Wordless Wednesday: The Fattest, the Richest... Which is the Real Doha?

Wordless Wednesday: The Fattest, the Richest… Which is the Real Doha?

Published May 2, 2012

Qatar’s international profile has increased on a steep ascent in the last few years. Those of us who call Doha home grow immune to the stereotypes about the Middle East (we’re all in tents, hiding from suicide bombers, eating camels too old to ride, the women cowering against the back corner).

WASHINGTON - APRIL 14: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) meets with Amir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani of Qatar in the Oval Office of the White House April 14, 2011 in Washington, DC. Obma will reportedly discuss a range of issues including the recent turmoil in the Middle East. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Called everything from the “world’s richest” to the “world’s fattest” by everyone from comics to nightly news, it’s sometimes difficult to tell which is the real Qatar, even if you’re living here.

Here’s a project I started under Creative Commons Qatar (meaning you can remix or reuse these videos if you attribute) called “Dohati” which means My Doha in Arabic.

As the capital (and where most of the population is concentrated) Doha means many things to many people.

See for yourself what those living and working here have to have to say.

We’ll release three new Dohati videos a week in the month of May, so check back in often for the latest releases.

Record your own version of what Dohati means to you and submit for consideration to be included in the project.

Or share with me as a comment, your favorite stereotypes, myths, or honest questions about life on this small but mighty Arabian Peninsula.

Wordless Wednesday (A Clinton on the Gulf Peninsula, circa 2010)(mohanalakshmi.com)
Wordless Wednesday: Kanye West and Kid Cudi in Qatar(mohanalakshmi.com)
The Road to Katara(duncandavidson.com)
Rethinking Motivation In Education(fastcompany.com)

Doha’s Double Hedge (forbes.com)
Paradise in the Middle East (brickmortar.wordpress.com)
Qatar: A tiny country asserts powerful influence – CBS News (cbsnews.com)

Mohana Rajakumar

Mohana has a PhD from the University of Florida with a focus on gender and postcolonial theory. She is the creator and co-editor of five books in the Qatar Narratives series, as well as the Qatari Voices anthology which features essays by Qataris on modern life in Doha (Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing, 2010). Mohana has published several ebooks and academic titles. Check out her Amazon.com author page