Having lived in Doha for almost 10 months I can speak from personal experience. Doha is a nice place to live and I for one will be sad to leave in a couple of weeks time. However, that said, unless you come here on an Expat package whereby the company you work for pays for your accommodation, then the direct local hire packages are not worth it financially.
I came here not fully knowing the cost of living i.e rents in Doha. I was given 4000 QAR housing allowance a month and compared to what that money would get me in accommodation at home - I thought I was on a pretty good deal! I soon came to realise that I was far wrong and the company I work for are far out of touch with their allowance.
A couple of months after joining, the company raised the housing allowance by a further 2000 QAR after so many people complained that the original allowance was unsatisfactory.
With the expectation of rental prices dropping after the Asian Games, many of us just hung on and hoped that the turn of the year would see a flood of new properties at reasonable rental prices. That has not happened in Doha.
With an expected 70,000 Expat workers arriving every year for the next 3-4 years there's no way that the rentals will drop unless the Government does something to cap the rates. I doubt that's going to happen in the next few months.
I myself approached my employer and again raised the issue of an uncompetitive housing allowance. I advised them that for me it made no sense to remain in Doha on the package I was on. Whilst they seemed to understand, they were also very clear that they could not or would not set precendent by increasing my allowance, as they'd then have to do the same for everyone.
I've since resigned, sold my car and am now preparing to go home.
Although sad, I don't regret my decision. I'm not the first and definately won't be the last.
Companies will have to wake up and smell the coffee. They will not attract high calibre staff on packages that are not competitive in today's Doha market.
My advice to anyone considering moving to Doha, or even considering leaving Doha is - do your maths and determine whether being away from friends and family at no extra financial benefit (tax free benefits go out the window as all savings then go towards high rents!) is worth it.
Of course, this isn't everyone's experience. I'm only talking from my own personal one. Some people are doing very well with the packages and companies they work for. It's not all doom and gloom.
Just pick the right company and get the best package you can. I wish I had been given this advice 10 months ago.
Having lived in Doha for almost 10 months I can speak from personal experience. Doha is a nice place to live and I for one will be sad to leave in a couple of weeks time. However, that said, unless you come here on an Expat package whereby the company you work for pays for your accommodation, then the direct local hire packages are not worth it financially.
I came here not fully knowing the cost of living i.e rents in Doha. I was given 4000 QAR housing allowance a month and compared to what that money would get me in accommodation at home - I thought I was on a pretty good deal! I soon came to realise that I was far wrong and the company I work for are far out of touch with their allowance.
A couple of months after joining, the company raised the housing allowance by a further 2000 QAR after so many people complained that the original allowance was unsatisfactory.
With the expectation of rental prices dropping after the Asian Games, many of us just hung on and hoped that the turn of the year would see a flood of new properties at reasonable rental prices. That has not happened in Doha.
With an expected 70,000 Expat workers arriving every year for the next 3-4 years there's no way that the rentals will drop unless the Government does something to cap the rates. I doubt that's going to happen in the next few months.
I myself approached my employer and again raised the issue of an uncompetitive housing allowance. I advised them that for me it made no sense to remain in Doha on the package I was on. Whilst they seemed to understand, they were also very clear that they could not or would not set precendent by increasing my allowance, as they'd then have to do the same for everyone.
I've since resigned, sold my car and am now preparing to go home.
Although sad, I don't regret my decision. I'm not the first and definately won't be the last.
Companies will have to wake up and smell the coffee. They will not attract high calibre staff on packages that are not competitive in today's Doha market.
My advice to anyone considering moving to Doha, or even considering leaving Doha is - do your maths and determine whether being away from friends and family at no extra financial benefit (tax free benefits go out the window as all savings then go towards high rents!) is worth it.
Of course, this isn't everyone's experience. I'm only talking from my own personal one. Some people are doing very well with the packages and companies they work for. It's not all doom and gloom.
Just pick the right company and get the best package you can. I wish I had been given this advice 10 months ago.