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.

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 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.