I think personal gun ownership in the middle east is banned or very limited. I visited the "only" gunshop in Kuwait and it was full of fine shotguns. Kuwait has a shooting complex for olympic type shooting events. I do know that they also frown on military equipment, magazines and such transiting through the airports.
We work in Afghanistan and can not fly to Dubai if we have any military items in our checked baggage, do not pass go, go directly to JAIL!!
On the plus side, there was a zillion "Iraqi guns" squirreled away in Kuwait. You'd be surprised at the number of Kuwaiti's who vow to protect their country from Iraq instead of running like they did when they got invaded in the 90's.
Kuwait "farms out" all industry, commercial businesses to third country nationals, but the military and government are all Kuwaiti.
Tell you friend to enjoy himself in Qatar, he will be safe. The middle eastern countries don't put up with criminals, quick trials and swift punishment!! I traveled all over Kuwait and never felt threatened.