Our country will
probably never attain the wealth of Qatar or its neighbour the United Arab
Emirates but it does have something that money can never buy – free speech and
equal rights. On my final evening in Doha I headed to the original down town to
witness a snippet of local culture. The main square had a buzzing atmosphere
with live arabic music blaring out and it was difficult not to be drawn into the
centre to enjoy the dancing. However as I got closer I realised this would not
be possible as all of the musicians and dancers were local, tourists did not
seem welcome. I was impressed by the vibe and energy in the area, all generated
without any alcohol, something we in the West could probably learn from.
Next stop was a short
flight over to Abu Dhabi, in the UAE. This time I was visiting a friend who has
lived there for a few years. We were heading out to the Grand Prix concert and
afterparty so I dressed as I thought appropriate for a country in the middle
east, with my shoulders and knees covered. He almost laughed at me and
suggested I quickly got changed, it seems western parties are far less
conservative. It is not just the dress code that is relaxed - there was
certainly no difficulty purchasing and drinking alcohol, no permit or closed
doors required.
For my final few days
I headed the short bus ride north to the neighbouring Emirate of Dubai. This
was my second time visiting my friend in the last twelve months so I was aware
that Dubai is the least conservative of all the cities in the Middle East. That
did not quite prepare me for the rugby sevens and its dress code. It is quite a
challenge to find a modest fancy dress that is comofrtable in thirty degree
heat, I soon discovered that I need not have been concerned. It was less about
the rugby and more about the party.
