries will likely be visiting, too.

To that effect, the Qatar Tourism Authority has organized a series of events around town, including fireworks, musical acts by famous Indian, Arab and Filipino performers and plenty of children’s activities.

Here’s our roundup of everything you need to know about spending Eid Al Adha in Qatar this year (we will keep updating this post as information comes in):

Prayer times

Eid prayers will be performed at 5:42am on Oct. 4, according to Qatar’s Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf). The prayers will be held in nearly 300 locations around Qatar, including some with space for women.

Msheireb

And for the first time in many years, Eid prayer-goers can go to the historic Eid Prayer Ground at Msheireb Downtown Doha, which will open especially for the holiday.

Bank hours

Michael Graffin/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

The Qatar Central Bank has announced that financial institutions and the Qatar Exchange will be on holiday all of next week, resuming normal services on Sunday, Oct. 12.

However, many banks will offer services at some locations throughout the week, including QIB, Doha Bank and QNB.

Weather

With the hot, humid summer months slowly behind us, temperatures are to continue dropping.

In a statement, the Qatar Meteorology Department (MET) has forecast cooler weather with some precipitation in the form of light rain on Saturday, as the transition from summer to winter continues.

Muhammad Kamran Qureshi/Flickr

It continued:

“And the weather is going to be relatively hot during the day and moderate temperature by night, where the maximum temperature is expected to be on Doha between 37-40C (in the) daytime, and the minimum between 27-30C by night.”

Hamad International Airport

Last year, there was heavy congestion on both the roads and at Doha International Airport (DIA) during Eid Al Adha. A number of residents reported having to ditch their rides and walk to the airport — luggage in tow — to catch their flights.

Chantelle D'mello

Things are expected to run more smoothly with the new Hamad International Airport, which faces its first Eid Al Adha test this weekend.

Travelers are being advised to arrive at the airport three hours before departure and use self check-in desks to avoid long queues.

Short-stay parking is free for the first 30 minutes and costs QR5 per hour thereafter. Long-stay parking will remain free during the holiday season, with a free shuttle bus taking passengers from the car-park to the airport.

Hamad Medical Corp.

The Emergency Department at Hamad General Hospital (HGH), walk-in centers and Pediatric Emergency Centers will maintain normal hours during Eid.

But other services will change during the holiday week. That includes outpatient department laboratory services at HGH, which will be open on Oct. 8 and 9 from 7am to 2pm and on Oct. 11 from 7am to 3pm.

Outpatient laboratory services at the National Center for Cancer Care and Research will be open on Oct. 5, 7 and 8 from 7am to 1pm only.

Shabina S. Khatri

Here’s a breakdown of the hours at each HMC hospital:

Women’s hospital

Outpatient Departments: Open Oct. 7 to 9 from 9am to noon. The pharmacy will be open 24/7 throughout the holidays. The hospital’s Anesthesia, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and General Pediatrics sections will be open on Oct. 2 only. All other clinics will be closed.

Laboratory services will be open on Oct. 8 and 9 from 7am to 2pm and Oct. 11 from 7am to 3pm only.

Heart hospital

Outpatient departments will be open with limited capacity on Oct. 8 and 9 for Warfarin Clinic, Medication Room, Consultation Room and Referral Clinic. Laboratory services will be closed from Oct. 5 to 7 and will reopen on Oct. 8 and 9 from 7am to 2pm.

Al Wakra hospital

Outpatient departments will be open from Oct. 7 to 9 for Cardiology, Orthopedics, General Surgery, ENT, Ophthalmology, General Medicine and Burns Clinics, along with Pharmacy and Laboratory.

Al Wakra’s Radiology Department will be open 24 hours only for patients from Adult Emergency, Pediatric Emergency, Obstetrics, Operation Theater, Dialysis and Inpatients. It will also be open for ultrasound, CT scan, General X-ray and MRI.

OSU Medical Center

Al Khor hospital

The hospital’s Anesthesia Unit will be open from Oct. 6, but all outpatient departments will be closed during the holidays.

The Cuban hospital

Outpatient Departments and Adult Cardiology will be open from Oct. 8 onwards.

Rumailah hospital

The Dentistry Department will be closed during the holidays, but Dentistry Urgent Care will be open on Oct. 8 and 9 from 8am to 1pm.

The hospital’s Community Mental Health Services will be open as follows: Adult Outreach on Oct. 6, 8 and 9; Male Day Care Oct. 6 and 8; Female Day Care on Oct. 8; Older Adult Outreach from Oct. 5 to 9.

See the full list of services and hours for Rumaila and other hospitals here.

Community events

On Saturday, the Ministry of Interior is organizing various activities for families and “bachelors” from 5pm to 10pm at the West End Park Amphitheater in the Industrial Area and Al Khor Sports Club.

The free entertainment includes cultural shows, songs and the Singing Birds Orchestra. The acts will cater to the southeast Asian communities and be held at the West End Park’s Amphitheater, which can hold up to 16,000 people.

Meanwhile, sporting events such as tug-of-war and a football match will be taking place at Al Khor Stadium at 3pm. Shows and songs by the Al Khor and Nepalese communities as well as the Sariga Orchestra Troupe will begin at 5pm at the 8,000-seat stadium.

Some 250 prizes can be won at both locations through entry draw coupons.

Mall entertainment

Traditional and international shows will be hosted at various malls across the country starting Saturday, and running throughout the week.

The line-up includes traditional sword dance (Arda), the popular singing show Arabs Got Talent, and international children’s shows Shaun of the Sheep, Swan, Mr. Potato Head, Dora’s Ballet Adventures and more.

Face painting and games will also take place.

Shabina S. Khatri

Lagoona Mall Eid Al Fitr 2013 festivities

Mall entertainment will be held at various times between 4pm and 9:45pm at the following malls: City Center, Landmark, The Mall, Hyatt Plaza, Al Khor Mall and Lagoona Mall. Royal Plaza will also hold events on Saturday and Sunday, starting after 6pm.

A full mall schedule of events and activities is below or can be found online here.

Katara Cultural Village

After canceling its Eid Al Fitr activities earlier this year to pay respect to the ongoing crisis in Palestine, Katara is to host a number of events this Eid.

For example, a 15-minute fireworks show will be held at the Katara Beach on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at 10:30pm.

Hasan

Two performances will also place throughout the week — a Qatari play called Abu Salama, and Big Bang, story-telling based around the universe’s composition.

Three free Big Bang sessions will be held each day at 7:30pm, 9:30pm and 10pm, each lasting 35 minutes.

Angry Birds exhibitions are also taking place from the first day of Eid for the rest of the month. The shows vary by day and tickets cost QR50, but children ages five years old and below are free.

From Oct. 4 to 10, the Angry Birds show will run from 11am to 11pm on weekdays and 1pm to 11pm on weekends.

From Oct. 11 to Oct. 31, shows will run from 9am to 1pm on weekdays and 1pm to 11pm on weekends.

Dreams on Ice show

Starting the first day of Eid, and continuing through to Nov. 30, Katara is hosting fun family shows for all.

Skating, acrobatics, jugglers, dogs, cats and seals will all be making appearances during the “Dreams on Ice” shows. Each show lasts two hours, with a number of performances taking place each day.

Tickets range from QR100 to QR500 and can be purchased at Virgin Megastore branches.

From Oct. 4 to Oct. 11, the show will run at 5pm and 8pm on weekdays; and 3pm, 6pm and 9pm on weekends.

From Oct. 12 to Nov. 20, the show will run at 10am and 6pm on weekdays; 5pm and 8pm on Fridays and 3pm, 6pm and 9pm on Saturdays.

Concerts

Famous Indian, Arab and Filipino artists will all be visiting Qatar this Eid, putting on a variety of performances:

Shreya Ghoshal

The Bollywood singer will perform live at West End Park on Sunday starting at 7:30pm.

Tickets range in price from QR50 to QR1,000, and can be bought online through Q-Tickets here.

Fares Karam

Lebanese singer Fares Karam and violinist Samira Riachy will perform on Sunday at the St. Regis Grand Ballroom.

St. Regis

Gold seats cost QR750/person and Platinum seats are QR2,000/person. Both options can be purchased at Virgin Megastore branches or online here.

All attendees will be offered a three-course meal and platinum-goers are seated closer to the stage and have the chance to meet Karam after the show.

Doors open at 8:30pm, but the event is limited to those aged 21 and above.

Parokya Ni Edgar

This Filipino band will perform at the Marriot Hotel, Ras Abu Abboud, on Oct. 10 from 6pm. The concert will take place outdoors, and costs QR125 for regular tickets or QR225 for VIP tickets.

Tickets can be purchased at Virgin Megastore branches. Doors open at 4pm, but the event is limited to those aged 21 years old and above.

Sout Al Rayyan Music Festival

Souq Waqif’s Al Rayyan Theatre will hold free folklore dance performances and music concerts from Sunday, Oct. 5 until Oct. 10. Folklore dances will take place from 4pm until 9pm and the concerts will be held from 9pm to midnight.

Souq Waqif

Circus shows, games, an art gallery, folk bands and acrobatics are to be held across the souq’s premises this Eid.

Festivities will begin at 5pm and finish at 10pm, starting on Sunday, Oct. 5 until Oct. 10:

Souq Waqif

Souq Waqif had also announced that its theater will show Cinderella performances at Al Rayyan Theater from Oct. 5 to 10. Tickets can be bought at the venue, or all 44993089.

For more information, see a Souq Waqif parking map, schedule and event map online here.

T20 Cricket Festival

Watch World XI and Asia XI battle it out at a cricket match taking place on the third day of Eid at West End Park.

Kickoff is at 6pm. Tickets can be bought online via Q-Tickets and cost QR35/person or QR50/person, depending on seating.

Disco Dandiya

On Sunday, Oct. 5, the Marriott beach – Ras Abu Abboud is hosting a family night of Indian folklore dancing — Dandiya Raas. There will also be traditional Indian games, handicrafts and Indian food.

Tickets purchased beforehand, up to 3pm on the day of the event, cost QR100/person. Tickets purchased at the door cost QR150.

Tickets can be bought online via Q-Tickets here, as well as the following venues: Doha Rocks, Zaffran Cafe, Aalishan Restaurant, Lifestyle Restaurant and Biryani Hut.

The disco kicks off at 5pm, and entry is free for children under the age of 11 years old.

Aqua Park Qatar

The park will be open from 10am to 10pm on Saturday, with Eid activities taking place from 4:30 to 8:30pm on the first until the third day of Eid. The park has not yet announced what activities will be hosted.

Aqua Park Qatar

Tickets cost QR130 for adults and QR100 for children. Pre-booking is recommended. To do so, call 44905872/73/78.

Dosari Zoo and Game Reserve

Dosari Zoo is opening its doors to visitors from Sunday, Oct. 5 until Oct. 8, from 7am to 7pm. Admission is free. The zoo is located in Al-Shahaniyah.

The Pearl-Qatar

Several free festivities will be taking place from the first day of Eid until Oct. 6 from 6pm to 10pm. What activities will be held is yet to be announced.

Sealine paragliding tour

For those looking to get their adrenaline pumping, the Qatar Air Sports Committee is holding aerial paragliding tours at Sealine Beach (just before Sealine Beach Resort roundabout).

The tours will be held from the first day of Eid until Oct. 10 from 3pm to 6pm, weather permitting. The cost is QR250 per person.

Hafiz Issadeen/Flickr

Qatar’s state mosque (Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab)

The state mosque is located in Dafna near TV Roundabout. Muslims and non-Muslims are invited to take a free tour of the facility, starting the first day of Eid from 4pm to 8pm.

Heritage Village

Located at Al Bidda Park (next to Rumailah Park) along the Corniche, the Heritage Village will host an array of cultural activities for children and families from the first day of Eid until Oct. 7.

Festivities will take place from 5pm to midnight, with free admission.

Lusail Shooting Club

The shooting range will be holding lessons for those wanting to practice their accuracy, but those who want to just have fun can shoot on their own, too.

Training will take place from Saturday, Oct. 4 until Oct. 11 from 4pm to 8pm.

Bullets cost QR100 for 25 pieces. Shooters can purchase as many rounds as they like but must be aged 18 and above.

Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani Museum

Displaying ancient relics of Islamic art, Qatar heritage, vehicles, coins and currency, this quirky museum will welcome visitors from the first day of Eid until Oct. 11.

Free tours are available are from 8:30am to 6pm, and the museum is located in Al Rayyan.

Museum of Islamic Art

The MIA will be closed for Eid on Saturday, Oct. 4. It will reopen and resume normal operating hours from the second day of Eid onwards.

Jeroen P/Flickr

An array of exhibitions are being held over the holiday, such as insights into how and why MIA collects Islamic art, an exhibition exploring the life of Tipu Sultan, the South Indian ruler, statesman, and patron and more.

What are your plans during the holiday? Thoughts?

(The post A guide to spending Eid Al Adha in Qatar – 2014 edition is from Doha News.)

More people than ever were in Qatar at the end of last month, but the pace of the country’s population growth appears to be slowing down.

According to new government figures, Qatar’s population reached an all-time high of 2,187, 326 on Sept. 30, 2014.

The numbers reflect a 7.48 percent increase from the same month last year.

That’s down from the 10 percent jump in the population that occurred between September 2012 and 2013.

It’s also less than the 8.4 percent rise in the number of people here between September 2011 and 2012, according to figures from the Ministry of Development, Planning and Statistics (MDPS).

Qatar’s previous highest-ever population was in May this year, when it reached 2.17 million, before dropping as residents began leaving on vacation.

Monthly changes

Qatar’s population traditionally spikes during August and September as people return from summer breaks, and there is an influx of new residents into the country.

However, the month-on-month increases for this period also show a slowdown compared to the rate of growth over the same months in the last two years.

Between August and September this year, Qatar’s population rose by 5.29 percent. The increase over the same two months in 2013 was 9.13 percent and in 2012 it was 9.31 percent.

It is not clear why population growth is slowing, though there have complaints about recruitment problems given Qatar’s proximity to the UAE, which is also ramping up its infrastructure projects.

Also, Qatar is becoming an increasingly expensive place to live, and costs for renting residential accommodation in particular are up month-on-month as the knock-on effect of a surge in land prices.

August figures for Qatar’s consumer price index showed inflation of nearly 4 percent on the same period last year, with rises in “rent, fuel and energy” showing an increase of 7.9 percent over August 2013.

As rent makes up one-third of the average expat’s monthly spend, bumps in rent mean less money to save and spend, which could make some would-be residents think twice before moving here.

Growth forecasts

Nevertheless, the latest year-on-year figures are in line with projections for Qatar’s overall population and labor force growth in the coming years.

Earlier this month, Qatar National Bank (QNB) forecast that the number of residents here would grow on average by 7.4 percent annually in the coming years, reaching 2.5 million by 2016.

Shell / Flickr

The bank’s report predicts a “new wave” of expats in the coming years, as Qatar expands its labor force to meet the demands of its many infrastructure and construction projects.

While the majority of these workers is expected to be unskilled and semi-skilled laborers, QNB also forecast growing demand for female employees and white-collar workers to organizations meet their deadlines ahead of the state hosting the World Cup in 2022.

The QNB forecast are more modest compared to previous estimates of Qatar’s population growth. In December 2013, Frank Harrigan, the then Director of the MDPS’s Department of Economic Development, predicted that the state could see a 15 percent growth in the size of its population between 2013 and 2014.

Traffic stats

Despite the population growth, the MDPS’s latest monthly traffic figures show an overall drop in the number of major and minor accidents on Qatar’s roads in August compared to those in July.

Hani Arif/Flickr

While the number of fatalities as a result of accidents stood at 19 for August (up from 15 deaths in July), there were 43 major accidents recorded in August, compared to 66 in July.

There were also slightly fewer minor accidents – 536 for August, compared to 565 in July.

However, the number of traffic violations rose by nearly 13 percent between July and August, with a total of 140,114 infringements recorded. No breakdown of the types of penalties issued was given in MDPS’s report, unlike previous months.

Thoughts?

(The post Qatar’s population reaches all-time high, but rate of growth slowing is from Doha News.)

To help tackle traffic woes on E-Ring Road, public works authority Ashghal has announced the opening of a temporary steel bridge built over the Mesaimeer Junction (Al Obaidli Roundabout).

In a statement, Ashghal said that Mesaimeer junction is “already at full capacity.” It continued:

“(The bridge) represents an interim solution to ease the congestion issues in the area, until the completion of development works of E-Ring Road.

Road users can now benefit from reduced travel time and take advantage of a free flow route from Al Thumama roundabout towards Bu Hamour area without the need to travel through Mesaimeer Junction, which will significantly relieve traffic congestion in this area.”

The move comes over a year after Ashghal was awarded a series of contracts totaling some QR48.2 billion (US$13.2 billion) to improve transportation and healthcare systems in the country.

One of those projects is converting E-Ring Road from Al Muntazah intersection to Airport Road intersection (Ahmad Al-Ahmad intersection) into a four-lane expressway.

Work on the area began last June, with the closure of the road leading to the church from the roundabout, and the implementation of a new traffic signal 200m south of the roundabout. Completion is expected by 2016.

Ashghal

The one-way temporary bridge, which will allow residents to turn left from E-Ring Road towards Rawdat Al Khail Street, stands at around 240 m long, and cost about QR30 million ($8.2 million) to build.

To ensure the safety of the road users and to reduce traffic accidents, a speed limit of 50km/hour has been implemented, and no heavy vehicles will be allowed to use the bridge.

Other major road overhauls that Ashghal is currently leading include work on C-Ring Road, F-Ring Road, and Al Rayyan Road.

The continuous construction and subsequent traffic jams have drawn criticism from numerous residents, some of whom have expressed their frustration on Twitter:

On the positive side, gridlocked #dohatraffic means it's that much easier to walk around #weighingthegoodwiththebad

— Alex bint Eisa ن (@AlexbintEisa) October 1, 2014

A friend coming to mine, been in a taxi 1hr 25minutes still not near. Coming from city centre about 4 miles from mine. #DohaTraffic

— Graham A (@graham1A) October 1, 2014

Me: "Hey, this should just take 15 minutes, I'll take the highway." 7 hours later. #dohatraffic @dohanews pic.twitter.com/xbRsyk7GWC

— Ali Al-Ansari (@AliTheAnsari) September 24, 2014

@dohanews What us going on with the traffic? This city is gridlocked tonight!

— Martin Hughes (@martindhughes) October 1, 2014

Has the new flyover improved the traffic situation on E-Ring for you? Thoughts?

(The post Ashghal opens new bridge to ease Mesaimeer congestion is from Doha News.)

BSIP/UIG

A 29-year-old Saudi woman suffering from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome may have been contagious during a recent flight from Qatar to Austria, the World Health Organization has said.

In a statement released yesterday, WHO said the woman, who got on the airplane on Sept. 22, had an upper respiratory infection and fever before arriving in Vienna. She was tested and diagnosed with MERS after seeking treatment there.

WHO continued:

“The Austrian health authorities assume that the patient was infectious prior to, and during the international flights. Follow-up with passengers on the flight is ongoing and personal data of the crew on the flight has been communicated to Qatar.”

Qatar Airways is the only airline that flies directly from Doha to the Austrian capital.

No one from the national carrier or Qatar’s Supreme Council of Health (SCH) was immediately available for comment.

So far, eight people in Qatar have contracted MERS, and four have died. The Gulf state had no new reported cases of the virus since November 2013.

Previously, the SCH advised Qatar residents – especially those with pre-existing conditions – to steer clear of farms and camels, after research showed a link between MERS and the animals.

Health advice

The Saudi woman is currently in an Austrian hospital in stable condition. According to WHO, she had no exposure to camels or their products and no prior hospital admissions. She also had not come into contact with anyone who was diagnosed with MERS.

So far, two people she has come into close contact with been admitted to the hospital with upper respiratory symptoms, but lab tests to see if they also have contracted MERS are pending.

Omar Chatriwala

WHO states that there have been 853 confirmed patients with MERS, and of those, 301 deaths. The vast majority of cases have been in Saudi Arabia.

Now that the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the Gulf state has begun, WHO has urged countries to continue their careful monitoring acute respiratory infections. It has not advised any special screenings at borders, but states:

“Until more is understood about MERS-CoV, people with diabetes, renal failure, chronic lung disease, and immunocompromised persons are considered to be at high risk of severe disease from MERS‐CoV infection.

Therefore, these people should avoid close contact with animals, particularly camels, when visiting farms, markets, or barn areas where the virus is known to be potentially circulating. General hygiene measures such as regular hand washing before and after touching animals and avoiding contact with sick animals, should be adhered to.”

Thoughts?

(The post WHO: Passenger infected with MERS took Doha-Vienna flight in September is from Doha News.)

Petras Gagilas/Flickr

A new draft law in Qatar that makes wasting water and electricity punishable by fines of up to QR20,000 has been ratified by the country’s Cabinet.

It is already against the law in Qatar to keep external lights on between 7am and 4pm, and to use running water from a hose on gardens or to wash cars.

But the new legislation, which amends Law No. 26 of 2008, would double the maximum penalty that the current conservation law allows for violators.

QNA reports that residents and owners of buildings who use drinking water to wash cars or equipment or clean courtyards can be fined up to QR20,000 for the offense. It is also against the law to neglect damaged pipes that cause water leakage.

And those who leave their outside lights on during the day could be fined up to QR10,000. It is not against the law, however, for buildings to leave their lights on at night, a sight that continues to vex some residents.

Previously, state utility provider Kahramaa could impose fines from QR1,000 to QR10,000 on violators. That penalty could be doubled if the violation was repeated within three years of the first penalty.

Enforcement

Though the conservation law has been around for six years, very few residents have actually been punished for flouting it.

Last November, Kahramaa warned more than 2,000 residents through text message that they were violating the law, but did not fine them.

And earlier this year, the utilities company said that inspectors could not carry out their role properly because of legal issues – namely, they required a judge’s permission to enter people’s homes to check their usage.

Pete/Flickr

Water and electricity are in incredibly high demand in Qatar, with Kahramaa saying consumption “saw a great and unexpected increase” over the past year.

Qatar’s residents use an average of 500 liters of water every day, making the country one of the world’s biggest consumers of water – four times as much as many European countries, and 10 times more than many others.

Quality of life, lifestyle and the country’s harsh climate have been cited as the major reasons for the high usage. The fact that water and electricity are provided free of charge to nationals and heavily subsidized for expats is also an issue, environmentalists say.

Just this week, the World Wildlife Federation ranked Qatar number two globally for its large ecological footprint.

That’s down from the top spot two years ago, but the WWF still warned that warned that the state’s consumption remains unsustainable, saying “if all people on the planet had the footprint of the average resident of Qatar, we would need 4.8 planets.”

Thoughts?

(The post Qatar mulls doubling penalty for water wastage to QR20,000 is from Doha News.)

Video still

Support for Qatar’s women’s basketball team appears to be growing since last week’s row at the Asian Games, during which some players had to choose between taking off their headscarves or forfeiting the competition.

Citing their religious obligations, the team opted to withdraw from the tournament.

Since then, many in the sports world have been petitioning the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to amend its ban on allowing headgear, jewelry and hair accessories during tournaments.

ESPN columnist Johnette Howard is the latest to wade into the fray, arguing in a new column this week that sometimes not playing the game is the right thing to do.

She writes:

“FIBA, the world governing body of basketball, should have long ago followed the lead of international soccer, boxing, weightlifting, judo and other sports and abandoned its backward rule that the hijab supposedly creates a safety hazard for players.”

Howard added that many female Muslim athletes have enough challenges to overcome when participating in international sports tournaments:

“At the 2012 London Olympics, athletes from Muslim countries — some of whom were sending female athletes for the first time — told their stories. They said they often have little or no place to train because there aren’t facilities for women. Many come from countries where Muslim women and girls are segregated from men in many social settings and forbidden from leaving the house without a chaperone. Physical education is not offered to girls, only to boys, in schools.”

But she was optimistic that taking a stand, as the Qatar team has done, will help change the rules for the better.

“It’s not a matter of if. Just when. It’s the right thing to do,” she said. “Muslim women have enough impediments to competing. FIBA needs to stop throwing an unnecessary roadblock in their way.”

Thoughts?

(The post Sports columnist: Hey FIBA, let Qatari women play is from Doha News.)

Check Out My [Designs]

Best Eid Wishes from the team at Doha News.

May it be a blessed holiday for all!

What are your plans?

Looking for something to do? Read our guide to spending Eid Al Adha in Qatar – 2014 edition

(The post Illustration: Happy Eid from Doha News is from Doha News.)

Spirits in Qatar were high yesterday as residents from around the country spent time with family and friends to celebrate the beginning of the Eid Al Adha (festival of the sacrifice) holiday.

Crowds thronged Qatar’s malls, Katara Cultural Village, West End Park, Souq Waqif and other areas, encouraged by the cooler weather (at least during the morning and evening) and many activities on offer.

There were some bumps in the road for some.

Because Eid Al Adha is marked with the slaughtering of animals whose meat is then distributed to family, neighbors and the poor, overeating is often a problem. This year, hospitals reported treating some 600 patients for stomach ailments and indigestion.

Also putting a dent in the fun for some residents were traffic hotspots, especially by Katara Cultural Village.

Avoid lagoona area at all cost it's crazy out here been in a standstill for over an hour no one can move @dohanews pic.twitter.com/KYRMqckIdE

— Abdulrahman AlMannai (@Manna3i9) October 4, 2014

Katara is holding 15-minute fireworks shows through Tuesday (starting around 10:15pm) that can be seen from the Corniche, another area that was crowded last night.

But taxi drivers told Doha News that overall, the roads were fairly clear of traffic, thanks to the mass exodus of residents during the holidays.

Minimal congestion is expected to be the case throughout the week, as schools and most banks and government offices will be shut until Oct. 12.

For a list of all the things going on in Qatar this week, check out our Eid Guide here.

How are you celebrating the holidays? Thoughts?

(The post PHOTOS: Qatar residents mark Eid Al Adha 2014 is from Doha News.)

Article3

With reporting from Riham Sheble and Reem Alamri

Qatar passed its controversial cybercrime law last month to comply with an agreement among Gulf states to criminalize online insults of the region’s royal families, this country’s former justice minister has said.

Despite its specific intended purpose, Najeeb al-Nuaimi – now a criminal lawyer – told Doha News that he feels the new law is “dangerous” and leaves residents at the mercy of a prosecutor’s interpretations of loosely defined provisions in the legislation.

Last month, Qatar’s Emir approved new penalties for online offenses such as hacking into government networks and possessing child pornography, among other crimes.

However, the cybercrime law also outlaws the spreading of “false news” as well as digital material that violates the country’s “social values” or “general order.”

mkhmarketing / Flickr

Along with producing such content, it’s also now illegal to incite, aid and facilitate the publication of offensive material. It’s unclear how those terms will be applied to social media content, which is commonly retweeted and shared.

Amnesty International called the broadly worded law “a major setback for freedom of expression in Qatar,” while other critics have suggested the new law could violate provisions of the country’s constitution that protect civil liberties.

The aim of the law has, up until now, largely been a mystery, with residents questioning whether casual online comments about life in Qatar could now be considered a criminal offense.

However, al-Nuaimi said that the envisioned application of the law is likely narrower in scope:

“A year or two ago, a GCC security agreement was signed. This agreement stipulates that all GCC states need to regulate online expression and to criminalize certain expression on social media as well as private blogs … The security agreement clearly states that anyone who writes or spreads online insults of rulers, heirs to the thrones or their families in any of the GCC states should be punished by law.”

Al-Nuaimi said he learned of the contents of the security pact from members of Kuwait’s parliament, who reviewed and approved a comparable cybercrime law in that country.

He said Qatar is the last GCC country to implement the regional agreement and pass its cybercrime law, which the former minister called similar to the one in place in the UAE.

That country has imprisoned activists who published details on Twitter about a trial and criticizing some of the proceedings under a law prohibiting the spread of “any incorrect, inaccurate, or misleading information which may damage the interests of the state or injures its reputation, prestige, or stature.”

International content

While the cybercrime law was crafted with protecting the reputation of the Gulf’s ruling families, al-Nuaimi said the intention behind it is of little comfort to ordinary internet users:

“The law as it is now is very dangerous to freedom of expression, which is a basic right that needs protection. I have fears and concerns as to how this law will be applied and the restrictive effect it will have on online expression.”

Al-Nuaimi said the vagueness about what constitutes “false news” or a violation of Qatar’s social values is problematic.

Adding to his fears is the prospect of a Qatar resident being prosecuted for viewing content produced in another country. He said:

“Say a friend of mine in another GCC state sent me pictures or videos of a private occasion or a family gathering – a wedding, for instance. Naturally, there will be people celebrating, women dancing, perhaps with (their) headscarves taken off. If this material goes online, this friend will punished under the law and so will I because the prosecutor can consider this a violation of social values.”

Community reaction

While international advocacy organizations have largely condemned the new law, some local residents said they support its provisions – providing they are applied appropriately.

Mariam Gammaz, an administrative coordinator at Qatar University, called the new law “excellent” and “long overdue.”

“The things we find online that are offensive to both the country and individuals require this law for protection,” she told Doha News. “As a mother, I am happy and I feel much safer knowing this law exists. I won’t be worried about my children using the internet.”

However, Gammaz added she is concerned that a resident could unwillingly break the law by, for example, sharing a website or article without knowing its full contents.

Dana, a student at Qatar University who is studying English, also said she believes that parts of the law are worthwhile:

“There’s a difference between criticism and slander. The (former) never harms anyone, and is appreciated and respected. (However), the latter is not and will never be considered ‘free speech’ because its sole purpose is to attack, which is not acceptable … (Additionally), anyone who publishes anything that touches our national security, (without) a doubt, they should be prosecuted.”

Thoughts?

(The post Former minister: Qatar’s cybercrime law result of GCC security pact is from Doha News.)

Arihant Agarwal/Flickr

For illustrative purposes only

With reporting from Chantelle D’mello

Two weeks after an Indian fisherman from Bahrain was killed when his boat strayed into Qatar’s waters, his family has received his body and is preparing for it to be cremated.

But questions remain about the cause of the man’s death.

Karthikeyan Thangaraj, 32, hailed from the Tamil Nadu region of India. He was killed when his boat crashed into a Qatari Coast Guard patrol boat, P.S Sashi Kumar, the Indian Embassy’s deputy chief of mission, previously told Doha News.

However, Indian media reports continue to assert that Thangaraj had been shot and killed by Qatar’s Coast Guard after accidentally straying across borders while out fishing.

Three other fishermen onboard with the deceased were arrested on Sept. 21 and remain in custody in Qatar. Government officials in India have made repeated requests for their release.

Questions

According to a Times of India report published today, the deceased’s father received Thangaraj’s body on Saturday:

“(He) said that such a situation should never happen to any other fishermen families and wanted the state government to take action in releasing the other fishermen from the Qatar prison. The other three fishermen who are languishing in jail are Ayyapan, Samayamuthu and Raju.

The fishermen were working in Bahrain and during the course of fishing they accidentally strayed into Qatari waters resulting in the coast guard officials shoot at them.”

However, when contacted by Doha News today, the Indian embassy representative insisted that Thangaraj died from the impact of the boat accident.

Kumar added:

“We are a diplomatic mission. We do not investigate these matters on our own, nor do we carry out post mortems. This is the forensic report that we’ve received from the Qatari government, and that is what we’re going by.”

Kumar also said that he had seen the body of the deceased, and, to his knowledge, had observed no evidence of a gunshot. “It was internal injuries, which do not present themselves on the body.”

Thangaraj is survived by his wife and children, who recently received Rs 5 lakh (US$8,100) from a former Tamil Nadu government official’s relief fund.

Thoughts?

(The post Questions remain regarding death of fisherman killed in Qatar is from Doha News.)

Salsa n' Candela

As people in Qatar seek to expand their horizons, two local Latin dance groups have been bringing some new flair to the culture scene.

Salsa n’ Candela and Yamativo-Mambo, which began in 2008 and 2013 respectively, are gaining large followings in Qatar, from expats of almost all nationalities.

Trainers for the two groups hail from Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Cyprus, Sudan, UAE and Iraq, and have brought years of dancing experience to Qatar from their home countries.

The rise has not been without challenges, as both groups try to reconcile the sensuality of Latin dance with Qatar’s conservative social norms on dressing modestly and its restrictions on dance performances.

Speaking to Doha News, Salsa n’ Candela head Meli Candela, a Lebanese expat, said licenses for dance schools here only go to ballet instructors.

She added:

“They (the government) have put more regulations on organizing events, and dress codes, which limit the theme and Latin spirit we want to put in our events…like performing salsa with long sleeves and leggings, for example.

It doesn’t (allow us) to show the movement and style of the dance properly.”

Despite the challenges, Candela said business has been brisk.

Salsa n' Candela

Salsa n’ Candela was founded here in 2008. Classes are divided into sessions and socials, with the former hosting anywhere from 60 to 80 residents during the year to 15 to 25 attendees during the summer months.

The sessions are held at the Hilton Hotel – Eforea Spa, with social nights at the Crystal Lounge, the Cigar Lounge, and Trader Vics. Each session costs QR 60, or QR 420 for eight classes.

The group, consisting of nine instructors from five countries in the region, teaches LA and Cuban-style salsa, Dominican bachata, rueda de casino, zumba, and kizomba, a dance of Angolan origin.

Yamativo-Mambo

The success of Salsa n Candela prompted several trainers who worked for the group to form their own organization in Qatar last year, called Yamativo-Mambo.

One of the trainers, a 27-year-old Iraqi expat who asked only to be identified as Mustafa, explained to Doha News how the group began:

“We all came to Doha to work, but with different prior backgrounds in salsa and other dances. We met here, and Yamativo was formed to complete its founders’ vision in establishing professional salsa dancers in Qatar with a strong foundation built around strong technique.”

For Yamativo-Mambo, what began as an experiment with a couple of classes open to the public last year, has grown to encompass some 400 students studying a range of Latin dances.

“(Our nationalities include) everything along the spectrum. Ranging from Middle Easterners to Europeans to the Americas to Asians to Africans (and) even a few Australians,” Mustafa said.

Yamativo Mambo/Facebook

He added that beginner classes tended to be busier, with around 25 couples attending each session, while advanced classes consisted of around 10 couples.

According to Mustafa, reception so far has been enthusiastic.

“(It has been) beyond incredible. It has surpassed our expectations by far. It seems Doha is hungry for Latin dancing. We started with a couple of classes, and with the ever-increasing demand we are operating at up to 18 classes a week now….we find that most students can see significant improvement within three weeks.”

Yamativo-Mambo’s classes are held at four different locations around the city – Radisson Blu Hotel, The Four Seasons Doha Hotel, Intercontinental – The City Hotel, and the Al-Gheed Ballet Center at Lagoona Mall.

Classes cost between QR50 to 70 per session. Two instructors, one male and one female, teach each class, sometimes accompanied by assistants.

After taking the beginner classes, students are evaluated before moving on to higher levels.

Challenges

In addition to government restrictions, both groups are struggling to gain traction in Qatar due to residents’ busy schedules, among other things.

Mustafa said that “finding the right venue and students who are willing to put in the time is a universal challenge for salsa instructors,” adding:

“In this busy life…(we have) to sacrifice a lot of personal time and effort, which always forces other activities to take the back seat. When we first founded the group, we knew first hand that we had to earn our spot.”

According to Candela, it is also difficult to encourage students to perform outside of the classroom. However, her group has enjoyed increased exposure and interest since its inception, she added:

“The Latin dance is growing especially after the opening of many bars which have live band Latino performances…

Salsa is growing around the world so definitely Qatar is part of this fast growing world and a leading country in this regard.”

International exposure

To further improve the quality of their classes, and their own personal skills, trainers of both groups continue to perform at various international festivals.

“Our trainers are actually in Berlin now, performing, along with a student, at the Berlin Salsa Congress. When the group was first founded, it had a mere two international performances. This year alone, we have had more than 10 shows so far and we have six more coming up,” Mustafa said.

Salsa n’ Candela has enjoyed their share of international acclaim, having performing in Dubai, Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, Cyprus, New York and Berlin.

While these festivals are mostly frequented by the instructors who have years of dance experience behind them, students too have had the opportunity to showcase their moves at various Latin socials around town.

Some students have also recently become instructors.

“SnC instructors are students who started years ago, traveled with us to festivals and became instructors. They did not come from abroad (having) already acquired salsa. They have learned salsa here, and (have) grown up here,” Candela said.

The groups also bring in international talent to teach certain courses.

This month, Salsa n Candela’s social at the Crystal Lounge will feature Andreas Cetkovic, the 2008 World Streetball Champion. During the session, Cetkovic and his team will perform, and teach attendees a unique blend of salsa and street style football.

In keeping with Qatar tradition, however, international artists sponsored by the group to perform in Doha will be required to dress modestly during their performances.

Thoughts?

(The post ‘Hungry’ for Latin dance, Qatar residents flock to training sessions is from Doha News.)

Omar Chatriwala

Circus performance at Souq Waqif in 2011.

Though many people have lauded Qatar for organizing so many events and shows during this year’s Eid Al Adha holidays, some have expressed consternation after some of the main highlights have been unexpectedly postponed.

Nathan Rupert/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Last night, some residents found themselves being turned away from various venues that were hosting performances, with no prior warning that there had been a change to the schedule.

Katara’s “Dreams on Ice” and “Angry Birds” shows are among the events that failed to debut this weekend. Souq Waqif also reportedly turned away visitors last night who wanted to attend its circus.

The Katara events were due to open on Saturday, and the circus was slated to debut yesterday.

@JaviSiguero: @dohanews going with my son to see the Angry Birds exhibition in @katara and just the police closed access. Great!! Txs police

— Javier Siguero (@JaviSiguero) October 5, 2014

@dohanews I think @kataraqatar should announce Dreams on Ice & angry bird shows cancelled & won’t start before the 8th, many are turned back

— AbdulRahman Al Baker (@Aalbaker) October 5, 2014

Katara

Speaking to Doha News, a representative at Katara said that both “Angry Birds” and “Dreams on Ice” will now begin on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

But the representative could not comment on the reason for the delayed launch.

“Dreams on Ice” will still run until Nov. 30, with a number of performances taking place each day. From Oct. 8 to Oct. 11, the show will run at 5pm and 8pm on weekdays; and 3pm, 6pm and 9pm on weekends.

From Oct. 12 to Nov. 20, the show will run at 10am and 6pm on weekdays; 5pm and 8pm on Fridays and 3pm, 6pm and 9pm on Saturdays.

And “Angry Birds” shows will be held throughout this month. From Oct. 8 to Oct. 10, the show will run from 11am to 11pm on weekdays and 1pm to 11pm on weekends.

From Oct. 11 to Oct. 31, shows will run from 9am to 1pm on weekdays and 1pm to 11pm on weekends.

“Dreams on Ice” performances are organized by Katara itself, whereas Angry Birds shows are organized by the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), which hosts the majority of events taking place during the holidays. No one at QTA could immediately be reached for comment about the last-minute schedule changes.

More information about the two shows can be found in our Eid Guide here.

Elsewhere at Katara, fireworks, Big Bang and Abu Salama shows have been off to a great start, receiving positive feedback from many of the 70,000 people attending the shows on the first day of Eid, the Peninsula reports.

Circus woes

Doha residents have also expressed disappointment at changes made to Souq Waqif’s circus shows and a lack of organization at West End Park:

@qatarliving @dohanews I hate organisers 2 late start of show #shreya goshal show #west park Doha it should start7.30 but till8.30 delayed

— Madhava Reddy (@madhavqatar) October 5, 2014

Part of promoting for Qatar tourism is informing the public when events are canceled. Souq Waqif circus is canceled. CC: @dohanews

— Rodriguez (@pulpfiction96) October 5, 2014

The souq’s information center told Doha News that no changes have been made to the schedule, and other departments were unavailable for comment.

Similar unexpected changes were also made during Eid Al Fitr this year, with residents for example reporting that Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al Thani Museum was closed on the first day of Eid until 4pm.

The museum was supposed to be open from 8:30am to 6pm for visitors.

Several other activities are still being hosted around town during this week and the coming month. For a full list, see our Eid Guide here.

Thoughts?

(The post Sudden cancelation of some Eid shows disappoint Qatar residents is from Doha News.)

Melanie Holtsman/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Finding a school – ideally a great school – is usually at the top of the priority list for most expats with children, even before they move to Qatar.

But the state’s booming population has put intense pressure on already over-subscribed schools, and the fierce competition for places is often daunting to new arrivals who are trying to sort out their children’s education.

While Qataris are required by law to send their children to school, the majority expat population is not legally compelled to do the same.

Because of these factors, an increasing number of Qatar residents are opting to educate their children at home.

Some have gone this route after the Supreme Education Council (SEC) recently ruled that children could not start school mid-way through the academic year.

Others said they haven’t been able to find schools suitable to their child’s needs, while many more choose home-schooling based on what they feel is best for their children and family.

Here, a few parents explain what made them decide to home-school their kids in Qatar, and how it has worked out.

Online networks

Qatar has several active and growing networks of home schooling parents, who regularly chat online and meet in person to share tips, resources and plan social and educational events for their children.

More than 120 families here are now active on Doha Home Educators (DHE), with attendance at its biannual cooperative classes up by about 30 percent in the past year.

Its coordinator Margaret Douglass has been home schooling her two boys Spike, 15, and Butch, 9, for more than five years. Since then, she has been regularly sharing her experiences with those just embarking, or thinking of starting out, on their own.

Speaking to Doha News, Douglass said she began researching the option of homeschooling when she knew the family was going to move from the US to Qatar, because her husband’s company did not provide an education allowance.

With limited information online about schools here, and after seeking advice from expert home schooling friends back in her home city of Las Vegas, Douglass made the choice to start home educating when she arrived in Doha.

Margaret Douglass

Spike, working at home

Her eldest son, who had attended a small, private school in the US, took some time to adjust to the new routine, particularly being taught one-on-one.

Douglass said initial challenges included getting ahold of the right materials – especially books – and finding a curriculum that best suited their needs, as well as managing their time appropriately.

“Learning how to schedule ourselves so that it works was difficult at first. You can get through more work, more quickly in a home school setting than you would in a classroom, just because there is only one or two children rather than a large group,” she said, adding:

“We’ve also worked out our strengths and weaknesses, and learned not to leave math until last thing in the day when we are all too tired to do it properly.

Learning from other folk who already home school is absolutely invaluable. You can’t put a price on someone else’s experience.”

Douglass said she now blends a number of curricula, picking and choosing elements that work best for her children’s needs, and using tutoring DVDs and other online resources when required.

Lyn Lomasi/Flickr

While she has encountered difficulties, especially in the early days, she said the flexibility and intimate nature of home schooling outweighs the hard work involved:

“There is so much more you can get in academically, and you can adjust the pace to suit your child. You have more time together as family and of course you don’t have to do any school runs.”

However, Douglass acknowledged that her system may not work for all families.

Many schools in Qatar now require attested education transcripts for admission, so those who hope to re-enter the formal system here should use an accredited online distance learning program that can provide the necessary certification, she said.

Islamic education

Umm Maimoonah is another experienced home schooling hand in Doha, who is now entering her fifth year of educating her 7-year-old daughter outside the mainstream system.

Umm Maimoonah

A qualified teacher, Umm Maimoonah and her husband had decided they would go the homeschooling route even before their daughter was born, so she could pass on her religious principles, morals and values.

Speaking to Doha News, she said:

“Homeschooling has become a way of life for us and the joy of witnessing every milestone of your child in learning and developing is something that I hold very dear.”

While she follows a set curriculum for mainstream subjects, she formulates her own lesson plans when covering Islam, relying on books of early scholars, which she shares on her blog.

Umm Maimoonah said she met like-minded homeschoolers in Doha via QMuslimah, an online community for ladies living in Qatar, and they have formed an Islamic homeschooling group that meets regularly to organize quizzes and workshops.

Umm Maimoonah has also set up, along with others, a small community library in Tawar compound, near Landmark mall, with more than 1,000 books in Arabic and English for the use of other home educators. Her advice to those who are considering home schooling is:

“Make a mission statement and write down clearly why you chose to homeschool and what you and your family would really want your child to be. This will help you focus and go forward.”

New recruit

American expat Lisa Collier is only a few weeks into her home schooling adventure, after choosing to take her five-year-old daughter Sophia out of a traditional school after one year.

Lisa Collier

Although Sophia attended one of the most popular schools in Doha, and Collier acknowledged that she had fantastic teachers, she felt that the school was exhausting her daughter.

“I felt like an outsider to her school world. We started homeschooling so I could have a part in her early years,” Collier told Doha News.

So far, early challenges have included getting a workable routine established and motivating her daughter to learn about subjects she isn’t naturally drawn to.

It also takes more effort to find suitable social activities, particularly scheduling them around children who are at school, Collier said.

But she added that she is excited about giving her daughter the chance to drive her own learning experience. She advises others considering a similar move to write a pros/cons list help them make their decision.

“Nothing you do has to be forever, and homeschooling is one of those things. However, if you are in need of a flexible travel schedule and you have the time to dedicate to homeschooling then I would suggest trying it,” she added.

Would you consider homeschooling your child? Thoughts?

(The post Why homeschooling works for us: Qatar mothers share their experiences is from Doha News.)

HMC

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

With reporting from Chantelle D’mello

Five people in Qatar were killed and two people injured yesterday afternoon after being involved in a car accident near Hamad International Airport, according to local media reports.

They are among eight people who have been killed in car crashes in Qatar over the Eid holiday weekend.

The Peninsula reports that the deceased were traveling in a small car and were hit from behind by an SUV. The newspaper states that the “impact of the collision was so powerful that the ill-fated smaller car caught fire.”

The accident took place shortly before 1pm.

Gulf Times reports that the people struck by the SUV were Filipino, but it is taking time to identify the deceased due to the nature of the accident:

“A Philippine embassy official, who visited the Hamad hospital mortuary, told Gulf Times that all bodies have been charred beyond recognition.

‘The bodies have so badly been burnt that even the gender of the deceased could not be verified. Forensic examination would be required to identify the victims,’ he said.

One Filipino woman who was also in the small car and one Qatari man driving the SUV were also thought to be involved in the accident, and they were taken to the hospital with injuries.

Several Qatar residents who observed the accident yesterday advised commuters to proceed with caution:

Bad accident at the airport enterance #drivesafe @dohanews #Doha #traffic

— Yana M. (@Yancheto) October 6, 2014

Huge accident before Hamad international airport. The car burned. More than 20 police cars and fire trucks are there. Be careful.@dohanews

— Elyan Mouarkesh (@emouarkesh) October 6, 2014

When reached for comment this morning, a number of Philippines embassy officials declined to confirm to Doha News the nationalities of the deceased.

Other deadly crashes

The accident was the third deadly crash reported by local newspapers over the Eid holidays.

According to the Gulf Times, three residents were killed in a car accident off of the Corniche early Sunday morning.

A Qatari, Iranian and Bahraini apparently died after the the crash, which took place around 2:30am in front of the Halul Cafe and involved four vehicles, the newspaper reported.

And a few days before that, an Indian man was reportedly killed when his vehicle hit a truck on Airport Road, the Peninsula reported. The accident happened on Friday night.

Thoughts?

(The post Reports: Five expats killed after car crashes and catches on fire is from Doha News.)

All photos by Dexter Payaban and Mohamad Nuski, as contributed to our Flickr group

After three nights of spectacular fireworks, Katara Cultural Village will hold one more 15-minute show tonight.

The official time is 10:30pm, but the fireworks appear to be starting a bit early, around 10:15pm.

For those interested in checking out the final show, keep in mind that traffic in the area is heavy, though police have been present to keep things moving.

Katara traffic starting earlier tonight! pic.twitter.com/6486XKLQoo

— Amy Bambridge (@escapetoqatar) October 5, 2014

Traffic on the road way to katara. pic.twitter.com/TZXcZQXyFe

— al padilla (@al_padilla06) October 5, 2014

If anyone thinking of going to katara for fireworks, DONT!!!!! Stuck in hours traffic so far!

— Amina (@AminaAli1) October 4, 2014

Some have suggested watching the show from the Pearl-Qatar. Have you seen the fireworks yet? Thoughts?

(The post PHOTOS: Eid fireworks at Qatar’s Katara to conclude tonight is from Doha News.)

Aspire

The recent debut of a new 5km biking track at Aspire Park has won cheers from many Qatar residents, especially among people in the growing bicycling community.

The track is part of a new cycle rental service at Aspire, where residents above the age of five years old can rent bicycles and helmets to use on the track from 4 to 8pm from Sundays to Thursdays, and noon to 8pm on weekends.

This new service is free until Oct. 11, then costs QR20 for the first hour, and QR5 for each additional hour.

The initiative is an extension of Aspire’s “Learn to Ride” program that is being rolled out in Qatari schools to teach children how to ride bicycles.

Growing interest

As the weather starts to cool down, and Qatar’s traffic becomes even more insufferable, numerous expat groups have been turning to cycling to get around town.

One of the most active and oldest groups is Qatar Chain Reaction, which was founded in 2006.

Qatar Chain Reaction

Ben Keane, a 54-year-old Irish expat who moved to Qatar in 2005, said he was motivated to organize a group when he noticed so many others bicycling on the streets.

“It was a bit easier in those days and cycling…was not so popular here in Qatar. One of the assistants in Skate Shop Malcolm used to ride with a group to Al Khor every Friday. As I rode back over a number of weeks I noticed that a lot of different individual groups or riders were doing the same ride. That did not make sense to me for a lot of different reasons but mainly safety.”

In the weeks that followed, Keane met and exchanged contact information with many of the other riders who took the same route. Soon, an email base was up and running, and after a meeting at the Golf Club, the group was formed.

What began as 25 members now has over 1,300 enthusiasts on the QCR Facebook group.

Cycling for a cause

Another popular group is Pinoy Mountain Bikers Qatar (PMTB-Qatar) which began in 2012.

With an initial membership of around 20 riders, the group has now grown to over 1,000 members on Facebook, with roughly 350 of them being actively involved.

PMTB/Facebook

PMTB-Qatar acts as an umbrella for various other smaller Filipino cycling groups, which include the Al Ahli Boys, Colorum Boys, Jose Pedal (Al Khor Boys), Team Rest Boys, Messaid Cockroach MTB Club, Pinoy 29’ers, Wakra Riders and Pinoy Roadies, among others.

Despite the overwhelmingly masculine nomenclature, the groups also include women and children.

“On some of our rides, we even have entire families joining us,” said PMTB-Qatar co-founder John Bonalos.

In terms of numbers, Filipinos have the strongest representation in the cycling community in Qatar. Speaking to Doha News, Bonalos, 30, said this is for multiple reasons:

“I think it’s because it helps us connect. It becomes a social group, where we help each other deal with being away from families in the Philippines, and with homesickness.

Also, in the Philippines, we have many mountains, and the mountain cycling community is big there, so when people come here, they look for this.”

He added that despite the name, the group is open to people from all nationalities.

Unlike other groups, PMTB-Qatar focuses on mountain biking, with members riding out every Friday to Duhail, Messaid, Al Khor, Al Kharara, Sealine and the Inland Sea.

The group also holds races for charity.

Last week, PMTB-Qatar teamed up with the Web Alliance of Radical Photographers (WARP), a local Filipino photography group, for iRACE4YU.

The nearly QR6,000 in donations went toward funding medical treatment for Dennis Yu, a local Filipino salesman who was diagnosed with meningitis.

Previous initiatives have involved raising funds for victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which ravaged the Philippines late last year.

Challenges

One of the more obvious challenges for cyclists in Qatar is the weather. Temperatures can surpass 45C (113F) during the summer, and most residents prefer the comfort of their air-conditioned cars and homes at this time.

Regardless, cycling groups still remain active during Qatar’s hottest months by biking at odd hours to beat the heat.

Members from PMTB-Qatar, for example, meet as early as 3am, while other groups, like the Qatar Cycling Club, hold moonlight and full moon rides at Zekreet.

Safety is also an ongoing concern.

Brian Candy/Flickr

Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Ahmed Fawzi, an Egyptian expat and one of the founders of the Qatar Cycling Community, which has more than 650 members on Facebook, told Doha News:

“People don’t consider people on bikes here. They see us, and yet they interfere. Sometimes they even ride on the cycling lane, which can be more dangerous.”

Pia Sundstedt, a 39-year-old Finnish expat and former coach of the Qatar women’s cycling team, agreed, saying traffic is for sure her biggest challenge.

“It is dangerous to ride your bike here….(and) there are not many places where you can ride.

It’s a shame, as cycling as a means of commuting could actually be popular in Doha for six to seven months a year, when the temperatures are not too hot. Doha is flat, no mountains, so easy to ride your bike to work. If only the infrastructure was there.”

Fawzi urged city planners to incorporate more cycling lanes around town:

“There is a recent law that came out that requires cycling lanes to be built alongside every new road constructed, but these new roads are in remote areas, and the existing ones in the city, which we want to ride on, don’t have any lanes.”

Moving forward

Establishing dedicated cycling paths has been on Qatar’s to-do list for years.

The Qatar National Bicycle Master Plan, put forth in 2010, mandates that all expressways must include lanes for cyclists, and that existing roads should be refitted to allow for bicycle lanes.

Speaking to the Peninsula at the time, Saad Mohammed Khodr, a senior transportation engineer at the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning, said that talks were underway to make Doha a more bicycle-friendly city.

This would be done by installing bicycle tracks, creating under-path cycle routes at roundabouts and establishing parking spots for bicycles. Khodr added that the end goal was to ensure that cycle routes cover almost the entire country.

Thoughts?

(The post New bike rental service at Aspire Park cheers Qatar cycling enthusiasts is from Doha News.)