Discussion
Im here now and have been for almost two years, personally I think its alright - not sure what the problems are with other people; the malls are good, the lifestyle nice, the fuel is cheap and plenty of money in the area; http://carcapture.blogspot.com/ - I find it a good place to be right now. Fuel is cheap, V8s are common and the income is tax free - what more can you need?
I liveed in Qatar for over a year I loved it. There are loads of things to do there if you make an effort. Most people that say there's nothing to do there are usually the same guy's propping up the bar on a Friday afternoon.
Good points:
1. Weather is fantastic.
2. Standard of living is excellent.
3. Great choice of nearly new cars for sale on a massive st. for the life of me now I can't remember the name of it.
4. Inland sea. Great place to bring the kids nice resort about 50Km's from Doha with a lovely pool, water sports, safaris etc. (note make sure and go early and make sure your finished quadbiking in the sand dunes by 1pm before the locals wake up. You'll know why when you get there.
5. Learn to fly when your there a lot of my friends did.
6. The best hotels are there Four seasons etc.
7. Shopping is fantastic. Jewellery is very cheap along with watches etc. (gold souks)
Bad points:
1. Make sure your company has got your childrren enrolled in a school before committing. Huge demand for good schools and it far outweights the supply.
2. Local drivers are nuts, although it has quitened down somewhat with the introduction of the new cameras on the corniche.
3. The weather can take a bit of getting used to. It's best to arrive in spring time and gradually acclimatise yourself into the summer.
4. No bacon (unless you have friends with the American airforce ssshhhh!)
5. I'm desperately trying to think of more negative aspects of Qatar and I can't.
Make sure your apartment / Villa is based on the North side of the corniche if you will be commuting to Ras Laffan. It can add a good hour to hour and a half in the evening to get home for 5 Km's if on the airport south side!
Best of luck I hope I'm back there soon to have a cold beer with you!
Edited for spelling
Good points:
1. Weather is fantastic.
2. Standard of living is excellent.
3. Great choice of nearly new cars for sale on a massive st. for the life of me now I can't remember the name of it.
4. Inland sea. Great place to bring the kids nice resort about 50Km's from Doha with a lovely pool, water sports, safaris etc. (note make sure and go early and make sure your finished quadbiking in the sand dunes by 1pm before the locals wake up. You'll know why when you get there.
5. Learn to fly when your there a lot of my friends did.
6. The best hotels are there Four seasons etc.
7. Shopping is fantastic. Jewellery is very cheap along with watches etc. (gold souks)
Bad points:
1. Make sure your company has got your childrren enrolled in a school before committing. Huge demand for good schools and it far outweights the supply.
2. Local drivers are nuts, although it has quitened down somewhat with the introduction of the new cameras on the corniche.
3. The weather can take a bit of getting used to. It's best to arrive in spring time and gradually acclimatise yourself into the summer.
4. No bacon (unless you have friends with the American airforce ssshhhh!)
5. I'm desperately trying to think of more negative aspects of Qatar and I can't.
Make sure your apartment / Villa is based on the North side of the corniche if you will be commuting to Ras Laffan. It can add a good hour to hour and a half in the evening to get home for 5 Km's if on the airport south side!
Best of luck I hope I'm back there soon to have a cold beer with you!
Edited for spelling
Edited by Shake&Bake on Friday 6th March 14:37
3. Great choice of nearly new cars for sale on a massive st. for the life of me now I can't remember the name of it.
http://www.qatarsale.com/
http://www.qatarsale.com/
I have lived in Doha for just over 5 months now. It is a good place for the family with the following up sides-
1/ Sunshine
2/ Most compounds have great facilities (Pools, Gyms etc).
3/ Cheap fuel.
4/ Good work life balance.
5/ Tax free income.
6/ Economy to grow by 8.5% next year, compared to 0% mostly every where else.
Bad things-
1/ Drivers (Qatari drivers are rude and mainly drive Land Cruisers and will flash you or even nudge you out of the way etc if you are in front of them, Indians and Filipinos on the whole rude and crap behind the wheel).
2/ Roads are in a very poor state.
3/ Housing is very expensive (Eg We pay £3500 per MONTH in rent for a 3 bed ff Villa on a compound).
4/ Alcohol is eye wateringly expensive ( £32 per case of beer at the only off-licence in the whole country & £8 for a bottle of Heineken in the bars).
All in all I am really glad I am here and not in UK at present.
Just dont expect to save a fortune here as the cost of living is ridiculous.
1/ Sunshine
2/ Most compounds have great facilities (Pools, Gyms etc).
3/ Cheap fuel.
4/ Good work life balance.
5/ Tax free income.
6/ Economy to grow by 8.5% next year, compared to 0% mostly every where else.
Bad things-
1/ Drivers (Qatari drivers are rude and mainly drive Land Cruisers and will flash you or even nudge you out of the way etc if you are in front of them, Indians and Filipinos on the whole rude and crap behind the wheel).
2/ Roads are in a very poor state.
3/ Housing is very expensive (Eg We pay £3500 per MONTH in rent for a 3 bed ff Villa on a compound).
4/ Alcohol is eye wateringly expensive ( £32 per case of beer at the only off-licence in the whole country & £8 for a bottle of Heineken in the bars).
All in all I am really glad I am here and not in UK at present.
Just dont expect to save a fortune here as the cost of living is ridiculous.
Hi all,
Although I have been browsing pistonheads for a number of years now this is my first post….
Sorry to Hijack…. But I am also due to move out to Doha at the end of the month. I thought it could be a good idea to keep questions regarding Qatar on one post as some of the advice given could also be of benefit to others reading this post.
I’m looking to bring my VX220 Turbo with me. Can any one give me any pointers to what kind of insurance I should expect to achieve and approx how much car insurance costs out there? I really would like fully comp and the car is worth approx £17K. It’s an 04 plate and quite modified for track days.
Thanks in advance
Liam
Although I have been browsing pistonheads for a number of years now this is my first post….
Sorry to Hijack…. But I am also due to move out to Doha at the end of the month. I thought it could be a good idea to keep questions regarding Qatar on one post as some of the advice given could also be of benefit to others reading this post.
I’m looking to bring my VX220 Turbo with me. Can any one give me any pointers to what kind of insurance I should expect to achieve and approx how much car insurance costs out there? I really would like fully comp and the car is worth approx £17K. It’s an 04 plate and quite modified for track days.
Thanks in advance
Liam
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