JEDDAH, 12 January 2007 — It has been many years and Saudi women are still demanding to be able to drive, have and visit cinemas, and attend sports matches. There are strict rules governing these things happening in the Kingdom, but it should be borne in mind that Saudi women are able to partake in such activities legally in other parts of the Middle East including places like Qatar.

The culture and traditions of Qatar is similar to that of Saudi Arabia yet in the past few years the situation of women has improved and women are able to partake in the services that the country offers its citizens in terms of sports and education.

“Everything can happen, even in Saudi Arabia, but it will happen gradually and you need to take it step by step just like what happened here,” said Fahmi Al-Mashaikhi, a Qatari volunteer at the recently-concluded Asian Games. “Ten years ago Qatar was in the same position as Saudi Arabia and look where we are now.”

Al-Mashaikhi is the director of a project entitled “Lamasat Haniya” (Soft Touches), which aims to encourage the youth to participate in volunteer work. Citing the example of women driving in Qatar, he said things happened gradually with women doctors and teachers aged over 25 initially being given permission by the Interior Ministry. “This is how you introduce something which is new to the public; they get used to it bit by bit,” he said.

Speaking on the subject of mixing, he said that women and men do mix in cinemas, restaurants and other places but they refrain from crossing the limits. He added that young men and women do sometimes flirt but there are always limits and the police are on hand if something goes out of control.

Al-Mashaikhi said that now it has become safe for women to walk in the streets and to go out late at night without any fear and without the presence of a guardian, although it is preferred to have one sometimes.

“You get to see women friends or sisters who go to the cinema at 12 p.m. They feel safe and nothing can harm them,” said Al-Mashaikhi.

Attending and celebrating the Asian Games has meant a lot for the people of Qatar, especially women. Although most are highly educated, they still enjoy having a good time. In comparison to men, women can now be seen more at cinemas and sports matches. They cheer all nations with wide smiles on their faces, while donning their maroon and white hats worn on top of their headscarves and abayas and holding Qatari flags.

Qatari women are immensely proud of their countrywomen who have participated in the Asian Games and look forward to similar events taking place in the future.

Sheikha Al-Turki, a Qatari woman in her late 30s, said she thoroughly enjoys attending matches. “I have enjoyed attending these matches with my family and friends and we always look forward to the semi-finals and finals and make sure we don’t miss them especially if it is a team that we like,” she said.

Qatari woman Sarah Khalifah, 24, says she has an opportunity to enjoy attending a match at least once a month. Khalifah says she tries to vary the types of sports she goes to watch but says she enjoys watching volleyball and wishes to someday play the sport herself and represent her country in the near future.

“We have a lot of energy as youth, so I don’t see why we should not use it to do something lively and useful,” she said.

According to Al-Mashaikhi, Qatari men are not only proud with their women folk who are athletes but also with those volunteers who took on technical jobs and helped show visitors around the city.

In addition, many foreigners also enjoy their stay in Qatar. Ben, a 35-year-old Filipino who used to work in Saudi Arabia, says he moved to Qatar because of the good salaries there. “It has the spirit of Arabia, and the lifestyle that my family and I were used to back home.”

Marlene, a Filipino saleswoman who works in a clothes store expressed similar views. “I missed living in Saudi Arabia after having been there for six years. We do have more privileges here,” she said.