Report: GCC could see unified tourism visa in 2014 A streamlined visa process that would allow expats in the Gulf to travel easily between the six GCC countries could go online by the middle of next year, a Kuwaiti newspaper has reported. Citing unnamed security officials, Al Rai said in a report today that the goal is to “reinvigorate tourism, business, shopping travel and economic activities in the member countries.” The newspaper added that the process would match Europe’s Schengen system, which allows travelers to visit multiple member countries with a single visa, without having to apply and pay for permission to enter each nation. Currently, nationals of Gulf countries can travel across the GCC, which is comprised of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain and Oman, by presenting their ID cards. But non-Khaleejis typically must apply for visas before visiting, depending on their origins and the country they are visiting. Requirements Under the new system, visas would be available for a yet-to-be-determined fee at embassies in the GCC and in foreign countries. Expats could apply for multiple-entry visas that last up to one year, the report states. But applicants will be screened on the basis of their financial status and expats who have previously been deported from a GCC country or run into legal trouble would not be granted the visa. Al Rai states that the idea, which has been discussed for at least a decade, would be “the largest and most comprehensive in the field of security cooperation between the countries Gulf Cooperation Council.” Gulf News adds that “technical issues” that have been holding up the process are being addressed so that the system can go online next year. Would you apply for this visa once it’s a reality? Thoughts? Credit: Photo by Daniel Greer
Sunshine by Muhammad Kamran Qureshi, and contributed to the Doha News Flickr Group. Sunday optimism! Want to see your photo here? Add it to our Flickr pool or share it via dohanews.co/submit
Passenger seeking medical treatment in US dies aboard Qatar Airways flight A 49-year-old Saudi woman has died aboard a Qatar Airways flight traveling to Houston from Doha over the weekend, the airline has confirmed. The woman, identified by the Houston Chronicle as Fatimah M. Alsiari, had been flying to the US to seek medical treatment. A Houston Police Department official told the newspaper that the cause of her death was still being investigated. Speaking to Doha News, a Qatar Airways spokeswoman declined to discuss the passenger’s medical state, but said that nurses and a doctor aboard the flight tended to her. "Everything was done to try to save her," she said. She added that the woman died while in US airspace, closer to the end of the roughly 16-hour flight. Qatar Airways has a set policy in terms of how an aircraft manages onboard deaths, but it is not shared publicly, because every situation is different, the spokeswoman said. "However, if a person needs medical attention, we divert to the closest airport possible," she added. Anyone know more? Thoughts? Credit: Photo by Doug
CMC calls on government to revamp Qatar's beaches To truly become an important tourist destination, Qatar must overhaul its many beaches, the Central Municipal Council has said. Trash, pollution and inaccessibility due to a large number of rocks are among the biggest reasons families steer clear of local beaches, officials told Al Watan. The changing demographic of visitors also plays a role, council member Said bin Ali al Marri said. Qatar Tribune translates: "The country’s urban growth has led to an increasing number of expatriates, especially singles to visit beaches in Al Wakrah and Mesaieed for entertainment, making citizens and families more reluctant." In Al Wakrah, the smell of dead fish constantly washing ashore - especially near the fishing port - has also become a nuisance. Despite these conditions, the summer heat typically prompts thousands of Qatar residents to pay a visit to the shore, whether that be in Simaisma, Dukhan, Shamal, Fuwayrit, or of course, Sealine. To make their visits more enjoyable - and attract more Qataris to the beaches - CMC members recommended adding trash bins to high-traffic areas and devising a beach development plan. Have you been to any of Qatar’s beaches this summer? Thoughts? Credit: Photo by Lih Ali
Pink Power by Bisbjerg and contributed to the Doha News Flickr Group. The photographer writes: Words (do) not suffice. Want to see your photo here? Add it to our Flickr pool or share it via dohanews.co/submit
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Official: Qatar expat in stabbing case remains at large
Qatar authorities are still searching for a Nigerian expat who reportedly stabbed his former roommate last week in a fight over an internet device.
The incident, first reported by Gulf Times, took place last Monday, days after the Peninsula reported a death by stabbing at a labor camp in the Industrial Area.
In this latest incident, the alleged attacker, a safety officer who has lived in Qatar for three years, told his four roommates he was moving out and introduced them to his replacement.
The roommates protested, as their space in an old villa was already too crowded. The man grew annoyed, left, and then returned to retrieve the internet cable hooked up in the room.
The victim said that’s when he intervened. Gulf Times reports:
"O N threatened to kill me with a pair of scissors he was holding at the time if I tried any further to stop him from removing the cable, claiming that it (Internet) belonged to him.
When he continued with the disconnection, I struggled to collect the cable from him and headed towards our room. Then suddenly, he stabbed me with the scissors on the back twice. I was jolted and turned around only to be jabbed in the chest and in the head.”
Eventually, the victim was rescued by his other roommates, and the alleged attacker ran out of the room. Speaking to Doha News, Victor Ikoli, a spokesman for the Nigerian community, said the man remains at large.
Frustration mounts
According to the Peninsula, violent incidents between low-income expats in Qatar are becoming increasingly frequent. Earlier this month, the newspaper reported that a 31-year-old Indian expat was stabbed by a Nepalese peer in the Al Sailiya labor camp.
Qatar has seen a rapid influx of construction workers in the past few years, as mega projects ahead of the 2022 World Cup get underway. These expats are typically housed together in cramped spaces outside of Doha, limited recreational options and increasing their isolation.
However, despite the growing tensions amid different groups of workers, Ikoli said incidents among the Nigerian community are uncommon.
"It’s a rarity just hearing such for the first time," he said. "The community members are law abiding and go about their duties only one of such case as this. We hope he’s apprehended and properly dealt with."
Read more: http://dohanews.co/post/59392523319/official-qatar-expat-in-stabbing-case-remains-at-large#ixzz2d725U0g9
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