Seeking advice
By MARK IRELAND •
Calling all British expats with experience of life in Qatar. Having just returned from a flying visit and interview in Qatar (arrive home two hours ago). We would appreciate if anyone could help on what an expat package consists of in Qatar. We would also appreciate advice on general housing costs (two/three bed with pool FF) and areas of recommendation for seeking accomadation, typical car costs and what life in general is like living in Qatar. Any responses appreciated with your honest comments.
My hubby package apart of his basic salary:
Flight home once a year up to for children
Schooling up to 4 children
Medical up to 4 children
Housing allowance QR 9.000
Transport Allowance QR 2.000
We have 2 cars : Hyundai Matrix 3 yrs old and Hyundai Santa Fe 5 yrs old. Both we paying around QR 1.000 for insurance.
Nurseries i think cost around 3.000 QR per term. For DESS nurseries is 3.650 QR per term.
There are some group for ladies to find friend:
expatwoman.com = they have monthly coffee morning and they have arrange going out between ladies once a month in the evening
potluck ladies group = a bunch of ladies from different nationalities (at the moment there are 118 members from 35 countries).
tuesday ladies group = meet up in ramada hotel once every 2 weeks.
I will be more than happy to take your wife to that gathering since I am on it.
Live in Doha can be feels isolated when you just arrive. I will be more than willing to help out your wife to get connect with the ladies in Doha.
My e-mail: [email protected]
Unfurnished 2BR flats in our building are going for 5000 to 5500 QR per month.
My blog about life in Qatar.
http://www.xanga.com/BBetz
2/3BD FF apartment might cost between 6500-8500
2/3BD FF villa w/pool might cost between 12000-18000
Areas or recommendation are alot such as AlWaab, AlSadd, AlMansoura, Landmark, AlDafna ... etc
As for cars there are alot of varities and options, you need someone more expert more than me :)
Mark
I too was after the same advice as yourself but it seems like that really is a difficult one to answer however if you have a look at Peter Rodgers comments he has put together an excellent cost spreadsheet which I found to be very helpful. Have a look!