Relocating to Qatar
By Imran ibn Abdullah •
Hello,
I am relocating to Qatar and would appreciate advice regarding the following:
1- Any hotels near the West Bay area;
2- Process/information to obtain a drivers licence, (I am driving for 13 years including 4 years in the GCC/UAE;
3- Best place to obtain local currency i.e. exchange at Airport/Hotel/Bank?
4- Process/information to admit a child into a school?
Thanks and regards...
Thank you very much to each one of you for the assistance/advice.
If your GCC/UAE driving license is still valid, you'll be allowed to drive 3 months the most (you can check and clarify with your HR) while you are still waiting for your RP (resident permit) like pataka in dubai.
if you already have RP, you company's PRO should arrange for you a schedule with Traffic Department for Eye test, which take less than a minute, and you have to pay 250QR and you instantly get your new Qatar driving license. You'll be asked for documents such as, passport, copy of UAE license and sometimes they want to see original license.
that easy.
for hotels, i guess Ezdan is nice. it does not require any advanced payments, any RP, you can pay monthly and it's accessible to almost basic amenities. it's in west bay.
welcome and goodluck to your stay.
1- Any hotels near the West Bay area;
West bay is full of hotels.
2- Process/information to obtain a drivers licence, (I am driving for 13 years including 4 years in the GCC/UAE;
If you have UAE driving license, then you can get a Qatar driving licence on base of it, without taking any driving test.
if you have UAE driving license, it can be used to get a Qatari license. ask for details once you're here.
Welcome to qatar my friend , I believe it is a great country to live in with family and kids.
The hotels in the west bay area are mostly high end five star hotels, being the intercontinental and the Ritz hotel. If you like to go a little further then west bay you can choose the hotels around the city center and diplomatic area as you will find hotel apartments.
Exchanging money I believe is the best to do in an exchange shop as you will get a better rate then the airport or hotel.
Schools are available and it depends on the age of the kid and what system you would like them to go in.
Good luck and welcome to your second home
3- Best place to obtain local currency i.e. exchange at Airport/Hotel/Bank?
How much you are going to change US $ 100 or US $ 100,000?