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.

Qatari People and Community

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.

Language and Communication Styles

Arabic is Qatar’s official language.

Food in Qatar

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.