30-40k QAR per month

a project manager of the foreign engineering consulting firm for oil and gas company

Alas, no joy this time around. There will be other posts later this year at the same place that are arguably more appropriate. I am keen to move to the region so we shall see what transpires.

Thanks for everyone's input - no doubt I will be back asking more question if and when other opportunities arise.

How did you go starsky78 did you get the job? How did your negotiation go?

30-40K is a good salary for good positon for the person with good experience. It is not a sky-high salary. Some senior managers in large companies get 60-70-80K per month. But at the same time, thousands of plain clerks content with 6-10K. It pretty much depends..

I think it's swings and roundabouts. I'm in Saudi ( thinking over a move to Qatar, so hence lurking on this forum! ) and I think use cars in Saudi are more expensive to buy than they are in the UK, they seem to hold their value. THe reason for this - I think - is due to fuel being much cheaper. Big engine cars in the UK are cheap to buy used, as no-one wants to buy them, due to high fuel costs. Here in Saudi, the opposite is true, fuel is cheap so they tend to not depreciate as much. Ok so that's purchase costs. In terms of running costs, I think it's cheaper here in the Middle East. Fuel of course we know about. Depending on the make of the car - spare parts are as cheap if not cheaper. Labour is of course much much cheaper, so the servicing and repairs are cheaper. I find insurance cheaper here too than in the UK, so overall the cost of a car here in Saudi is cheaper than in UK ( taking into account the higher purchase price )

BTW Lincs, I thought you were spot on with your first post. I'm Indian heritage, born in Kenya, brought up in the with UK passport. I'm considering a package similar to what the OP referred to, trying to negotiate.

In terms of 'package', I work in HR. We initially recruit employees on a 'Bachelor' contract, so they get quite a few benefits. If they bring their family out, then they relinquish some benefits but then are provided with others ( eg paying school fees etc ), so you either get one package or the other.

Hey Linc, what makes you say that the cost of running a car in Qatar is 20% higher than in the UK?

I would like to know what kind of logic you used to arrive at this conclusion.

nanoabraham--the market economy at work. If Dubai treats Indian nationals better in terms of salary, Qatar must do the same unless it wants second-tier recruits.

i guess.. 8-10 years back... middleast had that policy of differentiated salary based on ur citizenship.. so likewise a westerner used to get 3x, the national used to get 2x and everyone else including the arab used to get 1x

however things have changed now... especially in dubai... many of the indians and other nationalities in management field do get very huge salaries when compared to their counterparts in other gcc countries..

however i guess even in qatar this is changing... as u cud see some posts by indians who earn very nice amounts...

cos now qatar has to pay what dubai pays... cos u cud see a lot of qatari companies hiring ppl from dubai and they would not let go until.. u pay a similar amount..

anyways it is all for good...

i wish i could get your salary offer...

but you know what...

"in my dreams.." :(

==========================================

Want extra income at home...try this:

http://www.online-home-jobs.com/11873.html

Thanks linc, you're a star. How come cars cost more to run? I would have thought fuel was dirt cheap but are cost of cars, their maintenance and insurance quite a bit dearer?

I'd be surprised if they would add it all to your salary, as they likely rely on a certain percentage of employees not fully utilizing the benefits--much like insurance. But it never hurts to negotiate.

School fees at a British school run at about 30,000 plus per student; a car probably cost roughly 20% more to run than in the UK; housing varies, but including utilities is about 10,000-25,000 depending on location and family size. Home leave is usually one business class fare for each person. There are other benefits that employers offer, too, depending on the employer and position--professional development, communications allowance, etc.

Good luck.

Thanks again linc. I'm actually a single guy with no dependents, so I only have myself to look after at the moment. If I was offered the post, I would probably accept 30k but, then again, as I don't have any dependents, my prospective employers wouldn't need to pay for these benefits (I believe that schooling, airfare, health care, etc. for them is included in the package) so I may well ask for the equivalent put on my salary. Can you estimate how much those family benefits are likely to be?

starsky--it is hard to say without knowing the company, job title, expectation, etc. But I understand you don't want to advertise that over the internet.

For a Western-educated professional expat with moderate experience who is giving up a good, equivalent position in his/her host country I think the following is a good rule of thumb. Some packages are much greater, and some are significantly less; it just depends both on demand for the position and how much they want you as an individual--just like anywhere else.

25% increase in base salary

Home leave allowance that is equivalent to the airfare for you and your dependents who travel to Doha with you

Private health care for you and dependents

Visa fees for you and dependents

Car allowance that makes the cost of running a vehicle in Doha roughly the equivalent to running one in the UK. It cost more here.

School fees for any dependents and help in locating an appropriate school

Housing that is appropriate to your status in your company and the size of your family. I am more familiar with family situations, and my sense is that an appropriate allowance would be around 15,000-20,000 for very good villa (including utilities). You could always spend more or less depending on your needs. Some jobs come with specific housing included.

Many companies choose to increase a person's salary rather than provide the benefit--i.e. a higher percentage increase in base salary rather than a car allowance or school fees. So you'll have to run the figures.

As you can see the benefits packages can easily be worth more than the base salary.

Bottom line: It comes down to whether or not you believe you will be adequately compensated for your labor and relocation. And this goes for all of the posters here. Some are willing to work for less or more for a variety of reasons unique to them.

Thanks linc - the job is actually in Doha so I don't know whether that makes a difference to how competitive the salary or allowances are?

Pushkin--the East is capitalistic, too. Even China. Again, employers won't pay any more than they have to, and if they want someone from the West to live and work and Qatar it seems this is the going rate for this guy's position. If they could pay less, then they would.

starsky--

Car--depends on what you want. 2500 a month (if that includes operating, licensing and insurance) will get you something nice but small. Personally, I think driving a small car in Doha is like playing Russian roulette.

Rent--you could pay less or you could pay much more. It depends on what your personal standards are and where in Doha you want to live.

Hi guys - thanks for all your responses. I won't disclose what or where the job is as it is really immaterial. I was just trying to get a feel of whether the salary was appropriate using other posts with a similar salary as a guide. Personally, I think the salary is pretty amazing and from what I can gather the benefits are equally amazing. Needless to say, i would be delighted if I was offered the position, not only for the salary but for what the job is and how I could help Qatari's and the region.

Would you all agree with the following breakdown of costs:

7000 2/3 bedroom flat

2000 bills E/W/T/NET

2500 CAR

5000 - 10000 Monthly running cost

I'm not one for going out and living like a rockstar - prefer to put in a good days work, go home to a nice flat/house and chillout. May go out at the weekend for a meal or a few drinks with friends.

yeah true my salary is more here than home but what about the people without jobs in the capitalistic west and low skill workers too ?

linc is right. this is capitalism.

@ all the complainers: you chose to accept the offered salary, so at one point you must have thought it was a fair wage. stop worrying about what other people make and be contented with your lot in life. otherwise, work to change it.

blue_rose

Usually salaries for Western expats are about 30% above what one would be paid in a home country. The base salary is only about 75,000 British pounds a year, which is about right for recruiting a mid-level professional with significant experience. That is if it comes with car, school fees, housing, travel allowance, etc.

CEOs and higher level professionals are paid much, much more.

Wow. There is some genuine hostility here. For all we know, the original poster is fantastic at his job, and he is ethnically Indian but a British citizen with a degree from Harvard. The salary might not come with significant benefits, either; in which case it is not all that great for a professional.

More to the point. This is a quasi-capitalist economy in which supply and demand set the going rates for salaries. I am guessing that the angry posters have a better salary in Qatar than they do in their home countries--otherwise they would not be here. The same is true for Westerners: if they are not paid more than they are in their home countries, they will not come. So the salary differential is more about the starting salaries in one's home country than about discrimination in Qatar. If you are a company owner and a qualified employee will work for you for 10,000 per month, why pay him more? When you buy a car do you offer to pay more than the asking price simply because a friend of yours bought the same model for a greater price?

CEO or CFO of big companies has that much salary..n sometimes more then that.

You have that kind of salary because you're a westerner. And i bet your job is just to sit down and do some paperwork or something.. ;-)

Sad to say but it's reality here.. I believe that all companies here are practicing this kind of "injustice"

wherein the same job description yet a great difference in the salary.. e.g. engineers.. if you're arab or a Westerner, you get to have high salary range.. but if you're indians or Filipinos you only get the minimum salary.. Sad but true. :-(

As a matter of fact, I should quite agree with hislam's comment!

This offer could be because you have British passport..

its easy

7000 2/3 bedroom flat

2000 bills E/W/T/NET

2500 CAR

5000 - 10000 Monthly running cost

and i think you will not come without 2000 - 3000 $ saving

The base salary is relatively meaningless without considering perks and benefits. For example, if it comes with paltry benefits, then a Western expat with a family will struggle to meet the costs of housing, school fees, etc. After all, many benefits packages are worth far more than the base salary.

its easy

7000 2/3 bedroom flat

2000 bills E/W/T/NET

2500 CAR

5000 - 10000 Monthly running cost

and i think you will not come without 2000 - 3000 $ saving

It's rarely the case of matching job requirements, qualification and the package.

A simple multiplication would lead you to over a Million QR per anum. Honestly, what do you think you have in return for that that many others with much less salaries do.

The idea in many companies here that they love the show of with their salary scheme and western expats but when it comes to performance measurement and accountability you'll simply find out it's an unjustified scheme.

my job.

There are various jobs that pay even much more than that.It's the hands-on experience and the in-depth knowledge the person possesses in order to perform the duties well.

Its really pretty handsome salary :)) Best of luck and Welcome to Qatar !!!

What job have you applied for? If you are qualified and have experience and are necessary to day to day operations/overall strategic success/etc. many jobs might pay that much.

As i made limited friends in FB iam short of friends and i dunno to who all i shld send the link so can u all people out ther who use Facebook or dont help me in increasing the likes in qtel's snap and win competetion here's the link and the description of the pic

http://www.facebook.com/QtelQatar?v=app_125128937549603&ref=sgm

The Name Of The Picture Is --- Snap $ Win10872010-12-29

its the pic of a baby with glasses and abook in front of him thank you! :)

Pls am from nigerian can you help me get invitation letter from your company..or send the link to me..Thanks

Probably some overpaid management position.