Is this a good package for a lawyer with approx 13 yrs pqe (in QAR):

-Monthly cash salary 83,000 (all inclusive)
-medical ins
-return airfares once a year
-school fees of approx 28,000 per annum (we have one 6 year old)
-bonus 2 to 3 months salary but is discretionary so not counting it
-one of relocation allowance of approx 42,000 excldg flights

How much for a good/modern 4 bed villa in a western compound with good facilities?

What is a good school with british curriculum?

Thanks

Yes and on that money you'll have the pick of the best villas . 16-25K QAR will give you 5 bedroom stand alone , own pool top of the range all mod cons.

Let ne know if you need an assistant . i'll take 50% of what you're on

CDB, for villas and per your experience, do you suggest compound or a stand alone outside? Plus I heard that al waab is the best place to be in now, true? If not what place do you suggest for a 4br villa with a 14k budget? and thx for your previous replies

I live in Al Waab and it's ok . There's an awful lot of development in the city now and there's just no way you're going to avoid it over the next 5 years so no matter where you live if it hasn't been ripped apart it will be at some point.

On your kind of deal you can pick and choose where you want to live mate . You will get a great compound villa for between 12-18 QAR and if you go above that then you're looking at an even better standard.

For 14 K you'll get a very good place in Al Waab in a compound or a stand alone . Watch out for the stand alones though , renting direct from the landlord can be notorious for getting repairs and things done , you might get a great deal but when he goes out of the country for the summer and all your A.C systems break down it's not so clever.

I use a so called reputable agent so i know when i have shit i can pick up the phone and someone deals with it and they're pretty good to be honest.

At the end of the day it comes down to personal choice , i would wait until i got here and spent some time looking at a variety of different options . Compounds can be a pain in the arse if you get one with a load of local kids running around at 2.00am every morning and doing doughnuts in their landcruisers outside your bedroom window.

Keep your mind open as there's so many variables here .

Good luck

Thanks that's very useful

no wonder they charge $750 per hour

If you have time after you arrive here, look around and see whats on offer, there are some nice properties here. Speak to the other lawyers in your office, see where they stay...you might not want to live on their doorstep, but would be a good starting point.

Hi all,

I have just been offered this from a telecoms company in Doha. What do you think???? Needs to respond ASAP!!

Basic Salary 20,000
Housing 12,500
Transport 1,850
Lifestyle Allowance 1,000
Flight Allowance 667

Thanks

Re housing and locations, I agree with the comments about Waab but bear in mind traffic could be a problem for you if you ‘ll be working in town/ Corniche areas. I also suggest Duhail (loads of construction too but nicer bigger houses and less traffic + near landmark!), Markhiya (small stretch between BR roundabout and Dahl Alhamam roundabout), Jelaih (near the North Atlantic College) and Dafna. There are nice stand alone villas as well as compounds. The top end of the market is west bay lagoon and those areas near the Pearl which itself could appeal to some people. There are good English schools around those locations.
MrBurbo: depending on the job you‘ll be doing. If you are a senior engineer then you need to ask for more.

Hi Toon Army, what are the good schols around the Pearl and West Bay Lagoon?

There is the Int. school of London, Gulf English school and there is a small new school run by a British couple and all the teachers are professional native speakers, the school is called Awfaz global school.
There is of course Sherborne which is a bit of a drive from Pearl and West Bay Lagoon but to my knowledge its one of the best schools in Doha