beijing red Posted March 27, 2013 Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 Apologies, but it is kinda football related. Anybody got experience of working there, as there's a very good chance that's where I will be next.....maybe. What is it like to live in Qatar???? Any help greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dezgimed Posted March 27, 2013 Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 Its hot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beijing red Posted March 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 OK...Well that's a start I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davros Posted March 27, 2013 Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 Muslim country so dry mostly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid in the Riot Posted March 27, 2013 Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 Will be a shite tournament for sure. Try and get work in Rio next summer would be my plan... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Red Hat Posted March 27, 2013 Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 Will be a shite tournament for sure. Try and get work in Rio next summer would be my plan... Not that you'll see England there......................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
You Do The Dziekanowski Posted March 27, 2013 Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 Not that you'll see England there......................... Or any team from the UK.................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antman Posted March 27, 2013 Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 worked in Abu Dhabi and my experience there was that it's very very hot at certain points in the year - July August is impossible - most Arabs who can, go abroad! the housing in AD was actually very expensive and average apartments could cost a hell of a lot. - the place was being constantly rebuilt and the mess and dust were everywhere. i imagine that Quatar will follow suite as their investment fund is now waking up and pre world cup they will want to outdo their neighbours. AD tolerated drinking in hotels (and at home if you bought a license) but don't overstep the boundries of whats acceptable, as there is a no tolerance for breaking the law - you will be banged up or shipped out quicker than you can believe. the employment laws were complex and you had to do a few years in order to get the tax exemption that exists. The visa laws are also always shifting and its not unusual to get stuck getting in and out of the country for reasons that are not of your making! Dubai was more relaxed, but i didn't like it at all. my advice is to read up on where you are as much as possible - take the time to figure out what is expected of you and how you need to behave - boring, but it pays to know your surroundings and be respectful, that way you'll get on much better with the locals. make friends with locals & go visit the lebanon & Jordan if possible, its actually really amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beijing red Posted March 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 Cheers guys. It's a big step, and we're getting good advice from various sources, your valued input will be added to that. Much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North London Red Posted March 28, 2013 Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 Don't go to Israel either or you will face all kinds of BS coming back. I went to Qatar in 2009 (for the England v Brazil friendly) with four Israeli stamps in my passport, which the border official saw, and didn't have any problems - neither did any of the two or three thousand England fans who would have been at that game who were also in Tel Aviv for the Israel v England qualifier in 2007. Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen would be a different story (no entry to any of those if you've got an Israeli stamp) but Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman are all fine (I've been to all three), as, I believe, is Jordan. As I understand it, relations between Qatar and Israel aren't half as bad as some would have you believe - I keep hearing people say 'what would happen if Israel qualify for the 2022 World Cup' - answer, there wouldn't be a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
City Ben Posted March 28, 2013 Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 Assalam alaykum BR! I live and work in Dubai and spend a lot of time travelling around the Gulf, and ME in general. Distance from AG aside, it's great. (Although actually would bring you closer to home?!) There are some quite terrifying points made in the posts above concerning human rights and, whilst it's true that Dubai is by far the most relaxed/ Westernised place in the region, I've not seen first hand any examples of the above. I have heard stories from friends concerning, eg, deportation for drunkennes, but are all several (5+) years old. Qatar in particular is trying to build its reputation as a financial hub and as a result is nowhere near as strict as, for eg, KSA. They don't get everything right and there are inevitable teething problems as cultural borders are opened up, but I think you'll find the Qataris to be widely welcoming. Comments re respecting local cultures are well made (and should be obvious... but us Brits aren't typically great at this). There are some good points made above re visas and working restrictions, but a lot is dependent upon who you are working for. Local family businesses tend to be a little more archaic in working flexibility when compared with western companies. (I work for one of the big global accounting firms here, and it's just like working in London.) Certainly none of my friends have had to hand their passports in, but I know that labourers who move from less-developed countries aren't afforded the same freedoms. If you're in any kind of vaguely managerial role I shouldn't have thought that any of that would be an issue for you. Socially, Qatar is nowhere near as relaxed as Dubai. I see some things here at the weekend that would make most of Bristol on a Saturday night blush! But I think Qatar is still fairly fun if you know where to look. The expat community is really welcoming. If you want to chat more I'm happy to do so - send me a pm on here. regards ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beijing red Posted March 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 Nice one, The jobs are in education, so holiday periods will be set in stone. Anyone with knowledge of the British Curriculum Schools? The schools are multicultural, but mainly Arabic, and we're getting feedback that they can be a bit 'lively'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cider Queen Posted March 28, 2013 Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 Have to say guys this is a really interesting thread.. and I'm not planning on heading to Qatar any time soon but it is interesting to read about differing cultures etc. Thanks for education! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambridge Batch Red Posted March 28, 2013 Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 Sounds like hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aizoon Posted March 28, 2013 Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 Sounds like hell. No, Saudi is Hell; Qatar is Purgatory... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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