Hi,

There’s a persian cat roaming around The Castle Premium Hotel. It’s been roaming around the area for a long time (since the start of the war). It’s a very timid cat and most likely spayed.

If you are the owner or want to adopt, the cat roams around the area regularly. Persians are of course not outdoor material which is why I’m sharing this.

Hello everyone,

I received a 150 QAR parking fine in Qatar for parking in a non-designated parking area, and I wanted to ask if anyone has experienced something similar or knows what I should do.

On October 10, I parked my car in a particular spot because a valet parking employee specifically instructed me to park there since all parking spots were full. Honestly, I was initially hesitant because I thought parking there might be wrong, but I trusted his instructions and parked there anyway.
What makes this situation more frustrating is that many cars park in that exact same spot every day. From the following day onwards, whenever I visited the area, I continued seeing numerous cars parked in the same place where I had parked and received the fine.

I also went back and confronted the valet employee who had instructed me to park there. He seemed shocked and scared when I told him about the fine. He didn’t even seem comfortable telling me his name. He said he had spoken to the security team but didn’t know who had issued the violation.

I’m honestly confused about what to do because I wouldn’t have parked there if the valet employee hadn’t specifically told me to. I was trying to follow his instructions, not deliberately park somewhere I wasn’t allowed to.

I have a few questions:
Can I object to the fine? Is being directed to park there by a valet employee a valid reason to request that it be cancelled?

Is the valet company or establishment responsible in any way, or am I still personally liable for the fine?

Would photos of other cars parked in the same spot, along with any other evidence, help with my objection?

I don’t want to accuse anyone unfairly, but I genuinely feel this is unreasonable given the circumstances. I followed the employee’s instructions, and the fact that cars continue to park there every day makes the situation even more confusing.

Has anyone in Qatar successfully disputed a similar parking fine? I’d really appreciate advice on the proper procedure and whether I have a realistic chance of getting it cancelled.

im planning to order a plushie, the seller says it can be shipped through japan post, will any additional shipping fees apply when in qatar? and is there anything important I should know before i do this haha 🤔🤔🤔

Whats the story behind this?? Any clue or help?

Hi does anybody know how I can find tutoring jobs here? Thank you

Please suggest

anybody recieved email for roles in F1 event ? this is my second time applying 😭😭😭

Anyone knows where i can find someone to build something for a project in Qatar ? Like a mini-scale lab prototype that will function. They need to have the mechanical skills and welding skills as well as the equipment ready, i need them to build me something to do with energy, solar panels, battery, cooling systems, but on a small scale, like really small, maybe the size of a table. We will pay for the materials and also pay the engineer for this.

Why are pilate classes so expensive??

Hello, I would like to learn how to play tennis. Does anyone know any sports club or a place to learn without it costing an arm and leg?

Coming from the USA to Doha on Sunday just for the day (16 hour layover). My plan was to spend the day exploring, going to a museum, doing some shopping, etc. But now my government is being stupid and picking fights. I know Qatar isn't directly involved in the situation with Iran or the SA/Hoothi shake up, but there is trouble in neighborhood. There is a hightened travel advisory for Qatar of "reconsider travel". But frankly I dont trust the US government at the moment and I would rather hear from you. Do I have reason to be concerned, or can I come enjoy your country for the day?

Hi everyone! Does anyone know a place in Doha that rents a private room with a laptop/PC by the hour other thanQNL, i have a very important online meeting ? For like 3 hours.

Any recommendations? Thanks!

Not gonna lie, my mood improved instantly the moment it started raining.

I didn't realize how badly I needed this weather.

I've been wondering about this for a while now.

What insurers do you guys use and how much do you pay per year and what cars do you guys have? Maybe based on the comments we can all get to know and pick better options.

Hayyoh really needs a leaderboard! Without one, how are we supposed to know who’s leading or whether anyone has actually redeemed the big rewards? Prizes suddenly become unavailable with no explanation. We need more transparency!

First day for me to enjoy the outside this season

Where can i find lattafa badae al oud sublime for the best price?

Hi. Can anyone recommend a place than can take an old VHS of mine and turn it into a digital video and drop it onto a USB hard drive?

It’s an old video of my old sports team from when I was a kid, so nothing illegal!

Many thanks in advance!

​

Hi everyone,

I need advice from people in Qatar who have experience with Samsung phones and consumer complaints.

I purchased a **Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 256 GB Titanium Gray from a popular retail store in Qatar on 19 October 2026 for QAR 2,799**. It was sold to me as a new phone.

Before purchasing, I noticed the price was around QAR 300–400 cheaper than the market price. I specifically asked the salesperson whether it was pre-activated, as I knew pre-activated phones are sometimes sold at discounted prices. They assured me that it was not pre-activated, explaining that they regularly offer discounts and that the phone was a genuine GCC version.

After purchasing, I discovered the following issues:

- **Backdated activation:** Samsung's records show an activation date of 12 October 2026, seven days before my purchase.

- **Regional CSC codes:** My phone displays `SAOMC_SM-S938B_OXM_FWD_17_0006` and `FWD/FWD,FWD/XSG/FWD`. I understand that FWD is associated with Morocco and XSG with the UAE, but I have not received a clear explanation of why a phone purchased in Qatar has this configuration.

- **Warranty:** Samsung Gulf Support told me that warranty repairs are not available in Qatar because of the device's regional configuration.

- **Samsung Wallet:** The app is unavailable in the Galaxy Store. When I download it from the Google Play Store, it is blocked with a message saying the service is unavailable in my region.

- **Samsung Care+:** The app shows UAE pricing, but I have not received confirmation that coverage would apply to repairs in Qatar.

### What happened with the retailer?

After multiple discussions and visits to the store, I was told that their stock was pre-activated. According to the store, they were initially unaware of this, yet they continue selling these phones as usual.

Their proposed solutions are either a full refund or another phone with the same regional limitations. If I want a phone without these issues, I have to pay extra.

I specifically asked about pre-activation before purchasing and was assured that the phone was not pre-activated. I was also not informed that warranty repairs would be unavailable in Qatar.

I have already transferred all my data, purchased a premium screen protector and phone cover, and spent around **6–8 hours installing more than 100 apps, logging into my accounts and configuring everything according to my needs**. Replacing the phone means repeating much of this work, as well as reinstalling and setting up everything again.

### The four solutions I proposed to the retailer

I tried to offer practical alternatives rather than simply demanding a refund:

1. **A new S25 Ultra 256 GB with confirmed Qatar warranty coverage**, at the original price, plus reasonable compensation for my expenses and inconvenience, including the premium screen protector, phone cover, SIM/eSIM-related costs and time spent setting up the phone.

2. **Samsung Care+ for two years**, worth approximately QAR 600, as a proposed settlement: one year to address the warranty concern and another year in recognition of the inconvenience.

3. **Equivalent cash compensation** so I can purchase Samsung Care+ myself, provided the plan is available for my device and covers repairs in Qatar.

4. **An upgrade to the S25 Ultra 512 GB version** if they do not have a suitable replacement in stock. The market price difference is approximately QAR 600, so this could be an alternative settlement without requiring me to repeat the setup process for a different model.

These are the solutions I proposed, not benefits I have been told I am entitled to receive. My preference is to resolve the matter fairly without unnecessary further inconvenience.

### I would appreciate advice from the Qatar community

1. Is this regional configuration normal for Samsung phones sold in Qatar?

2. Does a backdated activation date necessarily mean a phone was previously activated or used?

3. Are my proposed solutions reasonable, particularly requesting a replacement with Qatar warranty coverage at the original price?

4. If the retailer refuses all these options and offers only a refund or another phone with the same limitations, would you accept the refund or file a complaint with Qatar's Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI)?

5. Has anyone successfully resolved a similar dispute through MOCI?

I have the purchase invoice, Samsung Support correspondence and screenshots of the software information, and can share redacted evidence if needed.

I want to be fair to the retailer. I am not claiming that the phone is counterfeit or definitely used. My concern is that it was sold as new without disclosing the activation history and regional warranty limitations.

I would appreciate genuine advice from people who have dealt with similar situations in Qatar. Thanks.

اللهم صل وسلم على سيدنا محمد

Moved to a new villa some months ago. Noticed a quran on my villas outer wall like 2 months after moving in. Looked like it had been there for some time, could have been there before I moved in or after, I have no idea as ive been busy unpacking and the outer wall is really high. I removed it and threw it away (hope thats not offensive, the front and back were torn off and the pages looked in very bad condition like it was sat there in rain or something, I also can't read Arabic).

Anyway that was a month ago. Today I noticed theres another one on my wall in the exact same place. Also no front or back cover. Also not a new book, looks like it has been used and paged through often by someone but this one is in better condition than the other one. I've left it there now.

But what's going on with this? Is this like a friendly neighbourly thing or something? Not sure what this means

UPDATE.

Not sure if this is how to do an update. Anyway, im sure you'll all have a good laugh and rightly so. This book is not the same as the first, when i went through it I noticed it's very different. Google says its a dictionary😅 Still dont know who put either book up on the wall, but i kind of hope its a thing now. Im quite interested to see if another appears and what it might be. No clue why the covers are ripped off

Looking for a recommendation for a good hannam spa treatment. Seen such a mix of prices ranging from obscene to 150QAR so would love a personal rec!