Doha Roll Call
Discussion
C'mon then, lets see a show of hands.
I'm thinking of taking a job out there and having never been near the place, I'd like to hear your opinions and experiences as to life in the middle east (mainly Qatar).
Some questions I have:
Grateful for any thoughts you may have. This will likely be a five year move for me, so it needs to be right!
On a more PH note, how expensive is it to buy/rent a motor out there? Company are paying me an allowance each month which I could add to if need be.
TIA.
I'm thinking of taking a job out there and having never been near the place, I'd like to hear your opinions and experiences as to life in the middle east (mainly Qatar).
Some questions I have:
- cost of living vs London?
- quality of life compared to UK?
- activities
- cultural variances
- would you come back to Blighty?
Grateful for any thoughts you may have. This will likely be a five year move for me, so it needs to be right!
On a more PH note, how expensive is it to buy/rent a motor out there? Company are paying me an allowance each month which I could add to if need be.
TIA.
A pal of mine moved there from Dubai a year or so ago.... he rates the place, there's not as much to do as Dubai, definately not as many drinking holes (if that's your thing) but costs are lower, there's less congestion on the roads and arguably the environment is less spoilt.
He works hard there, 6 days a week etc but is very well rewarded (higher salary than Dubai) and has no desire to leave at the moment.
I've visited once for a long weekend and really enjoyed it also, could I live there........ Yes, definitely if the package was right.
He works hard there, 6 days a week etc but is very well rewarded (higher salary than Dubai) and has no desire to leave at the moment.
I've visited once for a long weekend and really enjoyed it also, could I live there........ Yes, definitely if the package was right.
GreatPretender said:
Some questions I have:
TIA.
I've never lived in London so I couldn't compare.- cost of living vs London?
- quality of life compared to UK?
- activities
- cultural variances
- would you come back to Blighty?
TIA.
Infact in a very brief summary you can say there are ways that being in Qatar absolutely kicks the crap out of living in the UK, and in equal measure, there are ways that the UK kicks the crap out of living here...I guess it is about what matters most to you. Personally I've lived in Dubai and I much prefer Doha.
I'll try give you a bit of an overview on how I see Qatar.
GOOD THINGS
Quality of life?...well that depends on your quality of life in the UK. For me I was struggling to make ends meet as a Quantity Surveyor,I drove a Skoda Octavia VRS and could barely afford a flatshare in suburbia. Ontop of that, I would always take a train to work and got tired of the pissing rain and cold and standing on a platform in the dark at both ends of the day for 6 months of the year.
In Doha, as a comparison..I live in the centre of town (West Bay), on the 28th floor of my tower and this is my view when I wake up for all but about 5 days of the year
I have 90% of the bars and restaurant hotspots in Qatar within 1000m, I used to drive a supercar to work which I traded for a race car and a new Audi A5 3.0 coupe, I've got about 20 grand in watches (a weakness of mine) and have saved a significant chunk of money for my retirement.
So you could say that at 29 I'm doing ok for a QS from Leeds
I've got a great circle of friends and to me this is KEY to liking Qatar.
There is almost no crime, you can leave your car running while you pop into the shops and it will be there when you come back.
Its sunny all the year between September and May you can sit outside and its fantastic weather!
NO TAX
Petrol is 14p a liter (for optimax grade fuel)!
Of course there is a flip side to that coin, and for me that is the real clincher as to if you'll like it out here.
Bad things
The healthcare system isn't even close to the UK, of course, with your job you'll have something like BUPA cover and you'll be fully covered. For me I'd be really REALLY s
t scared if I had something like a car accident and needed a serious operation here as I just don't have faith in the Doctors after my limited experience with them...again thats a personal opinion and I've got at least 3 friends who've had babies here and the experience has been 5 star so maybe its just in my head that the healthcare isnt all that.There is inequality everywhere. Being a Western Expat we don't get 90% of the crap that other nationals do but it can be pretty bad at times.
There is also injustice that can wind you up, I had 2 girls I knew who were in a car accident, 1 died the other had horrific injuries and lost a hand. Both were in their 20's. They were in a convertible 3 series with no seatbelts on and they'd all been drinking, (including the driver). The driver went to jail for about 3 months then got out and was partying and had a new Mercedes AMG to party in...all because he was "connected".
On the other hand the guy who stole my phone (the only example I can give of theft between me and my friends in the last 4 years) got 3 years in jail followed by deportation.
If you're trying to get anything done that needs government signoff like a driving license, registering a car or otherwise, be prepared to deal with numptys who will do anything to get out of helping you so they can go for a cigarette out back...infact in pretty much every part of life here you're going to come across gross incompetence, I'd say this is probably one of the hardest part of life here for me as it just gets you down!
There is no law against smoking in bars, its really grim for a none smoker in some bars.
As for the rules here, they're basically the same as the UK but if you cross the line you could get in alot more trouble.
Drinking wise, there are more 5 star restaurants than you can shake a stick at, and there are LOADS of bars too, both loud and quiet.
You're also only a few hours flight to all sorts of places that you'll be able to afford to visit!
Activities wise you can do anything here but you have to make an effort to go do them! I guarentee anyone who says Qatar is boring is a lazy git who can't be arsed to make a phone call and book an activity.
Golf
Shooting
Kayaking
Desert safaris
Scuba Diving on Ship wrecked oil tankers off shore
Race car driving/track days
Drag Racing
Boxing/Martial Arts classes
Photography groups
Painting
Jetskiing
...basically you name it, there's a group that do it here!
There's a load more I could talk about but I'm supposed to be working
I'd also say the people who work 6 day weeks last usually a year or 2 tops because the quality of their social life is not as good due to less free time to blow off steam.
I'd add to that make sure you have a multi exit visa in your contract, otherwise you wont be allowed to leave the country once you get residency without your employer processing some paperwork for you...(its not as bad as it sounds, but having a multi exit makes life MUCH easier).
PS: Not a chance would I come back to the UK! I go for Christmas for a week and that is it.
Inbox me if you decide to move over, I'll get you introduced to some local Petrolheads, most of us met at trackdays or race here.
Edited by TobyLaRohne on Thursday 14th August 06:56
DIBS ON DRIVING!
Looks like there could be enough for me to round you all up as my pitcrew! I only pay biscuits but you'll get to help out fettling my race car and of course passes to the races as well as passes to the GT3 Middle East race and Radical Race series we are a supporting series for!
Looks like there could be enough for me to round you all up as my pitcrew! I only pay biscuits but you'll get to help out fettling my race car and of course passes to the races as well as passes to the GT3 Middle East race and Radical Race series we are a supporting series for!
TobyLaRohne said:
DIBS ON DRIVING!
Looks like there could be enough for me to round you all up as my pitcrew! I only pay biscuits but you'll get to help out fettling my race car and of course passes to the races as well as passes to the GT3 Middle East race and Radical Race series we are a supporting series for!
And you may end up being scrutineered by the pal I was speaking about earlier, Gary Vincent... he does a lot of the scrutineering and marshalling stuff over there in Doha.Looks like there could be enough for me to round you all up as my pitcrew! I only pay biscuits but you'll get to help out fettling my race car and of course passes to the races as well as passes to the GT3 Middle East race and Radical Race series we are a supporting series for!
K50 DEL said:
TobyLaRohne said:
DIBS ON DRIVING!
Looks like there could be enough for me to round you all up as my pitcrew! I only pay biscuits but you'll get to help out fettling my race car and of course passes to the races as well as passes to the GT3 Middle East race and Radical Race series we are a supporting series for!
And you may end up being scrutineered by the pal I was speaking about earlier, Gary Vincent... he does a lot of the scrutineering and marshalling stuff over there in Doha.Looks like there could be enough for me to round you all up as my pitcrew! I only pay biscuits but you'll get to help out fettling my race car and of course passes to the races as well as passes to the GT3 Middle East race and Radical Race series we are a supporting series for!
TobyLaRohne said:
K50 DEL said:
TobyLaRohne said:
DIBS ON DRIVING!
Looks like there could be enough for me to round you all up as my pitcrew! I only pay biscuits but you'll get to help out fettling my race car and of course passes to the races as well as passes to the GT3 Middle East race and Radical Race series we are a supporting series for!
And you may end up being scrutineered by the pal I was speaking about earlier, Gary Vincent... he does a lot of the scrutineering and marshalling stuff over there in Doha.Looks like there could be enough for me to round you all up as my pitcrew! I only pay biscuits but you'll get to help out fettling my race car and of course passes to the races as well as passes to the GT3 Middle East race and Radical Race series we are a supporting series for!
It's a small world after all lol
K50 DEL said:
He's the lanky beanpole type fella, possibly with glasses on... as you say, I suspect you've met... from conversations I've had with him and comments of yours I've read on here you certainly know some of the same people!
It's a small world after all lol
Shaved head? Southerner? Yeah I know the guy, he's helped me trying to find an electrical fault in the past, good friends with Tim S.It's a small world after all lol
...hangon what conversations you've had with him?! Not speaking ill of me is he?
Edited by TobyLaRohne on Thursday 14th August 14:37
It is a law firm.
5 working days (Sun-Thurs). Will definitely be multi exit, as I will be in Oman and Dubai a bit as they have offices there too.
Waiting to see package - and all subject to second interview success.
But I feel confident - and will be tapping all you guys up for work if you are in construction...
5 working days (Sun-Thurs). Will definitely be multi exit, as I will be in Oman and Dubai a bit as they have offices there too.
Waiting to see package - and all subject to second interview success.
But I feel confident - and will be tapping all you guys up for work if you are in construction...
TobyLaRohne said:
johnfm said:
Things moving quickly.
First call today. 2nd interview on Monday. Decision expected by Tuesday. If successful, in Doha by 8 Sept!!
Yikes.
Multi Exit Visa?First call today. 2nd interview on Monday. Decision expected by Tuesday. If successful, in Doha by 8 Sept!!
Yikes.
Health insurance company name?
Dental Cover?
5 or 6 working days?
Gassing Station | Middle East | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff