Is QAR 35000 worth relocating to Qatar?

The offer is actually on the low side. I would suggest that you get the full detail of the offer. For instance, I was on a 37.5hour working week prior to moving to the Middle East and am now on a 48 hour 5 day working week. Some Senior Contract Administrators are expected to work a 60hour 6 day week. So if you are on a standard 40hour 5 day week somewhere else in the world and moving here for a 60hour 6 day week that is an increase of 50% working hours per week and also working an extra day.

Therefore, suggest that you look at the full offer because unless you get a 20% increase minimum on your current pre tax package it is not worth it.

Another way to look at this would be for your basic pay to be equal to what your pre tax income is in your home country and the allowances (transport, housing etc) to cover the cost of living here. If that is the case then it is reasonable.

Best of luck.

The offer is actually on the low side. I would suggest that you get the full detail of the offer. For instance, I was on a 37.5hour working week prior to moving to the Middle East and am now on a 48 hour 5 day working week. Some Senior Contract Administrators are expected to work a 60hour 6 day week. So if you are on a standard 40hour 5 day week somewhere else in the world and moving here for a 60hour 6 day week that is an increase of 50% working hours per week and also working an extra day.

Therefore, suggest that you look at the full offer because unless you get a 20% increase minimum on your current pre tax package it is not worth it.

Another way to look at this would be for your basic pay to be equal to what your pre tax income is in your home country and the allowances (transport, housing etc) to cover the cost of living here. If that is the case then it is reasonable.

Best of luck.

Senior contract officers , should earn more than that, plus u are Canadian, dont settle for less, they need u ,just press for more

Remember, the money is not tax free. You have your family back in canada and will pay tax on salary, living allowance, housing allowance, car allowance etc. You will be taxed at high rates and will pay atleast 35% tax. You cannot claim non-resident status when your family is in Canada. If the CRA wants, they can even tax your children's education allowance. You will have to fight.

Good question @britexpat..

What freedom(s) are you sacrificing ?

freedom and money choose one.

left for me, i can sacrifice my freedom for couple of years and chase real papers

It always surprises me when someone says they're sacrificing their freedom by moving to Doha or Dubai. People move abroad to make money. I doubt that lack of press freedom or the length of your skirt will affect your lifestyle as an expat.

It always surprises when people like they're sacrificin

@ezz86: what kind of idiot are you? Does the Emir or most Qataris live on Pearl? You are an idiot and should be banned from commenting in QL. If you can't add value, don't give idiotic answers here.

I hope the offer is from Parsons and what i know is they wont provide family status. So if you want to bring your family on your own then its not worth the offer considering accommodation, visa, tickets, schooling etc.,

you can save more than $5k per month... i know the life in canda taxes, installments etc... Qatar is much better than canada no tensions. savings and savings

you can save more than $5k per month... i know the life in canda taxes, installments etc... Qatar is much better than canada no tensions. savings and savings

vivme: Are you saying your western friends want to move out of "The Pearl" into the SLUMS? Unbelievable!

ezz86: Are you listening?

You don't have to secure accommodation before you arrive. Once you come here, you can have a look around and go with housing that suits. By the way, there are plenty of good places to stay. Personally, I have western friends who live in the Pearl and hate it and want to move into the city for a little more character!

I stayed in a hotel for a week before i found an apartment that suits my mood & needs .. :)

Normally your company would take care of your accommodation for about a month (Free of charge).

I must say you expats really look out for one another. Makes me feel a bit better about relocating to Qatar knowing that there are really kind peoples such as yourselves willing to help out a potential fellow expat. Thanks again to all of you for your advice. I will take it all in and pray for the best. Cheers :)

Britexpat is right in his comment. You will need to some running around and you will soon come across a place you like and within easy reach of your workplace. You may be able to find both furnished and unfurnished accommodations. Both types have their advantages and disadvantages. Take guidance from any of your colleagues in your office who have been staying here. Alternatively, QLers will also guide you.

Best to come here. Stay in a hotel for a couple of weeks and look for a place you like and within easy reach of your workplace

Thanks to everyone again, but I really need this last question answered. If I were to accept this job offer, then should I try and secure a place prior to arriving in Qatar or stay in a hotel in Doha while looking for place. Just curious to know how some of you went about it.

ezz86: "Insist it is 'the pearl', anything else is basically slums." Ha! Ha! According to your logic, over 90% of Doha's population lives in slums. The comment is indeed a good example of how people from the west think and speaks volumes on how they look at the rest of the world.

I'm sure you have done the math. 35k per month is $150k in Canadian monies per year. I dont know how the Canadian government views taxes, but the first 100k of the US is tax free, so that is huge for us. Please keep us posted on your decision.

Try it. It's not a bad offer. You will be included in Qatar 's 70% of cream to get this offer. It's not a joke dear to get 35k in Qatar without any managerial status.

Ask them as an additional children schooling allowance for an international school which would be beneficial for your family in future.

Yes you can save 5k a month as a single person.

What are you saving in Canada ?

The offer is good if the benefits include schooling and accommodation. Not to keen on car because the Petrol doesn't cost much. I agree with the comments of having a different lifestyle here than in Canada and the initial settle is a bit of a struggle. But I do have quite a few expat friends on that pay scale and they save more than any western world. If your wife can find some thing the day cares arent as expensive as Western world.

Yes people like living in Pearl or West bay but if your intention out here is to save money then you can rent a decent 2 bedroom in Doha for 6000-7000K. The only thing I want you to consider is job risk. Its a very dynamic world and falling Petrol prices are not helping the situation. Projects start then put on hold and redundancy is not far.I know a few who quit good jobs in Canada and UK to come here but ended up losing on both sides.

Evaluate the project well before signing !! Good luck

ezz86.....13+2+2+2+1 = 20 ,,how have you calculated the 4 k saving?

If company is providing accommodation, insist that it is at "the pearl", anything else is basically slums.

Out of those 35,000 you will pay 13,000 rent in the pearl (the decent place to be), 2000 for car leasing, 2000 groceries and 2000 weekends, misc. 1000, so you'll save around 4k maximum.

In my opinion, not worth it.

Thanks everyone, all your comments are very helpful. I have requested 35K + Housing + Car allowance for me to consider leaving my family to work in Qatar. I also wanted to ask you guys if I should secure accommodation prior to arriving in Qatar or search for a place when I land? I mean where should I stay as soon as I arrive in Doha (hotel?) until I secure a spot.

@ martin .. You are here since a decade & advising other people not to live & work here..

If you are this much unhappy here..I wonder why you don't just go back ?

Here is a rough idea of monthly costs:

Rent - QR12,000 to live on Pearl or in a big villa somewhere else

Car - QR2,000 Rental or installments for a decent SUV

Food - QR2,000 Basic groceries for the house

Education - QR2,000 I don't have kids, so I'm guessing here

Going out - QR2,000 This is random. You may spend way more, or way less

So that leaves you with QR15,000 left to save - approx CAD$5,000. There are no taxes here, so if you think that's more than enough, come over.

@WT get your calculations right ..His offer is about 20% more than canadian one..

Plus it's tax free..There he is suppose to pay taxes on income.

Trust me I am from Canada..unless you have a dire financial situation..its not worth it at all...

have been in the middle east since past decade...standard of life in Canada is not compared in any way to middle east...YES MONEY IS TAX FREE but it asks for a very big sacrifice..FREEDOM...which is not worth.

For single status, It's a good offer ..You can save up to 20,000QAR easily. That's about $7k ..

If you don't have lavish lifestyle..Then saving potential will be up to $9k..

Ask them for QAR 70,000!

It's less than you make in Canada and the cost of living in Qatar are probably twice as high. Do the math yourself. In addition, you leave a "free" country and trade it in for one which censors the Internet, has a limiting religious culture, and a traditional social structure. You will have to give up some of the freedom you may be used to.