If you’ve just happened to find this blog or have been here before, I’d like to explain what this is all about.

This is a blog about living and working in Qatar which I used to update regularly when I was based in Doha, Qatar. I have now moved back to the UK but I still occasionally check in on the comments for this blog. This blog still regularly receives lots of questions so I thought I would try to address most of them here.

1. This is a blog about living and working in Qatar which I wrote in my free time; it was not my job to write this blog, I did not get paid to write my posts. This blog was written by me because I wanted to help people find more information about living and working in Qatar. I am NOT a recruitment agent, I CANNOT find you a job in Qatar, please DO NOT send me your contact details/qualifications/CV and ask me to find you a job in Qatar. Please see this post for guidance.

2. If you have received an offer of employment in Qatar, congratulations but please do not send me the details of your contract or salary and ask me if this is suitable for life in Qatar. I receive lots of questions like this and am not interested in answering them personally, everyone and every situation is different, this is why I wrote my ‘Cost of Living’ post so have a look there. There is also an up to date cost of living section on this site.

3. Everything in Qatar is linked to your Residence Permit (RP), which is linked to your employer (if you are working) or a family member (husband, wife; if you are not working). This is your working visa and what allows you to stay in the country. An individual cannot apply and pay for an RP themselves, it must be sorted out by an employer thus this is the reason why one cannot come to Qatar without a prior contract or promise of employment.

4. When I thought about the subject matter for my posts, I tried to think of the major questions that I had when I first moved to Qatar. If you have questions about living and working in Qatar, please go through all of my posts and see if your questions are answered there or in the comments. You’ll probably find your answer but if you don’t, please go ahead and ask a question.

As I mentioned before, I am no longer living and working in Qatar but this blog still sees a lot of traffic and, although I do think most of the major questions have already been asked, there may be a few things that have not been covered. I will try to check back from time to time, go through the comments and answer your questions as best I can but in the meantime, good luck and thanks for reading.

A.

*These are probably the search terms most people use you find their way here.

At work, I am finishing up one last collaboration and then that will be it from me…..for good. Dear readers I have some news, I will be leaving Qatar, permanently, at the end of August.

To make a long story short (and because I legally cannot go into details) my company is restructuring and I was made redundant. From this I have made the decision to not look for alternative work in Qatar but to call it a day instead and move back to the UK.

I stand by this decision and I am very much looking forward to the transition back to my life in London.

To sum up my time in Qatar in one blog post would not be fair so I’m not going to do that, nor will I get too sentimental here. The last 2 year and 4 months has been a crazy ride but I don’t regret making the decision to move here one bit. Hypothetically speaking and knowing what I know now, would I do it again? That’s difficult to say. Would I rule out a possible move back to Qatar in the future?  Well, never say never….

Anyway, if you’ve been lurking and have a burning question that you’ve been dying to ask, get it off your chest now or forever hold your peace. My last day at work will be the 16th August and I will try to write at least one more post before I leave (the repatriation process maybe?) but I can’t promise too much as I’ve got lots to wrap up before I go, furniture to sell, shoes to pack, contracts to cancel and several good byes to say.

I have very much enjoyed writing this blog and sharing my (ahem) wisdom over the past year, I hope you have enjoyed reading it. I like to think that I ‘ve answered some really important questions that you only find out once you’ve lived here for a while and I’m happy to have been able to share that with you. I hope I’ve helped some people find out more information about Qatar.

As of yet, I do not have a job in the UK so after over a year of fielding questions about working in Qatar and helping you guys out, I’m going to ask you a small favour; if you like what you’ve read here and know of anyone hiring or looking for a microbiologist/biochemist/molecular biologist with managerial and/or journalistic tendencies then by all means, let’s get in touch.

If you’re not based in Qatar and you’re looking to find a job here then the internet will be your  main point of reference (however, most of these points hold true even if you are based in Qatar).  One of the biggest Middle East job sites is bayt.com so I’d look there first.  Other job sites which may be worth looking at are Gulf Jobs Sites, Gulf Talent and MonsterGulf.  And you could just try searching ‘Qatar job sites’ and see what you come up with.

After the jobs sites, you might have some luck with the classifieds section of either the Gulf Times or The Peninsula.  Then there’s good ol’ qatarliving.com and a new site that I’ve just found, Qatar Classifieds.  There is a short list of some Qatar recruitment agencies here although, because I don’t have any firsthand experience with these, I can’t vouch for them and I’m not sure how current the list is but it could be a good starting point.

Moving on from there, you could try looking at the specific sectors that you are interested in and searching either job sites specific to these industries (oil and gas, biotechnology, health care, tourism, etc.), or specific company sites.  For instance, if you are interested in the tourism industry then try contacting Qatar Airways.  For the oil and gas industry, look at Qatar Petroleum, and with health care, try looking at Doha hospital websites, and so on.

As with many things in life, sometimes it’s ‘who’ you know and not ‘what’ you know so networking is key.  If you’re searching for a job in Qatar and don’t yet have a LinkedIn account, I would definitely set one up and start following some Qatari companies or companies with branches in the Middle East.  For all the ladies out there, I’ve also just become aware of the Qatar Professional Women’s Network who regularly host events and have some good advice for jobseekers on their website.

This list is by no means exhaustive and there may be many more options that I’ve not thought about or am not aware of.  If you’ve had some success elsewhere and want to share then please leave a comment.

Good luck!

And I do have to add this…as much as I enjoy writing these posts, receiving comments, and trying to help out my readers as best I can, please don’t ask me to personally help you find a job; I really don’t have the resources or inclination (I have got my own life after all!) to be able to do this.

Of course, all situations will be different, a family of four’s needs will not be the same as those of a singleton, and what people decided to spend their money on varies greatly, but I can try to make some generalisations.

Firstly, rent will probably form the bulk of your monthly expenditure, and rents are very high in Qatar.  Even coming from London, I found the price of accommodation extremely expensive for what was on offer.  Where I live, which is one of the more pricey areas, a studio apartment costs between 8000-9500 QAR/month, a 1 bed apartment between 10,000-12,000 QAR/month, a 2 bed apartment about 14,000 QAR/month and a 3 bed apartment about 16,000 QAR/month.  There are also villas (with or without private beaches) in my complex but I have no idea how much they cost….I can guarantee they are very expensive.

Apartments in other areas of Doha, like West Bay are comparable in price whereas apartments in Al Saad are cheaper, like 7,000-10,000 QAR/month for a 2 bed.  Villas are bigger (and probably better for families) and usually come with a minimum of 3 bedrooms.  Depending on the area and the facilities in the complex (pool, gym, tennis courts, shop, dry cleaners, etc), a 3-4 bedroom villa will cost on average between 12,000-20,000 QAR/month.

After accommodation, buying a car or paying for children’s schooling will probably be the next biggest expense.  New cars cost as much as they would in your home country but lots of very good deals can be found on used vehicles; gas/petrol is very cheap in Qatar.  As far as schools go, with very few exceptions, all are private and have fees.  These can range from 15,000-50,000 QAR/year depending on the school and grade level (I’ve just gotten this info from a quick internet search, I don’t have 1st hand knowledge of schools and fees).

After all this you have bills and most other things which can be filed in the ‘personal’ category like gym/club memberships, eating out, cable/phone subscriptions.  I find food to be very expensive here, my shopping bill seems to be twice as much as it was in the UK, and I’m not being particularly extravagant.  The same goes for alcohol, drinks are about double what they would be in the average London pub.

I find Qatar to be on the expensive side, generally, in all categories.  However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find deals here and there, you just need to know where to look…and that comes with experience, word of mouth, and getting to know the place over time.

An up to date, extended cost of living structure can be found here.

Anyway, Qatar’s summer is well and truly upon us now, I’ve given up driving with just my car windows open and have succumbed to air conditioning; daytime highs regularly hit the low to mid 40s.  The beginning of summer also means that my lease is coming up for renewal next month and I’m going to sign on for another year.  I’ve been very lucky in that respect as I found an apartment I really like, with great facilities, in an area not too far from work and a lovely landlord to top it all off.

Signing my lease for another year means handing over 12 post-dated cheques to my landlord, which he will cash when the appropriate time comes (the 1st of the month in this case).  This is the norm when it comes to rental agreements here and cheques are the gold standard in Qatar, you can get sent to jail if you write a cheque and it bounces.  Plus, my current account doesn’t have an overdraft, no one’s does.

Back in the UK I did nearly all of my banking on-line, I can’t tell you the last time I wrote a UK cheque for anything.  All of my bills and major payments were mostly done by direct debit and for everything else I either paid with one-off transfers or by card over the phone.  In Qatar, I’ve written more cheques in the past 2 years than I think I wrote in 10+ years of living in London.  As well as my rent, my bills are paid by cheque to the bank that the utility account is with.  Luckily my salary is paid by monthly direct debit as our finance manager specifically chose a bank in Qatar with internet capabilities…mostly because it’s less hassle.   Speaking of which, internet banking still leaves a lot to be desired, this is just the way things are here.  When all else has failed (and unfortunately, I’ve had a few mishaps concerning my account) the only option has been to go into a branch and speak to someone face to face; at least then the problem seems to get solved.

I’ve gotten a fair amount of comments over the past few months (I love them, keep them coming!!) which makes me think that there are actually people out there reading this blog!

So, is there anything you’d like to know about?  Any burning, unanswered questions about working in Qatar that I can help you with?  Just leave a comment and I’ll try my best to answer it…..

I’ve talked about Ramadan before, it’s significance and the impact it has on life in Qatar and the whole region.  Because Ramadan is based on the Islamic calendar, a lunar calendar, the date is not set and it shifts approximately 10 to12 days each year.  Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and it officially begins when the first crescent of the new moon is sighted.  This crescent must physically be seen in order to announce the start of Ramadan and so it can be a little bit tricky if you want to plan around it.

There are 2 Eid holidays each year and, although both are public holidays, the days that a person gets off from work may vary from three to five.  As with Ramadan, both Eid holidays are based on the Islamic calendar so the dates change from year to year.  Immediately following Ramadan is Eid al Fitr which begins on the first day of the tenth month of the Islamic calendar (Shawwal) and celebrates the end of fasting.  Eid al Adha begins on the 10th day of the 12th month of the Islamic calendar (Dhu al Hijjah) and it is approximately 70 days after the end of Ramadan.  Both holidays are marked by family gatherings and celebratory meals with people decorating their houses and exchanging gifts with relatives and friends.

The 18th December is National Day or Founder’s Day and marks the day, in 1878, that Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed al Thani succeeded his father, Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani.  Sheikh Jassim worked towards bringing together the many tribes of the region into one unified nation. On National Day you can expect many special events, including parades and fireworks along the Corniche, lots of cars decorated with emblems and stickers, plenty of Qatari flags waving, and an enormous sense of national pride.

My mother finds it very surprising that I don’t receive any days off over the Christmas and New Year period but I keep having to remind her that Qatar is a Muslim country, so it’s very rare for expats to get traditional, Christian holidays off (Christmas, New Year, Easter).  You’ll still be able to find someplace to celebrate (brunch/lunch/dinner at larger hotels and restaurants) but most employers will not allot any time off so you’ll have to use your vacation days if you want to travel abroad, go back home, or just enjoy the holiday in Doha.

Smaller holidays and country-specific celebrations like Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, Bastille Day, Australia Day and the 4th July can also be found in Qatar but you’ll have to search a bit harder.  Sometimes events are hosted by a country’s embassy or various sports clubs dotted around Doha and it’s worth making the extra effort to find these as they are a great way to meet people and experience a little taste of home.

And I think I’ve mentioned before that the weekend in Qatar is Friday and Saturday, with Friday being the main day of religious observance. Some businesses may only work a half day on Thursday and then shut for all of Friday.  Smaller shops will either be shut all of Friday or only open after the afternoon prayer, while the larger shops and malls will only be closed for Friday morning.

Museum of Islamic Art

So, what is there to do for fun in Doha?  How easy or difficult it is to make friends in Qatar?

Life is what you make of it, as the saying goes, and this motto definitely holds true around here.  Doha is not New York City or London by any stretch, you will have to try a bit harder to find things to occupy your time, but Qatar is far from the desolate sand pit many people may perceive it to be.

Qatar hosts many annual and one off events like the Doha Tribeca Film Festival, the Qatar Masters Golf Tournament, Qatar Open Tennis, Powerboat racing events, Latin American festivals, Indian Cultural festivals, food festivals, kite festivals, Formula One motor shows, charity walks, cycle races and road races…..pretty much most things that you would expect to find in any other capital city, just on a smaller scale.  For a list of what’s on, it’s always good to have a look at Time Out Doha or Qatar Living.

There are also permanent fixtures in Doha like the architecturally beautiful Museum of Islamic Art, Arab Museum of Modern Art; Mathaf, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, Doha Players and Sheikh Faisal’s eclectic collection.  You can visit one of Doha many spas, beaches or forts, go on a road trip to the west coast, see the camel races or take s desert safari.  You could also take advantage of living in the region and go for a quick weekend away to the UAE or Oman, or a mini vacation to Jordan, Lebanon or Egypt.  India, parts of Asia and the Indian Ocean are also very close.

If all the hustle and bustle gets a bit too much, take a walk along the Corniche, relax in Aspire Park, see what Katara has to offer or visit the mangroves in Al Khor.  If it’s summer and the heat is on, you can find some respite in one of Doha’s many malls, perhaps even have a go at ice skating to take your mind off the soaring temps outside.

And as far as making friends goes, how easy or difficult was it to make friends where you are living now or anywhere for that matter?  The expat community in Qatar is small and by simply putting in a small amount of effort, you could be greatly rewarded.  Join a language club, attend a fitness class or take part in a recreational sports team and you’ll find yourself meeting new people all the time.  My advice is to just talk to everyone, we’re all away from home and pretty much in the same boat so we might as well make the most of it.

I am constantly being asked about salaries in Qatar and, although they differ from job to job, salaries in this region are good and I think it’s safe to say that they are the main selling point for accepting a job out here.  Although they have decreased in recent years, many people believe they might begin to rise again due to a new-found interest in Qatar.

I always stress to those considering a move here that you must make sure everything is completely and clearly stated in your employment contract.  Almost every news story I see or article I read about Qatar emphasizes the fact that it is one of the richest countries in the world, but this does not apply to everyone.  Yes, there is no tax, but there is also no pension or social security system.  Healthcare is not free, you must purchase a (very reasonably priced) Hamad card to be entitled to highly subsidized services.  Most reputable employers (mine included) provide insurance packages that cover many, but not all procedures.  Yet, despite having insurance and the healthcare system being very good, I personally prefer to take care of all doctor/dentist appointments when I visit the UK.

Much has also been said about the free education system in Qatar…but no one seems to mention that it is only free if you are Qatari.  With rare exception, everyone else must pay costly tuition fees for their child’s education and oftentimes there are waiting lists involved for preferred schools.

Employment packages usually come with several allowances such as housing, car, phone, education and moving/relocation but again, it is very good to double check this.  Sometimes these allowances are given in one lump sum or are allocated monthly on a percentage basis.  Again, it is very wise to make sure this is all spelled out before committing or signing any contract.  While these allowances seem generous, you must also take into account the cost of living in Qatar which certainly was higher than what I was used to.  Rents are expensive, food is more expensive, and anything that is a familiar western brand will most certainly be more expensive.

I’m not trying to discourage anyone from thinking about a move to Qatar but it is absolutely essential that you do your homework beforehand  and know exactly what you’re signing up for.

As a result of QF’s investments, there are research facilities popping up left, right and centre in this country, many of which are collaborations with very reputable overseas establishments.  Doha also boasts Education City which houses branches of several big name universities like Cornell, Texas A&M and Carnegie Mellon to name a few.  Also in the works are a new teaching hospital, Sidra, and various institutions set up with the intent of studying certain diseases like diabetes and cancer.

My company was established with a very generous grant from the Qatar Foundation and we are based in one of the research parks in Education City.  Many of the businesses that we share this facility with are large companies that have set up smaller subdivisions in Qatar while others, like us, are the only one of their kind.  For us little guys and the various research institutions around the country, the question of funding is nearly always on our minds.

When I talk about working and conducting researching in Qatar, many people (incorrectly) make the assumption that we have more money than we know what to do with.  Yes, there are some cutting edge facilities and resources here, but that doesn’t mean that people are throwing money at our feet, nor do we have a bottomless bank account.  Our budget is not disposable and we can’t dip into it whenever we like, we need to concern ourselves with grants and funding applications just like a large majority of research establishments around the world.

One such opportunity to source funding is the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) which controls several funding programs such as the National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) and the Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP).  Each program usually has one ‘cycle’ of applications/awards per year.  The NPRP, for example, provides grants of up to $350,000/year for projects that span from one to three years, and is the largest funding body of QNRF.  Thus far, it has invested over $345m in 411 projects involving 134 collaborative institutions from around the world.  If you are lucky enough to be rewarded an NPRP, many research-related doors may open for you.

Regardless of funding sources, there are also opportunities to present the work being done in Qatar and in collaboration with QF.  One such opportunity, the annual QF Research Forum, was recently held at the newly completed Qatar National Convention Centre.  This year’s research forum was very ambitious, and a wonderful showcase of the potential impact Qatar may one day have on the global research community.