In colorful Qatar, where the web of law is different from the rest of the world, French officials have a unique piece of advice for fans traveling to Qatar to watch the games: carry two cell phones in case you inadvertently fall into a legal trap.
The French Commission for Information Technology and Freedoms (CEFIT) has warned fans that in Qatar two apps are in violation of local laws: one is an online gambling app and the other is a dating app. If you have such apps on your phone, it is advisable to delete them before entering the country to avoid violating the law. Under local law, such apps are suspected of illegal activities and offenders face both imprisonment and fines.
However, the safest course of action is to carry two cell phones: one for daily life and the other exclusively for the trip to Qatar. That's because, according to Qatari regulations, tourists must have two apps installed on their phones: an official World Cup app for stadium ticket validation and an outbreak monitoring app to track the spread of the new coronavirus.
