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.

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.

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.

As mentioned previously, there are many hurdles that must be crossed when it comes to running a lab in Qatar (buying chemicals, setting up meetings) and sending, in reality ‘importing’, items for the laboratory is no exception to this rule.

Large items (lab equipment, large scale consumables) must be sent by either a courier or shipping company* but simply having the sender write our address on the package is not sufficient.  Importing items to Qatar is costly and time consuming but if you are lucky, the company that you order from will have a local distributer who will be able to handle most of the customs and duty related issues for you.  If there is no local distributer however, the sender (them) and the receiver (us) will have to make sure that every single box is ticked before the item is shipped and successfully received in Doha.

Before the items are shipped, the sender must provide the following paperwork; a Bill of Landing or Airway Bill, the Commercial Invoice, Packing List and the Certificate of Origin which must be attested (signed and stamped) by the Qatar Embassy and the Chamber of Commerce in the country of origin.  Specifically, the Commercial Invoice must clearly state the country of origin, currency, specific item description in English, unit price and total price by item, grand total price (including shipping), total number of packages, gross weight and the purchase order number.  Plus, all of this documentation must be sent to us at least 2 weeks before the shipment is sent in order for us to obtain a duty exemption letter to avoid paying any tax on the shipment (we are located in a duty free zone).  Like I said, this all takes time, and it also takes a fair amount of money.

How did we figure all of this out?  Well, I’d love to say that there is a centralised importing website where this information is clearly listed but no, we learned all of this the hard way which included a lot of running around, phone calls and trips to the Qatari customs office and, unfortunately, several large pieces of equipment being returned to the sender; I’m pretty sure we’ll never make those mistakes again.

*Qatar has a postal system called Qpost but there is no daily scheduled delivery service; if you want to be able to receive post, you much rent a P.O. Box from the main post office.

Lab Coats Must Be Worn

English is the lingua franca of Qatar so if you don’t speak Arabic, this should in no way deter you from considering a move here.  That is not to say, however, that issues with language don’t occur, in fact, I’d say a fair amount of information here gets lost in translation.

Meeting colleagues and doing business is not normally a problem, nor is driving, shopping or eating out because almost all signs and labels are in both Arabic and English.  All of our official business documents are in both Arabic and English, the smaller ones were translated by people I work with while the more lengthy documents like Health and Safety Handbooks and our lab signs (above) were done by professional services in Doha.  I’ve found that most sticky situations occur over the phone as this is the main form of communication in Qatar; people in this country are not big on emails or keeping websites up to date.

When miscommunications do occur, they tend to be more comical than annoying though.  I have a lovely driver from Kerala that I use sometimes when I go out so that I don’t have to worry about driving.  His English is a few levels above basic so I always try to keep my instructions to a minimum, like ‘my house, 7:15, tonight, 7-1-5’.  If we have to pick up some friends on the way or go via an ATM, I always save that for when I’m in the car and can speak to him face to face (I cannot tell you how many conversations I’ve had with him where I don’t really understand the point that he’s trying to get across; I just nod my head and say, ‘oh, yes’).

Nothing disastrous has ever happened but I have been gifted with several quirky anecdotes, like the time I called to make a restaurant booking…..

Man on the Phone: Hello, Grand Regency Hotel.
Me: Yes, may I please be connected to the Chopsticks Restaurant?
MotP: Yes madam……(puts me on hold)….I’m sorry madam, they do not open until 6pm.
Me: Ok, so may I make a reservation with you or should I wait and call back when the restaurant is open?
MotP: Yes madam.
Me: Yes I can make the reservation with you, or I need to call back when the restaurant is open?
MotP: Yes madam.
Me: Ok, I’ll call back at 6pm.