Many Questions....can you help?

there is nothing like this which you have heard...ur most welcome ...:)

Hi all.

Aday and exexexpat. Thanks for taking the time to give me more information. I have family in pakistan but I was born in UK and haved lived in the UK all my life. My degree is from the UK and my 12yrs + of management experience is within large UK companies.

I also have a british passport etc.

Am looking to update my CV in the near future and so will begin speculative applications.

I did hear, previously that pakistani / non arab people wishing to get work in saudi can be subjected to a form of bias etc (institutionalised culture of racism)

Such a shame that this is the case. However, I will do more research, and as I said in previous posts i would never commit without full understanding / a secured job etc and coming out for a visit etc.

I would have no risk as I have a house fully paid off in UK that I was intending to rent out if i came out there. If it did not work out I could jump straight back out and start again.

Many thanks again for taking the time to pass your very useful comments.

The search continues...

A

I was just about to say something of that nature when he mentioned going "back to Pakistan". A lot would depend on his sponsor and that is where having a UK passport is an advantage, sad to say.

First of all welcome.

Unfortunately Qatar is not the paradise it may have been painted.

Just to reiterate - Doha is expensive. A 3 bedroom place will set you back 2-3k sterling per month. There are only 2 or 3 decent English medium schools in Doha and they are expensive.

You must have employment already arranged with your sponsor before you get here.

Do not think of long term here.....you can not stay..you will have to go back to the UK. From my experience (only) most British serve about 2 or 3 years here.

Doha is not particularly Islamic.

As for breaks to Saudi and Pakistan - please remember that you need your employers permission to leave the country....yes that's right...you do not have the automatic right to leave the country when you wish. If you get a decent employer it shouldn't be a problem. I would ask about this before you accept any offer.

Beware: your contract may suddenly alter when you actually set foot in the country.

I feel horrid, as if I am just bringing you bad news...but I think it only right to warn you of some of the pit falls in advance.....please bear in mind these could be worst case scenarios.

But now, what follows is by far the worst observation I have made since I have been here:

I assume from you previous posts that you are of Pakistani heritage? When you say that you want a more modest and Islamic way of life...you must also be prepared for a very institutionalised culture of racism here in Qatar. You will be seen as being on the 3rd or 4th rung of society. If you have a South Asian appearance then you will be denied entry into malls on a Friday and countless other forms of in your face blatant and unapologetic discrimination. I speak from the experience of having British born Pakistani heritage friends who live here wand get entirely fed up with it.

Please don't look at Qatar through rose tinted glasses, and please please do your homework thoroughly before you make a decision.

I'm sorry to sound so negative but I think you should be informed of all side of living in Doha.

Regards

adey

Yes it's good for haij and umhra from here but Pakistan, only go if you are well armed and have written your will....

lol. very funny. Its not about the people, its about the fact i can hear the call to prayer, the majority of people are more modest, and If i want to pray where I want, I can.....without being looked down on.

Don't get me wrong, don't really care what people think, just can't be arsed with it anymore...

Finally, its only a 2 hour flight back to pakistan, or mecca and medina.....so many more day trips if I wanted to.

Bradford indeed lol!!!

cheers

A

Why don't you try Bradford if you want a more Islamic country? Probably half the population in Qatar is non Muslim

Hi all. I am doing some research on potential sponsors etc.

In answer to nomerci's question I am wanting to move my family to a more islamic country, and if i can transfer my skill set there, which i am sure I could, even better. This whole move is driven by what is best for my family.

The search for info continues!!

A

Why do you want to move here if not for work???

Doha is also one of the most expensive cities in the world

http://www.emigrate.co.uk/info/2007/12/14/emigrating-to-qatar/

You can come for a visit on your UK passport. You cannot rent, buy/register a car, or even get a post-paid phone without a sponsor. That means an employer, mate.

Many thanks again for the info.....getting alot of mixed info, but will def follow this up.

Will keep you posted my friend.

Jazak Allah.

A

You cannot move here without a Qatari sponsor, mate. In other words, you have to have a job to come here.

Private Western curriculum schools are very expensive. Others can give you details but you can check these sites:

http://qa.edu.qa/output/page12.asp

http://www.dess.org/admissions.html

http://www.dohacollege.org/admission/register.php

My wife has done some tutoring for students at these schools and says they are good.

And yes, there is Virgin mobile here so it is worth a try to get.

Best of luck, mate.

hi exexexpat. Many thanks for the advice. I have only started basic research on this. As MaryCatherine mentioned, I will be doing much more research over the coming months. When i know what to expect I will come out there on a visit.

My problem is that I will not be coming through a company sending me from the uk, so I guess I will not benefit from housing/paid education. Is this the case? Or will they see that I have come from UK and offer something in way of recompence?

I will look to start approaching vodafone and qtel/virgin mobile. I currently work for the virgin group in the UK, so may be a way in there.

My kids, as I am, are british born, so speak no arabic at all. So may have to look at private education. What does this typically cost?

Many thanks again for your time.

Regards

A

You will need to pay for your children's education because I am sure you would not be satisfied with the public schools here and your children should be fluent in Arabic besides (but maybe they are). However, if you get a good job they usually provide an expat with the cost of educating their kids (at least up to 2-3 kids).

I would suggest renting for now as I don't think the Pearl or Zig Zag towers are good for living with children (no yards or parks). However, supposedly Lusail will have housing tracts that have individual villas at some point. I do think buying in Qatar is way overpriced at this point and not a secure investment for a non-citizen. You can rent a 3 BR villa starting from about 10,000 QR/month at present, and most companies will pay for housing.

Have you tried Vodafone?

from your questions and responses - you need to do a lot more of your own research (and not rely on strangers' advice) before making a decision to move to Qatar.

I can helping u

[email protected]

Couni. Many thanks for the advice!

Be wary of 2nd hand,as even log books can be, let's say, not quite the true story.

car loan (if you can find a good one) and then brand new seems to be the way forward as far as I can tell.

Try doha-dealerships.com to find the car dealerships.

Good luck. And welcome!

Thanks again.

Cheers

A

I'm not an expert in your industry but most agencies here are crap. I suggest applying direct to the big players here. Vodafone, QTel and maybe star link

Many thanks for your comment theexiledsaint. I am looking to rent my property here in the uk initially I think. Was checking about buying but from what I have read in the short time I have posted this initial query, I think renting all the way...

Any good employment agencies?

Regards

A

Dont buy here unless you have money to waste. Search QL for many discussions on this and make your own mind up.

No income tax in Qatar so as long as you declare yourself non resident in the uk you'll be ok.

All industries are on the up here. So much money is being pumped into the economy and the salaries are amongst the best in the world

Time decides who you will meet in life.

Your heart decides who you want in life.....

But your behaviour decides who will stay in your life....

Many thanks for that tented. Am looking online as we speak. Many thanks for your kind words. InshAllah Speak soon.

A