RikiTiki, Welcome to Doha!

Your posting words resonate in my ears! I just moved to Doha from Dubai and i know exactly what you are talking about, the shock, or may be i would describe, an earthquake :)

Only people who lived in Dubai or Abu dhabi would understand what you are talking about. And actually only poeple who lived in these cities should comment because they can compare.

I lived in many Arab countries and i can assure you, you will not find anything like Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Muscat anywhere in the arab world.

Quality of living does not exist in many areas of the Arab World and poeple think you are being fussy for asking for nice and sophisticated things. They think that nice thing should be only for rich people.

I mean what kind of a villa that does not have even a shrub close to it. how about feeling claustrophobic when you look at your backyard and you find a high wall in front of you with 2x3 meters that people call here a"backyard"!.

I have looked at a new villa compound close to landmark in Al gharrafa area, and i tried to close the window, it would not close due to bad workmanship. the tiles in the kitchen were not even, kitchen cabinets look ugly. bathroom sinks do not have any cabinet underneath. this is brand new villa!!! but it is huge! how about make it smaller but with high quality instead of making big ugly thing!!!

Just take a drive behind QNCC and you know what i am talking about.

I mean we all know that dubai and Abu Dhabi are ahead of the pack by at least 20 years.

i think the city needs more focus on quality, more open parks, more open beaches, more highways, , etc.

http://www.mercer.com/articles/quality-of-living-survey-report-2011

this is the ranking of mercer's Quality of living survey:

this is World Ranking:

■Abu Dhabi (23rd)
■Muscat (29th)
■Dubai(39th)
■Doha (67th)