British Expat - Socialising in Qatar!

Hi Sam

What do you find the most frustrating?
For me, its the general lack of customer service...but i suppose you have to expect this in a developing country.
Events are not well advertised...you really have to read-up on them.
Parking Fines - There are no double yellow lines or signs which indicate that you cannot park in a certain area - so you can expect to get some parking tickets. Parking spaces are also too small!
The public beaches in Qatar are crap! If you want to go to a decent beach you will need to go to a hotel and its not cheap. This is the same with swimming pools.

How quickly are the RP's turned around?
Mine took around 3 weeks but this was handled by my employer, I had no involvement. I think it varies depending on the company you work for and how efficient the PRO / HR team is. I was constantly on their case about it.

Which is the best bank to use?
I use Qatar National Bank (QNB) because my employer uses it and this ensures quick salary payments. Another one to consider is Commercial Bank which offers a number of reward bonuses. International banks such as HSBC and Barclays also have a presence here.

Before you use any local bank here, i recommend that you familiarise yourself with sharia law. Your bank accounts are also linked to your RP so you need to ensure everything is valid and there is no large debt...otherwise this can cause problems when trying to exit the country. I also use offshore accounts to be on the safe side.

I'm not sure how long you intend on working in Qatar or whether you plan to return to the UK, but I would also recommend that you do some research on your tax position. Although Qatar is tax free, many Brits are shocked that when they return to the UK they have to repay tax on their savings. This does not apply to you if your working outside the country for more that one full tax year, but it is something that is worth researching and may help you decide what bank you want to use.

How do you find the weather?
To be totally honest its not as bad as everyone says. Yes it can reach 50 degrees in the hottest months (May-September) but most facilities are well air-conditioned and you don't find yourself going outdoors much over these months. If you have a job that requires you to be outside over these months, then yes it will be difficult, however by Qatar law, no-one is allowed to work outside between 12pm-3pm over the summer season. Most expats tend to take a vacation this time of year anyway. From September through to April you will experience lovely weather (15-35 degrees). It can actually get down to 10 degrees which feels surprisingly cold.

Do i need special plugs (i read that the voltage over there is different)
No you don't. All plugs are the same as UK '3 prongs'.

Best places to meet people?
Hotel bars & clubs, Souq Waqif, shopping malls (Villagio, City centre, Landmark), Doha golf club, Qatar Pearll, Qatr Islamic Park, also networking expat websites such as: Qatarexpats, internations

How do you find driving (if you drive)
Driving is a challenge. I recommend getting a 'BIG CAR' or 4x4. This will give you some more road dominance as mostly everyone drives a land cruiser or GMC. Police do not seem as strict about speeding or using your mobile phone whilst driving and many people take advantage of this, so be wary of dangerous driving! The roads are actually very wide and a large number of roundabouts have been removed so its gradually improving but it still has a long way to go before you can compare it to European city driving. Traffic is a major problem as there is no other form of  transport so you will have to adjust your daily schedule to include 'time spent in traffic'!

Let me know if you have any other questions.