Hi Pete, it's great that someone else is flying from Manchester too. Which block is your apartment in? We've been allocated block D and it's a 2 bedroom apartment also, wouldn't mind a 3 bedroom seeing as we're a couple! :-)
Subsidised restaurants sounds good, I hope they serve spicy food but we also prefer to eat home cooked meal most of the time. There is a fish market nearby which should be handy for fresh seafood.

Slim93,
Thank you for taking the time to answer. How are you finding it a year on?
I like photography and all things techy, it's gonna cost me a bit buying new gadgets in Qatar it seems, I'll try to bring what I can.