Qtar - working in IT as support manager
Sep 22nd 2008, 9:54 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4
Qtar - working in IT as support manager
Hi all
I am new on here but thought it best to ask, I have applied for a position in Qatar (Dohar) for a large corporation and wondered if anyone had any advice for me,
I am married and have a 7 year old, they may well come out ther to live after a year of so.
This depends on how things work out for me if I am succesful in securing the post, I have seen a few comments on here, some good some bad, any further thoughts on this
What sort of life style can someone expect? education and so on
thanks in advance.
I am new on here but thought it best to ask, I have applied for a position in Qatar (Dohar) for a large corporation and wondered if anyone had any advice for me,
I am married and have a 7 year old, they may well come out ther to live after a year of so.
This depends on how things work out for me if I am succesful in securing the post, I have seen a few comments on here, some good some bad, any further thoughts on this
What sort of life style can someone expect? education and so on
thanks in advance.
Last edited by tubs_1; Sep 22nd 2008 at 9:58 pm.
Sep 25th 2008, 10:31 pm
#2
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3
Re: Qtar - working in IT as support manager
hi there
Have just returned to the UK in May after almost 7 years in Qatar.... I have to say I am loving being back home! Everyone is moaning about inflation rates here but in Qatar its about 15%! I suggest that you really do your homework as its not a cheap place to live anymore, except for the fuel, kebabs and the local fruit and veg! I think cars and motorbikes are cheaper than in the UK. Anyway, make sure that the housing allowance covers your accomodation (alot of firms, dont!) when I left it was at least 15,000 QAR for a furnished villa and 8-10,000QAR for a flat (thats over 2K sterling) crazy money if you ask me! Education is of a high standard, if you get into the right schools, but places are very few and far between and i seriously do not recommend you take your child out of school in the UK until you have a firm school place in Qatar! Things to do.... depends what you all like to do, not a huge choice but mostly socialising, shopping and swimming! dune bashing, sailing and various other sports are available.
The driving is absolutely hazardous but you get used to it! As a woman, I did not realise how much of my personal freedom I had missed..... have not shown my legs in public for years! not as strict as Saudi but not as liberal as Dubai. Never felt comfortable wearing sleeveless tops in some areas.... it is a conservative islamic state and one has to respect traditions but it becomes tedious on the old dress sense!
We have made some life long friendships... and frankly the people kept you going, my husband and I were not on huge salaries so our experience will be different from those with huge ones. To be honest it became a struggle financially as the cost of living has shot up incredibly. We had enough of the place and were glad to come home. It was good experience and I am sure short term, it would be good for anyone looking for something a bit different... but we spent too long out there and its bloody good to be home, credit crunch or not!
If you have never worked in the middle east..... working environment is very different, most expats will tell you its highly frustrating as work ethics are very different!
My soon to be 4 year old loved it and her swimming skills are excellent, which is what most kids do out there!
Good luck.... oh if you take the family then its really advisable to make sure you get your school fees paid otherwise it will really eat into the tax free salary. Government health is ok, most expats have health insurance, our company never had it so we used the local gps and hospital with no problems what so ever, except the queuing for everything!
But as i said earlier.... do your research and maybe a recce.... its not everyones cup of tea out there!
Have just returned to the UK in May after almost 7 years in Qatar.... I have to say I am loving being back home! Everyone is moaning about inflation rates here but in Qatar its about 15%! I suggest that you really do your homework as its not a cheap place to live anymore, except for the fuel, kebabs and the local fruit and veg! I think cars and motorbikes are cheaper than in the UK. Anyway, make sure that the housing allowance covers your accomodation (alot of firms, dont!) when I left it was at least 15,000 QAR for a furnished villa and 8-10,000QAR for a flat (thats over 2K sterling) crazy money if you ask me! Education is of a high standard, if you get into the right schools, but places are very few and far between and i seriously do not recommend you take your child out of school in the UK until you have a firm school place in Qatar! Things to do.... depends what you all like to do, not a huge choice but mostly socialising, shopping and swimming! dune bashing, sailing and various other sports are available.
The driving is absolutely hazardous but you get used to it! As a woman, I did not realise how much of my personal freedom I had missed..... have not shown my legs in public for years! not as strict as Saudi but not as liberal as Dubai. Never felt comfortable wearing sleeveless tops in some areas.... it is a conservative islamic state and one has to respect traditions but it becomes tedious on the old dress sense!
We have made some life long friendships... and frankly the people kept you going, my husband and I were not on huge salaries so our experience will be different from those with huge ones. To be honest it became a struggle financially as the cost of living has shot up incredibly. We had enough of the place and were glad to come home. It was good experience and I am sure short term, it would be good for anyone looking for something a bit different... but we spent too long out there and its bloody good to be home, credit crunch or not!
If you have never worked in the middle east..... working environment is very different, most expats will tell you its highly frustrating as work ethics are very different!
My soon to be 4 year old loved it and her swimming skills are excellent, which is what most kids do out there!
Good luck.... oh if you take the family then its really advisable to make sure you get your school fees paid otherwise it will really eat into the tax free salary. Government health is ok, most expats have health insurance, our company never had it so we used the local gps and hospital with no problems what so ever, except the queuing for everything!
But as i said earlier.... do your research and maybe a recce.... its not everyones cup of tea out there!
Sep 28th 2008, 6:47 am
#3
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4
Re: Qtar - working in IT as support manager
Thanks for reply
I have been given a provisional offer that covers medical, education, travel and if I want houseing.
I can either have company supplied home for my family or have the money, thing is the amount works out about 11000 QR a month, any thoughts on this for finding somewhere to live
They have offered to fly me out for a face to face and overview of the place, so I hope to be going out for a weekend, do you think this is enough?
I guess really it works out that I would be on a similar salary to my UK one but without the cost of travle and a house.
Tubs
I have been given a provisional offer that covers medical, education, travel and if I want houseing.
I can either have company supplied home for my family or have the money, thing is the amount works out about 11000 QR a month, any thoughts on this for finding somewhere to live
They have offered to fly me out for a face to face and overview of the place, so I hope to be going out for a weekend, do you think this is enough?
I guess really it works out that I would be on a similar salary to my UK one but without the cost of travle and a house.
Tubs
Sep 28th 2008, 9:46 am
#4
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3
Re: Qtar - working in IT as support manager
hi
OK....well, this is just my personal opinion and experience of having lived there and moved 10 times! Its a lot less hassle for you if you take the company property with regards to maintenance, dealing with landlords/agents etc.... but you must ask to look at it when you go out there. Have they specified an apartment or villa? If you were to go with the budget.... you wont find much in terms of a villa and definintely not furnished. Flats have really shot up in rent so you will get one for that price. Personally I would prefer not to have an apartment with children as they dont have the outside space you get with a stand alone or compound villa. And the kids do love all playing together outside in the winter and its safe as they are all gated with security guards. However, the flats can be of reasonable size and alot of familys are members of hotel clubs, which have pools and beach areas. But be aware that these do not come cheap and there are long waiting lists for them. DO some research before you go, so that you could have a look at them whilst there and get them to be honest about your chances of getting membership. We were at the Ramada Hotel, as it was local to us. Look at the Intercontinental Hotel, the Sheraton hotel, the Diplomatic club, 4 seasons Hotel, Movenpick hotel. Garveys is another thing altogether.... a family club with a pool and restaurant with an english style pub. To be honest it attracts alot of batchelors/oil workers.... not to everyone's taste but they do have good social evenings, big sport events are televised, darts, bike club, lots of drinking etc!
If you are in a flat then the location will have an effect on where your local hotel club is.... you dont want to be driving all over town to get there as traffic is bad there now with lots of peak times as alot of people work split shifts.
A weekend should be ok but over there a weekend is fri/sat.... friday being like our sunday, so its much quieter and opening times are different.
ask your contact for a Marhaba for you to look at when you arrive... its the local directory/guide to the place with a map and details of clubs etc.
Does your wife work or have a skill which is transferable? She may be happy not to but if your child is at school, there is only a limited amount of things to do.... exercise clubs, coffee mornings, shopping etc! I have a young child, so the social circle is good and we were always busy! Before that, I worked in admin work.... to be honest you have to put your hand to anything as its very different there and salaries are not good for other halves, generally!
Schools to look out are Doha College, Parkhouse, Compass, to name but a few. But if you are intent on going, please make sure you secure a place before your child arrives or they could be waiting around for weeks/months. The expat pop is very transient and people are coming and going all the time.
Also bear in mind the location of your house to school.... early morning traffic is b. nightmare and your child is going to have to start at 7.30am so a long commute in with really early starts ie leaving house at 6.30 for example wears them out and most kids i know out there are shattered by the end of the week!
Lifestyle for children can be great fun and very sociable with alot of swimming involved! But on the downside it hots up from april/may to about oct and becomes unbearable so everything is done inside with airconditioning, but the winter is great!
Sorry i could waffle on for pages..... I did enjoy my time there but it definitely has its ups and downs like all places. You need to socialise and make friends, join clubs etc, quickly, especially the OH. It can be very lonely otherwise. People are very friendly and offer lots of advise on things to do and places to go. There is a website called expatwoman.com look under qatar. The forum is very useful and the women are always organising stuff.
As far as the locals go.... polite, generally! but behind the wheel they are arrogant, dangerous lunatics! and the kebabs are delicious..... really miss those!
let me know if you want to know any specifics and i will do my best to help.
LMR
OK....well, this is just my personal opinion and experience of having lived there and moved 10 times! Its a lot less hassle for you if you take the company property with regards to maintenance, dealing with landlords/agents etc.... but you must ask to look at it when you go out there. Have they specified an apartment or villa? If you were to go with the budget.... you wont find much in terms of a villa and definintely not furnished. Flats have really shot up in rent so you will get one for that price. Personally I would prefer not to have an apartment with children as they dont have the outside space you get with a stand alone or compound villa. And the kids do love all playing together outside in the winter and its safe as they are all gated with security guards. However, the flats can be of reasonable size and alot of familys are members of hotel clubs, which have pools and beach areas. But be aware that these do not come cheap and there are long waiting lists for them. DO some research before you go, so that you could have a look at them whilst there and get them to be honest about your chances of getting membership. We were at the Ramada Hotel, as it was local to us. Look at the Intercontinental Hotel, the Sheraton hotel, the Diplomatic club, 4 seasons Hotel, Movenpick hotel. Garveys is another thing altogether.... a family club with a pool and restaurant with an english style pub. To be honest it attracts alot of batchelors/oil workers.... not to everyone's taste but they do have good social evenings, big sport events are televised, darts, bike club, lots of drinking etc!
If you are in a flat then the location will have an effect on where your local hotel club is.... you dont want to be driving all over town to get there as traffic is bad there now with lots of peak times as alot of people work split shifts.
A weekend should be ok but over there a weekend is fri/sat.... friday being like our sunday, so its much quieter and opening times are different.
ask your contact for a Marhaba for you to look at when you arrive... its the local directory/guide to the place with a map and details of clubs etc.
Does your wife work or have a skill which is transferable? She may be happy not to but if your child is at school, there is only a limited amount of things to do.... exercise clubs, coffee mornings, shopping etc! I have a young child, so the social circle is good and we were always busy! Before that, I worked in admin work.... to be honest you have to put your hand to anything as its very different there and salaries are not good for other halves, generally!
Schools to look out are Doha College, Parkhouse, Compass, to name but a few. But if you are intent on going, please make sure you secure a place before your child arrives or they could be waiting around for weeks/months. The expat pop is very transient and people are coming and going all the time.
Also bear in mind the location of your house to school.... early morning traffic is b. nightmare and your child is going to have to start at 7.30am so a long commute in with really early starts ie leaving house at 6.30 for example wears them out and most kids i know out there are shattered by the end of the week!
Lifestyle for children can be great fun and very sociable with alot of swimming involved! But on the downside it hots up from april/may to about oct and becomes unbearable so everything is done inside with airconditioning, but the winter is great!
Sorry i could waffle on for pages..... I did enjoy my time there but it definitely has its ups and downs like all places. You need to socialise and make friends, join clubs etc, quickly, especially the OH. It can be very lonely otherwise. People are very friendly and offer lots of advise on things to do and places to go. There is a website called expatwoman.com look under qatar. The forum is very useful and the women are always organising stuff.
As far as the locals go.... polite, generally! but behind the wheel they are arrogant, dangerous lunatics! and the kebabs are delicious..... really miss those!
let me know if you want to know any specifics and i will do my best to help.
LMR
