Highlights
– Significant increase in crimes of drug addiction and peddling, burglaries, and immoral acts
– Officials attribute rise in crime rates to influx of foreign workers
– Other Gulf countries experiencing similar dilemma; also believed linked to foreign workers
– Qatar will likely continue to suffer increased crime as its economy continues to boom
Crime is on the rise in the small Gulf country of Qatar. However, government officials are reluctant to find a lasting solution, as the root of some of the crime problems also contributes to the country’s economic boom. Financial and legal experts have pinned Qatar’s rising crime rates to the influx of foreign workers. On the other hand, the increase of immigrant workers has led to a healthy and profitable economic climate in Qatar – one that could eventually rival the Gulf kingpin, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The UAE has also experienced a spike in crime, particularly in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. However, the local police have taken a proactive approach to significantly curb crime by implementing a five-year crime-fighting strategy. One factor that may have influenced the reactions of both countries is its appeal to foreign tourists. Comparatively, Abu Dhabi is more attractive to aspiring foreign travelers, whereas Qatar is known more for its international military use. Consequently, Qatar is less likely to tackle its escalating crime rates in the near to mid-term, as it continues to enjoy current economic prosperity.
Mostly Small Scale Incidents of Crime in Doha
Judging by the cases recently filed at various criminal courts in Qatar, frequently reported incidents of crime have been linked to drug addiction and peddling, alcohol consumption, burglaries and so-called “immoral acts,” like illicit relationships. The crime that is singled out the most among foreign worker is burglaries. Authorities link the crime to the issue of so-called “runaway workers,” or foreign wage-earners on the brink of extradition from the country who break into shops or houses before fleeing the country or the area.
Rising crime, however, has alarmed civil servants in Qatar and has pressured the Ministry of Interior to consider releasing periodical crime statistics to raise public awareness. Traditionally, the Qatari government, as with most Gulf countries, does not publicly release such records, leaving millions of its population unaware of the incidents and frequency of crime in Qatar. In addition, an unknowing population alleviates the pressure or stress on the government to truly solve the problem – especially if the economy continues to flourish.
Crime Not Likely to Affect Business Travelers
Although incidents of crime have been on the rise, the majority of criminal actions have targeted residential districts, shopping communities, and areas near construction. As such, we do not believe the rise in small-scale crime will significantly affect business travelers or foreign visitors in Qatar. It is important, however, that visitors take extra precautions while traveling through areas where acts of crime are more apparent.
Qatar will likely take steps towards alleviating crime as the economy slows in the mid-term. However, due to the economic efficiencies the country is experiencing from the influx of foreign workers, Qatar will be reluctant to make any policy changes in the near-term that would disrupt the work force.
