Beyoncé Goes Incognito in Qatar After Jay-Z’s AI Talk in Abu Dhabi

Beyoncé and Jay-Z recently made headlines with their visit to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, where their trip blended luxury and business in true power-couple fashion. The pair were spotted exploring the National Museum of Qatar and local markets in Doha before heading to the UAE capital, where Jay-Z reportedly met with Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss entertainment and tech ventures. Their time in the Gulf wasn’t just a getaway, as it reflected their growing influence as global names. Here’s what to know.

Beyoncé kept a low profile while shopping at a mall in Qatar

During her recent visit to Doha, the capital of Qatar, Beyoncé made a discreet yet stylish shopping stop that underlined her effortless ability to blend star-presence with cultural awareness. Photographs captured her at the luxury Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) boutique inside the upscale Place Vendôme Mall. She wore an all-black ensemble featuring a flowing robe-style outerwear piece, a modest headscarf and large sunglasses, according to TMZ.

Though the outing may have seemed casual, Beyoncé’s choice to don a traditional abaya and headscarf for her mall stop in Qatar resonated on multiple levels. On one hand, it demonstrated her comfort navigating one of the Gulf region’s most luxury-savvy shopping environments. On the other, it sparked conversations around cultural sensitivity and celebrity influence. The sighting, which reportedly included little visible shopping bags or fanfare, suggested that the visit may have been more about experience and presence than a full retail spree.

Jay-Z was not seen at the mall with his ultra-famous wife. However, TMZ points out that he stayed in the country with her. The National Museum of Qatar posted photos to their Instagram of Jay-Z walking around in the establishment.

Jay-Z met with Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Jay-Z met Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi in mid-October 2025. According to reports, the Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser invited Jay-Z, along with key figures from his entertainment and investment network, to explore how the emirate’s ambition to become a global destination for culture and innovation might align with Jay-Z’s empire in music, sports, technology and media.

“I met Shawn ‘Jay-Z’ Carter, President of ‘Roc Nation,’ accompanied by Jay Brown, Vice President, and Elbert O’Neil Robinson Jr., CEO of ‘Marcy Pen Capital Partners,'” Al Nahyan wrote in Arabic and posted to social media, according to Vibe. “We discussed the future of the entertainment sector and the technological transformations driven by artificial intelligence in this vital field, as well as the importance of achieving a balance between innovation, data protection, and creators’ rights.”

They discussed how artificial intelligence is transforming the entertainment sector, the rights of creators in a digitised world, and Abu Dhabi’s Government Digital Strategy targeting a shift toward a service-led economy powered by tech and creativity.

Fans have mixed feelings about Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s international visit

Fans have expressed a range of emotions in response to Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s recent visits to Qatar and Abu Dhabi. While some fans commend the couple for embracing local cultures, others question the authenticity of such gestures, perceiving them as performative activism. This sentiment is particularly pronounced among LGBTQ+ communities, who recall Beyoncé’s 2023 performance in Dubai, where homosexuality is criminalized, and view her recent visits as contradictory to her previously vocal support for LGBTQ+ rights. Additionally, Jay-Z’s meeting has raised concerns about the ethical implications of engaging with regimes facing human rights scrutiny.

On the other hand, many fans expressed that Beyoncé was likely happy to have the opportunity to go out in public without fans immediately recognizing her.

“This is probably the first time in a minute she’s been able to go out in public and move around like a normal person,” a fan on Reddit wrote. “Love that for her!”