To go to Qatar alone as a single woman?

Well to be honest, the Italian GP will be a much better race so personally I’d rather spend my money on that but if you want to go to Qatar, go for it. Although Abu Dhabi would be more interesting. I think Qatar is pretty low on the list for F1 races people want to go to (hence the lower prices). It only happens because the Qataris pay a lot of money to host it rather than because it’s outstanding racing. But if you want to go, there’s no need to be put off going because you’re a lone woman travelling.

I am going next week . Really looking forward to it ! My adult child lives there but will be working during the day so I’ll be out and about by myself .
Have never been before but have no concerns either .

OP you will be absolutely fine.

I have a friend who has worked in Qatar as a nanny for years and she loves it. I doubt she will ever come back to the UK. She does pretty much everything on her own outside of work (running, cycling, going for coffee / lunch) and has never had a problem.

Like you say, as long as you're happy to follow their rules (same with every country!) then there will be no issue.

Yep, men are men all over the world. Like I said, I felt safe in Qatar (very safe, safer than here). I fully acknowledge the human rights abuses and treatment of gay people, women etc. I'm firmly opposed to this. However, much of the world is dangerous and unethical, to be honest. I never see people getting a hard time when they choose to go travelling in places like south america. Yet Christian countries in south America have the highest rates of femicide in the world.
I met some Qatari women when we were they and they took time to explain their culture and religion. They're well aware of how the west views them and they wanted to present their own reality to us. They fully support the country's laws. Yes, of course you can say they're frightened or brainwashed by the patriarchy but I didn't get that impression. They were vibrant, confident women who were extremely devout. It's easy to say they're repressed but not all people who are following a religion believe they are repressed. The men also have to follow very strict rules and are restricted in a way western men are not. We can look at their culture through western eyes and say it's wrong, but people have a completely different world view to us. I like to visit places that are different culturally, even when I don't agree with a lot of their laws. Often you end up being surprised and seeing things with a different perspective.
I found it an interesting place to visit. 85% of people living there are immigrants, and I believe there are only about 300,000 native Qataris.

I wholeheartedly agree that rape convictions in the UK are far too low. Things are far from perfect here. But…rape is still a crime! You won’t get prosecuted for having unlawful sex if you report a rape. As a pp has said about pure bent police, there really is no comparison. We actually have human rights coming out of our ears here in the UK.

I don't personally believe in supporting the economy of countries with widespread human rights violations, but as you only seem to care about things that apply to yourself, go right ahead.

Things are a bit shitty in UK does not mean it's fine that things are far far worse in Qatar.

Being ignorant is one thing, defending the awful place is quite another. What is actually wrong with you?

I think people also just can't fathom what it's like to live somewhere with proper bent police. I lived somewhere similar for a period and that idea of just keeping out of trouble is just not a thing.

It didn't matter what you were or weren't doing, it only mattered what the officer decided you were.I had a traffic issue for something that I hadn't done, there was no evidence that I had, but my word wasn't as good as his so I had to pay my way out of it. If I hadn't, it would have escalated and the officer would have testified and I'd of been blocked from leaving until it was sorted

In many ways it wasn't too hard to navigate because I was local enough to know what to bribe etc but it isn't just a case of just not doing anything stupid

You'll find expats (and I know some in quatar) often have long lists of "funny" police related stories that are just brushed off

As a lesbian I wouldn't go to Qatar as long as they still consider death by stoning the appropriate punishment for being gay, but you may be ok with that.

OP if you want to go then go. I've travelled a lot independently and the only place I've experienced severe harassment was Marrakesh.

The ME dictatorships are known to be relatively safe because of their Draconian laws. Contrary to the opinion above, they are not safe for local women and if you get involved with the police, you'll discover why.

However, I'm sure you'll be fine. The UK is far better for women than Qatar but I assume you haven't done any research.

WTF? Like actually, wtf.

Are women in the UK under the guardianship system, so need permission from the male relative that owns them to marry, study, work, travel or access healthcare?

Moral high horse or having basic human standards of decency?
Go to Qatar, sounds like you'd fit right in.

What is it you don’t like about being a woman in the UK?

If I’m raped, I would feel confident to report it.

If I’m sexually harassed at work, I feel confident that other male colleagues won’t jump on the bandwagon and assist in said harassment.

If I was a cleaner, I would feel confident that I am paid at least the living minimum wage.

If a newborn baby is found at Heathrow airport, I feel confident that I won’t be subjected to a forced internal examination. Given the midwives carrying out my sweeps for DC asked my permission, bearing in mind I was there solely for the purpose of a sweep, I think I’m safe from that last one!

As an F1 fan I can't say Qatar is very high up on my list of races to want to go to, as a woman, even less so.

I was in Qatar for the f1 race last year as a single woman and I felt fine and safe

ill post more later

So what you're saying is that you don't care about the women in Qatar, the terrible conditions migrant workers are under because it looks nice and is surprisingly cheap? You knock yourself out, love.

I personally wouldn’t go, but as PP said I’m sure you’ll be fine going for an event. I have friends who visited for the World Cup (staying in Dubai and flying over for matches). My in-laws live out there at the moment and they seem happy enough so if you can bring yourself to holiday somewhere like that without it keeping you up at night then 90% sure you’ll be fine.

Goodness you're nippy.
You said earlier you believed in respecting the customs of the countries you visit. Not really doing that, are you?
Have a lovely trip.

I have a client in Doha, so every time I have been to Qatar (around 5 times) I have been alone! It is just like any other country to be fair! I also went to the F1 grand prix last year (planning to go to Monaco this year). The only thing I was careful of was to avoid ordering alcohol even in fancy hotels.

Honestly @cerisierblossom just go and enjoy it! I’m very jealous that you’ve got a good deal for the F1 weekend. Usually flight prices or hotel prices (or both!) are through the roof when F1 is in town anywhere.

I don't think I would, but reading these posts it does sound very safe.

I would make an assumption that you are outside of police protection. If someone starts a fight with you, your liable to be the one that comes out of it badly police wise. For example I know if instances where entitled men have queue jumped, then reported the lady that didn't move out the way.

If you get assaulted, the police are well known (it's in consulate advice) to prosecute the victim

They are also known to block people from exiting the country based on involvement from the police while they "investigate"/ wait for bribes. They will add on things that didn't happen because they are very motivated to blame victims/ keep artificially low crime rates to keep tourism high

It's not really a case of not doing anything wrong to cause it, it's a case of being unlucky enough to get on the wrong side of someone, get assaulted or happen to catch an officer looking to make a point.

Like with medical insurance it probably won't happen. If it does there is very little help