Qatar - Advice gratefully received
 

Hello all,

I know that many of you are seasoned contributors and sometimes bemoan ignorant posts. I apologise from the offset if my post contains questions there are answers for elsewhere.

I have researched myself into a frenzy, and would welcome some sage advice from Qatar based Expats.

My husband has been head hunted for a job in the maritime sector, he has relatively specialist skills in design and co-ordination. We would move out to Qatar as a family, we have one 7 year old son.

Firstly, I have researched all of the various posts on here and other sources of research, and i have budgeted the following monthly / annual costs;

Rent QAR 18,000 a month / QAR 216,000 a year (3 bed something)
Utilities QAR 400 a month / QAR 4,800 a year
Living Allowance (food, eating out, petrol, entertainment) QAR 5,200 a month / QAR 62,400 a year
Transport (2 x cars + insurance) QAR 3,500 a month / QAR 42,000 a year
Education QAR 40,000 a year

Please advise me if I have over or under egged anything.

We have worked out that including the flights home we would want, plus costs at home and our target savings each year, the total amount we need is QAR600,000 a year.

His initial offer from his potential employer (including the cash value of all allowances, flights home, and base salary) works out QAR 43,600 a month, so QAR 523,200 a year. This is the first offer, so we are hoping to negotiate up to our target amount or over. Any advice on how hard to negotiate or how serious/firm first offers are would also be much appreciated.

Again, apologies if you find my questions dumb but I would really appreciate some current advice on all the figures.

Thanks in advance

Re: Qatar - Advice gratefully received
 

Hi, I would say you are light on utilities and in my opinion you should budget QAR1000 per month depending on where you choose to live you may need more.
Internet can be 200+ per month too.
I think you maybe light on cars too if you intend on renting? I'm not the person to ask on this really.
Rent and general living costs are rising rapidly here so I eould give yourself more for weekend,food etc.
Schools I have no idea about but I do know school places are a battle to get.
Sorry to be a bit negative but best you know before you arrive.
Also bring Uk £10,000 with you to set yourself up as everyone wants a deposit.
Good look

Re: Qatar - Advice gratefully received
 

Can you break down the basic monthly salary and all allowances? Usually you can negotiate slightly for the basic one, but not for the allowances.

Re: Qatar - Advice gratefully received
 

Thanks very much for your feedback, I have adjusted our budget to take into account what you have said. On the car front i am hoping we will buy with a car loan and have budgeted QAR110,000k for two cars.

Thanks again, we have a lot to think about!

Re: Qatar - Advice gratefully received
 

Hi there,

He has been offered;
Monthly;
QAR19,000k basic salary
QAR5,000k special allowance
QAR12,500k accommodation allowance
QAR2,000k transport allowance

Annual;
QAR38,796 Education allowance
Flights allowance (apparently deposited in our account every January based on IATA rates)

They are saying this amounts to QAR 43,591 a month (not including the flights).

Looking at our sums, we need QAR 50,000 a month to maintain our standard of living and to save money. We feel quite steadfast on protecting the savings aspect, as that (along with career progression) is a major motivation for uprooting the family.

They are valuing his skills as specialist and are very keen on him after the telephone interview. We have gone back to say it needs to be QAR 50k a month and await their feedback. They want him to fly out for a final interview face to face when we have agreed in principle the offer.

If they get nearer to it, do you think it is worth agreeing in principle, flying out and then wrangling for more or are we likely to only get what is agreed prior to travel?

Again, many thanks for your time and input, it is much appreciated.

Re: Qatar - Advice gratefully received
 

You may get what you negotiate before you arrive.
You will never get more on arrival.

Re: Qatar - Advice gratefully received
 

Hi there,

They have said we are to agree the conditional offer in principle prior to them flying him our for a face to face interview.

I have read on this forum that the final negotiation is normally after face to face interview, so we are trying (hopelessly) to work out whether to agree to the revised offer in principle if it isn't quite what we need on the assumption that if the interview goes well can push for a bit more to get it to where we need it to be.

Thanks for your time, I appreciate your inputs

Re: Qatar - Advice gratefully received
 

NO.

They will fly him for interview if he agrees to the money.

If he says yes and then asks for more it won't go down well. Sometimes you might get more but unlikely. The company I work for do this, because offers are subject to client approval. 9/10 if someone gets final approval and then asks for more, they get told no and told if they ask again the offer will be withdrawn.

They will be flying you out on the basis that the money is OK. If it's not OK, don't go. Negotiate.

Re: Qatar - Advice gratefully received
 

Noted, thanks a lot