Hi guys

I am a newbie to the site. I am currently working in the UK and have been considering a potential move to Doha.

My first preference for a move to the middle east was Dubai (mainly due to the view that it would be easier for me and my wife to settle into), however I have more recently been considering Doha mainly due to a potential job offer on the way.

This is the first time I would be relocating and I would be grateful for some advice on the following (apologies the questions are quite general in nature)!;

1. How has it been for you guys personally, adapting to the lifestyle in Doha when compared to the UK. For info I live in Milton Keynes in the UK, so not quite London and therefore don't expect Doha to be anything like London but it would be useful to get a feel for your own personal experiences.

2. Is it easy to make friends in Doha. It will be just me and my wife coming (no kids) and wanted to know if it was easy to socialise with other expats in the area.

3. Would it be hard for my wife to find employment in Doha? I understand that she will be able to work off of my visa, if sponsored by me? She is currently working as a retail merchandiser in the UK (not visual merchandising) - but she would be looking to either to go for a similar role or something in the office admin, marketing and events fields.

4. What is cost of living like? I understand that it is quite high, especially rent. We have been looking for 1/2 bed apartments in West Bay, mainly because it would be closer to work and therefore would not need to initially get a car. We have been looking into the residences at various hotels, as thought it would be good to go for a serviced apartment for the first year whilst we find our way around the place and then can look to move somewhere a bit further out where it would be cheaper.

5. For those who have experienced Dubai - how does your experience to Doha differ? Is it generally better or worse in Doha?

Apologies for the general nature of the questions above, but would be good to get some thoughts and personal experiences.

Thanks in advance.

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1.Doha will be a culture shock if you're coming from the UK but it's all relative . Some first time expats think it's paradise and there's others like me who've worked overseas for over 20 years think it's dull , boring and mediocre.

2.It's pretty easy to make friends here , it's one of the plus points . You have to go out and try things and do stuff as like everything in Doha it will not come and find you , you'll have to seek it out.

3.You're wife will pick something up very easily , like most things it's word of mouth so the social circle is important as it opens lots of avenues up . My wife has had 2 very good jobs here and is currently running a team of admin staff in a college.

4. Cost of living is expensive relating to other GCC countries . Qatar is now ranked the most expensive country in the GCC. Basic costs are Utilities- 500-700 PCM / TV-Internet 250-500PCM / Rent Villa - 10,000-25,000 PCM / Food - 500-1000 PW , then theres going out which can be nothing or your full salary .

5. I was in Dubai for 5 years before i came to Doha and there's no comparison , chalk and cheese for me . Qatar is 20 years behind Dubai in every single aspect of comparison .

There's a saying here that goes "Qatar , it's not as bad as Saudi"

Thanks for the response co durham boy - much appreciated.

My biggest worry was my wife not finding any employment out there.

Fingers crossed we get the right package now - and if all being well will hope to be out there in 3-4 months time.

You're wife will be fine , there's loads of stuff here in admin , schools and part time as well .

My mummy always told me if you can't say something nice, don't say it. So I won't say what I was about to say, about Doha.

Oh no - that doesn't fill me with much confidence! Surely it cant be all that bad - can it?

Oh no that doesn't fill me with much confidenceIt cant be that bad - can it?

No its not. The Middle East is one big pit where you are surrounded by incompetence at all levels - If you let it get to you it will drain you, I just let a lot more go now than I ever would at home.

There is plenty of things to do here and plenty of people all in the same boat, I still get just as frustrated occasionally but a Flight out every 3/4 months solves that. It's not the UAE here but that can also be a good thing.

Thanks - I understand that I need to come to Qatar with an open mind and will have to tolerate a lot more than I would do here in the UK.

I am also hoping things improve in Qatar over the next few years from a number of perspectives given the pending FIFA world cup (albeit we are a number of years off of that yet!)

I am also hoping things improve in Qatar over the next few years from a number of perspectives given the pending FIFA world cup (albeit we are a number of years off of that yet!)

My feeling is that it might not be until then that things change, indeed there is a school of thought that suggests use of such an international event with all its attendant decadence to force change where it would otherwise be impossible to legislate. Bare chested Brazilian girls and vodka swilling Eastern Europeans are unlikely to consider the norms or laws here, they will likely do what they always do. The end result could then go either way, more or less restrictive after the event.

not sure how they would get the vodka in, nor where they would stay, nor how they would get to/from the supposed stadiums

hotels with alcohol licences fill to capacity v quickly, right now. taxis from anywhere other than hotels are really tough to get hold of.

If previous experiences of the sort of things possible. The booze will come in from off shore. They will sleep on the beaches or wherever they can pitch a tent, legally or otherwise. An event of such size combined with the restrictions currently in place might generally be considered to be too attractive for organised crime to pass up. Not unrealistic to think the same outfit(s) that traffic Chinese prostitutes might get involved.

But there are no beaches in Doha, other than the heavily fortified ones attached to the 5* hotels, whose health clubs cost a fortune to join, if your Sponsor lets you.

Go up north or go to Dukkan. Or get a 4WD and go to the Inland Sea.

There is Oasis beach, Katara or as Ole said get in a Car to Dukhan or Thakira which is beautiful with mangroves etc. Seek and you shall find..........

And no health clubs I have been a member of have required my Sponsor to allow me?