Down and out in Doha
DOHA: A young Qatari who has lost his parents and job is forced to use his rundown car as his home since he does not have sufficient income to go in for rented accommodation.
This is the true story of a man who is struggling to find employment and a roof over his head in the absence of any close relatives or friends, Al Sharq reported yesterday.
He is on his won after his parents passed away leaving behind no assets. He mostly parks his old car in the parking slots along the Corniche in the night and sleeps in it. In the mornings he takes a wash in mosques, but can’t spend the night in one of them since they are closed to public after the night (isha) prayers.
The man was working in a government department but was laid off. His total monthly income now is QR5,400, but being in heavy debt much of the money goes into repaying the loans.
He is left only with QR1,800 after paying loan installments and from this meager amount also he has to repay some loans he took from individuals.
The man claimed he had been running from pillar to post to land a suitable job for the past three years but in vain. “I have even applied to the labor ministry but no response has been forthcoming as yet,” he said.
He cannot even apply for the free government housing scheme because the minimum age limit to benefit from the largesse is 35 years while he is only 33, the daily said.
The man has so much self-esteem that he does not want to approach any of the charitable bodies for help.
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&mon...
Lol...yes, that may well be true to a point although many Qataris get vacation allowance once a year for their family as part of the government wishing it's people to have a good life.
I don't think there's any doubt that it's more serious people in other countries who in debt up to their necks with no or little way out because of overspending coupled with a bleak economy and very poor job prospects.
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Pride and debt: There was a story about a year or so ago in one of the English language newspapers about the large number of Qataris who were taking out massive loans to finance their summer holidays because they felt it was important to be seen to be going to certain places in the World.
He could find a 'bed spacer' for 500 Riyals, if he doesn't mind the others sharing??
i pray all the best for him .........my prayer is with him.
and he's single, so I guess he can still manage.
well thts as far as i can see and hear.........
thts y i was shock when i see this news, cos i know tht government support qataris
Yes, Tall, this is very evident in the widespread number of people filing for bankruptcy, losing their houses, selling their possessions, etc, that is in the media since the economic crisis hit. Credit cards have been well and truly overused.
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doesn't his family have FRIENDS?
L♥VE LIFE!
but who will act to help this guy??
yes i dont remember the exact month. the car pic was taken just like this one and it was mentioned that its a buick car with huge back seat where he sleeps in at night.
a homeless qatari in a buick car???
this article was published guess a year ago in Peninsula the guy with black Buick.they didnt mention his car in this article or maybe might be this one is new.
but that story and this one are almost same.
I am sure someone will give him a job after reading this article in the newspaper... a job and a company accommodation will solve his problem.. there are lots of Kind hearted Qataris....who will help a fellow human being..
Unless he is lookin for a CEO position…
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Agreed diamond, it is a worldwide phenomenon. Though some countries seem to have more of a 'keeping up with the jonses' approach to life than others.
Silvia - If you've only ever seen Qataris in expensive cars with expensive stuff then you haven't seen them all.
I remember this: Homeless Qatari family forced to live in tent
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&month=June2008&file=Local_News2008061724432.xml
You can't teach experience...
well...thts wht they say and wht u see
as if all of them ride a very expensive car.........
having all expensive stuff........so the fact speaks it self
Tall, pride or plain and simple greed...Qatar is not exempt from this worldwide phenomenon of wanting more than you can afford.
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It amuses me how expats all have this image of every single Qatari being rich.
wht????????/ no way.......
how come this happend to him? i tot government support local nationality .........and it already stated by the EMIR to increase the salary of qataris....
if its not because of the loans.........5400 riyal will do ok for single like this qatari.........
am so sad hearing this..........while some other qataris can spend in malls, this qatari lived on the other side of the line......hearing this guy story is breaking my heart
pride what keeps him to do so.
Pride seems to be everything. That's why massive debts are run up in the first place - to keep up with everyone else.
from what I've been reading about what they said of Qataris here in QL. And this is the second time I read about Qatari being homeless yet hesitant to approach any charitable institutions.