Doha Qatar - An Expats Experience

Having been an expat in Bahrain before moving to Qatar, Annabel had some idea of what to expect in a Middle Eastern Country as well as the experience of being an expat. This is what she has to tell us about moving to Doha in Qatar :

I am originally from South Africa - Johannesburg, prior to this we lived in Bahrain for 18 months and have lived in Doha now for 2 years and 9 months.

We live close to the sea and take our
dogs walking on a daily basis

What was your first impression of the city / country you moved to? 
Bit of a mix impressions – some areas were very First World with fancy hotels and high rise buildings and yet other parts of the country looked very scruffy and dirty.

What do you like the most about where you are living now?  
The weather, the fact that we live on the lagoon and walk our dogs on the water’s edge every evening.  
The desert and what that has to offer.  
The amazing people we have met from all cultures.  
Our fantastic church (we were not sure if we would find a church in a Muslim country).

What do you like the least about where you are living now?  
The only thing that I don’t like is the fact that I am far away from my family & friends back home.

What do you do for fun?  
Cycling – and particularly enjoy cycling in the desert.  
Kayaking, eating out, going to theatre or shows (Jazz etc), horse shows (dressage, show jumping and races), watching camel racing, camping in the desert, swimming, entertaining.  
Going to gym, spinning, Pilates etc.

Cycling Group

What is the funniest / strangest cultural experience you have had?  
When going to a water park was told by the staff that I cannot go down the slip and slide with my t-shirt on as it is dangerous and might hook and yet a couple of minutes later I saw a lady going down in her full abaya (now that I would have thought would hook)  

How did you find the cost of living compared to your home?   More or less expensive? Why? 
Oh definitely more expensive – everything is about 3 times more expensive because everything is imported and of course there are loads of designer stores, so you really have to shop around to find the discount or cheaper stores.  
The souq is a good place to pick up bargains, but you can’t buy everything at the souq.

Did the company help with your move? How?  
Yes they did, but not substantially – so we just moved our most personal goods (and did not include furniture in our move)

 Does your company pay for any of the following -

Basket Group	Yes	No
Clothing		x
Communication (e.g. Internet; Telephone)		x
Education (e.g. Children’s School Fees)		x
Furniture & Appliances (e.g. Semi-Furnished Housing)		x
Groceries		x
Healthcare (e.g. Medical Insurance; Medical Facilities)	y
Household Accommodation (e.g. Housing or Housing Allowance)	y
Personal Care		x
Recreation and Culture (e.g. Fitness Club Fees)		x
Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotels		x
Transport (e.g. Company Vehicle or Transport Allowance)		x
Air Fare Home each year		x
** The Education and home airfares were all incorporated in the total package – so it is up to us how we want to spend that.

Did you do research before your move on what you needed to earn to maintain or increase your standard of living?
Yes – and having a brother in law working in the Middle East made it easier as he could guide us on the cost of living and salaries etc

If so, what research did you do?
Loads of internet research and talking to other people who have lived in the Middle East

What do you find expensive in your Host city?
I think everything is more expensive except cell phone charges and petrol.

Do you have any advice for readers on becoming an expat and the type of research to do before hand?
We found that it doesn’t matter how much research you do (particularly on the culture) you will only really understand it once you are in the country.  
Having said that, you can never do enough research or talking to people who have been there before is the best way to understand the ex-pat life.  
Some advice that was given to me which really turned out to be very true “is give yourself 6 months to feel at home”  so if you having those down days, just persevere and definitely have an open mind and a positive outlook.  
Also very important to accept invitations from people as the quicker you meet people and find your hobbies the more settled you will feel.  
As a wife who moved for my husband’s job, it is also very important to drive and become independent as quickly as possible.  
Join clubs and societies to find like minded people.

Any favourite websites  / blogs about where you live, that can help others with their move?
www.qatarliving.com,
www.marhaba.com.qa
Facebook groups : South African’s in Qatar, SASCOM Qatar; SA Ladies in Qatar

Do you have a blog or website?
No – we used to do monthly newsletters to keep family in the loop of what we were up to and what living abroad was like – but unfortunately one’s life is just as busy living as expats as living in your home town.  This then becomes a yearly newsletter.
 

Beautiful landscapes and sites to see while cycling in the desert

Xpatulator.com provides up-to-date cost of living data for over 700 locations worldwide, employers and employees can calculate how much is needed to earn in another location to have a similar spending power. Steven McManus is a Remuneration and Benefits Consultant and founder of  http://www.xpatulator.com

Becoming an Expat in Doha? Here are a Few Cultural Tips....

The beautiful Doha Skyline

Qatar is found in the Arabian Gulf boarding Saudi Arabia, Doha is the capital and largest city.

As an expat the risks associated with moving to Qatar are rated as low with crime levels extremely low and mainly non-violent such as petty and opportunistic theft, burglary, robbery, and fraud with terrorism representing a latent risk. Foreign personnel and interests may be targeted by local extremist groups or individuals seeking to launch small-scale, spontaneous or indiscriminate attacks.  Assaults and violent crime against foreigners occur rarely.

General Cultural Tips
Qatar follows the strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam and you should dress conservatively by covering arms and legs, this is applicable to both men and women
Handshakes are common upon meeting and leaving, however locals do not shake hands with members of the opposite sex, rather greet with a nod of the head.
A younger person is expected to always hold open a door for someone older, the elderly are highly respected and valued.
The left hand is considered unclean and is not used for eating, greeting or accepting gifts.
Family values and privacy are regarded as important in Qatar.
If you are looking at opening a business as a foreigner, you are not permitted to own property or a business without a Qatari holding at least 51% of the investment.
Alcohol is off limits to all Muslims and can only be consumed by non-Muslim visitors in hotels or private residences, it is illegal to carry a bottle of alcohol in your car to another destination (unless from the depot to your residence) or to bring a bottle into the country  and may encounter difficulty with authorities if this is contravened. Visitors not staying at a hotel will also be required to take membership of the hotel 'club' before being allowed in to drink, if visiting a hotel that you are not staying in .
An alcohol licence is required and has to be approved by your company before you can purchase such, there is only one depot where alcohol and pork (at the moment) are available to foreigners.

Business Cultural Tips
Business conduct is formal, before beginning a meeting, small talk is customary and a personal introduction is helpful with the exchange of business cards.  While business card can be in English, they should have an Arabic translation on the reverse side.
People, in general, are punctual and expect the same in return and appointments must be made and kept.
Tea or coffee is served before meetings begin and it is rude to refuse, remember to hold the cup in the right hand.
It is acceptable for people to receive calls and visits during meetings, and for participants to enter and leave during the discussion.
Men should wear a suit and tie for business meetings, while women should wear a modest cotton or linen dress that covers both arms and legs.
English is the language of business, but knowledge of a few Arabic words is appreciated such as greetings and farewells, thank you and please.
Labour law gives preference to hiring Qataris first, then other Arabs, and finally to other foreigners.
Smoking is acceptable, however wait for others to light up first as smoking is prohibited in some buildings.

Businesswomen
Foreign females can travel alone to Qatar and conduct business, however it is advisable not to travel alone or take a taxi on your own.
Although restrictions on dress are less severe than in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, it is advisable to dress modestly.

Women should follow commonsense security precautions such as:
Dress conservatively.
Observe and respect local clothing customs and adhere to conventions for travel in conservative Muslim countries.
Politely refuse invitations that would take you beyond your personal comfort levels.
Your hotel may offer women-only floors; enquire about them upon booking your room.

Tipping
A service charge of about 10% is usually included in hotel and restaurant bills, in which case additional tipping is not necessary. If a tip is not included, it is customary to pay an additional 10%. Although taxi drivers do not expect a tip, rounding off the amount due will be appreciated.

Working week: Sunday-Thursday
Weekend: Friday and Saturday
Government office hours: 07.00-14.00
Banking hours: 07.30-13.00
Oil companies generally work a half-day on Thursday.
During Ramadan, business hours are reduced and public offices tend to reopen for several hours after iftar (the breaking of the fast).

Qatar is ranked as a some hardship location by Xpatulator.com.

Want to know more about the cost of living in Qatar? Calculate how much you need to earn in Qatar to have the same spending power that you have now. Register, Purchase and Run the Salary Purchasing Calculator (SPPP).