According to the notice posted online, public displays of affection, including holding hands and kissing, are “not socially acceptable” and while female travelers are not expected to wear head coverings, “revealing clothing” is considered inappropriate. The advisory warns travelers to “dress conservatively, behave discreetly, respect religious and social traditions and ask permission from locals before photographing them.” The notice also warns travelers that photographing government buildings, littering or spitting in public places and eating pork are considered illegal activities that could land people with heavy fines or jail time. For those driving while in Qatar, the release says drivers in the country are generally considered “extremely aggressive.” He adds that people drive on the right and fatal accidents are among the leading causes of death in Qatar. When it comes to crime in Qatar, the rate is considered low and violence is rare. However, credit card fraud is listed as something to watch out for. For entry requirements, effective November 1, a Qatar travel advisory advises visitors that they are no longer required to carry a PCR or Rapid Antigen test certificate, nor to pre-register with the Ehteraz health app prior to arrival.
ALCOHOL ZONES
There are other restrictions that travelers should be aware of, including the country’s policies on alcohol consumption. In Qatar, it is illegal to drink alcohol in public, as alcohol is strictly controlled in the Muslim-majority emirate. For the World Cup, the country has put in place designated public areas where alcohol will be allowed to be sold and there will also be designated areas for drunks to riot. Organizers said Monday that Budweiser was ordered to move its beer booths to less visible areas days before the first game. The country agreed to Budweiser’s long-standing deal with FIFA when it began its bid to host the World Cup in 2009. However, a beer sales policy was not agreed by organizers in Qatar until September, which confirmed that fans could they purchase alcohol in designated areas within eight concourses rather than regular concession stands. The Associated Press reported in September that while alcohol is more widely available in Qatar than other Middle Eastern countries, it is usually only served in licensed hotel bars and restaurants. MATCH Hospitality Executive Chairman Jaime Byrom told The Associated Press that “the entire FIFA World Cup bidding process is designed to deliver the kind of World Cup experience that all fans around the world have reason to expect and to look forward to.”
Human Rights
Qatar is the first Arab country to host the biggest sporting event in the world. There is growing concern about human rights standards in Qatar and concerns over the way migrant workers were treated during the construction of the stadiums that will host the tournament. A subsidiary of French construction company Vinci was charged on Wednesday with forced labor and other rights violations against migrant workers hired to build World Cup infrastructure in Qatar. Also, the country’s attitude towards LGBTQ2S+ communities has raised concerns, including a boycott by fans reluctant to travel to an area that exhibits overtly biased views. In Qatar, same-sex sexual acts are criminalized. Khalid Salman, Qatar’s World Cup ambassador, sparked a storm on November 8 when he described homosexuality as “brain damage” during an interview with a German television channel. Canada cautions travelers in its warning that visitors could be discriminated against or detained based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Fans convicted of LGBTQ2S+-related charges could face up to 10 years in prison, the Canadian government notes. With files from CTVNews.ca writer Olivia Bowden and The Associated Press.
