Indian businesses and services in Doha, Qatar

Close to Doha's old airport, Najma and Mansoura are dense with grocers, tailors, money exchanges and inexpensive restaurants serving Kerala, Hyderabadi, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Nepali food. The Old Airport area has a large South Asian community, and Al Muntazah is an established, more affordable family area. Msheireb, in the old centre, has been rebuilt as a modern downtown district, displacing many of the expatriate workers who used to live there. Out in the Industrial Area, Asian Town was built with shops, cinemas and a cricket stadium for the many workers who live nearby.

The Indian Cultural Centre, an apex body under the patronage of the Indian embassy, brings together more than 90 affiliated community associations, and the calendar is full of Onam, Diwali, Eid and regional events, usually held in school auditoriums and hotels. Cricket is played on open grounds at weekends in every corner of the city.

Be aware of the rules on religious practice. Qatar has no authorised Hindu temple, so Hindu residents worship privately, at home or in small gatherings. Christian families from Kerala and elsewhere attend the churches of the Religious Complex at Abu Hamour, where one parish holds Mass in Malayalam. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are national holidays, and Ramadan changes working and shopping hours. The weekend falls on Friday and Saturday, and Friday afternoon and evening are the busiest times in Najma and Mansoura.