Moving to Doha, i need your advice please
Hello all, I am new to this forum. there are so many helpful information here and I know that few people may have already asked my questions before but I would like to ask a bit more specifically.
Currently we live in the UK. My husband got a job offer in Doha, he will be moving around Sep 2011 then I will follow him with our 2 kids (7 yrs + 1 yr) in mid the year so my son can start school in the 2nd term.. most probably he will be in Sherbone school unless we got a place in DESS. Now my 3 questions are:
1- Work gives us accomodation allowance of 12,000 qatari riyals per month, would you think with this amount of money we can get a house in a nice, secure compound that not far away from Sherborne (or DESS)???
2- I would like to hear your opinions about my son joining school in mid of the year (because i'm a bit worried about that but unfortunately this is what we had to do)!!?
3- What do you know about Al Ahli Hospital!! has anyone of you worked there or do you know anybody working in this hospital???
Looking forward to hear from you.
Many thanks
the package is not bad but not good enough takin in consideration ur british nationality koz unfortunely europeans and americans get higher salaries than other nationalities in the gulf. ur welcome over here but !!! its so hot, and dusty, the only thing u will detaste about qatar is the weather, and maybe the wreckless drivers and lets see ... some traffic.
Sherborne which is a very good school in the UK I know, but here in Qatar the students' composition is a problem. It is one where spoiled rich children with bad habits and manners conglomerate. This is due to the facts of being so overpriced and of its location; it would attract mostly these types. Remember; your child will learn more from his peers than from his teachers. On the other hand DESS is a very good school but your child will not benefit from the international mix of students as DESS is made up of mostly British students.
hi Dima 13,
Everyone is right...12k budget is not bad. The most important thing is the accomodation is close to the school. Do not hesitate to contact me if you need any help...
poppylicious
Thank you everybody for your replies.. that is very helpful
Welcome to Qatar.
Compass Intl School is worth looking into. Children come in and out of schools all year long. Young children adapt very well.
I have seen a couple of Doctors at Al Ahli. The Neurosurgeon (Dr. Franks) that I saw was a quack! They should send him back to Germany. Otherwise, I find the staff very friendly.
It's very hot in the summer, but the winter weather is fabulous!
Qatar is a construction project at the moment. Traffic is very bad most of the day. On the plus side, petrol is cheap!
Good Luck with your move.
Welcome in Qatar, fresh blood!
You'll be OK! )
From what I've heard 12,000 affords you a pretty good home. I've been given a villa which is in a perfect location but is of a much lower quality that I'd have chosen but I had no choice but to take it. I prefer to have been given the allowance and find my own accommodation.
I only just read the Sherborne and DESS sites and it appears they're very good schools. I'd also consider Compass International School. We've had our children at Compass and like it very much.
I've visited AL-Ahli a few times as a patient, sorry, guest and I've loved it. They call their patients guests. "wait here sir, the doctor is busy with another guest, he'll be with you right away." The first time I took my 5-year old, as we entered the atrium he said "I LIKE this place, can we come here again?" If the place impressed a 5-year old from Canada and his professional dad with much international experience, it is impressive. The lobby looks like a 4-star hotel. Not quite the Sheraton, but almost. I said to my son "sure, we'll come on the weekend with mom and your brother so you could play at the paediatrics play area and we could have coffee and muffins by the waterfall." The chairs by the pharmacy (you call it chemists) where you wait for your prescription to be filled are what you might find at the Grand Hyatt.
Mind you, that's all aesthetics. I have no idea how it is run culturally. Things work pretty fast in Emergency too. Triage, outpatient bed, x-ray or lab or MRI or whatever test is needed, back to the bed, doctor comes to check the results, out you go usually within an hour. I've had no Inpatient experience other than some friends giving birth there. They liked it too.
Hamad hospital which is the main and state-run hospital is very large and all the specialties are covered there (not so at Al-Ahli) but it's a hectic, chaotic place.
Hope this helps.
Dima13,
We moved here from the UK last year and my youngest son (12) is now at Doha College.
a. 12k QR will get you a good villa on a nice compound close to DESS or Sherborne.
b. I agree with the other comments regarding your 7 year old son, he will be fine and will adjust easily as we tend to underestimate how well children cope with changes in their lives.
c. We have not had any dealings with Al Ahli hospital, so cannot comment.
Qatar is a wonderful country, yes it is very hot in the summer and there are certain things that can be tiresome (traffic) but the people here are very friendly and we think that life here is great.
a. yes
b. He is 7 he will be fine and make lots of friends from different countries. Don't forget quite a few people are in your situation. New to a country.
c. don't know
Try the mums in doha website for lots of info :)
welcome to Qatar, You can come without any hesitation
qatar is good country to live peacefully .
the rent you mention good enough for nice house.
about your kids don't worry there are so many school but
better check with them b4 you come.
I guess your husband may be a doctor so don't worry with the hospital . as i know it is also a good hospital in qatar even though i have never been there.
so you can come and join us.
Hi,
Welcome to Qatar. If you search this forum there is a fund of information regarding life in Qatr.
12K is a decent amount in which you would be able to afford a villa. Al Ahli is the only private hospital, has a good reputaion.
Regarding scools you need to check with the managements if it is possible to admit the student in the middle of the year. Best of luck.