Is Qatar really that bad??!!
Oct 20th 2009, 4:49 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Arnhem, Netherlands
Posts: 287
Is Qatar really that bad??!!
Hi there
We are currently in Calgary, Canada but my husband is in the early stages of negotiations with Rasgas for a potential move to Qatar. We have always planned a move to the Middle East for a few yrs but are in no mad rush - this just happens to have come up. Looking back at a few other posts I do have some concerns about Qatar over other places - a lot of you really seem to hate it!!Is that mainly for the lack of social life or for other reasons too? I ask because we are REALLY boring - two young kids and no social life to speak of! Would that make Qatar (I assume Doha) more bearable for us!!!??
Just for further info, right now they are offering $6000 USD a month for living costs...Seems pretty good to me but what do I know??!
All advice/opinions gratefully recieved
Lisa
We are currently in Calgary, Canada but my husband is in the early stages of negotiations with Rasgas for a potential move to Qatar. We have always planned a move to the Middle East for a few yrs but are in no mad rush - this just happens to have come up. Looking back at a few other posts I do have some concerns about Qatar over other places - a lot of you really seem to hate it!!Is that mainly for the lack of social life or for other reasons too? I ask because we are REALLY boring - two young kids and no social life to speak of! Would that make Qatar (I assume Doha) more bearable for us!!!??
Just for further info, right now they are offering $6000 USD a month for living costs...Seems pretty good to me but what do I know??!
All advice/opinions gratefully recieved
Lisa
Oct 21st 2009, 5:41 am
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Doha
Posts: 535
Re: Is Qatar really that bad??!!
How you find a place is as much, if not more, about you than the place itself. So a question "What's Qatar/ Canada / Australia etc like?" is meaningless without being considered in conjunction with the expectations and interests in life of the people concerned.
I last lived in Qatar 10 years ago and had a great time back then, but things change.
Qatar would suit a young family who like the quiet life as much as anywhere else would. Whereas if you like the nightlife and upmarket restaurants then Dubai beats Doha every time.
One point - You assume you will be in Doha - Best to clarify this, as the Rasgas plant is up in Ras Laffan. If you are housed up there, it will be very different from being in Doha, and more limited in things to do.
If your husband is based in Doha, then that's OK.
However, if you want to live in Doha, and your husband has to commute to Ras Laffan each day, I recall this is about a 1 to 1 1/2 hour drive from Doha depending where you live, and in the winter months there are foggy days, which make the trip less than enjoyable.
So you need to find out the work location and the options for where to live as soon as possible.
Good Luck!
I last lived in Qatar 10 years ago and had a great time back then, but things change.
Qatar would suit a young family who like the quiet life as much as anywhere else would. Whereas if you like the nightlife and upmarket restaurants then Dubai beats Doha every time.
One point - You assume you will be in Doha - Best to clarify this, as the Rasgas plant is up in Ras Laffan. If you are housed up there, it will be very different from being in Doha, and more limited in things to do.
If your husband is based in Doha, then that's OK.
However, if you want to live in Doha, and your husband has to commute to Ras Laffan each day, I recall this is about a 1 to 1 1/2 hour drive from Doha depending where you live, and in the winter months there are foggy days, which make the trip less than enjoyable.
So you need to find out the work location and the options for where to live as soon as possible.
Good Luck!
Oct 23rd 2009, 9:27 pm
#3
semarang
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: sand dune
Posts: 7,763
Re: Is Qatar really that bad??!!
Hi there
We are currently in Calgary, Canada but my husband is in the early stages of negotiations with Rasgas for a potential move to Qatar. We have always planned a move to the Middle East for a few yrs but are in no mad rush - this just happens to have come up. Looking back at a few other posts I do have some concerns about Qatar over other places - a lot of you really seem to hate it!!Is that mainly for the lack of social life or for other reasons too? I ask because we are REALLY boring - two young kids and no social life to speak of! Would that make Qatar (I assume Doha) more bearable for us!!!??
Just for further info, right now they are offering $6000 USD a month for living costs...Seems pretty good to me but what do I know??!
All advice/opinions gratefully recieved
Lisa
We are currently in Calgary, Canada but my husband is in the early stages of negotiations with Rasgas for a potential move to Qatar. We have always planned a move to the Middle East for a few yrs but are in no mad rush - this just happens to have come up. Looking back at a few other posts I do have some concerns about Qatar over other places - a lot of you really seem to hate it!!Is that mainly for the lack of social life or for other reasons too? I ask because we are REALLY boring - two young kids and no social life to speak of! Would that make Qatar (I assume Doha) more bearable for us!!!??
Just for further info, right now they are offering $6000 USD a month for living costs...Seems pretty good to me but what do I know??!
All advice/opinions gratefully recieved
Lisa
Oct 26th 2009, 3:26 pm
#5
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 460
Re: Is Qatar really that bad??!!
Qatar would suit a young family who like the quiet life as much as anywhere else would. Whereas if you like the nightlife and upmarket restaurants then Dubai beats Doha every time.
One point - You assume you will be in Doha - Best to clarify this, as the Rasgas plant is up in Ras Laffan. If you are housed up there, it will be very different from being in Doha, and more limited in things to do.
If your husband is based in Doha, then that's OK.
However, if you want to live in Doha, and your husband has to commute to Ras Laffan each day, I recall this is about a 1 to 1 1/2 hour drive from Doha depending where you live, and in the winter months there are foggy days, which make the trip less than enjoyable.
So you need to find out the work location and the options for where to live as soon as possible.
Good Luck![/QUOTE]
This is often said by people and it is often said that happy people will be happy anywhere. This is a kop out for me as I don't think many of us happy people would be happy living in Iraq or Somalia.
The place has everything to do with it and is indeed important depending on what you want from life.
One point - You assume you will be in Doha - Best to clarify this, as the Rasgas plant is up in Ras Laffan. If you are housed up there, it will be very different from being in Doha, and more limited in things to do.
If your husband is based in Doha, then that's OK.
However, if you want to live in Doha, and your husband has to commute to Ras Laffan each day, I recall this is about a 1 to 1 1/2 hour drive from Doha depending where you live, and in the winter months there are foggy days, which make the trip less than enjoyable.
So you need to find out the work location and the options for where to live as soon as possible.
Good Luck![/QUOTE]
This is often said by people and it is often said that happy people will be happy anywhere. This is a kop out for me as I don't think many of us happy people would be happy living in Iraq or Somalia.
The place has everything to do with it and is indeed important depending on what you want from life.
Oct 26th 2009, 3:28 pm
#6
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 460
Re: Is Qatar really that bad??!!
How you find a place is as much, if not more, about you than the place itself. So a question "What's Qatar/ Canada / Australia etc like?" is meaningless without being considered in conjunction with the expectations and interests in life of the people concerned.
I last lived in Qatar 10 years ago and had a great time back then, but things change.
Qatar would suit a young family who like the quiet life as much as anywhere else would. Whereas if you like the nightlife and upmarket restaurants then Dubai beats Doha every time.
One point - You assume you will be in Doha - Best to clarify this, as the Rasgas plant is up in Ras Laffan. If you are housed up there, it will be very different from being in Doha, and more limited in things to do.
If your husband is based in Doha, then that's OK.
However, if you want to live in Doha, and your husband has to commute to Ras Laffan each day, I recall this is about a 1 to 1 1/2 hour drive from Doha depending where you live, and in the winter months there are foggy days, which make the trip less than enjoyable.
So you need to find out the work location and the options for where to live as soon as possible.
Good Luck!
I last lived in Qatar 10 years ago and had a great time back then, but things change.
Qatar would suit a young family who like the quiet life as much as anywhere else would. Whereas if you like the nightlife and upmarket restaurants then Dubai beats Doha every time.
One point - You assume you will be in Doha - Best to clarify this, as the Rasgas plant is up in Ras Laffan. If you are housed up there, it will be very different from being in Doha, and more limited in things to do.
If your husband is based in Doha, then that's OK.
However, if you want to live in Doha, and your husband has to commute to Ras Laffan each day, I recall this is about a 1 to 1 1/2 hour drive from Doha depending where you live, and in the winter months there are foggy days, which make the trip less than enjoyable.
So you need to find out the work location and the options for where to live as soon as possible.
Good Luck!
The place has everything to do with it and is indeed important depending on what you want from life.
Oct 29th 2009, 10:56 am
#7
Just Joined
Joined: May 2009
Location: Doha
Posts: 29
Re: Is Qatar really that bad??!!
My family W+2 children(6+4) have been in Doha a year now and we all love it.
There is enough to do if you look and the social side is centered on parties at friends houses.
Doha is still a small city and feels it, we picnic a lot, visit the desert, play golf, shop, swim you get the idea.
It is not a place for singles particularly but for families I think its good.
PM me if you need any more advise.
There is enough to do if you look and the social side is centered on parties at friends houses.
Doha is still a small city and feels it, we picnic a lot, visit the desert, play golf, shop, swim you get the idea.
It is not a place for singles particularly but for families I think its good.
PM me if you need any more advise.
Nov 1st 2009, 5:27 pm
#8
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Arnhem, Netherlands
Posts: 287
Re: Is Qatar really that bad??!!
My family W+2 children(6+4) have been in Doha a year now and we all love it.
There is enough to do if you look and the social side is centered on parties at friends houses.
Doha is still a small city and feels it, we picnic a lot, visit the desert, play golf, shop, swim you get the idea.
It is not a place for singles particularly but for families I think its good.
PM me if you need any more advise.
There is enough to do if you look and the social side is centered on parties at friends houses.
Doha is still a small city and feels it, we picnic a lot, visit the desert, play golf, shop, swim you get the idea.
It is not a place for singles particularly but for families I think its good.
PM me if you need any more advise.
We should know in a couple of months what is going on exactly....Thanks for the pm offer....Will be in touch
Hope you carry on enjoying life!!
Regards
Lisa
