Is this expatriate package OK?

I'm an American living here in Doha. Both my husband and I work in senior positions and what is being offered to you is a poor deal for someone who is making what you are making in the US.

A good expat package in my opinion would included annual tickets home for you and your family. tuition for the kids, housing paid for completely by the company in one of the better compounds in Doha as you have a family, health care, and a car allotment that will allow you to have a family sized car.

My children go to the American School and it is the most expensive school in Doha I'm told. Tuition and busing is over 15K USD per child so that is a big consideration.

Also you want to work for a company that will give you a multiple exit permit so you can come and go at your leisure.

If I were you, I would stay in the U.S. considering your current salary and what you are being offered. The offer you have recieved sounds second rate to me and I would look twice at the company that offered it because it is not anywhere near what a senior position should be offering.

Finally don't accept anything without coming here first and seeing the compounds, visiting the American School to see if they have openings and getting a feel for the culture. Of course if the company interested in you is truly professional, they will offer to bring you here for the visit/interview.

Just my two cents.

I am from Raleigh, North Carolina. I am also in I.T. trying for a job here since I want to relocate to middle east. My honest opinion is $ 240K is a handsome salary. Even after tax, you are left with a lot. YOU will not have the fun in Qatar that you would have in U.S. If you get a salary of 50K per month plus other perks, then it would make a difference. Even then you would miss all the fun that you have in U.S. I think you should be happy with your job in U.S.

Qumar

Dont Come you have the great salary and I believe the life too in US.

I think Skanky's analysis is quite logical. couldn't agree more

Judging your present salary and what they have offered you here you will find it difficult to cope with the cost of living.

It is easy to say don't compare the one with the other but when you arrive here and live here you WILL compare and then you will blame Qatar.

Your housing allowance is to low QR 8,000 will get you a small furnished appartment.

You have no education allowance should you eventually find a vacancy to place your kids in school.

Your car allowance will allow you to buy a small/middle class car.

You will need Health Care.

Your standard of living will have to reduce.

You can't buy the all American foods you may like here, but you can still live very well.

You may want to join a club - (if there are any vacancies) this will cost you up to QR 6000 per person per year.

You will have to put up with great heat and sand storms in the Summer where the kids stay mainly indoors.

You will (usually) only get one home ticket from the company for you - the rest you will have to pay from your own pocket.

You will need an exit permit from your company every time you leave the country because without it you can't leave.

Qatar itself is a very nice country and it does have a lot to offer but it is relentless if you are not happy here. There are places to go around Qatar and many things of interest to see and it has a wonderful Corniche which many people frequent in the evening.

Most of all I like the bit about what you want and what you believe - so what about your family - what do they want and what do they believe.

You will uproot them (from as far as I can see) a luxurios lifystyle which with the above mentioned salary $8,515.00 this is nearly $12,000.00 less than you are earning now!!!!

In view of all that good luck with you chance

dont come here for arab culture bec u wont see any..

and u will earn less than u r earning there

Housing expensive. If want western standard accommodation in some of the nicer areas of town you can be looking at anything between 12 - 18,000 for a two bed apartment.

Food expensive. Going out expensive. Air tickets from Doha expensive. Gas, cheap. They almost give it away here, but the unfortunate problem is there is no where to drive. Schooling expensive and places are in short supply

However saying all that, the people here are nice whether Qatari or expat. The crime rate is low and the weather is great for most of the year.

Working overseas is a great experience but I would ask for at least 14,000 on the housing

doesn't appear exceptional.

I appreciate that I haven't lived in Qatar for some time but my line of work gives me some indication.

Housing and schooling costs are sky high in Doha.

Whilst the cultural values may appeal to you, think long and hard before making any firm committment.

The leave tickets shouldn't have to be negotiated they should be offered as part of any expat package.

Speaking personally, I wouldn't consider making the move given the circumstances that you mention.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Qatarquestioner, here my my two cents (I live in Canada and am also looking at Qatar as a place to move to):

A bit depends on where in the US you live and make $240K. If you live in New York, LA or San Francisco, making $240K a year, then this offer is worthy of further consideration/negotiation.

If you live in a low cost of living city such as, for example, Dallas, Tulsa, Atlanta, etc, then NO WAY should you consider leaving.

In any instance, my recommendation to you is DO NOT consider Qatar unless your housing is paid for (and I mean provided by employer), not a housing allowance.

My two cents - Your salary is great, housing is extremely low, car allowance is low, your whole family should have flights paid for and the schooling should definitely be paid for. You will probably want to live on a nice compound with amenities and that will cost 15000 - 20000 QR a month. Schooling is outrageous, even if your kids can get in. I would renegotiate before leaving such a good paying job.

believe half ofd what you see and nothing of what you hear

Hmmm, my package sounds about 30% too low based on all your valuable feedback. Thanks again!

if you bringing the kid/s to Doha ... make sure the company paying for their school fees.

Moving to Qatar early Feb, and from everything that I've read leading up to me making a decision it would appear that your proposed housing allowance will be the area that will impact you most. Broadly speaking (from what I understand) a reasonable 3 bed villa in a compound will cost you in the region of QAR15K per month, so you can immediately subtract QAR7K per month from your basic! The car allowance is also a little light (mine is 2400, and is considered average, I think). 31K seems okay eqauates to around $102K, Keeping in mind that this is tax free it shouldn't be a million miles from your current take home! You should also be getting one flight home for yourself and your family (preferably business class). The holiday allowance would also typically be quite generous ie 30+ days per annum. Not sure if this helps?

You will be living in a 2 bedroom apartment. Three bedroom apartments go for about 8500QR and up. You will need 12000-14000 QR just to get a villa (like a townhouse) so be careful because your standard of living might actually go down. 250K in the US provides a very nice lifestyle and you would need more than your present offer for the same lifestyle here.

Good luck.

Schools are expensive,

housing will cost more than 8000 if you will need more than a two bedroom apartment

To buy a car and on a monthly basis for 6 years, then u will pay 1500 on a nissan tida or a mazda .

31 000 , is not good for a man who has 2 children and a wife, where you will need shopping, clothing, and schooling.

the only thing good in Doha, is that the fuel is cheap.

Please don't take the offer, even if it was tax free, it's not worth it!

Try searching other companies, if you were making less then you might consider it, but they MUST add more than what they offered you.

try websites like

www.bayt.com or other websites that offer jobs in the middle east / gulf.

Best of luck

Sounds like an impartial (and appreciated) point of view. Anyone else has an opinion for someone who's looking to work in a totally different place from the rat-race in Northern America?

You will spend more than $25.000 for schooling plus a car for your wife to drive them. Tickets to us are about $2.000 so you will spend about $31.000 from your salary just to pay air tickets and school.

Petrol is cheaper than US, food its ok maybe a little cheaper.

If I was in your shoes I stay there.

reasons

1. You have a good job, even with uncle sam taking some money from your salary.

2. You dont have to wait one year to go back home. You are already at home.

3. You dont have to look for a house and believe here its not easy to find a house if you are in a low budget.

4. You must go from good to better.

Am just being more objetive, I dont know your exact situation overthere. but at least you should have a house, 2 cars and everything under control.

The Venezuelan Sensation!!!

The company will give me the standard annual holidays leave. I am trying to negotiate my family's annual flights back home. I have two school-going aged kids. I've been told that the company won't be paying any part of their school fees.

If you are senior you should get more than

40.000 Qr Salary

20.000 Qr House acomodation

3.000 Car

Then U will be earning about 480.000 Qr a year which is about $131.000

Why I say this, cause if you make 240.000 over there, you are used to have a good type of living, and here you will need money to keep the same quality.

What about Vacations??? Are they going to pay you tickets for you and your family???

You have kids? are they 2 or more? If they are going to school whos going to pay for that? company???

I maybe understand you, because you want to try in a new place and find a better position, but the fact its that people come here for money.

So think in your family status before trying to come to the middle east.

The Venezuelan Sensation!!!