Moving to Doha - Basic Questions

Hi there, My husband lost his job so we have to leave Qatar unexpectedly. We live in a lovely villa in Garafa for 10000/ months with a pool and gym.If you are interested to take over my house, I could leave you the interenet (qtel, which will save you instalation costs), I could also leave you plants and little extra we put into the hous but cant take with us. If interested, please give me a call. 77253011. Best regards,camille

Hi there,My husband lost his job so we have to leave Qatar unexpectedly. We live in a lovely villa in Garafa for 10000/ months with a pool and gym.If you are interested to take over my house, I could leave you the interenet (qtel, which will save you instalation costs), I could also leave you plants and little extra we put into the hous but cant take with us. If interested, please give me a call. 77253011. Best regards,camille

Thats great guys some clear and concise responses!

1. We will only require unfurnished - Yes NBN compound looks good. What about Al Waab area, we found a place in Al Emadi Compound which looks fairly good if anyone has been there?  Any agent recommendations would be appreciated.

2. I guess this will be determined more than likely by where we can find accommodation.  If anyone can recommend a part-time nursery for 2/3 days a week and costs it would be appreciated.  Our son is just 2 years old, but needs interaction with other kids.

3. Qtel Mozaic looks good!

4. QNB or CBQ!  Do any banks/credit cards offer Qatar Airmiles? I believe we bank with HSBC but apart from easy online transactions the customer service just doesn't exist here in Dubai...

5. Difficult one.  I really dont want to take out any loans in Qatar and the company has offered to pay for car hire although the budget is 2,500 which might be stretched to 3,000.  I will call the list provided thanks and get the best price for a modest family car!

6.  Cheers great selection, we will give them all a try in the coming weeks.

Much appreciated once again.

You don't get any value-for-money in Qatar. Everything is overpriced!!

1. Best value for money compound villas (10,000 QR per month) - You can get some pretty decent compound villas near the airport for about 10-11K/ month2. Best value for money British Nurseries (for a 2 year old) - Ma'afi ma'aloom :-( 3. Best TV Package Provider (for entertainment and sports) - Qtel Mozaic 4. Best Bank (for service/internet capability) - QNB (Yes they have improved tremendously) 5. Best car rental / leasing agents - None, you'd rather buy one, it's BEST. 6. Best place for a beer! - Belgian Cafe at Intercon has good crowd, but so does the Irish Harp at the Sheraton

QS, he's asking value for money. I know the location may not be ideal, but hey, what to do yani.Showsports is crap since they lost EPL, that's why I'm recommending Mozaic.Banks are all come day go day. I had no problem with CBQ toill the Qmiles program was pulled, that's why I now bank with QNB.Belgian Cafe IS good. Admirals is OK. Irish Harp before it fills with smoke is OK too. Wine bar in Oryx Rotana is up coming

1) NBN compound - Bu Hamour QR11,000 unfurnished Nasir Bin Khalid Real Estate, same as Mercedez Benz Company2) Nursery across the street from the compound3) Showtime - 6 sport channels, Discovery and some British series ie coronation street4) Bank will mostly be determined by which bank your company uses for salary transfers, but all banks are the same in terms of basic service. Found IBQ to be better when buying vehicles5) Cars are cheap and you can make a car loan easy. New 4x4 for about QR120,000 and up. 4x4 is better becos size counts when you drive around here. Rental cars are expensive in comparison to monthly repayments.6) Get your company to give you a no objection letter, so you can go buy your own beer at the only bottle store in qatar, otherwise any hotel or club will do 

Best place for a beer is Belgian cafe at Intercon! The hottest and most popular one as of today.

As for the rest of questions... most of accommodations, banks, Internet and TV packages providers... all of them same cr*p.

For 10000 you cannot get really decent villa.. Gharaffa isn't the best place in Doha, that's why it's cheap. Decent villas start from 14-16K.

I am not sure of all the answers, but I will try to assist you as much as I can with your doubts and questions :) Note: the number responds to answers for the corrensponding questions

1) For good compound villas there are quiet a lot here: Please check Gulf Times Qatar. You shall find 500 ads from reputed and recognized real estates and corporates. Surely you wont be disappointed! Do have a look at the below link:

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/index.asp?cu_no=2&lng=1&template_id=51&temp_type=42

3) The best entertainment package that you can have is from Qtel. Unfortunately they are the only ones so far to provide a wide range of packages. If you choose for a Mosaic package, you would get wireless internet, TV programs + telephone package with it. The prices vary with the wireless speed you choose. Browse through the following link for more information:

http://www.mozaic.qa/ : This website tell it all!

4) Based on my personel experiences, I would definitely recommend Commercial Bank - Qatar and also Qatar National Bank. Both offers great services, good customer service, and the debit/credit cards they issue can be used worldwide and also for internet shopping! (at least that's how it worked out for my family). Additionaly you can opt for HSBC bank too.

5) Best car rentals: lot of them here. Based on your budget you can choose your option. There is AVIS, OASIS, Eurodollar, Fox Transport, Budget, Europcar etc.

http://www.qataronlinedirectory.com/company_classif.asp?link=105395 : this link has a great number of car rental providers too

Personal suggestion: never prefer the Karwa Taxis here if you want a safe, secure and smooth ride for you and your family. The company might be good, but the drivers are either rude, overspeeders, crazy drivers or money-eaters!

6) Drinking is illegal in public places. You can have it in your own private residences. Also their are clubs and bars in hotels that can help meet your demands! Any big hotels like La Cigale, Ramada, Sheraton, Mariott, Movenpick, Intercontinental, Ritz Carlton etc. You need to look out for them.

Hope all those helps!

Rugby club has NOT lost it's license. It has lost the land it is built on, but has another year before they have to move.

I thought the Rugby club lost its licence.   You answered it same as I would have. 

1. Best value for money compound villas (10,000 QR per month)Garaffa - 10k FF3. Best TV Package Provider (for entertainment and sports)Qtel Mozaic 4. Best Bank (for service/internet capability)I'm with QNB (for the Qmiles credit card) however Commercial bank works well 5. Best car rental / leasing agentsBuy! 6. Best place for a beer!Rugby Club :o)