Where type of lifestyle and where to live
We are examining our options right now as I have been offered a job as a lawyer in Dubai and in Qatar. I am being offered substantially more in Qatar and would be moving with my husband and 15 month old daughter. We live a very comfortable life here but with the tax savings, it more than makes up for my husbands salary allowing for greater savings.
Dubai has a higher cost of living but I am familiar with the areas that are akin to my existing std of life. I would like to make the transition as easy as possible for my daughter and b/c I do not know much about the standard of living, a bit worried. To give you an idea of my budget, I would be earning about 50,000 QAR/mth inclusive.
I am wondering what areas are the nicest to live in considering:
space - we like a lot of space (4-5 bed for visitors) 3000 sq feet plus
sea - would love to be near water
expats - would love to be near British expat community or Canadian
recreation - clubs/golf/sailing etc.
shopping -
British nurserys -
THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY INFO
I think that you will find the things you want here. 50,000QR is enough to have a good life and to save.
I would look at villas off the E Ring. You can get a very nice 4 bedroom with pool for around 15,000QR or a 7 bedroom for around 20,000. Alternatively the new developments off the Salwa Road behind the Mercedes dealer are also good. Forget the beach or the Pearl. It is easy enough to get to Sealine or Wakra without living there.
The golf club here is very good and very nice plus two new courses are being built. There are several sailing cubs also.
I don't know what kind of law you will be practising. I would guess it would be contract or financial. Either way, I think you will find it interesting here as most British lawyers are based in Dubai and you would be highly regarded here.
There are no British/Canadian residential areas. Everyone is spread around but this is a small place and you would soon get to meet people especially through the school, clubs and work. Also, there aren't that many places to go so you will tend to run into people.
As you have a young child, I think you will find Doha easier than Dubai as it is much easier to get around here and nowhere is very far away.
How does the salary breakdown work?
I was told the minimum will be US $160,000K minimum per annum for package and most likely due to my experience I could negotiate higher.
Is there a housing allowance, car allowance etc and if so, can one top it up should they need to?
Shazbat, I have contacted you.
Many thanks
Email me directly through the contact form. I live in a villa/area that may suit you.
PNB,
There are plenty of nice areas in and around Doha, West Bay is the nicest however if 50,000 is your full salary Im not sure you would want to spend 30,000 of that per month on a property.
Cost of living is slowly starting to rise in Doha so you must be aware of that prior to coming over. Not so sure on properties near the shore, but Wakra is the nearest beach type place to Doha that has had properties for rent (could be a good starter for search strings).
Not so much of the Brit/Canadian communities as we are all wide spread over the city etc, however you can get on the mailing list for your embassy and meet people that way, as previously described there are plenty of activity centres based loosely around sports and social clubs to get to meet people from many different countries and cultures.
Best of luck.
You're born, you take s**t. You get out in the world, you take more s**t. You climb a little higher, you take less s**t. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what s**t even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake son.