Sally Crane Photography
Photo for illustrative purposes only.
Who says Qataris can’t take a joke?
According to a new hashtag that has been trending on Twitter this week, many locals are well aware of their stereotypical wealth – and don’t mind laughing about it.
In response to ماذا_يستطيع_ان_يشتري_القطري# (What can a Qatari buy?), a new hashtag that started yesterday, many listed extravagant cars, jewelry and designer brands, while others were more tongue-in-cheek.
#ماذا_يستطيع_ان_يشتري_القطري روز و بنتلي و مايستغني عن الكروزر
— callmenony (@njoodAlmejali) November 30, 2015
Translation: (He can buy) a Rolls-Royce, a Bentley and he can’t live without a Land Cruiser.
يستطيع ان يشتري سياره بنص مليون ،، لكنه مستحيل يشتري برنامج في الاب ستور بـ3 دولار #ماذا_يستطيع_ان_يشتري_القطري
— أحـمـد (@A7md_Qtr22) November 30, 2015
Translation: He can buy a car for (QR) half a million, but it’s impossible for him to buy a program on the App store for $3.
Some, suggesting that the hashtag may have been launched out of spite, opted to take the “haters gonna hate” approach, saying:
#ماذا_يستطيع_ان_يشتري_القطري They hate us because they ain't us 🤘
— عبدالرحمن (@almalki94) November 30, 2015
Other Qataris thanked God for their blessings and hoped their wealth would be protected:
#ماذا_يستطيع_ان_يشتري_القطري اللهم لك الحمد حتى ترضى اللهم احفظ نعمك علينا من الزوال،،
— MR Alhajri (@MrAlhajrii) November 30, 2015
Translation: Thank God and may Allah protect our blessings and prevent them from vanishing.
من استوت الدنياوحنا بخير ونعمه لله الحمد يكفينا الامن والامان وراحة البال ياهل #قطر لان ذ عطايا الرحمن مش للبيع #ماذا_يستطيع_ان_يشتري_القطري
— داري قطر (@G_3360) November 30, 2015
Translation: Security, safety and peace of mind is enough for (the) people of Qatar, because these are blessings from Allah that are not for sale.
Some in other Gulf countries also offered their thoughts:
#ماذا_يستطيع_ان_يشتري_القطري عفوا ! ماذا يسطيع ان "لا" يشتري القطري **
— Dua'aSharaf✨ (@duaamajeed) November 30, 2015
Translation: Excuse me! What can a Qatari not buy?
ما يحتاج ينتظر طول السنة حق بلاك فرايدي #ماذا_يستطيع_ان_يشتري_القطري
— فاطمة الشيخ. (@Fatima_June) November 30, 2015
Translation: Doesn’t need to wait all year for Black Friday.
يقطع ريالات ويسوي فيهم سلطه مع اكله #ماذا_يستطيع_ان_يشتري_القطري
— Ali ,, (@shedox89) November 30, 2015
Translation: He can tear (Qatari) riyals and make them into a salad along with his meal.
#ماذا_يستطيع_ان_يشتري_القطري يستطيع ان يشتري كل شيء لكن لايستطيع ان يشتري التواضع (الا من رحم الله)
— BNR99 (@B_NR99) November 30, 2015
Translation: He can buy everything but he can’t buy humility.
Outside the recent debate on Twitter, though, the issue of what Qataris can – and have – bought has caused consternation for some.
For example, over the last year, both The Guardian and Daily Mail have run separate features that map out how much London property is owned by Qatar’s royal family and sovereign wealth fund, respectively.
Wealth In Qatar
A recent study has shown that Qatar’s well-to-do are getting richer. Still, keeping up with the Joneses (Al Thanis?) has its price.
This year’s Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report estimated that the number of people in Qatar who have more than $1 million in wealth has continued to increase at a rate that outpaces population growth.
Chantelle D'mello
Qatar International Boat Show 2014
Another report issued this year showed that more families in Qatar are becoming rich or super-rich due to well-placed investments, according to the Boston Consulting Group’s report Global Wealth 2015: Winning the growth game.
However, as wealth continues to increase steadily in the country, many Qataris are falling into debt as well, because they are spending more than their income to maintain a luxurious lifestyle, like their peers.
Photo for illustrative purposes only.
In July, several local charities and the government launched a campaign to help pay off the debts of individuals who were facing jail time.
And a month before that, Muslim clerics advised worshippers during Friday prayers not to take out bank loans to fund extravagant vacations as it could cause them to fall into crushing debt.
The 2011 National Development Strategy found that three out of every four Qatari households are in debt, owing an average of QR250,000.
Nationalism
Joking aside, Qataris as a group are especially patriotic. As National Day approaches, another Arabic hashtag that has been trending on Twitter this week asks ماذا_قدمت_لقطر#(What have you done for Qatar)?
In response, many nationals expressed their unconditional love for the country:
#ماذا_قدمت_لقطر ٨ سنوات بالجيش ٤ سنوات بالبلدية ١٥ تعليم وتوجيه ولا اشعر انني أوفيت بحق هذا الوطن بما يكفي ويستحقه ، ومستمرون بإذن الله
— فيصل محمد المرزوقي (@marzoqi_w) November 30, 2015
Translation: Eight years in the military, four years in Baladiya, 15 years education and I don’t feel that I’ve done enough for the country and what it deserves, but I will continue with God’s will.
Other asked about their rights as citizens as well:
#ماذا_قدمت_لقطر ليكون السؤال عادلاً. ماهي حقوق المواطن في وطنه؟ وما هي واجباته؟
— جواهر آل ثاني (@JawaherAKH) November 29, 2015
Translation: For the question to be fair, (it should be): what is the citizen’s right in his country? And what is his duties?
Other gave more humorous responses:
الكثير من الدوام في شفتات الليل
#ماذا_قدمت_لقطر
— Khald.o.Khald (@khaldx11) November 30, 2015
Translation: I worked a lot of night shifts.
Alex Gill/Flickr
Photo for illustrative purposes only.
According to a recent survey, Qatar’s youth are proud of their national identity and express that pride through respect for Qatar’s flag, enthusiasm in performing the national anthem, participation in religious rituals as well as wearing national dress to formal occasions.
The upcoming National Day, which falls on Dec. 18, is reserved for displays of patriotism, with Qatar holding a parade and the national flag being plastered all over the country.
Preparation for the day has already begun, with many malls and other popular hotspots decorating their buildings in Qatar’s maroon and white colors.
Thoughts?
(The post Self-deprecating hashtag takes (mostly) playful jabs at Qataris’ wealth is from Doha News.)