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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go to Qatar alone as a single woman?

80 replies

cerisierblossom · 12/02/2025 11:56

I am desperate to go to the formula one in Qatar. I've had a look and flights and hotels are nowhere near as expensive as I expected them to be.

The actual country looks beautiful and the excursions look cheaper than I expected. I'm very close to just taking the plunge and booking, but am I being unreasonable to go? My family are torn, I've discussed my plans with them and my mum in particular has some pretty strong opinions on the country and me going - she thinks I'd be treated like a second class citizen

OP posts:
Rugbyrover · 12/02/2025 12:56

If you were a woman from Qatar you wouldn't be able to go on this trip without permission from a male relative.

Original poster
cerisierblossom · 12/02/2025 12:58

Rugbyrover · 12/02/2025 12:56

If you were a woman from Qatar you wouldn't be able to go on this trip without permission from a male relative.

Good thing I'm not then?

OP posts:
coxesorangepippin · 12/02/2025 12:59

I wouldn't go there personally

zeddybrek · 12/02/2025 13:02

I would go, you'll only be there for a few days and it'll be full of other F1 fans from around the world.

Can you imagine if people read the UK news before deciding to go on holiday. It would probably put them off.

My friend worked there and had lots of single female friends visit her during that year. They all really enjoyed their time in Qatar.

HiptotheHopp · 12/02/2025 13:02

Hyperquiet · 12/02/2025 12:09

Qatar is really safe and they're really respectful of people including women

You can't actually be serious with that ?

I wouldn't go to Qatar. Not because of my own safety, but because of their appalling attitude to their migrant workforce that is tantamount to.modern slavery, and their horrendous treatment of their own women and gay people.

You feeling safe and happy while spending your western money is neither here nor there.

Glowingworms · 12/02/2025 13:03

cerisierblossom · 12/02/2025 12:52

@Estampie I wouldn't get into a fight or take medication either, and would obviously be careful about where I go and keep my wits about me - just as I have to do in the UK.

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

Viviennemary · 12/02/2025 13:04

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

HundredMilesAnHour · 12/02/2025 13:06

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.

Original poster
cerisierblossom · 12/02/2025 13:06

HundredMilesAnHour · 12/02/2025 13:06

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'm flabbergasted! It's shaping up to cost the same as my trip to the Italian Grand Prix this year, if not less!!

OP posts:
DestinationTravel · 12/02/2025 13:07

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.

Rugbyrover · 12/02/2025 13:27

cerisierblossom · 12/02/2025 12:58

Good thing I'm not then?

Show quote history

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.

Saycheeseburgers · 12/02/2025 13:30

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.

Original poster
cerisierblossom · 12/02/2025 13:31

@Rugbyrover because I should have expected ted the usual moral high horse stuff. But I don't understand the snippy comments about women's rights when the UK is hardly an amazing place to be a woman.

OP posts:
UrsulaBelle · 12/02/2025 13:31

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.

chipsandpeas · 12/02/2025 13:32

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

ill post more later

ahdlfj · 12/02/2025 13:34

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.

Saycheeseburgers · 12/02/2025 13:36

cerisierblossom · 12/02/2025 13:31

@Rugbyrover because I should have expected ted the usual moral high horse stuff. But I don't understand the snippy comments about women's rights when the UK is hardly an amazing place to be a woman.

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!

HiptotheHopp · 12/02/2025 13:39

cerisierblossom · 12/02/2025 13:31

@Rugbyrover because I should have expected ted the usual moral high horse stuff. But I don't understand the snippy comments about women's rights when the UK is hardly an amazing place to be a woman.

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.

Original poster
cerisierblossom · 12/02/2025 13:40

Rape convictions in the UK are disgustingly low. There's a domestic abuser sitting as an MP in parliament. Sexual assaults are common in schools. It's not all it's cracked up to be.

OP posts:
username299 · 12/02/2025 13:41

cerisierblossom · 12/02/2025 13:31

@Rugbyrover because I should have expected ted the usual moral high horse stuff. But I don't understand the snippy comments about women's rights when the UK is hardly an amazing place to be a woman.

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.

Jerabilis · 12/02/2025 13:42

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.

Glowingworms · 12/02/2025 13:44

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

HiptotheHopp · 12/02/2025 13:44

cerisierblossom · 12/02/2025 13:40

Rape convictions in the UK are disgustingly low. There's a domestic abuser sitting as an MP in parliament. Sexual assaults are common in schools. It's not all it's cracked up to be.

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?

Globusmedia · 12/02/2025 13:54

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.

Saycheeseburgers · 12/02/2025 13:55

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.