Is there anyone that will be moving to Doha in August?
Hi there everyone on Qatar Living. I have just got a teaching job in Doha and will be moving out there in August. I am very excited about it and looking forward to finding out about new a new country and culture and embracing a different lifestyle. Is there anyone else who will be moving to Doha in August? Im from the North West of England
I have heard many positives about Qatar and Doha and so far from the things I have read on here, it has been very positive. After just speaking to a family member who has a friend living in Qatar, she was very negative about the experience, saying that she had her laptop confiscated on arrival in Qatar (which led me to believe that her friend had something inappropriate on there) she isn't allowed to drive and was 'forced' to wear a burka. Now from what I have read and researched, I believe that what I have been told must be untrue or some kind of extreme case. But it hasn't deterred this 'friend' as she is still living in Qatar now! What does the community of QL think about this?
Thanks for your reply Eddie H - from what I had read I didnt believe what my family member said. I think she must have got mixed up with a different country maybe? I'm looking forward to moving to Doha would you mind if I PM you with any questions that I have?
kkforever young - I dont have a choice when I come out, it is when my job starts. Like I said in my initial post, I have heard only positive things, but just wanted to check.
Forget August. Most of August is within Ramadan. Very difficult to achieve anything as most offices will be closed or will work at very slow speed. Then you the Eid holidays.... No burqa haha, yes, you can drive but driving is very bad),... Inform yourself properly about moving to Doha. Yes, there is talk about lots of new projects and lots of blabla although most of it is still in negotiation status. Social life is very limited and forget about going to concerts as there are none. Check QL for more info.
We are also from North-West UK..Lancashire, and been here almost 4 years... drive everyday,never worn a burkha or abaya and never had to get laptop out of the bag at the airport....
Sounds more like Saudi.......certainly not Qatar!!
PS . my husband works in a school here also
Hi galloper and qatarisun. Thank you both for your swift responses. I agree that my family members friend must have it wrong as, as I explained in my initial post, everything I have heard about Qatar and Doha have been really positive.
I just wanted to put my mind at rest and by putting my questions on here I knew I would get an accurate response. Thank you for taking the time to reply to me :-)
"Is there anyone else who will be moving to Doha in August?"
about 3,000-4,500 people at least will be moving to Doha in August, as per unofficial statistics, about 100-150 new employees move to Qatar EVERY DAY. I guess, in August this figure will be higher, due to new academic year start.
As for
Laptop confiscated/ Not allowed to drive/Forced to wear burka... as Galloper mentioned, you are probably talking about some different place.. not here.
1.- Laptop confiscated??
2.- Not allowed to drive??
3.- Forced to wear burka??
Are your friends actually talking about Qatar or somewhere else??
On number 1.- it could be possible on the "non appropriate material. But yet again how come they found out about the material; unless that friend of your was publicly displaying the content of the laptop.
On number 2.- there is plenty of women here driving. No issue
On number 3.- there is no such "forcing" to wear burka here. If you want go ahead; just remember the Burka is different from the "abaya". here in doha I have not seen the so called Burka (not the one I know)
What is asked for from expatriates is to dress in a conservative manner; thus avoiding being tagged as disrecpectful to the local customs.
Now on the other hand who is that friend working for?? is she married to an arab-muslim? Is she really living in Doha??
Maybe some answers could enlighten us to guide you better.
regards!!