Qatar

Qatari Culture

Qatar is one of the richest countries in the Middle East. It is a mostly flat, stony desert. The majority of Qatar’s population lives in Doha, which is the country’s largest city and capital. While Qatar is modernizing quickly, the nation maintains its religious traditions and cultural practices. Religious references and justifications are a big presence in everyday life. Family and privacy are important values in Qatari culture. Generally, men and women avoid socializing together.

Host a Qatari student in the U.S.

Family Dynamic

Family is an integral part of Qatari culture. Children usually continue to live with their parents until they marry. Even after marrying, a couple may live with the man’s parents until they can afford their own home, typically near their parents. In the Qatari family dynamic, elders are highly respected as wise. As parents age, it is expected for their children to care for them, even taking them into their own homes. Most Qatari families hire maids, drivers, gardeners, and nannies to assist at home.

Teenage Life in Qatar

Most Qatari students attend public schools, which are segregated by gender from primary through university. The most popular sport played by many teenagers in Qatar is soccer. Basketball and volleyball are also gaining popularity. Activities such as camel and horse racing, fishing, and boating are commonly enjoyed. Outside of school, girls are generally involved little in sports. Teenage girls may spend their evenings going for walks with their friends.

Holidays in Qatar

Official Language

Arabic is Qatar’s official language.

Communication Styles

Body language and non-verbal communication are important in Qatar. People typically make eye contact when greeting and speaking with each other. People may hug or kiss while greeting, but not members of the opposite sex. Typically, personal space is smaller in Qatar, so people may stand close together while speaking. Generally, Qataris may favor an indirect communication style to avoid conflict and preserve harmony among the group. They may also use a roundabout communication style in which their point is not revealed immediately during a conversation. The concept of “saving face” and preserving one’s honor is also important in Qatari culture.

Qatari Diet

Qatari people commonly eat rice, flatbread, chicken, fish, and lamb. Fresh fruit, vegetables, and yogurt are also popular. A typical lunch features kabsa, a dish of rice with chicken, fish, or lamb. Qatari cuisine also includes Indian curries and spices. Sandwiches called shawarmas (made with marinated chicken or beef cut from a large rotating cylinder and wrapped in a thin flatbread with dressing and salad) are also popular.

Tradition of hospitality