Teacher and wife relocating
Jan 24th 2021, 4:15 am
#17
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Buraydah , Saudi Arabia
Posts: 2,863
Jan 24th 2021, 4:20 am
#19
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Buraydah , Saudi Arabia
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Jan 24th 2021, 4:25 am
#20
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Buraydah , Saudi Arabia
Posts: 2,863
Re: Teacher and wife relocating
Indeed it is. IME most people make their own. Some people have access to the real stuff through embassies etc though. And I know of a couple of compounds with real stuff too but it's pricey. £10 for a vodka and coke isn't worth it for me. Maybe I'm a tight ass but the same £10 will get me 8 litres of wine at home.
Jan 25th 2021, 5:59 am
#21
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Feb 8th 2021, 2:01 pm
#23
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Re: Teacher and wife relocating
It would help if you clarify WHERE in the 'middle East' you're considering. Dubai (or the UAE in general) might be quite pleasant - for you, particularly, if not working (but it's probably rather expensive on a single, teacher's salary) - while Saudi Arabia might be a rather drab life.
Feb 8th 2021, 6:12 pm
#25
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Location: SYD again, formerly PRG, LON, HKG, SIN, SYD & DOH
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Re: Teacher and wife relocating
In Qatar things are quieter (and calmer) to Dubai. To quote Tom Lehrer, it’s a bit like a sewer, what you get out of it depends on what you put into it.
Doha is going through a lot of change and improvements in readiness for 2022 and major roads and trains are up and running. Schools at the top end of town are good and we are really happy with both our sons primary school and daughters nursery. Pay wise, I’m not sure of the going rates.
My only word of caution with the disability, is that if you use a wheelchair or have other mobility restrictions the infrastructure can be very poor in places and finding a place to live may require significant adaptation. It can be done, but be prepared for a challenge.
I would also research if you have special health needs that there are suitably qualified doctors you would be happy with. Doha is a small city with a large proportion made up of a young healthy population of migrant workers. As a result, some conditions are not well known and finding a specialist can be tricky. State provided healthcare through PHCC/Hamad is world class and Sidra (women, paediatrics) is also good.
for those who talk about the old days, I did Riyadh in the 1980’s as a kid. is chateau rauch still a thing? I’ve seen the bottles here and wound up my mum about it....
Doha is going through a lot of change and improvements in readiness for 2022 and major roads and trains are up and running. Schools at the top end of town are good and we are really happy with both our sons primary school and daughters nursery. Pay wise, I’m not sure of the going rates.
My only word of caution with the disability, is that if you use a wheelchair or have other mobility restrictions the infrastructure can be very poor in places and finding a place to live may require significant adaptation. It can be done, but be prepared for a challenge.
I would also research if you have special health needs that there are suitably qualified doctors you would be happy with. Doha is a small city with a large proportion made up of a young healthy population of migrant workers. As a result, some conditions are not well known and finding a specialist can be tricky. State provided healthcare through PHCC/Hamad is world class and Sidra (women, paediatrics) is also good.
for those who talk about the old days, I did Riyadh in the 1980’s as a kid. is chateau rauch still a thing? I’ve seen the bottles here and wound up my mum about it....
Last edited by fth; Feb 8th 2021 at 6:19 pm.
Feb 9th 2021, 3:40 am
#26
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Buraydah , Saudi Arabia
Posts: 2,863
Re: Teacher and wife relocating
In Qatar things are quieter (and calmer) to Dubai. To quote Tom Lehrer, it’s a bit like a sewer, what you get out of it depends on what you put into it.
Doha is going through a lot of change and improvements in readiness for 2022 and major roads and trains are up and running. Schools at the top end of town are good and we are really happy with both our sons primary school and daughters nursery. Pay wise, I’m not sure of the going rates.
My only word of caution with the disability, is that if you use a wheelchair or have other mobility restrictions the infrastructure can be very poor in places and finding a place to live may require significant adaptation. It can be done, but be prepared for a challenge.
I would also research if you have special health needs that there are suitably qualified doctors you would be happy with. Doha is a small city with a large proportion made up of a young healthy population of migrant workers. As a result, some conditions are not well known and finding a specialist can be tricky. State provided healthcare through PHCC/Hamad is world class and Sidra (women, paediatrics) is also good.
for those who talk about the old days, I did Riyadh in the 1980’s as a kid. is chateau rauch still a thing? I’ve seen the bottles here and wound up my mum about it....
Doha is going through a lot of change and improvements in readiness for 2022 and major roads and trains are up and running. Schools at the top end of town are good and we are really happy with both our sons primary school and daughters nursery. Pay wise, I’m not sure of the going rates.
My only word of caution with the disability, is that if you use a wheelchair or have other mobility restrictions the infrastructure can be very poor in places and finding a place to live may require significant adaptation. It can be done, but be prepared for a challenge.
I would also research if you have special health needs that there are suitably qualified doctors you would be happy with. Doha is a small city with a large proportion made up of a young healthy population of migrant workers. As a result, some conditions are not well known and finding a specialist can be tricky. State provided healthcare through PHCC/Hamad is world class and Sidra (women, paediatrics) is also good.
for those who talk about the old days, I did Riyadh in the 1980’s as a kid. is chateau rauch still a thing? I’ve seen the bottles here and wound up my mum about it....
Feb 9th 2021, 7:50 pm
#27
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Re: Teacher and wife relocating
That's what people who don't live in Dubai say to justify living in their lesser sandpits.
Dubai can be as quiet as you want it to be. The disadvantages of Qatar are many, but key is that you also have no choice when it comes to how quiet you want your life to be. By all measures the UAE offers a greatly superior lifestyle, range of lifestyles to pick from, and quality of life that it only makes sense to head for Doha if the money is much better or, if more likely, it's your only option. Regardless of any recent improvements in Doha, Qatar is still much shabbier and primitive.
For someone with a disability, it's also worth noting that Qatar is much dustier than the UAE. Although all are desert countries, Qatar's position abutting the Empty Quarter compared to the UAE's proximity to seas on both sides of the country means the air quality in Doha is noticeably dustier than in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
I'd just warn people from thinking there are virtues to Qatar over the UAE. People go there not because they want to but because they're bribed. It's not a "quiet" version of Dubai but something rather different, which also extends to the mindsets of locals.
Dubai can be as quiet as you want it to be. The disadvantages of Qatar are many, but key is that you also have no choice when it comes to how quiet you want your life to be. By all measures the UAE offers a greatly superior lifestyle, range of lifestyles to pick from, and quality of life that it only makes sense to head for Doha if the money is much better or, if more likely, it's your only option. Regardless of any recent improvements in Doha, Qatar is still much shabbier and primitive.
For someone with a disability, it's also worth noting that Qatar is much dustier than the UAE. Although all are desert countries, Qatar's position abutting the Empty Quarter compared to the UAE's proximity to seas on both sides of the country means the air quality in Doha is noticeably dustier than in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
I'd just warn people from thinking there are virtues to Qatar over the UAE. People go there not because they want to but because they're bribed. It's not a "quiet" version of Dubai but something rather different, which also extends to the mindsets of locals.
Feb 10th 2021, 10:53 am
#28
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Buraydah , Saudi Arabia
Posts: 2,863
Re: Teacher and wife relocating
That's what people who don't live in Dubai say to justify living in their lesser sandpits.
Dubai can be as quiet as you want it to be. The disadvantages of Qatar are many, but key is that you also have no choice when it comes to how quiet you want your life to be. By all measures the UAE offers a greatly superior lifestyle, range of lifestyles to pick from, and quality of life that it only makes sense to head for Doha if the money is much better or, if more likely, it's your only option. Regardless of any recent improvements in Doha, Qatar is still much shabbier and primitive.
For someone with a disability, it's also worth noting that Qatar is much dustier than the UAE. Although all are desert countries, Qatar's position abutting the Empty Quarter compared to the UAE's proximity to seas on both sides of the country means the air quality in Doha is noticeably dustier than in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
I'd just warn people from thinking there are virtues to Qatar over the UAE. People go there not because they want to but because they're bribed. It's not a "quiet" version of Dubai but something rather different, which also extends to the mindsets of locals.
Dubai can be as quiet as you want it to be. The disadvantages of Qatar are many, but key is that you also have no choice when it comes to how quiet you want your life to be. By all measures the UAE offers a greatly superior lifestyle, range of lifestyles to pick from, and quality of life that it only makes sense to head for Doha if the money is much better or, if more likely, it's your only option. Regardless of any recent improvements in Doha, Qatar is still much shabbier and primitive.
For someone with a disability, it's also worth noting that Qatar is much dustier than the UAE. Although all are desert countries, Qatar's position abutting the Empty Quarter compared to the UAE's proximity to seas on both sides of the country means the air quality in Doha is noticeably dustier than in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
I'd just warn people from thinking there are virtues to Qatar over the UAE. People go there not because they want to but because they're bribed. It's not a "quiet" version of Dubai but something rather different, which also extends to the mindsets of locals.
But conversely, I'd actually want more money to live in Dubai because I know I'd need more to do what I want to do.
Can't live a champagne life on beer money.
Feb 11th 2021, 12:40 pm
#29
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Re: Teacher and wife relocating
Feb 11th 2021, 1:06 pm
#30
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Re: Teacher and wife relocating
There's museums and shit here in Dubai too.
The most 'cultured' place to go would be the back end of beyond in KSA.