In recent news, Qatar has been reported to have one of the highest densities of millionaires in the world. I found this extremely interesting because apart from the fact that Qatar has won the Fifa World Cup 2022 bid, it sheds light on its economy. But I’m sure that these statistics are exclusive to only Qatari nationals.
Article on Qatar having one of the highest densities of millionaires in the world here
As part of an assignment I had to do for my journalism class, I asked a couple of people what they thought about this report. Many people seemed glad that Qatar was making the news. Some people seem to feel that in comparison to other nations people in Qatar have better incomes. Others felt that if the media want to place Qatar in the limelight, then other aspects could have been focused on, like tourism.
Although it may seem to the international audience that the residents of Qatar are very well to do and experience upward social mobility, it isn’t entirely true. The vast majority of the population is comprised of expatriates, mainly laborers and workers. International news never seems to touch upon the increasingly dreadful conditions that the workers live in, maintaining their rather low level of social mobility.
Indeed there are some cases of upward social mobility. An example would be the occasional raffles hosted by various grocery or department stores in which a member of the working class may have won a Land Cruiser through sheer luck. Lulu and Family Food Center usually arrange these raffles. Another example, which is not inclusive to expatriates, is inheritance. If a member of the royal family, who is currently attending university or high school, inherits a fortune from his parents, then he will experience upward social mobility.
There is also an issue of job security in Qatar. If, for example, an expat is laid off or dismissed from work, then they have to leave the country unless they can sign another contract within a certain period of time. So, many expats are concerned about losing their job and what their situation will be once they have to leave.
Despite Qatar being a tax-free nation, the affordability of goods to working class individuals is not very feasible. Laborers and domestic workers usually reside in shared accommodations – at least 10-12 per house. Recently there has been an influx of workers in Qatar, which means that there will be even less housing to accommodate them.
Article on the increase of workers in Qatar here
Many locals have also protested against laborers living in residential areas for the reason that they lack respect towards local values and traditions. This can be viewed as an example of hegemony, when the culture and ideology of a dominant group are transmitted and accepted in ways that make them seem natural. Except in this case, the dominant group is stating that the tradition is not being followed.
Article on laborers being moved out of residential areas here
The issue of laborers is growing in Qatar, and many other expats are aware of the situation. While interviewing people for my story, one person said that Qatar should focus more on the issue of social stratification rather than the wealth of the people.
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