Dear Brothers and Sisters of Qatar,

I’m writing this as a reply to the open letter by Hamad Al Mansouri, posted in Qatar Living, recently. Honestly, I’d planned to write this much earlier, just after the start of the blockade, but got delayed due to a few personal reasons.

I come from the world’s largest elected democracy and am very happy and proud to be working in Qatar, which is abundantly blessed by God.

The grievances Hamad listed in his letter is not just particular to Qatar. Any citizen in any country can face that situation from expatriates there. 

Like Hamad pointed out about citizens here, expatriates too may have some cause for objections (but it is very minimal when compared to the volume of good things we have to say about this country).

Personally, these are some of the grievances I hear all too often.

1. Seeing people tailgating vehicles and flashing their lights in highways, causing immediate fear in the minds of the driver and reflex action ending up in panic situations.

2. Seeing people drive without seat belts and talk on the phone while driving, causing attentions to waver and cause accidents.

3. Blaring horns in front of groceries, waiting for someone to come out running, and getting angry in case of delays.

But having said that, such incidents have come down drastically in the nine years I’ve been here.

Returning to the topic of blockade, every expat in Qatar was shaken to their bones during the first few days. More than news, it was rumours spreading through social media that added to the panic. We all rushed to supermarkets, stood in long queues and stored enough food to feed an army in anticipation of the coming days.

But what made our minds stronger was the official response from Qatar’s leadership — don’t panic, things are under control. After nine years here, I believed it because I didn’t doubt Qatar’s ability to arrange enough alternate resources.

A lesson which I learned from the blockade is that sometimes, friends are better than brothers.

You may know that expat communities these days, irrespective of their religious beliefs, fast during Ramadan and pray for the well being of the royal leadership.

Qatar is not only a country we depend on for making a living, but it’s really ‘a home away from home’ for us.

You may not know about the respect we get in our home countries when we say we live and work in Qatar. Everyone I talk to have only good things to say about the country and how bravely they are standing up against the blockading nations.

God has blessed Qatar abundantly and this prosperity may have led to jealousy in others, which is a law of nature. It’s quite normal and we just need to focus on continuing doing what we do.

For me, these are a few reasons why other nations may be feeling intensely jealous of Qatar’s success.

1. The huge infrastructure development that happened in Qatar within a short span

2. The high living standards

3. Education level of Qatari people, especially the younger generation

4. The medical facilities offered by the government at heavily discounted prices 

5. The support of the people towards Qatar’s royal family and leadership

6. Massive investments by Qatar in different parts of the world

7. Good relationships with world leaders and organisations

8. Freedom and peace of living here than anywhere else in the region 

9. Goals already achieved by Qatar and targeted in the coming years

10. The way Qatar is transforming a desert into a green heaven

We may be formally known as expats, but we’re your brothers and sisters and real friends who stand with you, supports you and will continue to do so in the coming days. We express our sincere thanks to Qatar for the support the country is offering us expats. May you have all earthly and heavenly blessing from the Almighty. 

We love Qatar, we are Qatar and God bless Qatar. 

Kullu-na Qatar.

Denish Raju, a happy ‘nine-year-old’ expatr