“I feel safer here in Qatar than in Switzerland – especially as a woman,” said Fadia Wilson (39), a Swiss expat in Doha.
“In Qatar, nobody locks the door at home, we don’t need alarm systems here,” said Ibrahim Mohamed Jaidah, 61, a Qatari architect.
“With the high level of public security, Qatar ensures the well-being of its citizens, residents and visitors. Qatar has been ranked as the safest country in the world by the Numbeo Crime Index for two years in a row, in 2021 and 2022. The country’s capital, Doha, will also be ranked as the second safest city in the world in 2022,” writes the Qatar Tourism Authority on its website.
Surveillance Cameras, Controversial Mandatory Apps
No wonder, because to even get a visa to the emirate, travelers have to register with the state authorities using passport copies, hotel booking confirmations, a Covid test and a vaccination certificate.
It continues at the airport. Everyone who arrives has to put their face in front of a camera and have their fingerprint scanned electronically. Cameras are constant companions in the city and in the numerous shopping centers. And at the hotel, guests have to run their bags through an X-ray scanner every day.
Nothing, absolutely nothing, should come between Qatar and the World Cup. Just to be safe, the sheiks did everything they could. With the help of ex-CIA agents, the emirate apparently had officials of the world football association FIFA and possible competitors spy on for years. This is apparent from research by SRF.
E-mail accounts, computers, telephones – even the FIFA people’s circle of friends and family were spied on. According to SRF, the ruling family – including the current Emir – funded the massive wiretapping operation. Their goal: to prevent Qatar from losing the World Cup because of the massive criticism.
At least 66 officers would have served only part of the operation over a nine-year period. The budget for this was $387 million.
At FIFA, nothing seems to have been noticed about the espionage. In an interview with SRF, former president Sepp Blatter (86) says: “I was surprised that there was an organized spy affair in FIFA. And it’s worrying that you do.” Sermin Faki
The World Cup kicks off on November 20 in the Qatari capital Doha. If you want to visit the country on the Persian Gulf as a fan, you must request a digital Hayya Card as an entrance ticket and for access to the stadiums.
In addition, tourists have to install an app called “Ehteraz”. It was used for tracing contacts during the Covid pandemic. Today you have to show your Covid certificate in shopping centers or public buildings.
Only: “Ehteraz”, the mandatory app developed by the Ministry of Interior of Qatar, is controversial. Because it represents a massive invasion of privacy. For the app to work at all, it needs access to private files. The problem: “Etheraz” not only uses Bluetooth to track contacts, it can also use GPS data to track users’ current location. Amnesty International IT experts have denounced the system.
Regulated alcohol use
Anyone traveling to Qatar runs the risk of becoming a transparent person. This also applies to the consumption of alcohol.
Qatar is one of the many Islamic countries where you are not allowed to drink alcohol on the street. You also cannot buy alcoholic beverages in stores. Qatar Distribution Company (QDC) is the sole importer and retailer of alcohol products. It is also the agency that licenses hotels in the country to sell liquor to their guests. Anyone wishing to shop there as a private individual must reside in Qatar, have a permit and a pre-arranged shopping appointment – and be at least 21 years old. There are only two outlets of QDC, in front of each are long lines of cars.
For football fans, alcohol consumption must also be possible within a regulated framework. According to the tournament organizers, beer outlets on the respective stadium grounds should be open two and a half hours to 30 minutes before the start of a match and another hour after the final whistle. In addition, the consumption of alcohol in the Fifa fan zone in central Doha should generally be allowed from 6:30 pm. However, alcoholic drinks are not allowed in the stands of the stadiums.
More liberal rules apply in luxury hotel bars. For example at the Cavalli Club. This is on the top floor of a hotel. Visitors are specially escorted by a bouncer into the bar by elevator. Before you can even step into the bar, your passport will be checked and your personal details will be recorded.
Everyone who eventually survived this procedure is promised a neon sign: “Shishas, Cocktails and Dreams”. If you’re still thirsty from the constant surveillance, you can finally toast – with a beer for the equivalent of 14 francs.