New to Qatar

WTF...................

Thanks Canarybird, we are still in talks with my husbands prospective company about allowances etc and have suggested that they sort out our accommodation rather than just an allowance. Most comments are postive about the area so we'll just have to wait and see! Wexy

Qatar is not at the end world - Bahrain and Dubai aare just a stones throw away and the weekend flights are not to expensive if you book at the right time and the right airline.

There are very many ladies clubs for socialising especially for those who are not working. However, you may at some time want to work if your life gets boring. Shopping alls are nice but are a complete bore if your have been through them a couple of times.

TV well it depends on how much time you want to spend watching - MBC 4 and MBC2 as well as Channel One show English films, reality shows and a couple of soaps if you are interested in that. With pay TV you get a lot more channels of course.

The idea behind letting the company get your housing for you is that if there is a rent hike the company will pay if you do it on your own it might be difficult to get a rent increase from the company.

I suggest to you get yourself a copy of the Marhaba when you come here you might even be able to get it on the airport this is and ex-pats bible. If you are staying in a hotel for a couple of days you will definately get a copy there otherwise it costs 20 Riyals.

The weather is very hot from May until the end of October so there is not a lot you can do outside during the day unless you are swimming etc.

Doha is a small but very pretty city (if the building sites were finished) but at present most of the streets are up for repair making traffic congestion very dificult for us all. You might want to take your international driving license as here we are driving on the right side of the road - often very difficult for newcomers.

Hi Sammie, Eaton and guys. Thanks for your input. Still deciding about the job. Any info is greatly appreciated. Wexy

I know what you mean i came over here and did not have telly at first and to be honest other than from seven at night onwards not alot on but there is a american channel which has pop idol sort of thing, but eaton is right if you can get a house through the company hubby is working for it would be much better as the apartments over here are getting smaller and more costly even though there is no dreaded council tax the rent is high i got lucky and got a big two bed for 4500 but it took a month and a half to get and the others i was shown were brand new but as a two bed you could fit a bed in the one room and the rest of the stuff in the other all for 6000!!! So the old buildings are better!! There are loads of beaches to go to but it's not all sand and looking nice most have alot of rubbish and stones on and the nicer ones are busy busy! There is a night life but not as you know it most people do just bbq's and end up spending night times at weekends at other houses if hubby can get on a compound don't turn it down as you can make friends and any problems everyone is on hand to help so if he is off shore for example it is not as bad! Lots of beauty salons at good prices and lots of shopping! Hope this helps

Nonsense Wexy, I find being able to watch TV shows from back home a good way to help deal with culture shock. Also, no matter where you are in the world there are times when you just want to veg out in front of the TV.

Waxy,

You folks should try to negotiate for housing and give up the monthly allowance. The housing market is very tight here. I don't know what your husband's job is going to be so it is hard to know if the salary is good or not.

I have more thoughts, e-mail me directly [email protected]

Eaton0001

Thanks Sammie. Bet everyone thinks I need to get a life without TV. When you end up in a foreign place with your husband working its nice to have TV as company during the day. I didnt know if you could get it via internet. Any other info on life in qatar would be great. Wexy

We can get BBC prime so can catch up on the eastenders and the uktv channel is basically a itv channel other than that no britsh channels but quite a few sky ones like animal planet and hallmark no sky one (doh) a couple of movie channels but not very good! Hope that helps

I just read your profile so my question about children may be a little redundant. As to TV. Free to air is dominated by Non english programming, there are enough English language channels to keep you busy but they may not be showing the latest series, get a hobby or social life quick! I know of no one who has SKY. Pay for view is mostly american in content, but so are most of the programs on TV BBC is availanle, as a subscription, in international format, TotP, Eastenders etc. The Doha Ladies Group meets in The Ramada Hotel on Tuesdays. If you are here for September/August see the add for Paid Games Transport staff in the Classifieds.

I agree with DG, The salary will give you a comfortable enough life, depending on what expences you may have back home. Housing, hmmm! the climate at the moment you might get an unfurnished flat for QR6000 only just. Do you have Kids? They require educating, which needs paying for. Also the car might allowance migt be a little low, unless you are going to be here a while i.e. 2 or more years where it would be more prudent to buy, again due to large demand for hire/lease vehicles QR1600 only gets something around the size of say a Focus.

agree with Doha girl. Nowadays 6.000 you will get 2 bed room unfurnished villa.

Yes holiday will suit the local calendar. But i have a friend who hubby work for Maersk being told had to work for Eid because they are international company not local.

The Salary is ok, the living allowance is a little low (a villa usually goes for 10,000 QR) and the transport allowance is good (my SUV is 1600 a month). You can get some British programs, I get Showtime satellite, but if you want the newest releases, it's always best to download off the internet. As for public holidays. We all get them as far as I know.