Living/Working in Al Khor

Guys,

Sorry to Post here after all those yrs of topic age ,but I really hope some one on this rich thread could help me with that

For Ras Gas employees ,is Al khor the only compound for all employees in RasLAffan? what other compound names are available?

Food is more expensive if you buy all imported stuff, especially around Christmas. One bag of Walkers crisps is about 4qr, Waitrose dried pasta 9qr. M and S is about the same as UK but they only stock expensive things and no frsh food sadly.

Electric things are aabout the same, not quite such a good range.

I think you have to have a residents permit to get an aramex account, then you go in, pay a deposit and register. The UK address is in Slough, it usually takes 2-5 days to reach here then they text you to come and collect it. It's fantastic as long as you tell your family not to send you heavy presents, you pay by the kg to collect it.

Ask as many questions as you like, it's very important!!

aahhhhh now that sounds very interesting!!! How do you get one of those????? That would be sooo handy! Are the electric goods more expensive over there than the UK? Also what is the price of food like especially if you were buying waitrose and marks and spencer? Hope you don't mind me inundating you with question after question!!!

Yes they are the same so you can bring hairdryers etc. You can get most cosmetics in Boots and MegaMart.

I have an Aramex mail forward address that means you can buy mail order from the UK and collect it in Doha, worth it's weight in gold.

That's a relief, one more question are the electrics the same as the UK (i'e Volts, sockets...haha i'm a women so that's as technical as i can get!!!!!)

although the school is free for RG and QG employees but if you want to send your kid to the british nursery then you have to pay about 1800 riyals per term.

Thanks for that advice, I mainly wear trousers for work here anyway but maybe i should invest in a few more!! How about toiletries - shampoos, conditioners,hairdyes etc, are there products that we have at home?

Also are there any items that you think that i should definitely bring from home, i was thinking about my DVD player? Good to hear about the food selection, it's so difficult to know what living in such a different country is going to be like!!! I am very keen to meet other expats too as soon as i get there as I am a very sociable person!! I am looking forward to this new adventure :)

Hi, don't worry about dress code, I spent a fortune on long skirts etc before i came but the main thing is just to dress smartly and modestly. Knee length skirts and cap sleeves are the type of thing that would be fine at home but are not ok here. Trousers and short, mid or long sleeves are fine. It is freezing most of the year indoors because air conditioning is on all the time so bring some cardis! I don't think there is an actual rule about knee high boots but I received some very odd looks when I wore mine so they have been put away.

I don't know about the food in Al Khor but if it is anything like Dukhan, the restaurant food is similar to any hotel all inclusive food, it's fine but you can get bored of it. Local foods like chicken, meat, pasta etc are available in the Al Meera shops (like Spar shop). In Doha, there is now nothing I can't get from home. MegaMart sells Waitrose and Iceland own brand as well as Linda McCartney type food and UK free range eggs. Marks and Spencer also sells some food but not as much as in the UK. I used to have to get my mum to send oxo cubes and uk crisps but they have those in mm too. There are several Carrefour supermarkets as well and they sell good qualitiy fresh french and british food.

Good luck and feel free to ask anything, JJ

I've been offered a teaching post at al khor too. It does sound absolutely lovely, I totally agree with you about the cost of living here in Britain, all my wages are virtually gone when i get paid on bills with very little left over at the end.

What kinds of food are there available to buy in the community and also not sure about the dress code for women. Some web sites say one thing and then others say something totally different, can you help pleae?

Thanks!!

Anyone have kids there and how do you find the school ?

Are you a teacher at the school then?

The food certainly does sound good!

oh yes, I feel so lucky to be looked after the way we are. We even get our lightbulbs changed. I am so grateful to this generous country and appreciate every single minute. (except when standing in the queue at the Hamad).

jasminejasmine ...lucky you...

QR 4 for a buffet!!!

Thats great....no doubt you guys say Qatar is a terrific country...lol

School fees are free to staff who live in the town. To eat at the staff resteraunt is 4QR per meal. For this money you get a salad course, soup course, main course, dessert, tea or coffee and soft drinks with your meal. It is a buffet so you can eat as much as you like. Most of the teachers I know have their evening meal there most days.

Also, because we are an hour away from Doha, I spend less on food and use lots of local produce to save having to go more than once a week.

jasminejasmine....what about food?...at least add that cost...and school fees ...

One more thing for a Brit coming to Qatar to think about. If you are coming to live and work in an industrial environment such as Al Khor or Dukhan where i live, you pay nothing to live. No rent, utilities, Council Tax, water, income tax, petrol almost free, subsidised food and facilities, free high quality medical care etc etc. It came as a huge shock to us when we first came just how easy life becomes and how cheap. I would choose an industrial town over Doha any day of the week, no worries about rent hikes, paying electric bills for a/c to name a few.

Unless you have recently lived in the UK, it is difficult to imagine just how much of your money gets taken up by high cost, income tax, value added tax, stealth tax and so on. My main expense is buying British newspapers, I spend about 250QR per month!

Do parents recommend the British School Al Khor ? Would it be on the same level as that of the UK schools in Doha ?

Thanks kellysheroes,

Hope that there will be a vacancies in the house scheme, coz i heard it's already full... ;)

Thanks aben4rent,

I thought that there will be a fee since RG didn't cover for children ages 6 years and below.. But if it's free, lucky me... R u working in RG also aben4rent?

then you will love the place

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no fees just drop by the school and take an application form for nursery and submit it to the registrar her name is jane

aben4rent

If i'm working for RG, what's will be the fee to send my 3 years old daughter? Thanks

@ awa.wafi - schools are exclusively for QG RG employees except if youre a qatari

@ jett - same like above, villas and flats are exclusive for QG RG Dolphin Energy employees.

I'm also interested in renting a villa there. Does anyone have information on prices and photos?

Can anyone advice me on the rate for the rental house at Al Khor? and also i would like to know the fees for the Nursery / Kidergarten at Al Khor? Anyone that can help pls advise me... thank you.

Living there at the moment. Send me a private message and I'm sure I can answer any questions you have...

Thanks, some very positive answers here. Does sound a good place to live, and certainly lots of sporting opportunities, which would be great for the pair of us.

i've work and live in Al Khor....and i'd loved it.

but its only for a month :)

hi, any middle aged ladies out there ?

lol nick, you forgot the junior and youth club for children with Ps3's, Ps2's X-boxes, table tennis tables, TV, Snooker, Air Hockey and computers, and basketball.

hi. I live here and go to AKIS. There are a lot of people living here, but it still is peaceful and quiet. There are 5 clubs, 3 schools, one is indian, and two are british, with one being foundation stage and keystage 1, the other being KS2 and 3. There is also another school for AKIS british stream under construction and due by early 2010. It is a really good place. It has a beach club, greenery around, very friendly people, cricket pitches, football pitches(3). Everyone here is also athletic and sporty, for example we can play these sports with the facilities provided: Squash, badminton, tennis, basketball, table tennis, 3 gyms, volleyball, cricket, football, rugby, 4 swimming pools which has waterpolo and stuff, and one for small children, over 5 restaurants with all international cuisines. AND A VERY VERY SAFE ENVIRONMENT. There are also regular competitions here including Billiard, snooker or pool, table tennis, chess, badminton, squash, painting for children, halloween and eid festivals are massively celebrated, lots of test drives from Mercedes and BMW, mercedes just came yesterday and b4 that, 5 and 6 february =D. Thats all i think i can say, and i believe i have forgotten many minor stuff, its just a lot. As far as i am concerned, teaching here is the most easiest and most joyful job. lots of british teachers here, along with some from other nationalities. There are 2 mosques, 2 security gates and strict rules on driving and everything related to safety. Free accomodation, free phone bills, free water bills, free electricity bills, free entry to clubs and gyms, free everything nearly lol. lots of events regularly with lots of food and celebrations etc.

i live in alkhor community..life here is community is way better than doha due to less crowd...inside the community there are 3 clubs..Nakheel,Dakhira and waha club...all clubs have diff facilities like gymnasium,table tennis,squash,badminton,swimming pool,billiard.snooker etc etc......all for free of charge for the residents of alkhor community.Environment is pretty good.There r some restaurents as well in the clubs.but the speed limit within the community SUX :P...i.e 25km/h :P......24/7 security.....its a safest place in qatar i think.....as it hav lots of advantages but there r some disadvantages aswell...like for every single thing u hav to go to doha.....anyways Welcome to Qatar and welcome to ALKHOR COMMUNITY :D..hope to see u soon in community :D

i agree i love to live wnd work that place so no need to think it's good place for you and your future wife

goodluck!!!