Tahir84

Folks, I was searching jobs in Middle East and came across the blog according to which the new labour laws of Qatar come in to force in December 2016.


Don't know much about the technicalities but it sounds good. Again, not sure whether its true or not, may be worth a read for current and future expats to Qatar.


Link below:

No NOC, No BAN Period, The FREEDOM to change JOBS, No BARS to EXIT... Qatar New Labor Law to take Effect on DEC. 13, 2016 | Legal | Blog | Qatar Day

co durham boy

The new law is in fact worse than the old one . Legislation of NOC still applies as well as an exit permit .

Smoke and mirrors but in this case black smoke and milk bottle glass

Johnnyboy11

Qatar doesn't do change, unless it's backwards.

Millhouse

Qatar just reported a population decline for the quarter - that's not good news.

martinbkk

What does that mean?
Which population?

Millhouse

1) It means that there are less people in the country
2) The population of Qatar, presumably mostly expats

DXBtoDOH

Well, I'm still supposed to be transferred to Qatar by the end of the year (company can't still make up their damn mind to settle the date in question). Does this mean I'll be able to nab a flat on the Pearl for 5K a month? Just like you could get an Emaar apartment in Dubai Marina or Downtown for 60k a year back in 2010.

co durham boy

Not a chance , individual owners are few and far between . The market is very different as you're probably aware .

Look elsewhere as the access and egress to that place is horrific

DXBtoDOH

I'll be working on the C ring road near Rawdat Al Khail.

What are good areas/options for a 1-bedder (no need for a spare room as no one will ever come visit me in Qatar), within easy reach with amenities and shops/restaurants around? Would like a pool / gym but can always join a private club if needed. Would like to avoid traffic as much as possible and keep commute to under 15 minutes. Is Al Sadd feasible (never been there, just heard of it).

I'm having trouble figuring out where people live in Doha, other than West Bay and Pearl. It seems they're scattered all over the place, not ghettoized like in Dubai. It seems the options are either poncy and overpriced like the Pearl or shit Karama type apartment block with nothing in between. Anything like the Greens?

co durham boy

Al Saad is ok but traffic is shit , have a look at Al Waab / Abu Hammour / An Khalid .

There's a fair few apartment type villa complexes in those areas and you're looking at decent access to get to where you need to be at .

Qatar is one dull and boring place but finding a half decent gaff will make it
bearable . I lived in Al Waab and i thought it was a half decent area . try not to compare any of it to Dubai though as you'll be more than eternally disappointed .

martinbkk

Yeah, What he said!

I spent my first year in a "cheapish" hotel. Eventually figured I might be staying a while so I started to look for an apartment. Horrible process but I ended up happy enough. Good sized 1 bed in a shared office/residence building. Only 8 apartments in the whole building and with private parking. No amenities other than reasonable privacy, no rubbernecking so called security and it is right on C ring which can be a bit noisy but honestly I've never noticed that much. 8k a month but you could expect less as a new renter maybe, especially now.

Problem with most places I looked at was how claustrophobic they made me feel, I need space, and skyline.

Elemento

I chose to live in the pearl. A one room apartment a little expensive but covered with my HA. The traffic was horrible at certain times but I will miss Qatar.

co durham boy

You're now in Riyadh so i understand your sentiment