First look inside cramped fan villages at Qatar World Cup

Qatar has unveiled the first of its ‘fan villages’ where tens of thousands of supporters will be crammed into as the tiny country becomes the first Muslim country to host a World Cup in just two weeks.

Images of the Al-Emadi fan village show what looks like hundreds of shipping containers set up in the desert, but which are actually prefabricated hotel rooms that can accommodate as many as 60,000 people – with up to two in each cabin.

The interior is spartan with either two single beds or a double bed, toilet, mini fridge and tea and coffee making facilities. Restaurants and other catering facilities are located in the wider camp, along with screens for people to watch games.

However, the organizers have done their best to remind traveling fans of the country’s strict sharia laws that prohibit the sale of alcohol outside specially licensed venues such as restaurants, hotels and fan zones at certain times – which doesn’t seem to apply to the fan villages.

More than a million people are expected to descend on the small desert peninsula – with a population of just 300,000 excluding expatriates and migrant workers – over the course of the tournament, which will last nearly a month from November 20 to December 18.

But scenes typically associated with the world’s biggest sporting event — shirtless supporters drinking away the days in public squares and gymnasiums — will be largely absent, with people being warned to cover their shoulders and knees in public and be sobered up. charged if their behavior is considered too rowdy.

Alcohol is only served in hotel restaurants and bars that are licensed in Qatar and may only be consumed there. Non-Muslim residents of Doha who have a liquor license are allowed to buy liquor from specially licensed premises to drink at home, but it is illegal for everyone else.

At the World Cup, fans will be allowed to purchase Budweiser beer in stadium complexes — but not at competition concession stands — before and after games. Fans can also have a drink in the evening in a designated ‘fan zone’ in central Doha. In general, in Qatar, public intoxication is punishable by heavy fines and prison terms.

But the head of Qatar’s security operations has said police turn a blind eye to most violations during the tournament, but may make arrests if someone gets involved in a drunken stupor or damages public property.

The legal drinking age is 21 and bouncers in bars often ask for photo ID or passports upon entry.

Qatar is one of the world’s most restrictive countries when it comes to drugs, banning cannabis and even over-the-counter drugs such as narcotics, tranquilizers and amphetamines.

The sale, trafficking and possession of illegal drugs can lead to severe penalties, including lengthy prison terms followed by deportation and heavy fines. Charges of drug smuggling can carry the death penalty.

Qatar considers cohabitation of unmarried women and men a crime and uses so-called indecency laws to punish extramarital sex – but has said it will make exceptions for visitors arriving for the World Cup.

Public displays of affection are “disapproved of,” the government’s tourism website says. Holding hands won’t land you in jail, but visitors should avoid showing intimacy in public. Qatari law calls for one to three years in prison for adults convicted of consensual gay or lesbian sex. Crossdressing is also punishable.

The Qatar government tourism website urges men and women to “show respect for the local culture by avoiding overly revealing clothing in public”. It asks visitors to cover their shoulders and knees.

Those in shorts and sleeveless tops can be turned away from government offices and shopping malls. Women who visit mosques in the city are given scarves to cover their heads. However, bikinis are common at hotel pools.

Blinking the middle finger or swearing, especially when dealing with police or other authorities, can lead to arrest. Most criminal cases in Qatar that trap unwary foreigners involve such violations.

Many Qatari women and men will not shake hands with the opposite sex, with the advice to wait for a hand to be offered before extending your own.

Filming and photographing people without their permission, as well as taking pictures of sensitive military or religious sites, can lead to prosecution.

Visitors are also advised to exercise caution when discussing religion and politics with locals. If you insult the royal family, you could end up in jail.

Few Qataris are likely to welcome criticism of their governance system from a tourist. Spreading fake news and harming the country’s interests is a serious and vaguely defined crime, so it’s best to stay away from social media commentary about Qatar.