How bad is Doha?
Feb 17th 2012, 6:15 am
#46
Onwards and Upwards!
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 884
Re: How bad is Doha?
Probably wrong thread but on the same page
How bad is doha ? well can i get a visa on arrival ? i will be flying in with qatar and may take a coupla days if i can get a visa before i continue to uk then i,ll have a look around . Workwise i,m a chippy /supervisor , But have been chillin in goa for last 4 months due to crap weather and economy, bout £1 a pint ere and £10 over there ? so i wont be going mad but it would seem a shame to fly past wots gonna be a massive construction site / boom without haveing a look around so VISA? any tips on work would be a great help also
, I know what you,all saying bout the place and by crickey it does sound a bit grim 
Ps any thing Must Do whilst there (apart from making sure you can get out)
many thanks
Al
How bad is doha ? well can i get a visa on arrival ? i will be flying in with qatar and may take a coupla days if i can get a visa before i continue to uk then i,ll have a look around . Workwise i,m a chippy /supervisor , But have been chillin in goa for last 4 months due to crap weather and economy, bout £1 a pint ere and £10 over there ? so i wont be going mad but it would seem a shame to fly past wots gonna be a massive construction site / boom without haveing a look around so VISA? any tips on work would be a great help also
, I know what you,all saying bout the place and by crickey it does sound a bit grim Ps any thing Must Do whilst there (apart from making sure you can get out)
many thanks
Al
How bad is Doha?, well I'd agree it's a grim place to live and work. For me it gets worse the longer I'm out here. Golden handcuffs required to make it bearable.
As for your employment prospects as a chippy, bear in mind that the construction sites are dominated by cheap Indian labour (paid about £120/ month, live in labour camps, fed rice, and do manual graft 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, have no H&S expectations, all in the baking heat). Are you more competitive than that, or got something special skills to offer that can't be exploited from the Indian sub-continent? Things might change in the run-up to '22, but I very much doubt it.
[J]
Feb 17th 2012, 8:29 am
#47
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 99
Re: How bad is Doha?
County Durham Boy.
What's the deal for Construction (project manager) Professionals at a Director-level?
I'm currently a Director at a large UK practice and have the opportunity to move out there with a former employer (another large UK practice with significant Middle East presence).
What would be my likely salary expectations based on:
- Family (incl wife and two yound kids - one at school age)
- No Gulf experience
The only thing that I can think of which might be to my advantage is that I used to work for the employer with the potential opportunity, but I guess that's largely irrelevant out there?
Any advice you can give would be most helpful.
What's the deal for Construction (project manager) Professionals at a Director-level?
I'm currently a Director at a large UK practice and have the opportunity to move out there with a former employer (another large UK practice with significant Middle East presence).
What would be my likely salary expectations based on:
- Family (incl wife and two yound kids - one at school age)
- No Gulf experience
The only thing that I can think of which might be to my advantage is that I used to work for the employer with the potential opportunity, but I guess that's largely irrelevant out there?
Any advice you can give would be most helpful.
Feb 17th 2012, 10:29 am
#48
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 13
Re: How bad is Doha?
Cheers jonnyboy 11
Ye i know that even the indians are gettin ripped off (not to mention the rest)
the thing is thats not what happens , or is it ? does an ex pat say work in the same squad as a group of indian /fillipono tradesman ? or in a foreman or supervisory role ? . Don,t bother as can be hands on or off but like anything tis all about the money , if it aint worth it then no probs we move on , But like i,m reading thats 1 of the reasons for being there , ain,t it ? . Me i,m just looking at it as i,m passing thru an havin a nose , Thanks for the visa advice
Hmmm sounds grim up north well from 15 degrees north , Gonna go get drunk for bout a £10 worth now 10 pints
Cheers
Al
Ye i know that even the indians are gettin ripped off (not to mention the rest)
the thing is thats not what happens , or is it ? does an ex pat say work in the same squad as a group of indian /fillipono tradesman ? or in a foreman or supervisory role ? . Don,t bother as can be hands on or off but like anything tis all about the money , if it aint worth it then no probs we move on , But like i,m reading thats 1 of the reasons for being there , ain,t it ? . Me i,m just looking at it as i,m passing thru an havin a nose , Thanks for the visa advice
Hmmm sounds grim up north well from 15 degrees north , Gonna go get drunk for bout a £10 worth now 10 pints
Cheers
Al
Feb 17th 2012, 10:31 am
#49
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 13
Re: How bad is Doha?
Cheers Guuute
will pm you
will pm you
Feb 17th 2012, 1:28 pm
#50
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Dubai
Posts: 4,017
Re: How bad is Doha?
County Durham Boy.
What's the deal for Construction (project manager) Professionals at a Director-level?
I'm currently a Director at a large UK practice and have the opportunity to move out there with a former employer (another large UK practice with significant Middle East presence).
What would be my likely salary expectations based on:
- Family (incl wife and two yound kids - one at school age)
- No Gulf experience
The only thing that I can think of which might be to my advantage is that I used to work for the employer with the potential opportunity, but I guess that's largely irrelevant out there?
Any advice you can give would be most helpful.
What's the deal for Construction (project manager) Professionals at a Director-level?
I'm currently a Director at a large UK practice and have the opportunity to move out there with a former employer (another large UK practice with significant Middle East presence).
What would be my likely salary expectations based on:
- Family (incl wife and two yound kids - one at school age)
- No Gulf experience
The only thing that I can think of which might be to my advantage is that I used to work for the employer with the potential opportunity, but I guess that's largely irrelevant out there?
Any advice you can give would be most helpful.
You should be looking at a range of 32,000 up to 50,000 , the variable is based on contractor / consultant plus private / semi-governmental .
Housing - 15,000 plus
Schooling - fully expensed
The rest of the add ons and benefits should be company policy but you'd have the basics consisting of.
2 family flights per year
Full family medical cover
Transport , work on a minimum of 10% of your basic
Annual bonus - you want to be aiming for up 3 months - get it specified and conditions stated.
Overseas experience is less of an issue for you as you're at director level , you'll still find incompetence on a grand scale but you shouldn't have to worry about the nuts and bolts of the job.
Everything's in QAR per month , dont take it as gospel though as there's good and bad deals all over.
Hope that helps
Feb 17th 2012, 1:33 pm
#51
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 7
Re: How bad is Doha?
cant any of you ever be a bit positive about this place I mean do we all have to come here just for the money. this place has thousands of years of culture and tradition, a cuisine, a language, an amazing blend of traditions and ways of life for crying out loud
Feb 17th 2012, 1:39 pm
#52
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Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Abu Dhabi
Posts: 1,633
Re: How bad is Doha?
gosh it must have changed since we were there in the 1990s.
Feb 17th 2012, 1:46 pm
#53
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Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 28
Re: How bad is Doha?
My advice is to get your details to as many recruiters in Qatar and in the region as possible . Obviously you been a single guy will help as married status guys cost a lot of money to employ .
Your overseas experience is a factor as a lot of companies are looking for guys who have a few years under their belt but that all really depends on project/ company . I for one would be reluctant to hire fresh expats at the moment as my project just dictates a lot of Gulf experience but that as i've said is a constraint thats very project specific.
I'm not sure if your basic is 40,000 sterling per year or 40,000QAR per month ? if you've priced in sterling then no problem you'd get that if you want 40,000 QAR per month you've got no chance.
Your degree will not be a problem as the level your working at doesn't really warrant the paper , job roles / descriptions can be changed to suit.
Remember Qatar isn't paved with gold , there will be work but no explosion of big money and astronomical salaries like their was in Dubai a few years ago . There will be money to be made but it's a very very competitive and that includes people and companies.
You'll also be up against different nationalities who will work harder , longer and stay at their desk 24 hrs a day and be as slippery as a Japanese racing snakes . It's not your technical ability to do the job it's also your ability to adapt to a construction environment which resembles a cross between the fall of Rome and an 1800's Lancashire cotton mill .
Get your details too as many people as possible build up contacts , speak to agencies and companies direct , do the shit work and you will get a breakthrough .
Good luck mate
Your overseas experience is a factor as a lot of companies are looking for guys who have a few years under their belt but that all really depends on project/ company . I for one would be reluctant to hire fresh expats at the moment as my project just dictates a lot of Gulf experience but that as i've said is a constraint thats very project specific.
I'm not sure if your basic is 40,000 sterling per year or 40,000QAR per month ? if you've priced in sterling then no problem you'd get that if you want 40,000 QAR per month you've got no chance.
Your degree will not be a problem as the level your working at doesn't really warrant the paper , job roles / descriptions can be changed to suit.
Remember Qatar isn't paved with gold , there will be work but no explosion of big money and astronomical salaries like their was in Dubai a few years ago . There will be money to be made but it's a very very competitive and that includes people and companies.
You'll also be up against different nationalities who will work harder , longer and stay at their desk 24 hrs a day and be as slippery as a Japanese racing snakes . It's not your technical ability to do the job it's also your ability to adapt to a construction environment which resembles a cross between the fall of Rome and an 1800's Lancashire cotton mill .
Get your details too as many people as possible build up contacts , speak to agencies and companies direct , do the shit work and you will get a breakthrough .
Good luck mate
Feb 17th 2012, 1:47 pm
#54
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 7
Re: How bad is Doha?
all most expats do here is slag it off but bank the money and moan again.
all you want but you know that someone here who is here to enjoy a different country will see all those things mentioned and leave the moaning to everyone else
all you want but you know that someone here who is here to enjoy a different country will see all those things mentioned and leave the moaning to everyone else
Feb 17th 2012, 2:02 pm
#56
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 28
Re: How bad is Doha?
You said earlier no chance of 50000qar for senior level of management. I earn more than £40000 in uk as project manager just now. How many QAR per month would it be reasonable to expect at this level and what other benefits on top?
Is there a site I could get a list of construction companies I could apply to?
Thanks
Is there a site I could get a list of construction companies I could apply to?
Thanks
Feb 17th 2012, 2:04 pm
#57
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Dubai
Posts: 4,017
Re: How bad is Doha?
If you want culture then go to Florence , if you want tradition go to Tokyo , if you want cuisine then go to Paris ....
If you want money go to Qatar....
Don't be so naive
Last edited by co durham boy; Feb 17th 2012 at 2:43 pm.
Feb 17th 2012, 2:07 pm
#58
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Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Dubai
Posts: 4,017
Re: How bad is Doha?
Whay on earth would i come to a shithole like this if it wasn't for money..?
Feb 17th 2012, 2:15 pm
#59
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Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Dubai
Posts: 4,017
Re: How bad is Doha?
You said earlier no chance of 50000qar for senior level of management. I earn more than £40000 in uk as project manager just now. How many QAR per month would it be reasonable to expect at this level and what other benefits on top?
Is there a site I could get a list of construction companies I could apply to?
Thanks
Is there a site I could get a list of construction companies I could apply to?
Thanks
The basics should consist of - housing / transport / flights / medical cover.
Use the internet , look at Meed , Zaywa , construction week online and use the search function and recruitment header on this website.
Feb 17th 2012, 2:26 pm
#60
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 49
Re: How bad is Doha?
Thanks guys for all your advice. CDB and Abbey, your input is very valuable (I like the tell them in their face). I guess I'll try to ask for 40k to get 35. Sounds like a good plan?
