Job offer with qatar petro as a doctor?

Hi I am moving to Qatar as regional Head for an IT company. My employer HO is in Dubai they are asking me to come to Dubai now for 10 days and from there move to Qatar on Business Visa til they arrange my Employment visa. They have given me proper contract in name of thier Qatar company, can any one tell me is it ok to move on business visa now till i get employment visa. What are the formalities and documents required for Qatar employment visa ?

Thanks

asalaamu alaikum brother,

thank you for the feedback. I really appreciate it! And inshAllah hopefully it will help us in making a decision. We'll probably be coming out in December if possible. We are waiting for a response from QP to schedule this in.. perhaps checking out school at the same time.

There are mosques in walking distance from everywhere. You can easily go to the mosque at least once a day because you are in a muslim country. You also get Friday off so again you can attend Juma which is around 11.30am and you end up with the rest of the day to yourself. Also the kids will learn the correct pronounciation of the Quran.

My Brother in Laws kids have grown up in Qatar and they love it. The eldest is around 15 and they are dreading returning to the UK.

In response to your other questions, Qatar is a muslim country so there is no problem being accepted.

Schools, I will find out for myself shortly. My son loved his school in Dubai, so hopefully he will enjoy Qatar. Schools are quite full though so you would need to register asap and pester them for progress on the waiting list.

Salary wise, it is difficult for me to comment for a GP, but the way I approached it was to see how much was left after paying the accommodation bill and compare that to the after tax salary in the UK. In my case it was a bit more and coupled with the above reasons was enough to make me move. It is difficult to negotiate with QP but if you don't ask you don't get. I benchmarked £50k plus school fees and accom because that is how much someone with a PHD in an oil company might make. THerefore I assumed a GP might make more?

I understand working conditions are quite stable, providing one is proficient.

Lastly I get home at around 3.00pm which is a major improvement over the UK 7pm. This means I will have loads of time with my little daughter when the rest of the family arrive.

But with everything there are negatives. You have to get used to the slowness of Govt deptartments and the way they do business. Customer Service leaves a lot to be desired but after a while you just put up with it.

At least go to the interview and see Qatar for yourself.

Its nice to meet a fellow muslim with the same aspirations as ourselves. Quran and the mosque is so important to my family!

And prestige in this country is meaningless to us.. as our goals is to enter Jannah InshAllah and not become engrossed in this worldy life (duniya) ..

After reading all the posts by others we are worried it will not be a step in that direction. Will the qataris accept us because we are muslim? Can our kids go to a public/private school and not be battered? And how stable will the working conditions be if we accept the offer?

These are the sorts of questions we are asking.

I wasn't quite clear on how much you would be asking for?

Do you plan on asking for £60k plus a villa and school fees?

That would be ideal for me and the hubby! And would make us feel like we are making the right move with that sort of package.

I suffer from chronic fatique syndrome (which is seperate to an ear problem which causes me dizziness (still being investigated) and the idea of having a full time maid sound absolutely ideal. And to have my husband home by 2:30 a dream come true.

What stops us is the feeling that my husband will be a lowly salaried gp with no respect in the work place or other qataris.

So when do you plan on visiting Qatar for the interview? Or are you already working out there?

Ummhasan,

There are Muslim British Doctors already working for QP, I had an appointment with one the other day.

My basic is less that what was offered to your husband, but I have taken the position nonetheless for family reasons such as more time with the family and life is a bit easier for my wife. (QP hours 6.30 to 2.30). Also like you mention there is the opportunity for the kids to learn Arabic and the Quran with one to one tution at cheap prices. This cuts out the mosque runs. Overall the cost of living will be cheaper than the UK, generally. But then again if you're coming from the US you may find Qatar expensive, since some things seem priced against the UK market.

But what your husband really has to consider is whether he wants to give up his position in the UK, especially if it is prestigous.

Money wise if you allow QR 8,000 for a 2 bed flat, then I calculate the package to be around £50k + school fees and accommodation, which isn't too bad, but I'm sure a GP could make more. As a GP I would be looking for around £60k + villa and school fees.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

I have found that my career opportunities have grown since being in Qatar. As Britain is becoming so diverse, it is invaluable to work with many different cultures and nationalities. I know that when I return to the UK, I will be a more valuable commodity, particularly as an ED Nurse Practitioner. Plus, as a QP employee, the medical services are excellent and, seemingly, without budget. If you hurt your back for example, an MRI is usually arranged within 48 hours. Obviously there are frustrations too, but on the whole, as long as you don't stay 20 years, it is a positive step. I wish you the very best of luck, all the best JJ

If he teaches in the UK, he should look at WCMC-Qs website for jobs. They're always looking for well-trained faculty.

thank you cal tex and sa japie..

Yeah, I thought the salary was quite strange. Perhaps if my husband can negotiate a more senior postition than we will take the job.

but if as sa japie has said.. negotiation with QP is "forget it" then we would probably not take the job.

Especially as he teaches medical students in this country! And as I mentioned before already earns more than the offer in his net income before taxes.

cah angon.. this may sound like alot of money but coming from england and (i am american) this would barely pay the smallest of mortgages in our home countries. My family will still be living in england and the usa so the expenses will still be really high..

So people from these countries tend to ask for more money.. which usually goes out the window to the tax man anyway.

if we were from India, cambodia.. ectr.. then perhaps we would love this salary and be very happy. But then it is less expensive to live, buy a house in those countries and take care of our families.

Your chances of an RP for your mother-in-law are ZERO!!! You will be better off where you are. As for negotiating with QP - forget it. They have made a final offer and that's it!

"To be or not to be? That is the question"

I think this is a pretty poor offer. 44,000 pounds per year seems low for an MD (88K usd) The housing is low as well. If you're looking to live a simple lifestyle in a muslim country it might be okay but I don't think you'll be able to save much over the long run.

I don't know what the salary for a GP here is, but I know that faculty at the medical college are are closer to the 55 - 75 thousand pounds at least, plus a much better transportation and housing allowance.

That's good salary,spending for food it's normal,accommodation you have planned.And others look like free( medical,school,electric and water company will cover) so what...Thanks God

others still lower than you but still live n survive

I still say you need to check with the company whether you wil be able to get a Family visa for the mother in law. I have a work colleague here who has her mother living with her, but they were unable to get her a family visa, so every month they fly her to Bahrain and back for a visit visa run...this becomes expensive. You do need to check.

Your last statement:

although she probably does a better job doing it herself..

I wonder what kind of JOB OR How?

No need to respond to this one, I totally understand, what are you trying to say. I'm just being a little bit sarcastic.

I'm happy for you my friend.

My Confession Booth is available for counseling for a better job doing it herself.

LOL

J/K

The Red Pope of Qatar Living

Soulless bastards creeping in the night!

24K is not all that bad since everything else is paid...

You just have to live in an apartment...

Not the end of the world...

Conversion back to the pound would be your biggest concern...

Good luck...

You can't teach experience...

Like I said.. WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOTHER IN LAW..

although she probably does a better job doing it herself..

thank you very much.

They always have nursing homes at your disposal, to release you from your duties.

Other wise you are stuck with your adopted family responsibility.

The Red Pope of Qatar Living

Abba, Abba, Padre!

my mother in law is a major concern. She is very old and frail..

And I will not leave without her! So that would be the number 1 priority on our list. It is our islamic duty to take care of her.. so we are happy to pay any expenses.. But it does seem like the rent is extortionate.

I'm thinking 2 1bed flats would be ideal for the first year or so. As I plan to save as much money as we possibly can!

Right.. so we should try to negotiate the gross... The above amount doesn't even come close to the net.. let alone the gross. So that definately has me thinking now.

thanks for the reply

It really depends on what he is earning in the UK as to whether the basic salary is reasonable, he should negotiate for a basic salary that is the same as what he is earning gross a month at home, then look at the benefits on top of that. When you say schooling is covered, is that up to a certain limit per child? The school fees vary significently from school to school.

I am a bit confused about the comment about seperate accommodation for your Mother in Law...is she coming to Qatar also? Who would sponsor her for residency, as I do not think your husband would be able to sponsor her on a family visa. Maybe someone else here knows more on that subject..best you check.

Cheers