You will need a LOT to make it worth coming here, personally I would choose Oman any day if you can get the work - but it is much harder to get work there. It's much nicer environmentally (geography and climate) and cheaper. There's a recent thread on BE about which ME country to take a family to, I suggest you read that.
Living off compounds can be tough for family expats. A good compund will cost you minimum 18-20k. There is no such thing as a commute to Doha unless you count Al Wakra, and you do not want to live there. There are very long wait lists for some of them, as there are with the schools. Once you get kids in, they seem to be okay.
There is very little to do here. I think thats the main reason I would recommend Oman, especially if you were looking at a longer stint out in the middle east. Go to BE and search on my username, you'll find my response to many people asking your questions.
With regard to costs. Petrol is cheap, if your wife is not going to drive then getting around is not cheap. Branded goods licenced for production in KSA are cheaper, coke etc etc. Everything else western is VERY expensive import rates. Like 2-3-4 times what you will pay in Tescos. There are a ton of British high street shops here, they are all about 20-25% more than you will pay in England. Next, Boots and the like.
Traffic, on a smaller scale, but far more dangerous is as bad as London. Five months of arduous heat and uncontrolled inflation. Consider what is happening with ex-rates when negotiating too.
You will need a LOT to make it worth coming here, personally I would choose Oman any day if you can get the work - but it is much harder to get work there. It's much nicer environmentally (geography and climate) and cheaper. There's a recent thread on BE about which ME country to take a family to, I suggest you read that.
Living off compounds can be tough for family expats. A good compund will cost you minimum 18-20k. There is no such thing as a commute to Doha unless you count Al Wakra, and you do not want to live there. There are very long wait lists for some of them, as there are with the schools. Once you get kids in, they seem to be okay.
There is very little to do here. I think thats the main reason I would recommend Oman, especially if you were looking at a longer stint out in the middle east. Go to BE and search on my username, you'll find my response to many people asking your questions.
With regard to costs. Petrol is cheap, if your wife is not going to drive then getting around is not cheap. Branded goods licenced for production in KSA are cheaper, coke etc etc. Everything else western is VERY expensive import rates. Like 2-3-4 times what you will pay in Tescos. There are a ton of British high street shops here, they are all about 20-25% more than you will pay in England. Next, Boots and the like.
Traffic, on a smaller scale, but far more dangerous is as bad as London. Five months of arduous heat and uncontrolled inflation. Consider what is happening with ex-rates when negotiating too.