[Life in Qatar] If you don’t know it, you’ll be in trouble! Liquor and clothing situation in Qatar!

Hello!

Now that you’re abroad, you probably want to enjoy delicious food and drinks!

However, Qatar is a very strict Muslim country.

They say,

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do,”

but you can’t get away with not knowing… In the worst case, you could even be arrested.

This time, we’ve put together a list of things that we’d like you to know absolutely, so please read through it so that everyone’s trip will be a good one.

I’ll quickly draw my conclusions.

When visiting Qatar, there are two things that you absolutely have to pay attention to:

1. Drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited in public places (including on the street)! ! (Alcohol must not be visible)

2. Strictly no clothing that reveals much! ! (Sleeveless, excessive shorts, etc.)

Islam is religiously abstinent.

So, first of all, we don’t sell alcohol, and we don’t offer it at the restaurants in the city.

However, there are ways to obtain or drink alcohol legally.

① Buy at a government-approved store called Qatar Duty Free (QDC for short)

QDC has beer, wine, whiskey, bourbon, and other alcoholic beverages from all over the world, and there are many kinds of alcoholic beverages that are rare in Japan.

However, pay attention to the following three points.

・ Only those who have a permit can purchase

・Selling, donating, and transferring are prohibited (you will be punished).

・You must hide the purchased alcohol so that it cannot be seen and take it home immediately.

Therefore, it is possible for a person with a permit to invite you to your house (room) in the form of a party and offer the alcohol you purchased.

②Enjoy alcohol at the hotel bar

Another way is to enjoy it at the hotel’s BAR.

However, the price is quite high.

Each BAR has a “discount” called “Happy Hour” and a time slot where you can order two drinks for the price of one.

Also, you may need to make a reservation, so please check it out on the internet before making a reservation.

In Qatar, drunk driving is severely punished.

In the case of a serious crime, you may be detained for more than 6 months, so please do not drink and drive!

If you are interested, please read the details here.

Muslim countries have a culture of avoiding exposure of the skin.

Therefore, the locals are dressed in clothes such as thobe and abaya that show very little skin.

You cannot enter public facilities, hotels, or shopping malls in clothing that exposes your skin as shown. (Every facility has security at the entrance and will be turned away.)

It is a good memory that I was turned away when I tried to enter the hotel in shorts.

It’s getting hotter and hotter in Qatar, and I understand that you’re feeling liberating on your trip, but please bring long clothes so you don’t have to go anywhere.

Also, the local people wear long clothes, so the air conditioning works very well in the facility.

It is very cold, so we recommend bringing a long-sleeved shirt or something you can put on.

Be careful when changing clothes after sweating, such as after exercising.

It’s good if you just get a warning, but in the worst case, you may be arrested by the police.

It is strictly forbidden to take off your upper clothes at the venue or on the street!

When changing clothes, enter a private room such as a restroom (toilet) and change clothes!

Thank you very much for reading this far.

I hope that I can help make your trip a memorable one.