Who said diplomacy was dead?

WAM, that's who:

Abu Dhabi, Feb 22, 2006 (WAM) - Qatari Ambassador and dean of the Diplomatic Corpse Abdullah Mohammad Al othman held a reception at Abu Dhabi Hilton Hotel to honor the out-going Syrian Ambassador Mohammad Riyadh Na'san Agha to mark the end of his tenure and his appointment as Minister of Culture in Syria.
Present at the reception were officials and heads of the Arab and foreign diplomatic missions in UAE.

With thanks to a sharp-eyed masdaar.

Into exile

Surprising story from Qatar/Saudi, recalling Lawrence of Arabia once again - "there are no Arabs, only tribes."

"Riyadh: Thousands of Qataris of the Al Ghafran clan of the Al Murrah tribe who lost their citizenship were forced to seek refuge with relatives in Saudi Arabia's eastern Al Ahsa region.

"They were stripped of their Qatari nationality by government decree. The tribesmen claimed that they have been living in Qatar for 70 years."

The story becomes more interesting further down, with a quote from one of the affected tribesmen:

"Al Merri, who is staying in the eastern Saudi city of Al Hafof, described the decision as "unfair" and said it was related to a 1995 coup attempt in which some members of the tribe took part."

There was a coup in Qatar in 1995, but it was a peaceful, "bloodless" coup in which the current ruler deposed his father, and it seems unlikely that the government would be taking reprisals for that now. There was also one in 1996 - but again, all those involved were dealt with at the time.

But a web search finds reports of a much more recent, rumoured coup in 2002:

"Diplomatic circles in the Middle East are buzzing with rumors of a failed coup against the Qatari regime on the night of Oct. 13 [2002].

"At least two members of the royal family are said to have joined with officers of Yemeni and Pakistani background, along with individuals from Islamic organizations, all opposed to the growing U.S. military presence."

Other sources point to direct US intervention:

"But sources in the State Department say the whole thing is made up, a bit of disinformation on the part of the Saudis who are angry over the milder form of Wahabbism practiced in Qatar, Al Jazeera, which is based in there and, especially, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifah al-Thani's relatively close ties with the United States."

As Albritton notes, we'll probably never really know what happened. But it is a reminder that peace is a fragile thing, and strong measures will continue to be taken to maintain stability in a volatile region.

Death in Doha: Qaeda in Qatar?

The first bomb in Qatar: bad news for the entire Gulf.

"A suspected suicide bomber targeting a theatre near a British school in Qatar has killed one male Briton and injured about 12 other people.

"The car bomb blast occurred at the Doha Players theatre outside the capital, Doha, where Shakespeare's Twelfth Night was being performed. "

Still no confirmations of who was behind the attack, carried out by an Egyptian national, but the fact that it took place on the second anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq, coupled with the wester expat location (a theatre) suggests anti-western sentiment. The UK's former UAE ambassador, Antony Harris, points out that:

"Doha was the base from where the US organised the invasion so it's not a coincidence, it's a deliberate act."

The attack came two days after the suspected leader of Al Qaeda's Saudi wing urged Muslims in Gulf states to wage holy war against "crusaders", according to Reuters, making it possible that the Egyptian was inspired to act alone.

There is also the possibility that Qatar was targeted because of Al Jazeera, which continues to broadcast opinions controversial and unpopular in many Arab nations.

Sail away

One of yesterday's disappointed smudgers describes the event:

"In the sumptuous surroundings of the Diplomatic Club here there were half a dozen throne-like chairs in the front row of a room packed with the great, and the good, and the media. The British Ambassador, David McLennan, was joined by a phalanx of sheikhs, all dressed in white, very expensive white.

"They did not smile, they clapped only politely and at the end they swept out, as one, without a word being said or a question answered. Their presence was all the seal of approval that was required."

Rocking the boat

A quick flight to sunny Doha, where it was amusing to see two London broadsheet gentlemen spend half an hour haranguing three hapless bank execs for failing to provide spokespeople for interrogation.

It is not just local and regional companies in the Middle East that make use of the thick burqa of censorship to muffle their daily deeds. International companies setting up in the Gulf are quick to throw on the same robes, which is why MENA-based staff need regular rotation to keep them from becoming as soft, fat and dull as the regional business populace.

Later, one of the hacks bewailed another failure:

"I asked for interviews with several of the sheikhs, but just got nowhere."

Sheikhs are royalty. They hold the reins of power, but they are not elected officers, and are thus unaccountable. Like the Queen of England, they would be no more inclined to comment on a murky little foreign yachting bankruptcy story than they would be to do up their own shoelaces. If they even wore shoelaces, which of course most of them don't.

Their role at a media function is to sit graciously bedishdashed in the front row, and possibly munch on a couple of dates as the endless speeches drone on, while trying not to look too bored. It is a role they perform with quite exquisite competence.

A Right Royal Knockabout

If the aeroplane is going to crash, one may as well expire in style by being in First Class. Fortunately it arrived safely, so fellow hack Hoffle-Jones and I enjoyed the full benefits of our premium-class seats, menu and service.

Entry to Qatar was in full royal style, whisked off in shiny limos straight from the plane to a special VIP lounge. No clambering on to a crowded cattlebus to stand in line awaiting luggage, and passport control, and immigration in a dingy terminal. Just a quick, cool, easy reception and cups of sweet Arabic tea in a large and beautiful room while invisible elves dealt with passports and baggage claim.

The Ritz Carlton Doha is a god of a hotel. Vast, labyrinthine, splendid beyond imagining. Tucked away indoors in its spacious depths are two full sized tennis courts, a 25-metre swimming pool, huge men's and women's spas, racquetball courts and squash courts, and doubtless a fully turfed cricket pitch, had we looked hard enough. Outside is another sprawling, palm-tree-scattered oasis pool, with a wealth of empty sunloungers. No germans wielding towels at dawn here.

Everyone in Dubai describes Qatar/Doha as "small", "boring", "dull", or roll their eyes with a look of pity. They are either lying or stupid. Doha is beautiful by day, glittering by night. It is an endlessly spacious, growing city, spread along a vast stretch of turquoise water, with palm trees, walkways, and very little traffic. Qataris are outstandingly hospitable and speak excellent English. Desire to ever leave Qatar is currently about nil.