Got a job offer but need infor on living in Qatar

newbee
By newbee

Hello:
I would like some information on living in Qatar. I am from the USA and never been to the Middle East.
How much is the rent for 2 bedroom apartments?
What is the difference between living in a compound and out side? What is a compund? Can this be a target for terrorist?
What are the rules for women? Do they need to cover their heads? Is there a dress code? Can they wear shorts?
Can women go to the beach with their husbands? Can women drive and work?
How much will it cost to send a child to an American School? Up to what grade are American schools available?
How is the heath care? Is it ok to have a baby there?
Thanks in advance for any information that you can provide me.

By Mandilulur• 7 Mar 2009 20:14
Mandilulur

Green, 25% more salary than home plus housing, medical, transportation allowance and school fees.

Mandi

By the-birdie• 7 Mar 2009 20:11
the-birdie

Mandilulur, your observation is corect, when you compare the US expats. It seems Newbee is not original US citizen, but mst be Asian. Sorry, I am not trying to insinuate anything, but to say that Newbee must be tring to have a good earnings from his salary.

Regding, Green09 lifestyle to be maintained by the same level, I thnk he has to earn what MagicDragn advised !!!!

at least 120 K ..

By Mandilulur• 7 Mar 2009 19:48
Mandilulur

Newbee, 35,000 QR a month would only cover you if your employer were to provide housing and school fees, which is usually part of a standard package for American ex-pats here.

Mandi

By anonymous• 7 Mar 2009 19:44
anonymous

160.000 US $.

By Green09• 7 Mar 2009 19:42
Green09

hello everyone.

I am US citizen thinking about a job offer in Qatar. I wanted to have an idea about the cost of living there. I am married and have 2 kids ( 4yrs and 1 yr old). I live in a 4 bedrooms house and own 2 cars. I make $80K a year. How much money I have to be making in Qatar to maintain the same life style and to make the job and the move more attractive to me and the family. thank you very much.

By sammie1571• 12 Jun 2006 15:51
sammie1571

i would like to relax you to get a nice uf apartment it costs around 4-5000 i got one two months ago quite big as well you just can not take the first one you see! Woman can do what they like to a certain degree (don't wear hot pants to the mall) work driver smoke drink compounds are nicer but more expensive about 10-12000 for a three bed but usally get the swimming pool and gym within the compound and usally a good community.

By Super7• 22 May 2006 13:33
Super7

Pakistani passport is not eligible for a visa on arrival so don't try that.

By Angelo• 22 May 2006 11:45
Angelo

Why not come to Qatar by Qatar Airways and get a visa on arrival, then look out for a qatari sponsor and you can start your business.

To operate in Qatar you have to have a local sponsor who will be you partner with a 51% share in the business.

Good Luck

Angelo

By laudgi7• 22 May 2006 11:17
laudgi7

the american school is not 12,000 a month i thought it was around 45k (anyway dont think so) about 10k more than any other private school (tell me if im wrong maybe its 12 X 4 terms; rest of the world has 3 but i wouldnt be surprised if americans did not)

By imulkhan• 22 May 2006 11:01
imulkhan

HI DOES THE QATAR GOVT OPENED VISAS WORK VISAS FOR PAKISTANI PASSPORT HOLDER OR NOT PLS INFORME ME ABOUT THIS, NEED SPONSOR FOR VISAS.

By newbee• 18 May 2006 16:59
newbee

Wow it is expemsive there.

So how much a month do you think a family of 3 would spend to have a similar lifestyle a a midle class family in the US.

If I was earning 35,000QR per month would that cover living expences and savings?

I looked up the American school and it cast about 12,000QR per month.

By Helloqatar• 18 May 2006 16:08
Helloqatar

Let me try in order:

1. COntact the school or look at the website. Qatar Academy is about QR 40/50K I think. American School of Doha, which seems to be the main choice for US Expats is full in most of the grades, I think. School can be a problem because of cost and crowding.

2. I think that price is low, I believe that anything you would have as an American would cost QR7/8K per month for a 2 Bd Apartment, if you can find one. Problem with the new apartments is they are not well built, we had to move because leaky bath, fuse box blew up, stopped up drains, etc and this was new place. Villa's are QR10K per month to start. We are now in a villa and much happier, at least the lady in charge.

3. Food is costly, about the same as the US. about only thing cheaper is gas, would you believe? An allowance needs to be tied to cost of living which is going up 8% per year.

4. To buy a car is just like US, Insurance is QR3,000 year on top of car payment. Telephone, cell phone Internet are expensive, water, Elec,phone will be about QR500+ a month if not more depending on usage.

5. Going to the beach, sailing, pools, are normal. My wife and I go, wear bathing suits, problem is good beaches are hard to find, most are rocky, hard to get to, etc. Good ones are crowded. We like the hotel pools or clubs.

By newbee• 18 May 2006 14:49
newbee

Thank you helloqatar.

So how much do you think school for 7th grade will cost?

So a 2 br apartment in a compound can cost about QR5000?

The company is offering a living allowance. I just need to know it will cover living there.

Are there places to go to the beach there? Can my wife wear a bathing suit there with me?

Once again thank you for the information

By Helloqatar• 17 May 2006 22:10
Helloqatar

Newbee, Doha is a fairly normal city, I would compare it to a midsize US City. If you are coming and have to pay your own rent, you will have problems, $1,500 to $2,000 per month for Apt, most you wouldn't want. COmpound is like a gated community, most have pools, etc. Outside is a house on a street, etc. Safty is same, no problem, crime, no problem, terrorist, no more problem than other safe places. Safer here than the US.

Women need to dress mostly normal, don't cover heads, sleeves are good, shorts normally at beach or clubs. Lots of capri pants. Women can do most anything normal, they drive, they work, it is normal.

School cost can be a problem, Amer School of DOha is hard to get into. Ask your employer for education allowance. K-12 schools for americans.

Health care is coming, lots of people have kids here. Check out

http://www.expatmum.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=16

There are 5 american Universities here so there is a fair American group of people. 7,000+/-

All the Universities have information on their websites for their staff moving to Qatar, good info.

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