Should I stay, or should I go now?

If your feelings is in that Qatar offer, go on it. Maybe its your big break to earn a much more bigger income.

with you employed in UK, for me don't come..

for me working here is a sacrifice..

smoking is my only pleasure here..

is

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Like I said. OP's decision but someone will gladly take on the job.

2012 - just being honest, if the OP wants any kind of life, this is not a good package.

Also, I work in recruitment and it would surprise you to know that people DONT line up to come and work here, quite a number of expats are dubious and some are savvy enough to know that Qatar is expensive and a tax free salary often does not make up for the fact that cost of living is very high here.

Another long list of ungrateful expats. Come or go your decision. But if it is so bad in Qatar why do so many line up to come? LOL.

ME experience is a plus in a western's CV.

I wonder why it is a shame in other places. It's taken as you sacrificed your career development for some money (a lot of money actually)

or adventure, comfort is the least of your priorities. You have to endure the heat of this region although most of the times, you will stay in a cool place (airconed room, car and office). You have to be with mostly non-english speaking people. You have to deal with a lot of uncommon thing you have not encountered in your comfortable life there in UK. So if you really like challenge, then ME is the best and earn a very decent wage with it!

flor1212, the application was about wanting to explore new horizons, see what's around the corner, take on new challenges. Basically, I am 'comfortable' here but sometimes that's not enough. Qatar seemed quite interesting and an adventure, hence the application.

However, I wouldnt want to jeopardise my career or my standard of living to move there, seeing as everyone else goes there to make serious money.

there? Are we missing something?

Cheers Timebandit and Jinkz. More I hear about it, the more I like it. Just need to wait for the offer to see what's occuring and whether to take it.

Yup, experience here is definitely different and challenging.

I'll tell you what, if you manage to put up with people in this country, you can pretty much put up with anything lol!

Oh and people (expats) who lose their jobs here, unless they are sponsored by a family (ie husband, wife or father) and the employer gives them a note of no objection to apply to a different company and get their sponsorship transfered to the same company, it's goodbye Qatar. Two years before you can reapply again to get a working visa.

Locals get paid here even when unemployed, that's why most of them are lazy as f***. But the country has started this program called Qatarisation, which means giving jobs to locals even if they only come to work for show in payroll lol. To be fair though, few of them actually work and use their heads, but very few.

So, here's another tip, if you are going to accept a job, make sure it's not something a local can steal away from you. I know this because it happened to me just three months ago, good thing about my case, I am sponsored by my husband and the company I worked for gave me three months salary for free plus my end of service, not to mention the loan I made got waived, which are all part of the HR policy for qatarised positions in that company. Also timely because we have been thinking about leaving the end of this year anyway.

Good luck to you :-)

If you are giving up a job with little financial benefit in coming over... stay where you are. But if you are looking to change job anyway, give Qatar a go. Even if you only stay for a year, it will look good on your CV getting some ME experience. You are right... it is an adventure out here. And I have no regrets in making the change. When I leave Qatar I am going to have all of my experiences here to reflect upon, good, bad and indifferent. Life here is as good as you make it. When you get here look me up and I will buy you a beer.

Point taken, Jinkz, your comments may be the decider. It all seems like a great adventure, but might actually work out to be an horrific mistake. I also guess it is unsafe to work across currencies, ie, what does in Britain definitely wont do in Qatar.

What a fascinating country, and I wonder how the unemployed survive out there with prices being so high?

25k could be possible for your skills, but if you listen to some of the above comments you are going to price yourself out of the market. There are plenty of others willing to take the 22k.

European std... Right, over here pubs are only in hotels. Over the past ten years two pubs opened and shut down because of too much carnage lol. If you want to dine and have a few drinks at the same time, again only in hotels (not all btw, mostly 4-5 stars) and some restaurants in a place called The Pearl Qatar (look it up :-) ). Dining in such places, expect around QR300 minimum for a three course meal. Alcohol, is served with a drop of gold btw. A pint of beer will cost you QR60 maybe a little less. Shots are a lot more! Cheaper if you buy yourself your own and have at home, which you can only buy from one place, Qatar Distribution company who distributes liquor and now PORK btw starting december (lucky you lol) but only to those who avails the liquor license issued by them as well (you need to pay a deposit of QR1000 that is refundable when you surrender your license back to them).

If you don't mind living in a flat (which you probably won't) a decent one should cost you minimum QR6500, make sure to choose those with proper maintenance. Some of them offer elec and water inclusive at that price.

We have recently sold our vehicles which made us rent one for until we leave in december. Make sure you go for proper rental companies with proper insurance coverage. We took the cheapest one from Avis (who is the cheapest decent rental company) and they gave us a Nissan Sunny brand new for QR 1250 per month.

Food, if you like cooking at home, yes QR2500 is probably enough, or if you love KFC lol

Petrol here is QR1 per liter for the most expensive type, it was QR.70 for a very long time, probably since they discovered oil until in 2008 when it went up to QR.80 and now QR1.00 after only a few years (I think someone is starting to realise that oil is running out soon! lol)

Ugh this list can go on... but yeah QR25000, dunno how much you can save from that like and at the same time live everyday without thinking "Why oh why didn't I take the BLUE pill?!"

The Zig Zag is awful. Overpriced and completely not worth the money.

Good point, Koen1815, I have been dealing directly with the company and not had any interaction with an agency. Time to get one involved maybe.

Thanks to the advice too Miss Mimi, excellent to see a good price analysis. I was looking at different housing agencies earlier and they were advertising properties in the "zigzag" building for astronomical prices, so good to see that relatively "affordable" property is also available.

"QAR 22,000 is too low. I believe a basic salary of QAR 30,000 is more realistic. In addition, you need a car allowance, housing allowance, medical care, home trips, bonus etc.. Contact a western recruitment agency based in Doha and they can guide you further,"

What in the world are you people spending your money on??? :S

Let me break it down for you Doha-nut,

housing - 6,000 to 7,000 QAR per month (you can actually probably find cheaper)

car - 1200 QAR per month (again, you can get cheaper)

food - 2000 QAR to 2500 QAR per month (that's what I'm spending, as a single guy you probably won't spend as much).

part time maid - 850 QAR per month

Electric & Internet - (max) 1200 QAR per month (shouldn't be anywhere near that, but that's if you're running your A/C's and lights full time and getting the most expensive internet package).

By my count that leaves you with 12,250 QAR per month for going out, saving and if you want satellite TV (which is around another 200 QAR per month).

Honestly, you should be able to save at LEAST 5,000 or 6,000 QAR per month....

QAR 22,000 is too low. I believe a basic salary of QAR 30,000 is more realistic. In addition, you need a car allowance, housing allowance, medical care, home trips, bonus etc.. Contact a western recruitment agency based in Doha and they can guide you further,

Miss Mimi, I will ask about health insurance too, very important point as my current job has that included.

Ah right, so I can't respond to people directly it seems.

So in effect, I should really be asking for QAR 25,000 + roughly QAR 10,000 for housing? That works out to about £72,000 a year.

Here in the UK, I would be laughed at for such demands. That really makes me wonder if Qatar is worth it at all then? I'll mention that when they come back to me, but it sounds like the reason Qatar is losing interest in westerners (Hislam) is that the requests seem very extravagant.

As I said I am only a mid range manager and that salary in my field is an executive salary.

Wow, eye opening...

Make sure that 25,000 includes flights home and good health insurance. Otherwise, I wouldn't pay much attention to what others are saying. I don't make anywhere near 55,000 QAR per month and I'm supporting my husband who's in school and we've got a baby on the way and we're doing fine.

The second option is more my style. Cheaper car, reasonably priced flat, etc. QAR 25,000 sounds good, let's see if they go for it...

I wouldn't consider any job in the Gulf unless it included (besides the salary) accomodation and accomodation allowance if not fully furnished, private medical, annual tickets home, transportation allowance, etc. etc.if married tickets, health and education allowances for dependents - the 22000 would be a starting point on the salary if the rest were on top of that.

If you are willing to sacrifice your UK lifestyle for the career here, that's one thing. But remember that when you come here there are almost no good restaurants, no good cinemas showing good movies, no good bookstores, no arts, no culture, no live theater, no live concerts, no cafe culture, no farmers markets... you get my drift.

Even little things like the lack of a proper English radio station, local tv, really wear some people down.

It will be a big lifestyle compromise to move from the UK to Qatar, so don't just think about the money.

that is not nearly enough things are not just a little more expensive than the UK they are ALOT more expensive. My running joke is that they only 3 things cheaper than UK here are:

petrol

batteries

ciggies

everything else from rent to food to dining out to vets bills to clothes are considerably more than the UK. You should be looking at min salary 25k/month plus 12k housing allowance and 2k car allowance plus flights, plus end of service benefits (this is the law) plus medical. Anything else, don't leave the Uk, you would resent giving up living in the UK to move somewhere where you could not even save any money or you lived a very bad existence in order to save the money.

Bettr u can move . . .

Hey Doha-nut are still awake or are we talking to ourselves here?

But asking QR54K per month when on offer is QR22K would be too much for the asking moreso when he is single.

You're young... this place will ruin your life if you're not careful. For QR22K, it is no not worth it!

We are leaving this place despite the QR55K we earn every month between me and my husband.

Very few companies here will treat you right.

You are better off in the UK. Most things are more expensive here, especially housing. The only thing cheaper is petrol, but since most of the roads are so bad, that's not much of a consolation!

Qatar is much better life for you than UK even on this salary. Be grateful for the opportunity for a better life and come to Qatar.

to hear such offers for westerns particularly British.

I was under the impression that no British people are here for less than 40K / month + allowances.

A "British" "Manager" for 22K with no allowances. This is news to me.

I think Qatar is getting rid of its fascination with westerns.

Doha-nut, this is nuts. It would be rediculous to accept such an offer.

It depends on what you consider to be living "comfortably" If you mean a flashy new car, a gorgeous apartment downtown and vacations to exotic locals 3 times a year (or more) than no, you won't be able to save any money on that salary.

However if you're looking at a reasonably priced 1 bdrm apt. A good used or "cheaper" new car (a toyota corolla or camry, even a low priced SUV like a Kia or Hyundai) and only one or two holidays a year, than you should be fine.

I'd push for no less than 25,000 per month though. You need to make the move worth your while.

Indeed TCOM, but £45,000 in the UK after tax is only about £30,000 (QAR 180,000). Anyway if he fancies a change and some warm weather the option is there ;)

QR 260,000 a year.

The deal does not include any housing allowance or a pension scheme.

Don't forget your QAR 22k per month is tax free. And you know how much that is worth right?

260/yr is way too low for a move from uk. Stay in uk unless you can get 500k/yr

European standard accommodation circa QAR 12k per month. Car circa QAR 2.3k per month. Everything else is a little more expensive than the UK with the exception of petrol and cigarets which are very cheap. So write off about 16k and you are left with around QAR 6k (£1,000) per month as disposable. Only you will know what the best thing is for you.