The impact of security awareness on protecting society from crimes: a case study of Doha, the capital of the State of Qatar

Al-Hajri, MO, 2025. The impact of security awareness on protecting society from crimes: a case study of Doha, the capital of the State of Qatar. PhD, Nottingham Trent University.

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Abstract

In 2022, Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup. This was the first time this was held in the Middle East, and it is one of the largest events to have occurred in this region There was considerable uncertainty and concern about the potential impact of such a large scale and significant event on Qatari society. The World Peace Index ranks the State of Qatar as one of the safest nations in the Middle East, recognised for its elevated levels of safety and low crime rates. These concerns gave rise to several questions: what impact would hosting this major global event have on Qatari society, with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of international visitors from diverse cultural backgrounds over a short intense one month period; could the Qatari culture, identified as a cohesive and safe, have a positive influence on international fans; and would visiting fans bring different cultures to these stable settings, resulting in tension, conflict and potentially violent crime? The 2022 Qatar World Cup therefore provided a unique opportunity to critically examine the dynamics of crime and security in this specific context.

The primary theoretical lens used for this study is Social Control Theory. This framework is particularly suitable as it explains the mechanisms that discourage communities from engaging in criminal behaviour, aligning well with Qatari societal norms. The study seeks to explore how deterrence mechanisms and crime prevention strategies within Qatari society were influenced by the influx of international fans during this major event.

This study employed a qualitative methodology. Data was collected at the case study site in the immediate weeks before, and during the 2022 FIFA Football World Cup, from the 20th of November 2022 to the 18th of December 2022. Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted with spectators (home fans and visiting fans), residents, event organisers, and law enforcement authorities. Although this presented a unique research opportunity, it also carried inherent limitations, as the interviews conducted during the event could not be repeated retrospectively.

A key finding from the study is that involving local communities in the planning and execution of major hosted events significantly enhances public safety. The research proposes a framework that integrates the findings of this study with Social Control Theory, offering a conceptual model that elucidates how community engagement contributes to the successful and safe execution of global events. This framework, developed as a ‘security awareness toolkit’ was developed using the findings of this study. It includes key identified thematic areas, namely, Cultural Commitment, Security Dynamics, External Perceptions, and Deviance Deterrence with Engagement Magnetism. The framework also incorporates a practical ‘implementation module.’

The study concludes by affirming the critical importance of crime prevention as a proactive strategy, which is more effective and sustainable than post-incident intervention. It emphasises that engaging communities to play a significant role in ensuring public safety yields long-term benefits, particularly in contexts involving the reception of large numbers of international visitors or the hosting of mega-events.

Item Type:	Thesis
Creators:	Al-Hajri, M.O.
Contributors:	Name Role NTU ID ORCID Newton, A. Thesis supervisor SGY3NEWTOA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2491-8401 Zempi, I. Thesis supervisor SGY3ZEMPIEC https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1719-8573 Rudkin, P. Thesis supervisor SGY3RUDKIP UNSPECIFIED
Date:	July 2025
Rights:	This work is an intellectual property of the author. For private study you may copy up to 5% of this study, non-commercial, personal research. Any re-use of the information contained within this document must be fully referenced, quoting the author, title, university, degree level, and pagination. Queries or requests for any other use, or if a more substantial copy is required, should be directed to the owner of the intellectual Property Rights.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Laura Borcherds
Date Added:	09 Apr 2026 15:01
Last Modified:	09 Apr 2026 15:01
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/55525

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