Working in Doha, Qatar - few questions?

Working in Doha, Qatar - few questions?

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Easty-5

Original Poster:

1,423 posts

191 months

Friday 27th August 2010
quotequote all
I am due to fly out to Doha in the next few days. I will be working at Dolphin Energy's site and staying in their camp. Will I be able to wear shorts and t-shirt? Will I be okay to wear shorts and t-shirt for the flight over?

This is my first time over to the middle-east so any advice would be welcomed.

Cheers,
Jamie

DubaiJohn

371 posts

187 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
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Yes and yes, but surely would be a bit chilly on the plane?

TuxRacer

13,812 posts

192 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
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You'll be freezing on the plane if you just wear shorts and t-shirt!

Dunk1982

429 posts

179 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
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Wear normal gear on the plane for comfort as no doubt the A/C will be cranked up, but yeah as soon as you land and the lovely heat and humidity smacks you in the face you will want to throw those shorts on!!
Its Ramadan right now so not much going on during the day but I see your staying in the comapny grounds so you might be exempt from the rules untill you step outside of work.
Enjoy! The weathers hard work right now but depending on how long you're gonna be around for it will only start to get better! smile

Hitch78

6,107 posts

195 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
quotequote all
I always wear shorts and t-shirts on planes - no other way to travel, allows air to/from all the right places. Then if you feel a little nippy ask one of the nice dollies to tuck you in with a little blanky. Happy days!

Dunk1982

429 posts

179 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
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Hitch78 said:
I always wear shorts and t-shirts on planes - no other way to travel, allows air to/from all the right places. Then if you feel a little nippy ask one of the nice dollies to tuck you in with a little blanky. Happy days!
^ Perv!! hehe

Nice dollies....!!?? Who do you fly with? Gulf Air must have missed that memo!!

Mark.H

5,713 posts

207 months

Sunday 29th August 2010
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Welcome to the sandpit matey! Im living in Doha nowadays, seems like I was beat to this thread but any other questions dont hesitate to ask an im sure we can point you in the right direction.

Easty-5

Original Poster:

1,423 posts

191 months

Monday 30th August 2010
quotequote all
Thanks guys very helpful.

I am flying out tomorrow. I am staying at the Al Khor housing facility which I believe is just outside Doha.

Mark.H

5,713 posts

207 months

Monday 30th August 2010
quotequote all
Easty-5 said:
Thanks guys very helpful.

I am flying out tomorrow. I am staying at the Al Khor housing facility which I believe is just outside Doha.
yeah you are just north of Doha, if i look out of my office window i can see it. Not been there yet though.

Easty-5

Original Poster:

1,423 posts

191 months

Monday 30th August 2010
quotequote all
Mark.H said:
Easty-5 said:
Thanks guys very helpful.

I am flying out tomorrow. I am staying at the Al Khor housing facility which I believe is just outside Doha.
yeah you are just north of Doha, if i look out of my office window i can see it. Not been there yet though.
Is the weather bearable? I am quite confused about what is suitable to wear and what isn't. Many people have said shorts are a big no no and others have said they are okay? I don't fancy walking about 40 degree heat in jeans.

Hitch78

6,107 posts

195 months

Monday 30th August 2010
quotequote all
Maybe you can wave flags or something?!

Weather is hot - wear whatever you need to for work and then it's generally shorts, t-shirt and flip flops at all other times. Unless I'm going out, when its shorts, shirt and flip flops. Decisions decisions!

Short shorts are occasionally frowned upon, but who wears short shorts anyway?

Edited by Hitch78 on Monday 30th August 19:43

Mark.H

5,713 posts

207 months

Tuesday 31st August 2010
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Why would waving flags cool you down? hehe

You obviously have to adhere to your work dress code in working hours, but please PLEASE ignore anyone who says you cant wear shorts and a t-shirt here, EVEN if they have a mate, who'se friends Sisters Boyfriend was living there and got arrested for it...cos they are full of poo! I wont lie, the first week will be hard for you, but it does get easier, I personally find anything below 45 tolerable now and Ive only been here since July. Shorts to the knee and a tshirt are fine for almost any situation, as are flip flops. Just wear shorts about knee length, and dont wear a vest. For the beach or pool etc, dont worry, its fine to walk about in some board shorts and no t-shirt on.

Dunk1982

429 posts

179 months

Tuesday 31st August 2010
quotequote all
If your work is mainly office based then you will want to have on long sleve and maybe even a t-shirt undernieth so its comfortable to sit in the A/C all day.
But yeah apart from that t-shirts and shorts and flippy flappys and decent shades!! I don't think it will get much hotter than it is now so its only going to start getting better. smile

Easty-5

Original Poster:

1,423 posts

191 months

Tuesday 31st August 2010
quotequote all
Thanks very much for the info guys. Very, very useful. I'm sitting in terminal 3 in Heathrow just now waiting for my flight. Quite looking forward to my first visit to the Middle East. Suncream, shades, shorts, tshirts and swimming shorts all packed. Enjoying the last few pints of lager I will probably get for a few weeks, unless I have been fed some more false info.

Dunk1982

429 posts

179 months

Tuesday 31st August 2010
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Don't worry, there's beer. I'm pretty sure there's a couple of bars in Doha?? But as its still Ramadan for a week or so i'm not sure if you will be able to get any where you are?

Bahrain has shut down and my stock has gone!!cry

DubaiJohn

371 posts

187 months

Tuesday 31st August 2010
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Definitely few bars in Doha, but from recollection they do stop serving during Ramadan. However all that comes to an end on the 9th September and beer will be back on the menu.

Mark.H

5,713 posts

207 months

Wednesday 1st September 2010
quotequote all
Ramadan?...what Ramadan?! Seems we've been hitting it harder than usual, been smashed every weekend at Dhow parties and bbq's! hehe Supplies are looking perilously low though, I have noticed you gat alot more friends seeing what you are upto at the weekend when you have alcohol towards the end of Ramadan smile Bars are closed though, thought Ramadan was due to end around the 11th this year? not 9th?

Easty-5

Original Poster:

1,423 posts

191 months

Wednesday 1st September 2010
quotequote all
Well guys, after my first full day in Qatar I have to say I quite like it out here. I am working and staying in Al Khor not Doha so it's not the most scenic of places. The weather is unbearable. I got through at least 10 bottles of water today and poured a further 5 over myself. All road users are mentalists. I thought scotland was bad!

C997

529 posts

167 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
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Easty-5 said:
Well guys, after my first full day in Qatar I have to say I quite like it out here. I am working and staying in Al Khor not Doha so it's not the most scenic of places. The weather is unbearable. I got through at least 10 bottles of water today and poured a further 5 over myself. All road users are mentalists. I thought scotland was bad!
biggrin Welcome to our world!

I was back in Aberdeen last week and it was great being in the cold and pcensoreding rain.

DubaiJohn

371 posts

187 months

Thursday 2nd September 2010
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Mark.H said:
Ramadan?...what Ramadan?! Seems we've been hitting it harder than usual, been smashed every weekend at Dhow parties and bbq's! hehe Supplies are looking perilously low though, I have noticed you gat alot more friends seeing what you are upto at the weekend when you have alcohol towards the end of Ramadan smile Bars are closed though, thought Ramadan was due to end around the 11th this year? not 9th?
Almost positive Eid starts on the 9th, couple of customers have told me they are back at work on the 13th, so hopefully that will mean next Thursday is a holiday!