Italian in Qatar
Hi everybody,
I am an italian chemical engineer 47 years old, married and with a 15 months lovely baby. Recently I've been offered a job in Health & Safety Dpt from an international oil & gas company for a 2-3 years project in Qatar with a salary of 34000QR/month (plus two family airfares per year, car and house included).
Reading a lot on your forum I understand that it's alright for 3 people but the cost of living at Doha is quickly increasing and for a family life I have to think about: sanitary card, medical insurance, school fee, electricity on summer, restaurant sometimes etc.
How is the medical assistance in Qatar? Is it a good place for a pregnant (we hope to enlarge the family ....)
Could you update me?
A normal delivery in Doha Clinic Hospital cost us 5,000 QAR. get recommendations for doctors as soon as you get here, as a doctor you feel comfortable with will make a lot of difference.
As a resident --and you will be a resident, regardless of how long you stay-- you will be entitled to free health care at the public hospital, but the service is better at the private ones.
Your salary will be fine. Note that the 6-7,000 figure for school fees was PER TERM, not per month. It will work out to about 20,000 PER YEAR.
Prima di tutto benvenuto! We are a family too, with a 3 year old, so I should be able to answer your questions....other than maybe the hospital (for that I can only advise what other people have told me).
You can contact me through my profile, and I'll get back to you. In ogni caso, l'offerta mi sembre buona....basta che non devi pagare tu la casa, e che vieni pagato in Euro (il cambio e ottimo al momento).
Ciao, a presto.
Do not worry, the salary is in euro. I note that in posts the usual currency is QR or (sometimes) US$: due to this reason I have changed.
But, you right: if the inflation ride up at 10%/year in Q, it is important to negotiate an update of the offer. Always.
Any nursery or pre-schools that you know?
Ciao
Thank you novita77 for your useful info. In my country (and Europe too) the public health assistance is free of charge. You pay only a low fixed price (ticket) for every kind of assistance.
The National Health Care - to which belong hospitals, out patient departments etc. - guarantees medical assistance to all citizens, Italian and foreigner without discriminatory treatment. In order to benefit it is necessary to enrol, and the sanitary card (with the name of the beneficiary and of the doctor in charge) proves the application for admission.
Sanitary card gives the right to:
1. have a family doctor and paediatrician;
2. have specialist assistance, at the cost of the ticket;
3. hospitalization either private (if operating within the national Health Service) or public;
4. assistance for buying medicines;
The medical assistance is guaranteed to everyone who is enrolled and to their families if they have a regular residence permit.
I imagine that I need a private health insurance for me and my family because I do not think to be a resident in Q, but to stay a couple or 4 years only.
You say 10.000 QR for your son, I hope it was for the childbirth and not for an yearly health care fee!
Which kind of school have you considered for the price of 6.000 - 7.000 QR per month? It's an high fee: 20% of the salary.
If this much salary could have been offered to some asians they would have started their own company in sub continent after one year!!
Be thankful to God and accept it. Try to manage things under controlled budget (don't over spend on entertainment, have a reasonable car) you'll never regret!!
Best of luck!!
The employer normally, by qatari law, would provide you with health insurance which is comprehensive but does not cover dental works. 34000QR is the going rate for western mechanical engineers (and this includes allowances already) but i wouldnt know in the oil and gas sector. That rate ,net of housing, is considered a good one. Housing is one of the costly expenses here. My husband suggests you try to negotiate your salary in Euro because of the fluctuating exchange rate where a high euro rate makes one lose some hundreds at month's end.
The pre-schools shouldn't be a problem if you reserve a place for your baby with ample time before.
Buona fortuna.
you will survive comfortably with the age of your child now.
no idea what is sanitary card is?
I had my son 5 yrs ago ... it was 10.000 QR for c section in American Hospital. No idea about the price now. I am sure the other poster can help you in this department.
Depend how long you plan to live here ... a good school at the moment cost QR 6.700 and above a term, and normally increase 10 percents per year. So if no increament in your salary ... in a few years time you might find it hard to save up.