by Luke J Oliver
I am sure no one wishes to minimise the strides Qatar has made over the past 15 or so years, both nationally and internationally. Economically, socially and politically.
But what is this obsession with claiming that every single move now is ‘new’, or the ‘first of its kind’?
That is a denial of the fact that Qatar has always been a leader in the region.
In the 1960s and 70s, it was streets ahead of Dubai in terms of development.
‘Conservative Qatar?’ — you jest. Tina Turner performed in Doha — and so did the sometimes controversial Scottish comedian, Billy Connolly — along with many others.
There was no lack of jazz bands, country bands, blue grass bands or rock bands performing in Qatar.
There were many young Qatari women who went about unveiled. And who worked.
Even as far back as the 1950s, those who wished to could get ‘real’ Christmas trees, cards and decorations in Qatar.
And the party scene was electric, with alcohol freely available.
A number of the ministries have reverted to the names they had in the 1970s and 1980s, and the clubs now are pretty close to the ones that existed then.
As Qatar tries to ‘modernise’ without losing sight of its culture and heritage, it should acknowledge what an open society it was decades ago. In many ways what is available today is not, by any means, new.
