Unfortunately Qatar is not the paradise it may have been painted.
Just to reiterate - Doha is expensive. A 3 bedroom place will set you back 2-3k sterling per month. There are only 2 or 3 decent English medium schools in Doha and they are expensive.
You must have employment already arranged with your sponsor before you get here.
Do not think of long term here.....you can not stay..you will have to go back to the UK. From my experience (only) most British serve about 2 or 3 years here.
Doha is not particularly Islamic.
As for breaks to Saudi and Pakistan - please remember that you need your employers permission to leave the country....yes that's right...you do not have the automatic right to leave the country when you wish. If you get a decent employer it shouldn't be a problem. I would ask about this before you accept any offer.
Beware: your contract may suddenly alter when you actually set foot in the country.
I feel horrid, as if I am just bringing you bad news...but I think it only right to warn you of some of the pit falls in advance.....please bear in mind these could be worst case scenarios.
But now, what follows is by far the worst observation I have made since I have been here:
I assume from you previous posts that you are of Pakistani heritage? When you say that you want a more modest and Islamic way of life...you must also be prepared for a very institutionalised culture of racism here in Qatar. You will be seen as being on the 3rd or 4th rung of society. If you have a South Asian appearance then you will be denied entry into malls on a Friday and countless other forms of in your face blatant and unapologetic discrimination. I speak from the experience of having British born Pakistani heritage friends who live here wand get entirely fed up with it.
Please don't look at Qatar through rose tinted glasses, and please please do your homework thoroughly before you make a decision.
I'm sorry to sound so negative but I think you should be informed of all side of living in Doha.
First of all welcome.
Unfortunately Qatar is not the paradise it may have been painted.
Just to reiterate - Doha is expensive. A 3 bedroom place will set you back 2-3k sterling per month. There are only 2 or 3 decent English medium schools in Doha and they are expensive.
You must have employment already arranged with your sponsor before you get here.
Do not think of long term here.....you can not stay..you will have to go back to the UK. From my experience (only) most British serve about 2 or 3 years here.
Doha is not particularly Islamic.
As for breaks to Saudi and Pakistan - please remember that you need your employers permission to leave the country....yes that's right...you do not have the automatic right to leave the country when you wish. If you get a decent employer it shouldn't be a problem. I would ask about this before you accept any offer.
Beware: your contract may suddenly alter when you actually set foot in the country.
I feel horrid, as if I am just bringing you bad news...but I think it only right to warn you of some of the pit falls in advance.....please bear in mind these could be worst case scenarios.
But now, what follows is by far the worst observation I have made since I have been here:
I assume from you previous posts that you are of Pakistani heritage? When you say that you want a more modest and Islamic way of life...you must also be prepared for a very institutionalised culture of racism here in Qatar. You will be seen as being on the 3rd or 4th rung of society. If you have a South Asian appearance then you will be denied entry into malls on a Friday and countless other forms of in your face blatant and unapologetic discrimination. I speak from the experience of having British born Pakistani heritage friends who live here wand get entirely fed up with it.
Please don't look at Qatar through rose tinted glasses, and please please do your homework thoroughly before you make a decision.
I'm sorry to sound so negative but I think you should be informed of all side of living in Doha.
Regards
adey