Banned in Qatar
 

I left Qatar in June for one month to see my mother in Hospital in the Uk, at the time I had a outstanding loan of about 120,000, I decided to stay in the UK as I was offered a job here and have also paid off the loan, my boss wants me to go and work in the Middle East again, Dubai, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi and so on, but I have here'd stores of people returning to Qatar even after they had cleared there debts and still ending up in jail, can anyone verify this.

Re: Banned in Qatar
 

Can you provide any sources for this?

Re: Banned in Qatar
 

It was just here say from friends of friends, One of my expat colleagues advised me to stay away from Qatar as his close friend spent four months in jail after clearing his debts and returning to Qatar on a visit visa.
Sounds a bit outrageous to me but I need to be sure.

Re: Banned in Qatar
 

So no other sources, or examples? I find it pretty hard to believe someone was jailed for no reason.

Re: Banned in Qatar
 

As I said it sounds outrageous and that is why I am asking if anyone can confirm this, Having spent 15yrs in the Middle East I know nothing is set in stone and things can happen on the spure of the moment, bad debts are taken very seriously in the Middle East and would not surprise me if someone was jailed to set an example, ie don't leave until you settle your debts especially in Qatar were you can not even leave the country without an exit permit from your sponsor.

Re: Banned in Qatar
 

Really?

It's conceivable that a disgruntled employer would log a case if someone left them without agreed notice.

Re: Banned in Qatar
 

Is there anyone out there that can actually answer my question?

Re: Banned in Qatar
 

If you've paid off the loan, then ask the bank to issue you with a letter confirming this is the case and that there is no outstanding court case against you.

That way, you have a 'get-out-of-jail' card that would help you if the worst happens on your arrival at Doha immigration.

Re: Banned in Qatar
 

what was the loan for ?

Re: Banned in Qatar
 

Thanks Jonnyboy I will take your advise and do just that.

Re: Banned in Qatar
 

Dub, The loan was for renovation on my house in Portugal.

Re: Banned in Qatar
 

I don't know about Qatar - although I'd expect you had more employee rights there - but, in Saudi, westerners on the receiving end of treatment from a disgruntled employer (after they'd left under a dark could) only won't be let back in; turned away at the border.

There's quite a lot of 'ifs' there though - a western passport-holding employee, left on bad terms, no criminal offences.

If you don't pay your debts I'd imagine on return you'd be liable, possibly arrested or summonsed, until you proved those debts had been repaid. The OP said "spent four months in jail after clearing his debts and returning to Qatar on a visit visa", which I don't believe is a normal/regular occurrence, otherwise we'd have heard about it on other occasions.

Re: Banned in Qatar
 

As already commented ask the bank for a letter and a statement reflecting the fact that this loan is payed , this could prove difficult though as banks here will do hardly anything through email or over the phone .

Also ask your previous companies PRO to check if there is any violation submitted against you with the police . The bank have to submit details of any default to the police before the police can raise a non - exit or a case on re-entry .

Remember you are guilty until YOU prove your innocence in Qatar .

Re: Banned in Qatar
 

Thanks everyone for your input, I guess all I can do is put together as much paper work as possible to show I have paid the debt ie money transfer letter from my bank, I have been unable to get any confirmation that my debt has been paid at that end as the banks don't reply to emails and have blocked all access to my account online, for all I know the bank manager has blown it on a blowout weekend in Dubai, guess I will have to cross my fingers at immigration.

Re: Banned in Qatar
 

Hi,
If the system is anything like the UAE, which I think it is, there's another way you can find out. Any visa agency with access to immigration will very quickly be able to tell you if your passport number flags up any outstanding issues for example being classed as absconding or having any outstanding court cases.

If you have any friends in Qatar they may be able to help point you in the direction of an agency, just email them a passport copy and offer to pay them 20 quid for their trouble. Good luck!