Safety in Qatar

For you wages PLUS your housing, don't believe anyone who says that isn't the minimum you should come here on.

It is not that cheap to live here, if you are not supplied with housing don't bother coming. 60K US is a nice minimum, I Have friends who earn that and do OK out here.

Anything less and you won't be able to save. Thus making the whole thing worthless. The Times recently said it costs 20,000 Dollars to emigrate, with shipping buying new stuff, cars, TVs etc. I tend to agree with that figure.

If you get a decent offer and you can turn a blind eye to the bad points of Doha then you may very well enjoy it here, I do but I also earn a decent enough wage to make this all worth my while. Think long and hard and PM for further questions.

Aviduser- do you mean 60,000 each (my husband and I) or together? Flights, insurance, housing, etc. are all included in package. thanks for the info.

Thanks for all the info! We are excited about our move...

statistically you're safer here than Japan too. (check my site for stats)

__________________________

Here is a quote form the Interpol website on crime rates in Qatar.

They are based on data compiled mostly during or before 1999.

INCIDENCE OF CRIME

The crime rate in Qatar is low compared to industrialized countries, with the important exception of murder. An analysis was done using INTERPOL data for Qatar. For purpose of comparison, data were drawn for the seven offenses used to compute the United States FBI's index of crime. Index offenses include murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft. The combined total of these offenses constitutes the Index used for trend calculation purposes. Qatar will be compared with Japan (country with a low crime rate) and USA (country with a high crime rate). According to the INTERPOL data, for murder, the rate in 1999 was 2.11 per 100,000 population for Qatar, 1.00 for Japan, and 4.55 for USA. For rape, the rate in 1999 was 1.72 for Qatar, compared with 1.47 for Japan and 32.05 for USA. For robbery, the rate in 1999 was 1.34 for Qatar, 3.34 for Japan, and 147.36 for USA. For aggravated assault, the rate in 1999 was 7.09 for Qatar, 15.97 for Japan, and 329.63 for USA. For burglary, the rate in 1999 was 34.10 for Qatar, 206.01 for Japan, and 755.29 for USA. The rate of larceny for 1999 was 136.01 for Qatar, 1267.95 for Japan, and 2502.66 for USA. The rate for motor vehicle theft in 1999 was 11.49 for Qatar, compared with 34.01 for Japan and 412.70 for USA. The rate for all index offenses combined was 193.86 for Qatar, compared with 1529.75 for Japan and 4184.24 for USA. (Note: data were not reported to INTERPOL by the USA for 1999, but were derived from data reported to the United Nations for 1999)

Here is a quote form the Interpol website on crime rates in Qatar.

They are based on data compiled mostly during or before 1999.

INCIDENCE OF CRIME

The crime rate in Qatar is low compared to industrialized countries, with the important exception of murder. An analysis was done using INTERPOL data for Qatar. For purpose of comparison, data were drawn for the seven offenses used to compute the United States FBI's index of crime. Index offenses include murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft. The combined total of these offenses constitutes the Index used for trend calculation purposes. Qatar will be compared with Japan (country with a low crime rate) and USA (country with a high crime rate). According to the INTERPOL data, for murder, the rate in 1999 was 2.11 per 100,000 population for Qatar, 1.00 for Japan, and 4.55 for USA. For rape, the rate in 1999 was 1.72 for Qatar, compared with 1.47 for Japan and 32.05 for USA. For robbery, the rate in 1999 was 1.34 for Qatar, 3.34 for Japan, and 147.36 for USA. For aggravated assault, the rate in 1999 was 7.09 for Qatar, 15.97 for Japan, and 329.63 for USA. For burglary, the rate in 1999 was 34.10 for Qatar, 206.01 for Japan, and 755.29 for USA. The rate of larceny for 1999 was 136.01 for Qatar, 1267.95 for Japan, and 2502.66 for USA. The rate for motor vehicle theft in 1999 was 11.49 for Qatar, compared with 34.01 for Japan and 412.70 for USA. The rate for all index offenses combined was 193.86 for Qatar, compared with 1529.75 for Japan and 4184.24 for USA. (Note: data were not reported to INTERPOL by the USA for 1999, but were derived from data reported to the United Nations for 1999)

As the other Guy's say, it's safe: but you have to make up your mind yourself- nowwhere in this world is safe anymore, In Qatar the bigest threat is the Traffic.

To give you an idea about what foreign Authorities know or think about Terrorist Threat In qatar: This is what Australia write on their pages(and if you look up more or less any country on the same website you will find the same information about threats to other countries)

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Qatar

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.

We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Qatar because of the high threat of terrorist attack. Statements by international terrorists have called for attacks against Western interests in the Gulf region, including residential compounds, military, oil, transport and aviation interests.

We continue to receive reports that terrorists are planning attacks against a range of targets. ..........

Genie,

I have been here for over 6 months with my family and I have to say so far so good!! We have two teenagers at ASD and they have settled in nicely. Both are honor students taking AP classes and we are very happy with the curriculum both are involved in. My husband and I feel that the honors/AP curriculum is excellent and really challenges our children and is representative of a college prep curriculum you would find at a private prep school in the States. Extra curricular activites are not as extensive as what we are used to but they do have a decent choice and my daughter was on the swim team this year and had a great time and found it to be quite competitive.

As for terrorism - there is a chance for that anywhere in the world. That unfortunately is the world we live in but overall Doha is very safe. Not just from a terror stand point but from a everyday crime standpoint as well. In my opinion there are far worse places to raise your children. And the experience of the kids interacting with all of the different cultures is priceless.

I agree with aviduser and ngourlay though. Search this site for expat package comparisons. Or you can always ask on this site if what you have been offered while suffice to live comfortably here. It is VERY expensive but a good expat package would assume the responsibility for the majority of that expense.

Good luck and I hope to see you at ASD next year. It really is a great school with great faculty and staff that truly give their all for the students.

the bombing was in Doha Players ... just next door to DESS.

How people think about Qatar and worry about terrorism, what you should be worried about it the standard of the accommodation you will be provided with, schools generally provide poor housing. Or will you get an allowance I hope its at least 19,000 a month.

Then of course there are the wages I hope you made sure you would get at least 60,000 Dollars a year.

After that I would be worried about my employment contract, will you get medical, flights etc.

There are far more pressing things to worry about coming here than Terrorism.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2007/11/30/giuliani_qatar/index.html?source=search&aim=/opinion/conason

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0748,barrett,78478,6.html

Still once you are here you will will feel safe and provided you secured yourself a good deal, you should have a good time here.

As far as I know, there was a bombing several years ago at a local theatre, where one person died. Statistically, you're safer here than in London.

ASD is surrounded by concrete bollards and protected by armed police. It's pretty safe. It has the reputation of being one of the best schools in Doha, but suffers from high fees and limited places. They have a building programme underway.

--nigel

http://qatarjournal.com/

Qatar is the best country in the world.

So,just come n joint with us

Terrorist please don't used this word any more

just peace for all

Ahlan wa sahlan

Moving to Doha