Thanks for the advice Mandi and Shoe.

Like I say the interview was conducted over the phone and the guys here, they speak ok English but it was extremely difficult for me to get a good conversation with the manager. Do you think that is the angle I should try to play it if I want an NOC - the fact that the Recruitment Agency has misled me? I was hoping to go on the basis that my experience is different to what they want me to do - perhaps I should use both?

I might have been a bit naive in knowing what questions to ask in the interview but after all that's happened and the stories I've told the people I've met here about my experiences they've told me to get out. There are quite a few guys here in the company who have been able to transfer from firms within Qatar quite easily so providing I tick the right boxes in the short term I am hoping that is the case for me. Hopefully if I can reimburse their costs as far as possible and they can see I'm not happy then they'll help me out :-/
I'll keep you posted.

It ain't good this NOC thing is it? I feel like a bloody prisoner and very vulnerable because of it.