Safety concerns for Americans?

I’m going. As I did Brazil where some folks said I’d never make it out alive. I always felt safe, but you have to be smart and safe. Same as visiting New York, Miami or any other place. All the traveling supporters will certainly attract thief’s and grifters but Doha is reputed to be a very very safe place.

 

You'll be more than fine:

https://crisis24.garda.com/insights-intelligence/intelligence/country-reports/qatar

You're at SIGNIFICANTLY greater risk in any mid-size or larger American city.

Just don't be an asshole (which is sound advice for visiting ANY country) and don't even think of violating their alcohol laws outside of whatever arbitrary exceptions they're making for the tournament.

 

Doha and Dubai are both very safe and at the world cup you can even be a loud obnoxious flag waving american tourist and no one would mind

 

The biggest risk in Dubai is literally getting in a huge pileup on Sheikh Zayed Road one foggy morning. Or being a pain-in-the-ass British tourist (for some reason, all British expats I've encountered in the Gulf still think the Empire owns the place, and act accordingly, especially while drunk).

Anyway, since the fog in Qatar is also legendary, I presume their commuting woes are similar.

Also, Abu Dhabi is cooler than Dubai.

 

That's good to know! Was planning to check out both cities and Al Ain at the Asian Cup in 19 but plans kinda fell apart last minute. Will give it another try someday

 

I have a bias, because I spent 95% of my time in Abu Dhabi over several years, but Dubai strikes me as some weird Disney in the desert built for tourists and expats. Anthony Bourdain's use of Shelley's "Ozymandias" to lead in to his episode on Dubai was a fitting choice.

 

Bro.... there are zero safety concerns.

 

I'm not concerned at all from a safety perspective. All of the research that I've done on Doha/Qatar indicates that it is extremely safe.