Anyone here from Doha- quick question!

[homebythesea]

Shortly will be visiting Doha and am a bit about various reviews of hotels/restaurants referring to smoking. I guess I assumed everywhere has smoking bans these days! Am I going to have to fight my way through clouds of foul smelling smoke everywhere I go?

You just get used to it. Given that it's so nice for 6 months of the year (winter!) most people I know smoke outside then.
Busy nightclubs make me nervous, but that is more that everyone waves them around and I think they will end up setting fire to my dress as I squeeze past them 😬
When are you going?

PS Specifically ask for a no smoking hotel room.

It's not so bad really, I don't notice it in restaurants unless you are seated in the smoking section. Some of the nightclubs (Especially the Irish Harp at the Sheraton) can be a bit overwhelming though.

Thanks ladies! Will be visiting in the new year, and have got a non smoking room. I've been to various other ME places where it hadn't been an issue which is why I was slightly worried about references to the smoking ban being ignored in Qatar particularly concerning. I certainly don't miss the days of going to bed after a night out smelling like an ashtray! No nightclubbing but will be shopping- are the malls smoke free too?

Yes, they are, however many locals will sit and smoke at Starbucks, so just avoid Starbucks.

Wow-why don't Starbucks enforce the ban do you think?

Because nobody tells the locals what to do, especially not some poor Filipino worker at Starbucks. If the local chose to make a fuss the worker would be on the next plane home before the local even finished his cigarette.

It's worst in the summer, they all hang around the doors to get the benefit from the AC inside...it's getting slightly better as the winter is here and the temperture drops, still not very pleasant though.

Can't say I notice it much, and I hate the smell of smoke.
Yes they sometimes smoke at Starbucks but its 'outside' in the mall so it isn't so noticeable and inside is smoke free.
enjoy your trip.

The sports bar at the Marriott is absolutely stinking but apart from that I've not been troubled by smoke anywhere and the shisha actually tends to smell quite nice. At this time of year you'll want to be outdoors as much as possible anyway as it's lovely.

Thanks everyone, you've been very reassuring!