All Veils Are Off

Memoir lifts lid on extraordinary lives of Qatari women.

Once described by the Lonely Planet Guide as the dullest place on earth, Qatar sounded like a bad lung condition to Marguerette Heding. Moving there was surely the last gasp or was Allah guiding her path?

Fascinating, shocking and humourous in equal measure, All Veils Are Off is a revealing account of Heding's eight years living in Qatar. Entering a world of privilege and opulence, Heding must learn to navigate the tricky ex-pat community, including the cruel antics of Hetta the Horrible. As petty domestic politics swirl around her, Heding stares down her fears and faces potentially life-threatening situations; from suicide bombers to crazy drivers, heat stroke, psychopaths and dune bashing.