By Salman Siddiqui/Staff Reporter

Almost all residents of Qatar, whether they are citizens or expatriates, are ‘highly optimistic’ about their own future in the country, a new survey report reveals.
According to the Northwestern University in Qatar’s Media Use Survey results, over nine in ten (92%) say they are ‘optimistic’ about their own future in Qatar, among which 59% are ‘very optimistic.’
Also, there has been a huge impact of the Internet on interpersonal contact among Qatar residents. The report says that people in Qatar spend an average of 35 hours per week socialising with family face-to-face and 11 hours per week socialising with friends.
Expatriates are more likely to rely on the Internet to maintain connections with family and friends. About three-fourths of Asian expats and Westerners say the Internet increases their contact with family and friends, compared with about half to six in ten Qatari nationals and other Arabs. Westerners and Asian expats are also more likely to connect with others in their profession online.
Also, the report says that almost everyone is mobile in Qatar, with use of handheld wireless devices at 89% among Internet users.
Qatari nationals are more likely than other residents, especially non-Arabs, to use smart phones (84% Nationals vs. 65% Westerners and 61% Asians). Tablets such as iPads are used by half of Qatari nationals (49%), but by fewer Arabs in Qatar (32%), Asian expats (21%) and Westerners (37%).
Three-fourths (76%) of all Internet users in Qatar use social networking sites. However, the incidence of social networking online is higher among Westerners (85% of Internet users) and lower among Qatari nationals.
Residents of Qatar spend considerable time online, about 19 hours a week at home, 17 hours per week at work for those employed, and for students, seven hours per week at school.
Westerners spend twice as much as do Qatari nationals online at school (11 hours compared to five hours per week typically), and also spend slightly more time than other groups on the Internet at home (22 hours per week).