What do you love about Qatar?

Rent me. I am not that expensive

Its a place a woman can feel she is safe,Qatari's r very humble people,have a way of treating women with respect...my married life started here,my son was born here.

The quality of life i am living here would have required me to be a multi millionaire in my country.

Nice to read your hard work was rewarded and your faith restored! ;o)

Seriously ... well done to you and students alike

is when the plane takes off the runway on its way to Bahrain.

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I love be here beacase I get the chance to argue with the QL's TEABOY SYMPHATIZER BRIGADE

I love that it only takes me 20 mins to commute in spite of the increasing traffic.

I love meeting people from all over the world. Where else would you get such a diverse mix!

I love the Arabic hospitality, it's neverendingly warm and generous.

most of all I just love the food! Not just Arabic food but I've also rediscovered Indian food and it's amazing. Yum :)

I love the fact that everyday I find something funny to laugh at, absurd and funny situations. Qatar has shown me a different kind of fun that I didnt even know it existed.

Great healthcare facilities, as someone mentioned before.

Weather November-april.

The chance of living in such a culturally diverse village(sorry country)

Knowing that my husband has great career oportunities here

The happy times that I have spent in Qatar, even when conditions haven´t been best, and the fond memories that I will take with me when I leave.

I am a fitness freak and having a home gym was always my dream!!!!Back to my home country I could never have done this as there the space is always the biggest constraint. Here in Qatar my home is biiiig enough to accommodate my huge dream Tread mill and various other equipments. soooo...I love Qatar.

As long as the pile of shit stays lower than the utility I will be here.

My husband is working at Qatar. I'm joining him in August. I was a bit worried to go to Qatar but after reading the comments here, I feel that it's not going to be a bad as I thought.

But the rental at Qatar is killing....!!!

is that my ex wife is not here. Yea!

Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary. Mahatma Gandhi

Salam Alaikum from me too

shlonich asak tayeeb

well get gypsy an album so she can choose one for herself. :D

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Salam PM.

Thanks for your info regarding marriage. I was going down the humourous road with Xena and Gypsy and having some lighthearted exchanges with them.

As for me being unrealistic about my romanticism of marriage, I am speaking from my own personal experience of my family members and my husband. I have been marrried for several years to the most wonderful man I have ever met. He is everything one could want in a husband and more. I am blessed to have this life partner. He is thoughtful of my every need and want and he is very romantic. My cup runneth over. Add to that his marvellous qualities as a father and you have a wonderful happy people. I only hope I make him as happy as he makes me.

It is an arranged marriage. I asked my parents to find me suitable partners and then I made my selection after several months of dialogue. At the time of drawing up the marriage contract one can write in it what your needs are for your life together, eg you don't want your husband to marry a second wife, you want to work, drive, live independently of any other relatives, etc, etc...these are all to protect the woman from future problems. I had many, many things written into my contract. My husband agreed to them so we signed the contract and have never looked back!!! The arrangement grew into love.

So my idea of marriage is not an unrealistic and romantic notion...I am living it, several years and several children later. It is a lifelong committment based on the discussions and agreements about how we wanted our married life to be. It is a blessing.

Hmmm...what do I love about Qatar...

1. I love the fact that it's so diverse, u learn something new about a different culture everyday and u learn to have tolerance to all sorts of people, u learn to adapt.

2. I love the group of friends I've made on QL and outside. It's just fanatastic how we're not fake friends, but genuine people who have made a home here away from home, and have made families away from their families.

3. Gotta love the cheap gas and cars :-)

4. The easy lifestyle, sometimes I can become a total bum, but thank God we're living a life much better than alot of people around the world.

5. Some locals are pain in the ass, but most of the educated ones are fantastic, and very friendly especially the ones I met at college. And they have a such a brilliant future vision for their country, which is great!

Will post when I remember more :-)

Totally understand about needing to moan and groan every now and then. Oh yes, my beloved country can quite simply drive everyone to the brink at times I'm sure. When I'm in a moany mood I could give anyone a run for their money! I have really enjoyed reading what people do like abut Qatar so thanks Gypsy for creating the thread and thanks everyone for your comments!

Right, back to impressing the future mother-in-law Xena et al. Try to waft in gracefully on an air of exotic/spicy perfume wearing a sparkly abaya (ready made cheap and cheerful from Souq Faleh)and a shayla loosely round your head. Instant points! Then basically give it your best gab (no problems there girls I'm sure!) Try to say a few salutations in Arabic - also very impressive. Don't directly ask about eligble sons/brothers...be a bit subtle...let it be known, though, that you're looking for a husband. Pass your calling card/business card round. Befriending the women is halfway there! Good luck!

wanna meet round back of orry???

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Ok, seriously!

Is everyone on Prozac?

My sponsor is a Qatari. He welcomed me to his home and was treated like a member of the family. Until now, I still visit my Madame (bless her soul) and their 3 wonderful kids are so kind and loving.

The Qatari men are courteous and knows how to treat a lady.

And for almost 2 and a half years, most of my bad experiences here in Qatar are caused by other nationalities.

i got scouted at a wedding on Saturday - tell u when i see u

no messing round... talking money and age etc... coool

add that to the list i like going to qatar weddings...

colourful and lots of chocolate

oh and i like swimming in the sea here.

diamondgirl i like qatar and i wont bite the hand that feeds me

As soon as I stepped out of the airport into the warm night air which enveloped me like a comforting blanket, saw ladies and gents in their traditional clothes, heard the mullah singing his prayers above the din of car horns and an American businessman thanking is stars he was only here for 2 days (always one isn't there lol) I KNEW I was home again.

Having spent a few years in the Middle East late 70s early 80s, (we then travelled/worked in other places - last port of call was 3 years in Hong Kong), I honestly wondered how I would feel about returning after so long.

I absolutely LOVE it here in Doha!

I can't put a finger on WHY I feel so comfortable here, I just know that even if I hadn't got to know a few people so quickly I would feel exactly the same.

Oh! and my own private little joke (to all you ladies who sometimes get annoyed about unwanted male attention) is that when we left Jeddah I vowed I would return to the Middle East when I was an old lady because I felt sure most women could be SURE of some male attention here, long after the Western males had lost interest ;o)

So far only one cat call from a worker who was on 4th storey of a new building - but it's a start, isn't it? woo hoo !!

Resign and come back on a Business Visa

So they use weddings as scouting grounds for future daughter-in-laws....

Hmmm... so what do I do... wear a sticker saying... "hi, I am looking for a husband"? lol....

Just checking.... wouldn't want to miss out on my chances if thats all I have to do... :-)

FF... get off your high horse... of course this is a dating site... we pick up men here all the time... thats why we are so desperate for husbands...

Now, I want YOU... to go away.....

That's really turned my day off ..

I would like to share my reasons with u ..

I Love Qatar because:

=====================

1- My salary + allowances + everything is only 3000 Q.R

2- I'm graduated of computer science and Microsoft certified as Application developer and i'm working as data entry

3- people who r less qualifications than me r taking salaries more than mine and dealing with me as just data entry (Grade 8)

4- the IT Manager in my company said "I don't like egyptians in my section"

5- the company is paying me 1200 house allowance and i'm paying 1500 in a room cuz i can't afford more than that.

6- the water (which is life) is much expensive than the Gas

7- when i got an offer for 8000 + accomdation + car they refused to give me the release

8- they r giving me ticket to my country every 2 years

9- of the Land cruisers sticked up my ass flashering their lights in my eyes get me blinded

Do i need to say more ...

and i will answer the question in ur head "Why don't u go back to ur country?"

Becuz it's much worse in Egypt and i'm hopeing that i can change my job soon or really i'll be leaving the country ...

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http://www.showcaseyourmusic.com/LittleGuitarist

I hope so Gypsy, I just wish there were more child-friendly/oriented activities.

I remember when they brought the Natural History Museum exhibit a couple of years ago it was something the really wowed the kids.

Culturally things are really starting to Happen here. The problem is that it can be hard to hear about it.

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when I went to Bahrain and stayed for couple of days (actually I have to travel there every month), I'd missed Qatar and some of my friends ask me "WHAT?" but really Qatar had been a second home to me!

Cheers,

HONESTY is HARD ATTRIBUTE to FIND

Qatar is still relatively safe, it's a good place for kids and although it is lacking quite a bit in the cultural/activities aspect some of the shortfall is made up with the multi-cultural experience.

Considering it's a Gulf country the freedoms afforded to us here are quite good, too.

I like the feeling that you're in this world of yesteryear, where everyone knoews each other, there's little crime, and kids are safe.

I know it's probably rubbish, but it's nice to have the illusion.

--

http://qatarjournal.com/~ngourlay/journal/

I think many people do explore the wonderful things about Qatar, I just think that they never talk about them. As you know, being an expat can be really frustrating and hard, and in order to stay sane sometimes you do need to complain, we do this in our home countries too. I just think that unfortunately QL gets used as a sounding board for complaints a lot more then for compliments. :(

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Totally with you on that, Gypsy, on learning something new every day. When I lived in US, UK, France I really enjoyed the challenge of a different culture and I tried to learn as much as I could. I hope it has given me a better appreciation of the human race in all it's wonder and flaws. We all have so much to learn from each other. I, for one, am grateful that there are so many expats in Qatar who teach us something new every day. I hope all expats will explore the positive things about Qatar and Qatari living.

Totally with you on that, Gypsy, on learning something new every day. When I lived in US, UK, France I really enjoyed the challenge of a different culture and I tried to learn as much as I could. I hope it has given me a better appreciation of the human race in all it's wonder and flaws. We all have so much to learn from each other. I, for one, am grateful that there are so many expats in Qatar who teach us something new every day. I hope all expats will explore the positive things about Qatar and Qatari living.

Totally with you on that, Gypsy, on learning something new every day. When I lived in US, UK, France I really enjoyed the challenge of a different culture and I tried to learn as much as I could. I hope it has given me a better appreciation of the human race in all it's wonder and flaws. We all have so much to learn from each other. I, for one, am grateful that there are so many expats in Qatar who teach us something new every day. I hope all expats will explore the positive things about Qatar and Qatari living.

1. Excellent Salary

2. Good Commission on top of that

3. Tax free

5. Buy car with paying a single cent

6. Change new car every year without paying a single cent.

7. Winter

8. Being a trouble maker in QL

9. Great Arab friends

10. Great Expat Friends.

11. Got the chance to redecule people in QL.

12. No need to get out of the car to buy Cigerettes, Grocery and Newspapers etc. etc.

12. Getting a personal loan is so easy.

13. Take the loan and invest some where and pay the Bank installement from the reurn of your invesment.

14. can marry 4 wives.

15. Nothing much to do in the office.

16. Enough free time

17. Cheep petrol

Some positive remarks I can think of

You go behind the orry statue Oryx? I prefer ducking behind the Emiri Diwan myself.

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Oryx you call that funny? that is rubbish talk ever.

get a real life

I want you... to go away

Fraid not Xena, I'm off on a business trip over the next few weeks to London which will coincide with Wimbledon. Then I have a few engagements in France and Italy so will probably combine that with a holiday. That should cover most of July and part of August.

Have fun at the wedding. If you want to marry a local, talking to women at weddings is one of the best ways to go about it. Mothers eye up prospective brides for their sons there!

don't worry we weren't going to date them... just a quick shag behind the orry statue on the corniche

yhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa some people have no sense of humour. what they get their funny bone removed when they hit on the QL logo!

don't worry we weren't going to date them... just a quick shag behind the orry statue on the corniche

yhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa some people have no sense of humour. what they get their funny bone removed when they hit on the QL logo!

Diamondgirl, that's an excellent question, and the answer is no I do not want to go back to Canada to live. I LOVE my country, I LOVE being Canadian, but after living overseas for awhile I've gotten used to the lifestyle, and I don't mean spas and stuff, but just the lifestyle of being a minority I guess. I like learning something new everyday and the challenge of living in a culture that isn't my own. It may get frustrating sometimes and I may wish I could go back home to a sense of normalcy, but give me 2 weeks and I'll be itching to leave again.

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1. Cheap Gas

2. Great friends I have made (none of them are Qatari)

3. Location (close proximity to places I really want to visit)

4. Great winter weather (summer sucks), but you got give somthing to get something

5. No black ice on the roads

This is not dating site you fools.

I want you... to go away

oh yeah, no tax, you got to take home your gross salary...:D

gypsy same observation, locals here are shy..:P

Gypsy, I'm curious as to whether you would want to go back to Canada to live?

of course I forgot that one.....the shyness, lost boy thing is a very effective coy act.

What I like about Qatar

-not paying tax - (working hard - being taxed and seeing where yr money went was quite soul destroying)

-watching football is peaceful

-being able to walk along a seafront so close to home

-my lifestyle - i have the money to do things that I couldn't do if i stayed at home.

-the quirkiness

-being part of a social network that spans a myriad of cultures... i swear i learn something new everyday

-people eat so much chocolate here they have chocolate trolleys

-free/cheap sporting events such as tennis

-being able to pay someone to do my domestic chores.

-the flag is quite nice and the national anthym is quite jolly.

I met a WONDERFUL QATARI FAMILY, this family change my perspective about Middle East, Islam & Arabs.

If only I could mentioned their names here : THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME TO BE A PART of YOUR FAMILY!

Cheers,

HONESTY is HARD ATTRIBUTE to FIND

maybe you will be at the same wedding... one of our locals from QL...

apparently it will be a big bash.. and yes... girls only....

Cannot wait....

X

what i love about in Qatar? lemme think...

i like it when most of the people i met would ask me "how are you?", may it be thru phone or whenever i bump into someone...and the way they ask you, left you no choice but to answer back (and start of a good (sometimes unwanted) conversation)..that would be for now...will think again..:D

I love the crowd of national.

I love the traffic jam of Sanaiya.

I love the purchasing style in the supermarket from the car.

I love the foot path in front of supermarket,surrounded by vehicles.

I love the companies who want their works without salaries.

But, in my personal opinion Qatari are innocent and helpful.Whom i met.

He was cute, and so shy! But you said he's very traditional and I doubt his family would let me marry him. :(

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See there's the thing. I love to visit other countries (and here is a perfect place to do that from) but I'm tired of culture shock and reverse culture shock. I've been on the move for awhile and I love that I'm finally feeling settled here.

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Gypsy - what about the 1 and half from Thursday I gave as a humble offering at your feet???

Cute, rich, educated - what more do you want?

Please no one ask about what happened to the other half of that boy because I won't tell you.

Xena, you are so sweet about Qatar. Please stay for ever!

Too bad all my lovely brothers are married. The way we've been brought up is that the boys/men have to totally acquiese to the girls/women and give them whatever thay want in all ways not just material to make them happy. They are at our service 24/7. It's fantastic!!! Because they make us happy we are so nice to them and they are happy too. It's a win-win situation!

Re the local wedding...it may well be very LOUD in the music sense so be prepared for that. Also, have a snack before you go as the meal may be served well after 10pm. We tend to put on all our gladrags and jewellery for weddings so get your best kit on!!! If it's ladies only all bets are off...you can wear whatever you like. Hope you have fun...

I'll spare you the complete list of everything I love here, because it would go on and on. Sure there are things that frustrate me, but nowhere near enough things to make me leave.

Mostly I love the lifestyle - I'm finished work by 2:15pm and then I can spend the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure. I don't have to cook, I have heaps of friends to go out with, and I do manage to find heaps of things to do. In fact domestically I barely lift a finger - I don't iron my clothes, cook my meals and when I shop at the grocery shop on the corner (I like to support the local small businesses) the friendly guys carry my shopping. I have to force myself not to get a cleaner as a way of not turning into a totally lazy sod!

And the other thing I love here are the people. The Qataris are wonderful and warm and Arabs in general are lovely and generous friends. The ex-pats here are a close knit, friendly and welcoming bunch, and if you want to find a friend it shouldn't take you more than 30 mins with the right attitude!

The only thing that would prevent me from spending the rest of my life here is that I want to go and live in outher countries too!

Just remembered your ex-bf's pic...he was so cutee...you looking for someone like him? lol

Good luck to find a cute handsome Qatari guy!

to reply to this thread! What do i love about qatar?

well having QL i wouldnt have got to meet such wondreful people as Xena, Aisha, Han19, Novita etc so thats a great plus!

i love living somewhere when you tell people they just look at you in a blank manner!

i love the fact that i dont have to scrape ice off my car in the morning and i can afford to drive a car which works and doesnt fall apart

i love the qatari people they rock and they have your back which is great!

i love the no tax!

and i love the amazing healtcare which i get out here - yes i have to pay for it, but it would be ten times the price in england - i love the way when im in the waiting room at the docs the ladys walk in smile and say " salam!" how nice is that !sigh!

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love life!

Diamondgirl I'm all for it. You find me a cute one and I'll take him happily.

I was actually having tea with two lovely young Qatari girls yesterday and they just put me in such a good mood that I've been on cloud nine ever since. :D

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I work with them - heaps of them.

I have been to two weddings this week!

Good people, great sense of humour actually when you talk they can be disarmingly candid and insightful.

you should come to my office, I work with Qataris 5 x week & 8hrs a day!=)

Cheers,

HONESTY is HARD ATTRIBUTE to FIND

Where do you get to meet Qataris?

This is my 7th week here and have yet to meet one.

Anyways, QATAR gave me a lot of wonderful memories, I'd like to stay but I need to explore other places and see other things!

Cheers,

HONESTY is HARD ATTRIBUTE to FIND

love being treated like a princess.... am having a hard time finding a guy that will do that though....so if you can .... it would be just another thing I love about Qatar.... ;-) (LOOOL)

but my favourite things are....

Dhow trips... yes, corny I know... but would never had done them anywhere else....

Being able to go to a hotel 5* at that, as entertainment, and not just because I was going to stay there.

Not seeing drunken idiots everywhere... and generally when people do drink, its done respectfully... (with a few exceptions of course... aren't there always)

The weather... i am a sun "dassie" - its a little rat looking creature that live in the south african fields and forests and on mountains... - they love to lie in the sun...

Not having to cook meals as the food is so cheap, you can eat out every night...

I can afford to drive a 4x4 and it doesn't cost me half my monthly salary to do so...

The friends I have made....

Yip, I agree with Gypsy, pampering myself at a spa....

Being able to buy just about anything I want at half the price in the Souqs....

QL of course.....

My job... cause of all the nice gifts I get given when I attend funtions....

The Qatari's.... the ones I have met are truly wonderful people and yay... get to go to my first Qatari wedding in July....

And i definately could spend the rest of my life here...

the people here are NICE!!!! The women especially. They've helped me out over and over again ('course might be the totally confused look on my face that does it!) Reminds me of home, without the rednecks. Ok, with the exception of the kamikazi drivers, but that's another story in itself!

Hey, which spa do you go to? I'm looking for a good one.

If you want I can arrange a marriage for you with a local?! I know some great guys who would treat you like a princess the rest of your days and spend their life trying to make you happy.

Thanks for your lovely comments about Qatar. It's a refreshing change on this forum.