Heather Fell, Olympic silver medallist, writes about her life in the media and sports world.

OUR country will probably never attain the wealth of Qatar or its neighbour the United Arab Emirates but it does have something that money can never buy – free speech and equal rights.

On my final evening in Doha I headed to the original downtown to witness a snippet of local culture. The main square had a buzzing atmosphere with live Arabic music blaring out and it was difficult not to be drawn into the centre to enjoy the dancing. However, as I got closer I realised this would not be possible as all of the musicians and dancers were local and tourists did not seem welcome. I was impressed by the vibe and energy in the area, all generated without any alcohol, something we in the West could probably learn from.

Next stop was a short flight over to Abu Dhabi, in the UAE. This time I was visiting a friend who has lived there for a few years. We were heading out to the Grand Prix concert and afterparty so I dressed as I thought appropriate for a country in the Middle East, with my shoulders and knees covered. He almost laughed at me and suggested I quickly got changed - it seems western parties are far less conservative. It is not just the dress code that is relaxed - there was certainly no difficulty purchasing and drinking alcohol, no permit or closed doors required.

For my final few days I headed the short bus ride north to the neighbouring Emirate of Dubai. This was my second time visiting my friend in the last 12 months so I was aware that Dubai is the least conservative of all the cities in the Middle East. That did not quite prepare me for the rugby sevens and its dress code. It is quite a challenge to find a modest fancy dress that is comfortable in 30 degree heat, I soon discovered that I need not have been concerned. It was less about the rugby and more about the party!