Questions regarding living in Qatar (Doha)

Troll

contracts are not worth the paper they are written on and employees have no rights...trust me....I'm there at the moment.......

Unions are illegal

In order to exit the country, you need an exit pass from your sponsor - who can withhold it at will (in effect you are a prisoner) - good sponsors do not usually withhold it unless for good reason.

You can be jailed for debt here - or even passing bad cheques and you will not be allowed to leave the country without clearing loans/credit card debt etc when your job ends.

Today the weather is so bad I can hardly see across the street for the dust.

Choice of employer/sponsor is crucial to ensure they actually meet their obligations under your employment contract.  BTW regular working hours can mean 48 hours per week 6 days per week depending on your contract

Rude gestures and/or words (or those interpreted to be so by others) can also land you in jail, or at least in front of the police trying to explain yourself.

Ramadan means no eating, drinking, or smoking in public from Dawn to Dusk.

I would suggest you do more research as your OP seems very naive as to what to expect in the GCC.  As someone else said - there are other threads on this topic on this site, try looking at some of those and maybe you can ask questions more relevant to your personal situation - otherwise all we can do is give you generalities.

may have been a good idea to listen to Baldrick2dogs - he does know what he is talking about :-) 

I made the mistake of coming to Qatar as a graduate... I just want to leave now :(

agree withbritexpat. ppl who is coming to qatar - comming to earn money. if u wanna come here for joy - better stay in ur home country.

Short and entertaining. Thanx Nozp

It's better sometime to put your BIG foot, into your even BIGGER mouth :-(

I'm done here. Thanks Tracy, that is all.

Yeah right, easier to find out a few years in advance, when you know nothing remains a constant in todays world :-(

OK, then when you complete UNI, get a job, get at least 5 years decent experience with a top notch accountancy firm, come back and ask again, but that is gonna be at least 10 years off and the country may have changed completely, or be wiped off the map in the third world war.BTW, Instead of just saying "Rude", thry saying what / who is rude to remove all doubt from all concerned! Hari - Maybe, but I'm always willing to give the benfit of doubt.

I wasn't bashing Qatar, I explained how I didn't bash Qatar but obviously you ignored that.

I didnt say Qatar is perfect, stop bashing. I just said, the set up should've been better.

Btw, i should've checked up about the legistlative assembly before taking a job here. ROFL!

Hari, I am not asking for you to 'buy' my story. It's not important to me whether you do or not, I am just looking for decent answers. Thanks for calling me a liar.

Perhaps, I guess it would be easier to find out more information now so that I could either dismiss or aspire towards the idea of moving to Qatar. 'A legislative assembly with appointed members', thats enough for me to make a conclusion on whether appointed representation or elected representation is more effective for the public. That was all I was saying. Anyway thanks to those who actually gave helpful answers not, IM OLD AND AUTOMATICALLY BETTER THAN YOU GO CRY or QATAR IS PERFECT STOP BASHING OUR COUNTRY.

I dont buy that story! You played your cards too early!

Don't you think it would be more appropriate to post a question when you're ready to plan and accept a move? Do you not think that Qatar as a country will change in those couple of years, by which time you're ready?Or did you come here to just bash the legislative assembly and whatever little that you have heard? :-(

Thank you very much Tracy. Actually Hari, it was not. I was just curious about Qatar in general. I am not bashing Qatar or anything I just disagree with a legislative assembley that has appointed members and the lack of workplace relations rights. Qatar doesn't bother me just those two issues I dislike and I know many others would probably want reforms to improve both issues.

Baldrick2dogs, calm down, evidently you are creating a conclusion based on an assumption that a statement may have been directed towards you. It was not, it was directed to something else. I know I have no experience, I don't even plan to work overseas for years, didn't you read that I was still in uni?Just because I am not a middle-aged ex-pat does not mean I am an idiot. I understand that you think highly of yourself and your position but there is no need to express that by portraying a younger, less experience person as being an idiot who becomes easily upset about issues surrounding obvious employment strategies. =/ It is embarrassing when you create such assumptions that could damage vital relationships in real life.

Didnt it occur to any of you that this is a set-up for some Qatar bashing? This was no innocent query! :)

Living in Qatar is good. Its a safe, clean enviroment to live and work in. Crime is very minamal but penalties are high for commenting them.  You do need to keep in mind that it is a Muslim state and that while you can practice your religion you cannot advertise it, ie waring a cross etc.  The Anglican church has a good following (I attend) and have a website you may be intertested in.  [email protected]  also usful if you can get hold of a book called Marhaba extremely useful and go to the govement website www.gov.qa lots of usfull information on law, visa etc.  You do need to be sponsored by an employer to be allowed to work and live here.  Cost of living is high but if you live in a city in Australia you may not notice much of a difference.  Rent however is extremly high most employers contribute to the rent though.  As a single male you may find a few things difficult.  Single men cannot share accommodation with a single female and cannot go into shopping malls on family days, usally Thursday, Friday or Saturday.  Bars are very expensive and you have to be over 21 to drink in them.  There are plenty of cinemas, shops, ice skatting rinks, bowling, resturants, fast food places, 5* star hotels.  Qatar has lots of projects going on and it is hosting the world cup in 2022.   There are plenty of Austrialians among the many expats here.   I hope this information helps.  The best advise I could give is may be come on a holiday first and read read and read some more.

"OBVIOUSLY create legislation to BENEFIT THE PEOPLE"Yes, they do benefit there OWN people. We, the visitors, only benefit from a monthly pay check (But then, not all do!)

LOL what an effective and smart agenda for the Government of a nation that obviously has a very fast growing economy... I could not think of a more effective political system and approach for such a nation, this system is truly superior and that is evident by anyones observations. Only those who disagree with such a system would be insane and should not have a right to have a say in politics. As clearly appointed and most probably rich representatives are the best people and the highest form of representation for it's nation and would OBVIOUSLY create legislation to BENEFIT THE PEOPLE.I just read that Qatar has 'appointed' members to their legislative assembly.. Rude. I could go on but it's best if i don't say anymore, especially on a Qatari forum lol.

Who's rude? Me? I'm just being truthful?You are a kid with no experience. What sane minded business man would hire you over someone with, say 20 years experience. Sorry if this upsets you, but if you are offended THAT easily the Qatar is certainly not for you!

nozpoz, better check the old forums since your thread were already discussed before..so that you'll not get annoyed on the answers you might get here.. some answer the question rudely..some answer it to help..some answer it just to annoy you and make you feel like a dumb.. best of luck..  

"What other issues would be greater than this in Qatar?" - Installing hidden radars across Doha, opening "Ladies Only" Cinema Halls, etc...  :-(

So rude

Not DaRuDe... only Rizks, he's well known among the rich and famous :-)

Rude

They sit with rizks and drink karak chai :-(

Sounds like it. =/ This makes me feel very lucky to live in a nation where we can fall back on so many basic needs. What does the relevant legislative assembley do all day? What other issues would be greater than this in Qatar? =/Oh well, I guess it's not that bad for a system for not having to pay income taxes.

You have NO experience so all the above is moot.

This is why I said that its better for you to stay where you are.. Throw another shrimp on the Barbie and enjoy yourself..

1 - you have no rights... you can be hired and fired at the drop of a hat2 - you MUST obey Islamic customs, especially during Ramadam. If you're out on the road (in public view), you BEST NOT be eating or drinking.3 - Cost of living is high, but it all depends on the income bracket you're in.4 - Everyone is generally comfortable in the Qatari environment once they get used to it ;-)5 - Yes, there is a Church and there is no problem practicing your faith in Qatar, as long as it is within the Church and/ or within your house by yourself.

So basically, if my 'sponsor' withheld pay then there is no Government portfolio to assist me, or any unions that I can become a member of?Or if I refused to work on a public holiday, they can just fire me?I think the Qatari Government needs to consider major workplace relations reforms. I could not imagine working under no rights, even casuals have some rights...

1. For the place where you will stay when you come here it is better to arrange it in advance if you want to be on the safe side, but you can do it also when you arrive here.

2. As a respect for Muslims it is not recommended to drink water infront of them in Ramadan as Ramadan is the holy month where people are fasting if you want drink water in your car do it but do not let Muslims see you.

3. The cost of living is slightly high but it is managable.

4. The crime rate is almost zero

5. There are churches where you can go and perform your holy duty.

Best to stay where you are ..

Considering a 'Labor Law'. Yes, there is one, but it's very funny and hardly ever applied.

Or another sentence: you have (to have) a sponsor. HE has every right over you.

Just one sentence: You have absolutely no rights as an employee in Qatar!