Many expatriates in Qatar including diplomats, are hoping that 2016 will be a peaceful year, full of opportunities and excitement.
Indian expatriate Fawaz Mohamed expressed optimism that this year will continue to offer new and bigger opportunities that will challenge and inspire expatriates to learn more.
“Let us develop ourselves to be better individuals,” he told Gulf Times. “I also look forward to a peaceful year where the international community will play an effective diplomatic role that will ensure greater stability and harmony in the region and across the world.”
Mohamed’s compatriots, especially those who have been in Qatar for a number of years, have the same wish list for 2016.
An expatriate for nine years, Vikram Arora believes that what matters to most expatriates is a sense of security and a good quality of life — children’s education and the opportunity to spend time on leisure and recreational activities.
As a person who loves sport, he hopes to see more recreational clubs, centres, coaching facilities (in sports, music, dance and arts) and amusement parks opening during the new year for the general public.
Arora also hopes to see more cruise options from Doha similar to Dubai and the West (Europe and the US), which he believes will help the tourism industry in Qatar.
For Jumna, 2015 concluded with pleasant memories and now hopes that 2016 has much more to give. She is looking forward to see more places for entertainment and fun for expatriates in the country to spend their holidays.
Sri Lankan expatriate Nicole Clark also echoed similar sentiments. A number of Filipinos share the same expectations and hopes but also see a lot of challenges along the way.
Part of JR Dumlao’s wish list for this year includes a peaceful region that would pave the way for more progress and development.“We as overseas Filipino workers should always remember that we are here to work hard for our families and children back home,” he stressed.Like any expatriate, Dumlao admitted that he also worries about the impact of a number of issues which may pose setbacks.
Diplomats from two Asean embassies in Doha also expressed optimism that relations between their countries and Qatar will improve further.
Indonesian ambassador Deddy Saiful Hadi told Gulf Times that Qatar and Indonesian bilateral ties are set to grow in all sectors. The envoy cited the visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo to Qatar in September last year as a remarkable event and one of his biggest achievements as an ambassador.
For Philippine ambassador Wilfredo Santos, the State of Qatar is very important to the Philippines since it is home to an estimated 200,000 Filipinos who make up the third largest expatriate community in the country. “As ambassador to Qatar, I look forward to the coming year with great expectations toward the strengthening of our bilateral relations with our host country,” he said. “There is much to gain by both sides in reinvigorating our friendship and bilateral ties in various areas of co-operation.”
He also expressed confidence that 2016 will bring more exchanges and high level visits between Qatar and the Philippines.