Social Class in Qatar

People have a misconception that ALL Qataris are filthy rich and Social Class does not exist in Qatar, well amongst Qataris. The general belief is that the different social classes in Qatar are as follows:

Upper Class = Qataris

Middle Class = Foreigners with jobs that pay middle range salaries

Lower Class = Expats who usually come to do the dirty work e.g. Construction workers.

However, that is not the truth, this is a generalization of Khaleeji (GCC countries) stereotypes or Qataris in particular and it also forms yet another misconception that the social inequality in Qatar favors locals over expats.

This is the real structure for Social Classes in Qatar that I have perceived (A Qatari myself) is as follows:

Upper class = SOME Qataris and Foreigners (usually Americans and Europeans) with high-ranking jobs which requires years of expertise and specialists.

Middle Class = SOME Qataris and other foreigners with middle range incomes

Lower Class = Expats (usually south-east Asians) with low paying jobs.

I know that it is hard for non-Qataris to spot the differences because to them we all look the same. There are many elements that suggest a person’s social class and wealth starting from Family name and origin.

Family name can sometimes be misleading because just because two different people have the same family name, it doesn’t mean that they are both EQUALLY rich. In fact, there is a great contrast between each person’s social status and wealth.

YES, I agree that not every Qatari is exactly “poor”, but they are not all as ignorant and swaggering as we are portrayed in the western media outlets and especially social media.


Just listen to this idiot who's obviously NOT Qatari

 

This is a movie that shows a woman who was kidnapped and then sold a to an “Arab” rich man whose car number plate “happened” to be Qatari.

The movie’s name is Taken and it was released in 2008.

In the Sociology, the concept of “Social Mobility” is defined as “shifting from one social status to another, commonly to a status that is either higher or lower. For example, a child of day laborers who becomes a professor achieves upward social mobility”.

The problem with social mobility in Qatar is that SOME Qataris want to keep up with the rest of the rich population by the accumulation of material goods. This is known in Sociology as “Conspicuous Consumption”.

 Conspicuous consumption is the purchasing of luxury goods such as: cars, antiques, expensive excursions, and beach-houses.

SOME would go to extremes like taking out loans that they know they won’t be able to pay back in order to buy things that they can’t afford. Therefore, the social mobility is fake and temporary.

As Qataris, the first thing we do if we want to determine another Qatari's social class is we simply look at them, their hand bangs, Abayas, cars, houses, where do they travel every summer and how often do they travel. Those are all obvious things, well at least to us. My advice to non-Qataris, whether you're an Arab or not, NEVER make premature judgements especially when they're absolutely false. Because behind all the fancy Abayas, designer handbangs and shoes, and our fast Mercedes, there are normal, nice, down to earth people. Including myself of course ;)