What is the Doha library like?

The rugby club is always open. Plenty of mischief to get up to there.

^Thanks, mate. I'm sure we'll like it.

Ryan, Doha doesn't trail Fujairah as a place to live because as you rightly pointed out, there is nothing in Fujairah. Spending a weekend camping there is fun but if you live in Fujairah during the week, you turn suicidal. Its not as bad in Doha.

As for a quiet place to concentrate, forget a library.. Head to some of the less frequented coffee shops, a few of them around and you can get work done.. Lower your expectations compared to Dubai but don't let go of them altogether. Doha is not as bad as some people would like you to think...

^Blast! Always with the coffee...

Speaking of bars, is there a proper English, Scottish or Irish pub about? Please say 'yes'.

I went to the new library run by Khanan and Rizks in Doha Jadeed. The wi-fi was only available free if purchasing a large mocha decaf karak chai and all the books were already coloured in :O(

I am going to write to his highness the Emir of Qatar to plead to him to order the making of a library for Ryan Canuck in Qatar. Hopefully, he would listen and the matter would be resolved. Stay tuned to this post.

It is not a joke my dear. I am serious. Your preoccupation with certain things in Doha is taking on pathological proportions. I do not wish that you die of a cultural shock. So at least a small bar and a small library should be in place, in case we need to revive you.

lol tell him I'll bring him a big bottle of maple syrup as a sign of appreciation.

Doha trails Fujairah? How can that be possible? There's nothing in Furjairah! :P

Second that Mandi - I've lived in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Muscat, Ajman and Fujairah - Doha even trails Fujairah in some respects in that you can't get to Dubai or AD or Muscat unless you are prepared to travel at least 1.5hrs+ (min) and usually 4+ hrs on the highway. And traffic in Fujairah is stellar compared with any of the above.

I guess the point that is being made is that your options are limited in Doha simply by being in Qatar. From your posts your expectations are more Dubai/UAEish.

Qatar, while developed, has a lot of catching up to do, even to meet Fujairah standards.

As for chasing papers in the parks, it's an option. If your wife is a distraction in your apt then perhaps there are other alternatives (as one poster suggested) but they are limited by hours of operation.

Good luck

Oh, how I wish Doha was like Muscat! LOVED it there.

Mandi

the coffee shop in the museum of islamic art provides me the concentration i need. many students study there on weekends. they have a library too, but i've never been there because it's only open during my office hours

I'm not looking to dodge wifi charges, I just find I can concentrate more in libraries. At home, my wife is often busy doing things, so it can be a bit distracting.

I've lived in the Emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai and spent considerable time in Sharjah and Ajman) and have spent some time in Oman. I'm expecting Doha to be more like a Muscat or an Abu Dhabi.

Haha, I'm not sure how the conversation got onto the topic of working in a park. I've never actually done this. I don't know exactly how one could do that (papers blowing all oer the place, sunshine, kids screaming, etc. lol)

Anyway, thanks for the leads all. Hoping our visas come in this Sunday!

Aspire and the park along the Corniche are well irrigated areas. I don't know where you went to parks in Dubai, but Doha is a wannabe Dubai and these two areas would compare to Safa Park etc.

It's hot everywhere in the GCC right now. From your enquiries about libraries, I'd be surprised if you found a quiet one in Dubai.

If you're looking to avoid paying for internet access at your home by visiting public wifi areas, you get what you pay for. My suggestion would be to go as early in the day as possible, no matter the venue, to avoid distractions.

Am I mistaken in getting the impression you have only ever lived in the GCC in Dubai? If so, it's the most developed area here and perhaps your expectation should be lowered - not greatly, but only by the population count and international visits.

Ryan, the parks are actually surprisingly green here. And in the winter months the weather is certainly pleasant enough to sit in those parks. Now, would I go there to get some work done? No, probably not....as a lot of families with small kids go there and the environment may be a bit "unruly".

I think if you want to be outside in a green environment to work ,your best bet is to live in a villa with a garden and get to gardening to make and keep it green .

^Thanks, but when people suggest 'parks', I am imagining these extremely hot, dry areas akin to the parks I saw in Dubai. How could anybody get any work done in that environment?

Aspire Park and the park along the corniche have free wifi but I wouldn't recommend going on Fridays.

Many of the coffee shops have wifi as well and they are probably quieter than some of the parks.

Whether you would be allowed in the university libraries at Education city is another question. There are security checkpoints at all points of entry and it is highly doubtful you'd get past the gates at Qatar University.

You may be pleasantly surprised at some of the coffee shops and certainly using your computer at the parks (when the weather improves).

Thanks, shabina! Exactly the info I was looking for ;)

Ryan, your questions are absolutely fine. It shows you are doing your homework before coming.

Mandi

use the internet and save the trees.

Use the internet and destroy the universe

Hi,

The Georgetown Library is open to the public. You can use the onsite facilities for free. If you want to borrow books there is a 2-tier membership. It's a lovely, quiet place I visit often.

V

Or any of the Parks around Qatar

Hi Ryan, Education City's universities have some decent libraries - Georgetown's is especially gorgeous.

You can get into EC with your driver's license or ID. And you should be able to access the QFLink wifi with just an email address.

Also, the National Library is being relocated to EC, to open next year:

http://dohanews.co/post/22506488796/official-qatar-foundation-to-open-half-dozen-new#axzz256rSbFAg

Good luck!

Then the Corniche will do, TCOM.

OP wants to go to library to use internet via WiFi.

Use the Internet and save the trees!

http://www.library.georgetown.edu/qatar/services/public

supposedly has quite a large library in Education City that is open to all....or at least it used to be.

Doha has a Qatar National Library near Sana R/A but there is no WIFI and its mostly for reading as far as I know.

Kind of funny that Doha doesn't have a library lol

theres one in ghazaal or beach club near marriot hotel i think,never seen it from inside though,but heard about it.there was one in the british council ,but i guess tat is closed now...so lame!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD

THATS SOUND GOOD

YEA MY DEAR

YEA

YES MY DEAR

YES

Haha, am I getting that reputation?

you have to make sure, you dont look like a spammer.

lol That's not how I roll. Virgos are ... neurotic.

I would suggest you slow down a little bit. Your excitement with your relocation appears a bit excessive. Keep your expectations low. Everything at its time. When you are here, it takes less than a week to see everything that Qatar has got. Do not worry bud, you wont be left out of anything.

Hmm, can you think of a nice quiet place with wifi where I could get some work done? Preferably not a coffee shop... Would there be a library at a university?

As far as I know, Central Library is under construction, which is having the best facilities....

There is no library in Doha?

What library???

Mandi