New visa law set to isolate Qatar
Posted on 11 April 2010 with 5 comments from readers
The sudden publication of new rules requiring visitors from 33 nations to obtain visas before arrival in Qatar threatens to leave this Gulf State isolated and with fewer arrivals for tourism or business.
No official reason for the decision has been forthcoming. But there has been clarification that it does also apply to Gulf residents as well as visitors from outside the region from a long list of countries that previously got a visa on arrival, including the UK and US.
Quid pro quo?
It is possible this is some kind of belated response to the long-standing requirement that Gulf citizens obtain visas to visit the European Union and USA, while citizens of these countries have not previously needed to get visas before landing in Qatar.
What it does mean is that multinational businesses in the Gulf will have to obtain visit visas several days in advance if their staff are to go to Qatar on business with the support of their local partners.
In practice Qatar is handing a gift to its rivals in the Gulf – particularly in Bahrain and the UAE – who seem to have no intention of closing their doors. It simply becomes easier to do business in these countries than Qatar for foreigners and foreign companies.
Whoever made this decision has perhaps not thought through the full consequences. It makes a mockery of the hundreds of millions spent promoting Qatar as a country ‘open for business’ and is a particular disincentive for multinationals to locate operations in the country.
Expatriate economy
It is unrealistic to expect Western nations to abandon their paranoia about terrorism from the Middle East. And at the same time it is unrealistic for countries dependent on expatriate labor, foreign expertise and imports to impose tight visa regimes.
Nobody in Qatar will mind ArabianMoney pointing this out as the promotion of freedom of speech and open criticism has become almost a national pastime in recent years.
However, it is a shame if many of us now travel even less often to Qatar than we used to do, just because getting a visa organized is too much hassle and bother. That is what will inevitably happen and it smacks of a certain arrogance that this seems not to be being considered.
5 Comments posted by readers:
With respect, your comments about Qatar being arrogant, are misguided. Whilst the Gulf region is dependent on professional expats, there is nothing irregular in imposing visa requirements on westerners. So what if it takes a few days? Big deal. Most professionals plan their trips in advance anyways. Qatar has made no secret of the fact that it never intended to emulate Bahrain or UAE in governance (and Qataris don’t hide their disdain for Emiratis either).
In the long run, Qatar’s strategic economy will come through and the visa requirements are simply a pre-requisite for doing business.
Ed note: You fail to see the nonsense of building an expatriate society and then closing it.
By any mean the Qatari move to impose a visa on Europeans and Americans is a right one ,the justification is clear and reasonable,Europeans with dual citizenship ,holding Israeli passports are not welcomed in Arab states and Qatari citizen are humiliated at the European checkpoints.
The sudden impose of new rules for applying the visa prior to visiting Qatar is a surprise move by the country that aggressively trying to change the perspective of others about the freedom in the Arab World. They are not sparring the Asian countries too, including Malaysia and Singapore. What is the reason then? Paying back time?
Ed Note: It is not clear why this has been done. Its an erratic response to something but nobody is very sure what exactly has upset them. This is exactly what business does not like at all. Qatar is shooting itself in the foot on this.
A soverign country, Qatari move to impose a visa on Europeans and Americans is a quite just, How about Emiraties and others who constantly go through the similar treatments at western aiports. It won’t have any effect on bussies….Other in Gulf should follow the suit.
Qataris have to get visas organized to visit most of the 33 countries you mentioned. Once these countries open their doors to Qataris then only Qatar should open their doors to them by having a more open visa regime. For now, Qatar is right and just. They will not be hurt as Westerners with or without visa need Qatar. Westerners need a taste of their own medicine and can’t be given the free pass as they wish all the time.
Besides, Qataris are investing billions of dollars in countries who have no desire in relaxing their visa laws toward not only Qatar but all Gulf states. Qatar should not back down as they are not shooting themselves in the foot in this one, in fact, by making the visa expensive you are creating a new source of income. Now, go get your expensive visa before you set foot in Qatar.
Ed Note: The Qatar Government sensibly decided to drop this idea before implementing it. The point was made (of course it is unfair that Qataris have to get visas, although they will often get multi-entry visas over many years so that is not so hard) – but Western paranoia after 9/11 will take decades to end.