Women in Qatar

Women in Qatar experience certain forms of discrimination, including being subjected to the country's male guardianship law. Qatar is the only remaining country in the Gulf region which continues to require male guardianship for women's travel. Women in Qatar were enfranchised at the same time as men. Labour force participation rates of Qatari women are above the world average and among the highest in the Arab World, which comes mainly as a result of an increasing number of Qatari women who are attaining academic degrees.

There is limited mixing between the sexes and Qatari women in public are largely expected to wear traditional clothing which typically consists of an abaya and shayla, both of which partially conceal their appearance. Mouza Al Malki, a psychologist, claims that gender separation is influenced more by cultural factors than religious factors. Women in Qatar must obtain permission from their male guardians to marry, study abroad on government scholarships, work in many government jobs, travel abroad until certain ages, receive some forms of reproductive health care and to act as a child's primary guardian, even when they are divorced. Women in Qatar are also subjected to various traditional practices, including FGM, although this has declined in recent years.