Is Doha the ideal expat destination?
http://my.telegraph.co.uk/expat/annabelkantaria/10146160/is-doha-the-ide...
Doha, Qatar, is currently looking like the expat jewel in the glittering Gulf crown. With a booming economy, tax-free salaries, plenty of investment in infrastructure and more jobs than you could shake a stick at, it’s recently been named as the richest country in the world with the highest per capita income in the world.
Qatar is currently going through a period of change as it adjusts to its new, ultra-modern status. So far, so Dubai. But Qatar is not as liberal as Dubai – and it never will be. Traditionally, it’s much more conservative than its flashier cousin across the water. With a population of 1.7 million that already consists of 80 per cent expats, Qatari nationals are understandably keen to hold on to their identity, and are actively resisting the type of expatriate influences permitted in Dubai.
The most obvious and visible way in which this struggle has played out is over the sale of alcohol. Not only was there a backlash in January against the national carrier, Qatar Airways, for serving alcohol on board but, more concerning for businesses in Qatar, was the surprise December 2011 ban on alcohol being served on its flagship property development, The Pearl Qatar, nicknamed “the Arab Riviera”.
When Qatari nationals concerned about “immoral” expat behaviour on The Pearl succeeded in pushing the government into the alcohol ban, the hospitality industry learned overnight that laws affecting their business can be changed almost arbitrarily. In the light of the ban, restaurants on The Pearl, including Gordon Ramsay’s Maze, lost up to 50 per cent of their revenue and hotel chain Accor was forced to “rethink” previously planned projects in Doha.
FIFA clearly has its own doubts too. In January 2012 secretary general Jerome Valcke declared that without the right to sell alcohol at the 2022 World Cup, there would be no Qatar World Cup. “Alcoholic drinks are part of the FIFA World Cup, so we’re going to have them. Excuse me if I sound a bit arrogant but that’s something we won’t negotiate,” he said.
It's not the richest city by any measurement.
u said it right.
And NO ONE speaks about expats being made redundant after signing an indefinite contract. We got a raw deal no one speaks about that!
UAE is far far way ahead of Qatar.......and they have a great leader. Emiraris are respectful, well educated and broadminded people. I'm asian, i live hear now in qatar after 10 years stay in dubai, so i can tell the difference. Qatar has a long long long way to go before it could even rwach half of what Dubai can offer.
TFS Ian.
Qatar Airways happily gave me a white wine yesterday. I believe there is no ban (except during Ramadan on non long-haul flights) but that there was a move by some Qatari nationals to impose one.
Qatar an ideal place? - NO - but there are many worse.
I prefer the UAE over Qatar. You might not earn quite as much money, but you have more freedom and choices. That's worth the monetary difference in my opinion.
compared here in Riyadh, KSA... Doha is definitely miles ahead in comparison.
so 'am always itching to go back to Doha on every months' end of duty here in this .... what say you country :(
nevertheless, in terms of weaning away from its revenue of oil's umbillical chords and shifting to concepts Dubai and Qatar had embraced, KSA has plenty of green fields to grow its vertical and horizontal structures, and catching up with its neighbors... is definitely a long shot but they're giving it a try.
...will check soon how Doha compares with Dubai.
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the people living in Qatar are the wealthiest, but GDP per capita is as useful a tool as aggregate GDP by nation.
But if go by total GDP, Qatar is below the Philippines, and I think we can all agree that Qatar in perceptively a wealthier country. The per capita measure matters, once purchasing parity is taken into account, and that measure puts Qatar on top. The fact that it is concentrated amongst a minority of people living hear (nationals and expats) makes it even more apparent. Add then to the lack of spending on defense, little need for social welfare (the poor are workers who leave families in their own country), etc. then you end up with a rather large concentration of wealthy people with a great deal of discretionary income.
My point is that this high concentration of wealth is what makes Qatar agreeable for Western expats as opposed to a place like say Nigeria (much higher national GDP). Whether or not it is the best place, however, is up for debate.
who has named it the richest county in the world, highest GDP may be but richest? Not the same thing.
If I lived in a country of one person and had an income of $200,000, then I would live in a country with the highest GDP in the world but it would certainly not be the richest country in the world
Who is making money from here, just surviving here only, the expenses are so high such that earnings are exhaustive....
Qatar is doing well but it still has a long way to go. Being rich per capita is highly relative and as someone pointed out above;it's not difficult with the tiny population we have here.
The real challenge is being progressive. Most expats are here in a time biding mode or for the love of savings. Iám yet to come across expats who are genuinely happy. The feeling of belongingness simply doesnt exist. Thanks to the attitude of some locals who wouldnt allow you to feel at home here even if you are born in this country.The success of a country like Qatar can truly be measured in terms of its success in assimilating the expat population and making them feel welcome IMHO. Afterall,its the expats who have built this country and are still running it.
objective article.
no
Also depends on the company you're in!
Fathimah. You had it again... a well centered point of view. Well said! The Great Almighty bless us all!
Like what their life was back home, what their goals and ambitions were in coming here, their lifestyles, beliefs, etc.
Even among my friends(who are from various countries) I see a lot of contrasting views as to how ideal Doha is as an expat destination.
There are things we all agree on. For sure Qatar, like all countries, has it's shares of pros and cons. And how much one appreciates the former and is willing to put up with the latter will again depend on who they are, where they come from,past experiences etc.
For example all my Muslim friends appreciate all Qatar's privileges and are patient with the countries shortcomings mainly due to the fact that it's a Muslim country. However of course my non Muslim companions will not agree with that view. On the other hand I notice majority of my western friends, specially the converts to Islam, are those who never want to go back from where they came from not even for vacation! But many of my Asian friends, who's families are of the same faith as them, and who are close to their parents, siblings,etc, and who have never or hardly encountered any discrimination and bad experiences back in their homeland,tend to want to go home at any given opportunity and also see more negativity in Qatar as well.However I know many of my western friends will also for example be less tolerant to certain downsides of Qatar like it's medical system, schools, etc. This is because where they come from probably had better. Of course this is all based on my personal experiences and not everyone will feel the same.
Even my own sister and I defer on our views of this land. Personally I love it here and don't ever want to go back to SL(yes, really!)despite all the ups and downs we go through in our life here.She loves it here too but doesn't find visiting home such a no no.
So bottom line is Doha will be ideal to some expats, tolerable to some, and Do-hell to others!
Oman is a great place. Still no place is ideal.
So is Qatar Airways no longer serving alcohol?
Many of those who have come from Dubai have done so out of necessity and not choice. If Dubai or abu Dhabi picks up, they'll be off.
I'd vote for Oman. Beautiful, friendly.
Mandi
Not ideal, but better than many places and not as good as some others.
Is there no more alcohol on Qatar Airways? I missed that.
I was on the Pearl last week and we were literally the only couple in the Mexican restaurant from 7-9pm, which was a shame as it is one of our favorite places. Not much different for the other places either, so my guess is 50% decline in revenues is an understatement. Fair enough if they don't want alcohol at these places, but arbitrarily pulling it from businesses counting on it is bad for attracting future businesses.
Also, let's be honest, Western expats probably make up less than 20% of the population. The real expats are the Asian workers and maids and the legions of Arabs who are born here but have no hope of citizenship.
Actually the population is only 360 000 (20% of 1.7 million). The rest is only visiting. To make such a tiny entity so rich is easier than doing that in China. It's not really an achievement. An achievement would be to reduce the expats to 20% of the total population and still enjoy the same standard of living. If you have to pay for everything you need you are not really rich!
To earn money? Yes, I'd say so.
Not yet, too much construction and strict laws - give it another 5 - 10 years and we will see a much brighter and better place to live and work.
on the purpose of the Expats in coming to Doha.:)
Work, yes. Holiday, no. Unless you want to spend it in the dessert ( exciting though )
Ideal ? Probably not.
In current economic global climate - acceptable ? yes!