Moving to Qatar - Doha.

absolutegroove

Hello,

Looks like I'll be moving to Doha for work in the next few months.

Anyone know of the best things to do over there recreation/social wise.

Thanks in advance.

Dr. Greenthumb

absolutegroove wrote: »

Hello,

Looks like I'll be moving to Doha for work in the next few months.

Anyone know of the best things to do over there recreation/social wise.

Thanks in advance.

Been in Qatar 6 months myself, not a whole lot going on here i'm afraid. It's not like Dubai / Abu Dhabi as they have some tourism hence recreational facilities and they are not as strict islamic nations as Qatar so they are more liberal.

There is a gaa club out here and there's some water sports also but at the moment it's too hot to really do much during the day. Also depends on what profession you're in as some companies work 6 days a week so you don't have much time off to begin with. The social scene does revolve around pubs but the selection is poor and the drink is expensive.

There's a few of us Irish guys working over here in the same company and all of us have the same view "there's fcuk all to do in Qatar". I'm out here to work and make some money, if there was work at home i'd be gone back in a shot but that's me (majority of the other guys feel the same), maybe you'll like it.

absolutegroove

Dr. Greenthumb wrote: »

Been in Qatar 6 months myself, not a whole lot going on here i'm afraid. It's not like Dubai / Abu Dhabi as they have some tourism hence recreational facilities and they are not as strict islamic nations as Qatar so they are more liberal.

There is a gaa club out here and there's some water sports also but at the moment it's too hot to really do much during the day. Also depends on what profession you're in as some companies work 6 days a week so you don't have much time off to begin with. The social scene does revolve around pubs but the selection is poor and the drink is expensive.

There's a few of us Irish guys working over here in the same company and all of us have the same view "there's fcuk all to do in Qatar". I'm out here to work and make some money, if there was work at home i'd be gone back in a shot but that's me (majority of the other guys feel the same), maybe you'll like it.

Alrite Dr. Greenthumb,

Thanks for replying.

I'll be working for the TV Station Al Jazeera, so maybe that'll keep me busy.

My plan is to save money aswell. The pay is good and there's a few Irish people working there so I'm told.

It's pretty slow work wise here - so I've no choice really.

IrishinQatar

A lot depends on whether your married or single, grand place if you have husband/wife and kids and fairly boring if you're single. Also depends if you're male, female,

absolutegroove

I'm male and single.

I've been in Qatar for awhile now and I'm having a great time.

I'm sharing a house in the Westbay area here in Doha and it's well good.

Souk trips for food and a shisha once or twice a week is nice.

I've been playing soccer with a group of lads I befriended on www.qatarliving.com

I been at the Qatar Tennis Open and I'm going to a few matches of the Asian Cup 2011 (the final of course).

Have planned a trip to Dubai next week and am going on a road trip to Oman next month.

It's all going good at the minute but that'll probably change come the extreme heat of the summer.

irishshadowfax

HI OP, how are you getting on now - is your outlook still positive? I've applied for an internal move to Doha with my current company if the cash was right of course. Sick of paying taxes and listing to talk about debt restructuring!!:)

Radiotower

I've the chance of an interview for job in Qatar - Construction Management.
Anyone know what the going salary is starting off over there. I graduated over 10 years ago and have alot of experience on large industrial projects here in ireland.

Whats the cost of living? I'm afraid they'll ask me my salary expectations and I'll underprice myself thinking its great money but not so great when you have to live there, get a car etc... It's tax free there too is that right?

Would be moving with wife and kids.
Thanks

MountainRunner

Just wondering if you made the move to Qatar? Im also in the Construction Management area, experience in residential construction and small to medium civil works over a number of years. Returned to college and got qualifications recently, hence am looking to make a move aboard to earn some money for a while; any thoughts?

jblowsdsl

Dr. Greenthumb wrote: »

Been in Qatar 6 months myself, not a whole lot going on here i'm afraid. It's not like Dubai / Abu Dhabi as they have some tourism hence recreational facilities and they are not as strict islamic nations as Qatar so they are more liberal.

There is a gaa club out here and there's some water sports also but at the moment it's too hot to really do much during the day. Also depends on what profession you're in as some companies work 6 days a week so you don't have much time off to begin with. The social scene does revolve around pubs but the selection is poor and the drink is expensive.

There's a few of us Irish guys working over here in the same company and all of us have the same view "there's fcuk all to do in Qatar". I'm out here to work and make some money, if there was work at home i'd be gone back in a shot but that's me (majority of the other guys feel the same), maybe you'll like it.

Whats the people like in Qatar. Are they friendly?

dizzymom

We relocated to Qatar in February. Dh is in construction. I found work pretty fast here too. Two kids in school. Having lived in both Riyadh and Dubai before, Qatar is definitely a lot more like Riyadh, but with cinemas, music events, pubs within hotels etc. There is a lot less to do than Dubai but I do d it very friendly and relaxed in comparison to Dubai. Petrol is cheap. Food costs probably same as home with imported goods ridiculously expensive. Alcohol here is very expensive. 45riyals approx for a drink. 8_50Euro but that would be hotel prices. Luckily there is many many ladies nights so lots of places do "buy one get one free" and happy hour.
Qatar is one big building site. Tons of work here in construction. It's very hot at the moment but most compounds have pools. There is a lot less things to do for families but we 've done as couple of Friday's at the inland sea beach and sea lion. There is a beautiful museum of Islamic art and design lovely corniche. Families tend to socialise together in compounds and it's a relaxed lifestyle if that's what your looking for. There is also areas like the pearl and westbay for a more lavish lifestyle. Global djs playing at as beach party gig tonight. That's something you wouldn't get in Riyadh.

BigBraveBear

Qatar is best avoided, unless you're on a great salary and saving lots of money, its not worth living in such an absolute dump. Its apparently one of teh richest countries in the world but it looks and feels like being in a post nuculear apocalyptic hellhole, well thats the impression I got anyway.

irishshadowfax

BigBraveBear wrote: »

Qatar is best avoided, unless you're on a great salary and saving lots of money, its not worth living in such an absolute dump. Its apparently one of teh richest countries in the world but it looks and feels like being in a post nuculear apocalyptic hellhole, well thats the impression I got anyway.

Well that's that then! Have a good job here on good money but was thinking of moving to tax free middle east for a couple of years if I got mega bucks and could save a nest egg...

After all the complaining and **** storms, we have it very good in this country...

kraggy

BigBraveBear wrote: »

Qatar is best avoided, unless you're on a great salary and saving lots of money, its not worth living in such an absolute dump. Its apparently one of teh richest countries in the world but it looks and feels like being in a post nuculear apocalyptic hellhole, well thats the impression I got anyway.

This guy must have been in Qatar a long, long time ago. It's developed seriously quickly in the last few years.

NadiaIreland

HI Kraggy, do you know anything about newton international school? Do you think Doha is good place to go for a single girl?

NadiaIreland

It would be great to get any information from anyone who has lived there before?Thanks

lufties

wild horses wouldn't drag me to Doha.

NadiaIreland

Hi lufties, have you lived there before? What didnt you like about it?

lufties

NadiaIreland wrote: »

Hi lufties, have you lived there before? What didnt you like about it?

hi nadia, haven't lived there but have heard its very boring and can be restrictive. It would want to be a huge pay packet to get me out there, one positive though would be that qatar fly many places therefore access to visit other countries would be plentiful.