Just handed in my notice last week and starting the lengthy process of getting out of Doha - last working day's on the 28th Feb, aiming to get out of the country within a couple of days after that at most.

I have a piece of paper as long as my arm with the signatures and stamps that I need in order to make this happen, so it's going to be a fun couple of months...

Congrats?

Where you off to next?

Definitely congrats. Off back to Blighty!

Lovely, enjoy! Meow has posted a link about things to consider when leaving the Middle East I think....probably find it in any of her signature links.

Lucky bastard

Cheers, I'll have a look! Handily someone who left here last year wrote a checklist based on his experiences leaving, so I've got a good starting point. I'm going to update it in the process for other guys who'll probably be off next year too.

is it really that complicated and convoluted to 'leave' the country?
you close your bank account
you pay off any cc debts and close those off
cancel dewa, du/etisalat, car reg, salik,
what's missing?

Book a flight.

It is.
I left Abu Dhabi 2 years ago and the process was frustrating.
My bank account with ADCB remains open despite every effort. Have simply given up now.
I spent 2 days at etisalat closing my phone account
ADDC closure took about 4 visits (bring this bit of paper/no bring it as a colour copy/ no where is stamp etc etc)
I could go on.
Prepare to be patient.

I have a page worth of signatures needed from the various departments for my company to prove I don't have anything signed out to me or owe any money. This includes going to a library I've never visited to confirm I never took out any books, that kind of thing. And of course not all of these departments are on the same site...

This is the bit I want to do most, but I currently daren't until everything else is sorted! Luckily I won't be paying it for myself anyway though, so the subsequent increase in ticket prices doesn't bother me as much as it would.

You clear on the UK tax implications of returning to the UK before the end of the tax year? There is a split year concession available, but it comes with strings attached.

Yeah, I've looked into all that thanks.

I would kind of enjoy some of this stuff. Menial tasks, just rolling around getting some bits done. Pleasant days.

Caveat
I would enjoy this stuff if it was on company time and instead of working. Not on my own time.

I have been assured that this is the case. In fact, they were surprised I even came back to work at all that day instead of wandering off to get started on them, despite the fact we had a big deadline the next day and I do actually still work here for the next two months.

Brilliant.
I resigned from my other job out here and was out of the office packed up and done within 2 hours....yes, that included typing a leaving email to the whole office....dictated by my boss over my shoulder.