Put My Mind at Rest Please

Company compounds in Al Khor or Dukhan are like entire little villages with only employees and their families living there. Compounds here in Doha come in all shapes and sizes and may or may not be rented out entirely by one company. Some have small grocery stores, club houses, pools, playgrounds, etc. Here's a link to one of the best (the best?) compounds in Doha. They have Al Fardan 1, 2 and 3. I never actually been in one of these but I've heard other moms talk about it.

http://www.alfardanrealestate.com/gardens.htm

You are all hepling a lot.

I am waiting for my offer and then I can plan with conviction.

I have been looking at some of the salary threads and I hope the one that says I will probably be on the same as here but with no taxes is wrong in my case.

I have worked all around the UK so I am used to neing the new face, I quite like it as it is like making a new start.

Are the camps used by specific companies or are they just like walled villages?

Are there any I could look at near Doha on the internet to get a feel for them?

The company is in Doha where I will be working.

Thanks again folks.

Hi -

Just my input on some of your questions...

Daughter - The most she's going to get is stares. She could be the ugliest blonde girl on the planet and wearing the ugliest clothes and she will still get stares. Now I don't suggest she go off the the souqs by herself but at the malls she should be OK. The more conservative she dresses the more comfortable she will probably feel.

Transportation - your wife will not want to take the bus at all, anywhere. Karwa taxis are very unreliable as far as coming to your house. You can catch them pretty easy from the bigger malls but then you need to know your way home because a lot of the drivers are very new. If you use a "limo" service a couple times you can get to know the driver and just call that driver every time. Much more reliable. BTW, so your wife doesn't think she'll be riding around like the Queen, these aren't "real" limos. Just nicer cars than the taxis.

Schooling - There are several good schools that follow the British plan and give priority to kids holding British passports. Pick one and get your kid on the waiting list ASAP.

Community - It may take awhile to find your groove with new friends and whatnot but it's really not that bad here. You will really be surprised how unbelievably "normal" things are here. Not to say some things/policies won't drive you insane but you just have to learn to deal with it and it's really not that bad. HOT but not that bad.

you are not talking about me and your next door neighbour are you :-) x

I'm a young british female living out here with my husband. We've been here since Novemeber 06. To try and answer a few of your questions:

1. I am also a young (22) female, i agree with some comments above, stares are common here, but i have never felt threatened in any way. I always drees respectfully, covering shoulders and knees in public (to shops etc.), However, at friends, on the compound etc you can be more relaxed.

2. When we first arrived we weren't able to drive as you need your Qatar residency visa first before you can convert your UK licence, unless you have an international drivers licence, which we didn't. So we used the limo service. There is a local taxi firm here, KARWA taxi's but they are pretty unreliable and aren't great if you don't know your way around to direct them. We used a private driver who charged around (QR20 - QR40)(£3-6)per trip depending where we were going.

3. Sorry i can't help you there.

4. I think this all depends where you are going to live, on a compound you are more likely to meet new friends than if you're in a private villa. I have been looking for a UK expat group and so far have been unsuccessful. I have however been to other expat group functions and social events, everyones pretty friendly.

Hope your move goes well - nothing to worry about. If you or your family have any questions don't hesitate to contact me.

Good luck

Thanks for that one and all, that was very helpfull.

Two things I firmly believe in;

1. Things are rarely as bad as you think they might be.

2. It is always the seemingly silly things that you don't ask about that come back to bite your behind later.

I'm just trying to build a picture, and it is looking good.

My wife can't/won't drive as she has particularly bad eye-sight.

What sort of money are we looking at for a driver and how does it work?

Do we hire a person permanently, sounds a bit extravegant, or are there reliable agencys that do it?

As far as being sociable, I wouldn't call us snobish at all, quite the opposite in fact.

So all back to my house for a party when we arrive then.

Cheers,

Some points slightly alarm me;

1. My Daughter is 16, tall, curvy with long blond hair, how worried should I be about some of the unwanted attention, my wife could probably handle it because she has a lot more life experience.

Don't lift you're own chair too much! there's lots of gorgeous women and very sexy that felt safe here, and blonde is nothing special here Arabs are very fussy there's lots of gorgeous women here, they have lots of money and they've been in and out in the country with different gorgeous girls.

2. My wife can't drive and it sounds like the transport system is a no no. How do women manage during the day without someone to drive them around?

Let you're wife get a driving license there before coming here because it's more difficult to get a license here. but if you have a license from your country they will just translate it.

3. My son is 9, is it unlikely I will find a school place for him, or should I say how long are the waiting lists for the schools.

Of course! you can find a place for your son here easily if he's an A or B student, enroll him online in advance, and he has to pass the assessment test.

4. Last one for now, is there a good comunity spirit amongst the expats, is there plenty of mutual help and assistance or do families keep themselves to them selves.

there is activities going on in the family and it

depends how friendly you and you're family are, otherwise, if you're snub type of person no one would like to be friendly with you!

Just keep dancing, it will do you good!

sounds like you have done your reaserch!

with respect to the men out here my neighbours daughter is 17 out here and she is okay with the men! They will start at your daughter, some will follow her around and some will try and approach her- no matter what others say i know this to be true and it will happen. My neighbour keeps her piece of mind by making sure her daughter doesnt go anywhere alone - and she doesnt wear any clothes which are too revealing. Poeple will disagree with me but ensure your daughter at least keeps her shoulders and knees covered too and your wife too! i do its not hard! You will see people out here ladies with there legs and shoulders on show i even saw a girl in a mini skirt the other day! its not correct to do so it attracts the attentio n of men and is disrespectful to the muslims!

Your wife will need a driver out here , taxis are unrealiable and you wouldnt want to get the local buses! You can hire a private driver for here much easir option!

schools i know people who have brought over chidren from the ages of 4-16 and they have all got places at very decent schoold very quickly!

community sprirt - mmmmm i dont find it among the expats! im firends with our work colleages and neighbour and thats it! however i know some ladies who have come out here, they dont work and they are always saying how hectic there lifes are there so busy with people and things to do out here!

hope this helps!

love life!

I must say June not the best time to come. It would be hot here ...

For your wife ... she need to get a number of a good driver to ferrying her around everywhere since she don't drive. There are some expat ladies activities in Doha, like international potluck who meet once a month, ladies tuesday group meeting every other tuesday, expatwoman coffee morning monthly ... Best when you arrived in Doha buy a copy of marhaba book for your wife. There is a list of things to do in Doha.

Your daughter should be ok ... make sure she wear a decent clothing. Don't have to cover up but don't need to wear a bra strap top like some people do. Very light cotton short sleeve top and knee length pant will do.

I am not from england ... but my husband come from teesside ... Your wife and you just need to meet alot of people as soon as you got here... soon you will form your own social circle.

All the best with your moving.