British in Qatar
Are there many Brits in Qatar?
Does anyone have rough figures / percentages?
If any of you are from Britain then whereabouts are you from and how does Qatar compare.
I know the differences may be too large to compare but I am interested to hear your views if I may.
I'm from the Wirral by the way.
It is difficult for me, a Chinese to buy cloths and shoes. so I have to do back in BJ, China. We can buy anything if your money is enough:)
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share your life with me as we are different:)
In the UK, I know I can buy anything. REALLY.
If I want a bit of electronics, I can search the web and find four or five distributors in the UK. If it's something really obscure, I might need to order it from Germany. Anyway, wherever I order it from, I can pretty much guarantee it will arrive in 48 hours.
In Qatar, if it's not on the shelf in front of you, you're stuffed. Unless you keep a foreign credit card, online payments don't work. Most shops in Europe and USA won't deliver to Qatar. If you manager to buy something, expect your package to be torn open as it enters the country.
--nigel
http://qatarjournal.com/~ngourlay/journal/
I agree with u.
difference is fantastic and make us keeping more positive always:)
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share your life with me as YOU and I are different:)
I find India people is the top one although i just stay in Qatar for 4 months. You can see, amostly Taxi drivers are from India, esp. there are so many Indian engineers in our engineering compay. Also there are a lot of small shops managed by Indian guys.
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share your life with me as YOU and I are different:)
Sounds better than I thought.
Victorias Negatives;
"Negatives of living in Qatar:
1. Traffic
2. Poor nightlife
3. Shopping not as good as home but getting better
4. The slow pace it takes for anything to get done"
1. I've worked in Heathrow, so I know mad traffic. OK it's probably worse but hey ho!
2. Mrs. JBH and I don't do nightlife much any more, can't be bothered been there done that. Plus we are very good at making our own fun.
3. Not really the shopping types. Too much choice leads to too much spending.
4. Nice and easy does it.
I think we are going to like this.
I will be coming on my own at first with Wife + 2 coming in about a year.
I think we will be fine and I think the experience will be especialy good for the kids, boy 9 and girl 16, as life experiences are very important in my oppinion.
I will start a new thread about how you would convince a 16 year old girl to move to Qatar, please join in with your observations and experiences.
Cheers.
I HATE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU MR JANGOWARRIOR, BUT I HAVENT FOUND THAT THE QATARIS LIKE THE BRITS AT ALL. THEY SEEM TO RESENT US BEEN HERE, AND WHEN IT COMES TO DRIVING, THEY SEE A WHITE FACE AND GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO CUT US UP AND RACE IN FRONT OF US. I DONT KNOW WHY, COS WHEN THEY GET TO WHERE THEY ARE GOING THEY DONT DO ANYTHING ANYWAY!
I SUPPOSE THEY MITE BE A LITTLE P***** OFF WITH EUROPEANS,IN GENERAL,COMING OVER HERE AND TAKING SOME OF THE WELL PAID JOBS, BUTS THIS IS MY OPINION ONLY.
I WILL NEVER GRIPE ABOUT THE DRIVING IN LEEDS AND YORK AGAIN !!!
It is impossible to compare qatar to home (Newcastle, England).
Here are some of my positives and negatives.
Positives of living in Qatar:
1. lovely weather
2. meeting lots of new people
3. being able to save some money
4. A more comfortable lifestyle (we have been lucky and have good accomodation/package)
5. More relaxed way of life
6. Having the opportunity to learn new things, participate in new activities (eg.learning arabic, quad biking in the dunes)
Negatives of living in Qatar:
1. Traffic
2. Poor nightlife
3. Shopping not as good as home but getting better
4. The slow pace it takes for anything to get done
(i didn't think i'd have more positives than negatives)
Best not to compare Qatar to home, just accept what it is and make the best of it, and look forward to holidays home to the UK.
I actually don't mind it here either, I have met my future wife here and have had an excellent time.
I was lucky enough to have a decent package, that helps a LOT.
Good accommodation also helps, part of the package, sweet !!
Life in Qatar is very easy certainly compared to London.
If you get lucky you might enjoy it, I do.
I actually don't mind it here either, I have met my future wife here and have had an excellent time.
I was lucky enough to have a decent package, that helps a LOT.
Good accommodation also helps, part of the package, sweet !!
Life in Qatar is very easy certainly compared to London.
If you get lucky you might enjoy it, I do.
I actually don't mind it here either, I have met my future wife here and have had an excellent time.
I was lucky enough to have a decent package, that helps a LOT.
Good accommodation also helps, part of the package, sweet !!
Life in Qatar is very easy certainly compared to London.
If you get lucky you might enjoy it, I do.
Personallly with a young son and wife with me, life is good in Qatar, our social life revolves around him anyway.
If you are a male and by yourself i would think it sucks, not much to do and not that many of the fairer skin (thats ladies if your'e not English).
Don't get me wrong there is probablly more world class events in Qatar than your normal UK home town, outside of London, but that is it. Brits will miss their local pub, I sure as hell do.
The golf club keeps me sane and having a host of sports channels does help.
I must admit I am the exception amongst my friends or workmates, most of them detest being here and they just live for their next R&R escape.
I would say just give it a chance, I have been on far worse assignments than Qatar, the locals don't bother you and also quite admire the Brits and have a real love for England (strange but true).
The weather is fantastic, the summer is not really a problem, sure it's hot and humid, but were mad dogs so it doesn't matter.
The traffic is shocking, compared to the North of England.
Take it as an experience of life, taste it and then move on.
Majority of expats in Dubai are brits... The place is exploited throughly
What do Brits think about it?
It's like apples and chalk - two different worlds. You come here to work and save money to send home. Given the tax rules you need to be here a couple of years. For entertainment try sad bars and drinking at home. Holidays are somewhat better though.