Essentials

When you land in Qatar and turn your phone on, you’ll get a signal from one of two networks: Ooredoo or Vodafone Qatar. That’s it. Qatar has exactly two mobile operators and no third option is coming anytime soon. This makes the comparison both simpler and more consequential than choosing between networks in most countries….

Figuring out where to buy groceries in Doha takes longer than it should. Not because options are limited, they’re actually excellent, but because the city’s supermarket landscape is fragmented across chains with very different strengths, and the product you want is rarely in the first place you look. After years of shopping in Doha, I’ve…