Business

• A page from the Qatar duty-free at the Doha airport shows many positive comments about the shopping.

Education

• There are two post-secondary institutes in Qatar from North America. Both Carnegie Mellon from the US and the University of Calgary from Canada have campuses in Qatar.

Employment

• Facebook has a page called Jobs in Qatar, which provides links to job sites.
• The comments are not positive and this site does nothing positive for Qatar's image.

Entertainment

• The entertainment posts were selected to show events in which multi-ethnic participants are shown. From that, we assumed that people would travel to Qatar from another country, or the country already has a multi-cultural population.
• Both of these provide a perception of the country from outside.
• Events included a museum, a dragon boat festival, a movie opening of the latest Spiderman movie, an East-West run encouraging people of all nations to participate, a live concert and an Eid celebration. A post indicated that Time Magazine identified the National Museum of Qatar is one of the top 100 places in the world to visit.
• When combined these posts provide a perception of a fun, lively, energetic city.

General Living

• One of the posts that provided insights into living in Qatar was a picture of a flooded area with a demonstration of neighbors looking out for each other.
• Another showed full grocery shelves in defiance of the Saudi blockade,
• There are also a series of daily posts from the Ministry of the Interior wishing people a wonderful day, showing beautiful pictures of the country and providing the daily weather.

Service

• One post from Qatar airways had several complaints about the airway's luggage handling service, while another showed a restaurant in Doha with a robotic waitress. 

Transportation

• There were two posts from Qatar airways, one showing in detail the engagement of a CSR with an unhappy passenger, which showed the Airlines in a positive light.
• The other was from the CEO thanking international passengers for making Qatar Airways, in Skytrak's annual reviews, the best airline in the world for the fifth year running.
• There were two video posts from Qatar Rail, one showing a progress report on the project showing the finished building and its amenities.
• The second was an announcement of the opening which provided excellent information on how to get around the city after a passenger the rail system to get into the downtown area.
• All of these left a sense that Qatar has a good transit infrastructure.

General Analysis

POLITICS

• Qatar has been accused of using Al Jazeera to influence the public's opinion and politics.
• This is a negative view because it means that Al Jazeera is a foreign agent influencing the country's politics.
• Qatar is using information warfare against America and its cultural and political institutions.
• This has led to the lobbying for expansion of exceptions in sovereign immunity to stop the attacks.
• Qatar is also accused of hacking US political official emails.
• The Emir of Qatar's kid brother is suspected to have ordered his guard to kill two Americans.
• Because the Emir of Qatar's is the country's head of state, it offers a significant perception of the country.
• There is also an ongoing case against the Emir of Qatar's, which is a negative perception of Qatar.  
• The US views Doha, Qatar, as a useful ally when it comes to diplomacy in sensitive areas of the Islamic world.
• Americans lack healthcare and education because their money is used to service Qatar's fighter jets.
• Qatar empowers Nazis against Jews by selling weapons to them.

FIFA WORLD CUP 2022 AND THE AFC ASIAN CUP 2019.

• Following the AFC Asian Cup 2019, there were mostly negative reactions regarding Qatar's performance.
• Saudi Arabia and UAE struggled to report on Qatar's victory.
• Some news outlets did not even mention Qatar.  
• With the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2019 which will be held in Qatar, the treatment of homosexuals in Qatar is being questioned.
• Another post states that Qatar is using slave labor from migrant workers to build the stadiums which will be used for the World Cup.
• The perception of the migrant labor being used by the country for the World Cup is that it will lead a legacy of 4000 dead workers from Nepal and India because they are being treated as slaves.  
• The deaths of migrant workers due to constructions of Qatar World Cup are heartbreaking.

TERRORISM

• The US has sanctioned several Qatari nationals because of their links to ISIS and Al-Qaeda financial networks.
• Qatar provides global Islamic terrorist groups with diplomatic mediation, haven, weapons, and financial aid.
•  Qatar uses Canada as a means of getting into America.
• The Muslim Brotherhood and Al-Qaeda members/negotiators are all funded by Qatar Charity.  
• Qatar is financing Muslim Brotherhood Organizations in Canada.

LIVING IN QATAR

• Doha, one of the main cities in Qatar, is perceived to provide a better academic work environment in comparison to other Arab states.
• This is especially concerning freedom of speech. 
• In a poll comparing countries which respondents would love to work in if given an opportunity, Qatar received 0% of the votes.

FOREIGN AID

• Qatar was involved in foreign aid during the Kerala floods by sending money.
• This is a positive perception of the country's humanitarian aid.  

SOCIAL SERVICES

• Qatar's move to ban Pakistani doctors was viewed as good for the country because Pakistani's medical programs have also been banned in many other countries.
• Qatar is believed to provide the best example of government-run healthcare.
• This is because healthcare in Qatar is free and the country has the most physicians per capita in the world.

RESEARCH STRATEGY

POLITICAL VIEW

• The relationship between Qatar and Iraq has improved significantly.
• The post highlighted the event where Qatar met the Iraqi Ambassador Omer Berzinji and helps to show the Qatar and Iraq relationship is improving steadily.

• Qatar is improving its relationship with the U.S. This provides a positive political view where the U.S. thanks Qatar for its continuing military partnership with Qatar.
• Commander General Kenneth McKenzie met with Deputy Amir in Doha and showed gratitude for their immense support in the form of military partnership.

• Qatar is a part of the United Nation and the country is going to be a participant in an event that will be held on September 2019. Alya Ahmed Saif Al Thani, ambassador in Qatar, will represent the country as an ambassador to the UN.
• During the event in New York, she will discuss her impressions, the UN General Assembly and political agenda's.

• USS JP Murtha will be the first U.S. ship that receives maintenance and support in Qatar. The U.S. ship will get a maintenance job at a Qatari port.
• The U.S. government thanks the government of Qatar for the cooperation and partnership. This helps to create a cooperative and supportive image of Qatar globally.

• Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar visited Washington in July 2019 where many in-depth discussions with diverse U.S. officials were conducted.
• The official and his delegation had various interactions with President Trump, members of his cabinet, and Congress to discuss the ongoing U.S.-Qatar cooperation in diverse areas.

• Qatar is perceived to be "an important partner and friend in promoting freedom of religion."
• In July 2019, the U.S. Department of State Special Adviser for Religious Minorities Knox Thames met with Qatari officials and religious leaders in Qatar. The purpose of the visit was to promote freedom in thinking and religion.

POSITIVE POSTS

•  Georgetown University in Qatar supports global leaders in politics, business, economics, and history and encourages them to be a part of the campus.
• The university in Qatar has the mission to grow leaders in politics and economics who can represent the country globally.

• Qatar encourages sports in the country.
• Natalie Koch, media and political speaker, supports media and politics beyond “Sports Power”. In the context of sports, Qatar is planning to host the 2022 World Cup.

•  Women empowerment is a major step undertaken by Qatar.
• The U.S. mentions that men and women in Qatar got the right to vote in 1999. The U.S. Embassy mentions that women and girls are crucial to global peace, prosperity, and security.

• Qatar took some steps to ensure safety during the FIFA World Cup to be held in 2022.
• The Planning and Quality Department of the Ministry of Interior and Quality in cooperation with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation will provide a training course on crisis and disaster management.
• The course is aimed to provide the participants with the skills to tackle major crisis and potential hazards.

• Qatar has undertaken efforts to reduce human trafficking such as "collaborating with civil society in opening its first trafficking-specific shelter, repealing the problematic exit permit requirement for migrants covered under Qatari labor law, and employing the Grievance Committee to adjudicate exit permits for more than 1,000 domestic workers and other expatriates who are not currently covered under the labor law."
• It also "established e-visa centers in four primary labor-sending countries in part to reduce instances of contract substitution, and it increased prosecutions of trafficking-related crimes."

• The U.S. Embassy in Qatar has organized a pre-departure orientation for students who will study in the U.S. Together with EducationUSA tips about traveling to the U.S., student visas, adjusting to life on campus, and making the most of their time and program will be given.
• Qatari students can receive all the information before commencing their study abroad program.

• Qatar took some steps to ensure safety during the FIFA World Cup to be held in 2022. Some steps were taken by the Ministry of Interior and Quality's Department of Planning and Quality Department in cooperation with the U.S. FBI.

NEGATIVE POSTS

• In June 2017, "the diplomatic and economic blockade of Qatar was launched which gravely weakened the Gulf Cooperation Council" and "has raised questions about the reliability of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as reliable political and security partners."
• This had implications for the Gulf region and its sociopolitical and regional security. Qatar was boycotted by its Middle East neighbors. The Gulf countries launched the blockade to cripple Qatar’s economy.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

• Several job positions opened in Qatar in the field of public affairs. In June 2019, the U.S. Embassy in Qatar posted multiple job vacancy announcements on the Electronic Recruitment Application (ERA) for positions in the Public Affairs Section.

• Qatar became the first Arab nation to host a FIFA event. The country has spent around $500 million on capital projects such as stadiums, training camps, and athletes’ villages in preparation for this event.
• Due to this event, Qatar is investing in infrastructures such as roads, hospitals, and transport hubs. Likewise, Doha Metro and other project have an impact in creating job opportunities for local construction firms.

LIVING IN QATAR

• Qatar takes steps to ensure its citizens are fully aware of health benefits. Qatar takes several initiatives to participate in a unique event organized by the General Tax Authority to mark #WorldHealthDay, a global campaign that has the goal to help people comprehend what universal health coverage means.

• Qatar Biobank screened 15,000 participants. The number of participants has increased over time. In 2015, there were 4,810 participants who have increased to 15,000 participants in 2018.
• The country has made all possible efforts to make its people free of diseases.

• Qatar in collaboration with Qatar University has organized International Youth Day, an event to highlight the efforts of young people. The country took initiatives to provide education for all and facilitate it for young people.
• The country supports poor countries which all are facing education difficulties.

• Qatar has educational and sports exchanges programs with Houston. The U.S. talked with Rashid Abdulla Al-Dehaimi, Qatar's consul in Houston, to discuss expanding education and sports exchanges.⁣
• The State of Qatar has a strong presence in Houston. Qatar makes every possible effort to send its students to America under the educational and sports exchanges between the two countries.

RESEARCH STRATEGY

Detrimental to US National Interest

• David Reaboi, a national-security consultant based in Washington, DC, who is interviewed extensively in Cernovich’s “Blood Money,” argued that Qatar’s actions are "detrimental to America’s national interests."

National Security Experts at CNN Have Direct Links to Qatar

• A review by US media outlet, Conservative, reported that several of the national security experts at CNN that have direct links to the nation of Qatar, and described the country as "a terror-funding, Islamist enclave in the Middle East that has placed itself on the warpath against America’s most important regional allies."
• Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar on June 5, 2017, accusing it of harboring extremists and supporting the Muslim Brotherhood.

Attractive Destination for Job Seekers

• Qatar became an attractive destination for global job seekers in recent years, but opportunities elsewhere in the Gulf dwindled. Qatar's renewed confidence in the region is fueling competition for human capital.
• Many of the soon-to-be-booming sectors in Qatar require expertise that was not previously needed.
• Also, excellence in sports, medicine, education, food security and transportation infrastructure are not arenas that the Gulf has previously excelled in or developed local talent in.
• Qatar Statistics Authority’s data for 2012 states that Qataris form only 6% of the country’s total employed population of 1.3 million. This is compared to 1.2 million expatriates who fill the remaining 94% of the job pool.

Tax-Free Salary

• Moreover, the tax-free salaries are common across the Gulf so there is no clear competitive edge there to be gained for Qatar. Very often it is the other elements of a job offer or location that can make the difference.

Accommodation & Lack of Supply

• While considering the availability, quality and affordability of accommodation and which is a key consideration and a lack of supply in the Qatari market is compounding already inflated prices which can put pressure on housing allowances and could make Qatar less attractive.
• Availability and cost of high-quality education is another concern. Most schools are already in short supply and a long waiting list is the norm.

Migrant Exploitation

• Amnesty International reports that migrant workers are still being exploited in Qatar. The charity says promised government reforms to ‘kafala’ system have not taken place.
• The migrant workers building infrastructure for a new city in Qatar which will host 2022 World Cup matches are still suffering exploitation and severe human rights violations despite promised government reforms.
• Report names an engineering company, Mercury MENA, which it says left almost 80 workers from Nepal, India and the Philippines stranded and unpaid for months in Qatar.

Embargoed by Neighboring Countries

• World Incubation Summit 2019 is taking place in Doha, Qatar this November 4 through 7, and the reasons Qatar was found to be most appealing include:
• Qatar has a very strong economy and is considered one of the best places in the world to do business. Also, Qatar is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and has rich deposits of petroleum as well.
• While embargoed by neighboring countries since June 2017, Qatar has had to overcome world opinion to show its robust economy was a good place to invest.
• Qatar responded to challenges by ramping up domestic production of the country’s food and consumer goods supplies to be less reliant on imports.

Blockade of Qatar

• The blockade of Qatar has made Qataris more supportive of free speech. In June 2017, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates initiated a blockade against fellow Gulf Cooperation Council member Qatar. The blockade has significantly disrupted the GCC and reverberated across regional politics.
• Impact on Qatar itself is less dramatic. The ruling family in Qatar is the same. Yet Qatar still has good relations with the United States, Turkey and most of the world. The World Bank predicts Qatar’s economy will grow by 3% in both 2019 and 2020.

Lusail

• Most developers are hoping people will be attracted by Lusail, the city’s marina, one of the biggest in the Gulf, as well as its shopping malls, business districts, golf courses, artificial islands and amusement park.

The Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index

• Qatar has ranked 33rd out of 180 countries globally in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2018.
• Qatar scored 62 points, maintaining its second place in the index amongst the Arab countries and the Middle East, while more than two-thirds of countries got less than 50 points in the index for this year.

Rankings of the Best Countries (USNews)

• Qatar ranked No.31 in overall rankings of the best countries:
• Citizenship Ranking Score — 0.8.
• Cultural Influence — 2.2
• Entrepreneurship — 2.9
• Heritage — 0.2
• Movers — 6.1
• Open for Business — 3.1
• Power — 1.7
• Quality of Life — 2.2

Gaining Future Political Capital

• Qatar is opportunistic and pragmatic, and the government in Doha engages the world by engaging in mediation, negotiation and resolution, deftly trying to be a friend, however fair-weathered, to anyone it can.
• Spends vast amounts of money on international aid, from disaster relief in the United States to humanitarian aid in the West Bank to foreign investment in developing economies.
• Qatar has ulterior motives for being so altruistic, of course. By inserting itself into faraway conflicts (such as Israel-Palestine and the U.S. war in Afghanistan), it’s gaining future political capital.

Al Jazeera Effect

• The Al Jazeera effect has enabled Qatar to exert a regional influence that greatly exceeds what one would expect for a typical (or even atypical) small state.
• The Al Jazeera Arabic’s reportage embodied in its slogan, ‘the opinion—the other opinion’ which attracted a huge audience, 35 million in its first 2 years alone.
• "Hamad abolished the ministry of information on the eve of launching Al Jazeera, explained that the ‘TV station [was] reflecting the new image of Qatar’ and the spillover from the network’s success and global brand recognition".

Deepen Its Cooperation

• Behind the blockade, Qatar has embraced a domestic and foreign policy independent of Saudi's regional hegemony, making it a target.
• "The rise of a young, aggressive leadership in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi that is far more ambitious and less cautious than the older generation of leaders."
• While considering Qatar: "It can deepen its cooperation and diplomatic outreach with countries in the region and around the world," Miller added.

Qatar Might Leak US Intel

• Most experts warn Qatar might leak US military intelligence to Tehran. Also, analyst says that Iran is the biggest threat to this region, and Qatar stood with Iran against their (Gulf) brothers.

Trump Pressure:

• One of the Foreign Policy report has warned that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration’s recent flip-flop on Qatar has increased the chances of conflict in the Middle East.
• The United States has the tools to help put Qatar back on the right path, but only if Trump reverses his reversal and joins the Saudi-led coalition in applying pressure.

Gulf Countries Work Together

• Gulf countries likely see Qatar as 'an outlaw,' but Trump needs everyone to get along. US President Donald Trump had good reason to welcome Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the emir of Qatar, to the White House.
• Both would like to see the Gulf countries work together on their priority, which is countering Iran's influence in the region.