7 days since your arrival you can drive using your home country's license.
After 7 days, but only up to obtaining your Residency Permit, you can drive using a Qatari temporary license or an International driving license.
After getting your RP, you will need to convert it to Qatari permanent driving license either by direct conversion (from some countries) or sitting through the test.
My understanding is that US driver's license holder use to be able to directly convert theirs into the Qatari temporary and then permanent DL, but not anymore.
7 days since your arrival you can drive using your home country's license.
After 7 days, but only up to obtaining your Residency Permit, you can drive using a Qatari temporary license or an International driving license.
After getting your RP, you will need to convert it to Qatari permanent driving license either by direct conversion (from some countries) or sitting through the test.
My understanding is that US driver's license holder use to be able to directly convert theirs into the Qatari temporary and then permanent DL, but not anymore.