Originally Posted by invisible

I have an option (not a requirement) to go on 6 month assignment in Qatar/Doha for work. The term is from June till end of the year. I am married, in my mid-40s, no kids, but I will go there on my own - my wife has work/career and either she will come once in a month on weekends, or I will fly back.

I am quite adapted to heat - living in Singapore and sleeping without aircon. I went to hike Arches NP when it was 105F outside. Well, it was 10 years ago, but hope my body can still deal with dry heat.

Question is - what to expect during these six month, or not.

You will be coming during the hottest part of the year and partly through Ramadan and the two Eids - everything slows down during this time

- Do people on temporary work assignments live in expat enclaves/condos/apartments?
No real expat enclaves but there are apartment blocks/condos which cater to wealthy, not so wealthy and poorer expats - most of the 2.3M people in Qatar are expats
- What are life necessities while living there?
A sense of humour, thick skin, tolerance of really bad drivers
- Do you have to own a car?
No, private and public taxis are everywhere and cheap
- What driving in the city, country and neighbouring countries look like?
Drivers here fall into expats who are wary and other expats who have just recently started driving and are not very good at it, local drivers just drive fast and own the road. Driving out of the country is not easy - fly
- What English proficiency looks like if going and buying something at shops/supermarkets?
English is well spoken and mostly understood
- Are you hard pressed to buy something like in some middle-east and Asian countries - this type of interactions I would like to avoid.
Depends what you want to buy, various supermarket chains mean you can get most grocery items, high end consumer goods easily available
- What one has to do in the city/country after couple of weeks when you've seen all museums? I am not really interested in religion, but more outdoors, see experience culture and history, get connected with locals, if possible.
Quite a lot to do outdoors except when it is so hot you can melt in the heat, otherwise not very much once you have 'done' the sights - travel through the region

If you have an experience living on work assignment in Qatar/Doha - please share.

P.S. I don't drink alcohol, so have no need to hang around bars and similar venues.

Originally Posted by VH-RMD

You will be coming during the hottest part of the year and partly through Ramadan and the two Eids - everything slows down during this time

Originally Posted by VH-RMD

A sense of humour, thick skin, tolerance of really bad drivers

Originally Posted by VH-RMD

No, private and public taxis are everywhere

Originally Posted by VH-RMD

Driving out of the country is not easy - fly

Originally Posted by VH-RMD

Depends what you want to buy, various supermarket chains mean you can get most grocery items, high end consumer goods easily available

Originally Posted by ajGoes

I think when OP wrote "hard pressed to buy something", he meant "harangued by pushy vendors".

Originally Posted by VH-RMD

Quite a lot to do outdoors except when it is so hot you can melt in the heat, otherwise not very much once you have 'done' the sights - travel through the region

Originally Posted by invisible

So are you contained indoors during these month? BTW, how situation looks like during Ramadan - is it possible to eat out/buy something to eat before sunset? Will it be very culturally insensitive if your local colleagues will see you eating during daytime in Ramadan?

You can buy food during the day in Ramadan but to eat in public is forbidden (unless you are a child, pregnant, unwell etc) as is smoking and chewing gum and playing music loud.

You are not contained indoors but need to be close to A/C and/or pool

Are first two due to latter? Anyone who has been in Vietnam, Java or KL - not sure would be surprised/offended by 'bad drivers'...

Having lived in VN prior to here, VN traffic is orderly. Indicators are generally not used here and multi lane changes at the last minute are common. Small beaten up Nissan Tiidas are so for a reason as are the local vehicle of choice, the white Land Cruiser. Driving is a whole new world of special here.

You need a sense of humour and thick skin as you will see attitudes here that you would have imagined disappeared years ago - I shall leave it at that, if you follow the media you may an idea of what I infer

OK, question asked differently - do you go out of the city at all? I mean - is there NOTHING to see in whole country requiring having a car, or whatever you can see you can do with a rental car/other means?

There are a couple of things to see out of the city, but once you have seen them that's it. They will occupy 3 maybe 4 of your weekends. You would need transport to get out of the city, you can rent cars.


Thanks for an advice. One related question - having border stamps of gulf countries in US passport causes SSSS and other interesting experiences when coming back to US?

I'm not a US citizen but have had no trouble on an Australian passport with visiting the US with GCC stamps in the passport other than the generally surly and unwelcoming approach I have always experienced

Exactly.

No you are not hassled by vendors, perhaps a little in the Souk, generally the shop assistants have no idea about anything in their shops

Ok one more question - while living there what you missed the most comparing to your home country and what WILL you missing most when you leave?

I agree with the comment in relation to greenery and decent wine (but noting you are not bothered by that)

Thanks for an advices. If anyone else has something more to add - please do.

Originally Posted by invisible

Well, it was 10 years ago, but hope my body can still deal with dry heat.

Originally Posted by invisible

- Do people on temporary work assignments live in expat enclaves/condos/apartments?

In my experience, almost all expats I knew lived among other expats in compounds, apartment towers, or mid-rise apartments.


- What are life necessities while living there?

Not sure if I get totally what you're asking, but I'd say patience. Depending on where you're from and what you're used to, some processes aren't as mature as you'd be used to (govt, private -- even banking).


- Do you have to own a car?

I would say absolutely. Sure, you can get drivers easily, but every expat I knew had a car.


- What driving in the city, country and neighbouring countries look like?

Driving is an experience. Terrible traffic in Doha. Bad drivers everywhere. Mainly locals driving excessively crazily with terrible manners. They flash high beams at you to get out of the way. Look out for traffic cameras and excessive fines (especially for red light, which when I lived there were over 1000 USD).


- What English proficiency looks like if going and buying something at shops/supermarkets?

English is perhaps the most widely spoken/understood language (albeit broken). Almost all customer service positions are staffed with folks from other countries, so English is very widely spoken as a common language.


- Are you hard pressed to buy something like in some middle-east and Asian countries - this type of interactions I would like to avoid.

I did not experience this.


- What one has to do in the city/country after couple of weeks when you've seen all museums? I am not really interested in religion, but more outdoors, see experience culture and history, get connected with locals, if possible.

I would say it is unlikely you would get connected with locals. There is a very distinct three class system that generally does not mingle -- locals, western expats, eastern expats. Once you've seen the city (and what there is of the rest of the country), most expats just lounge by pools, shop at malls, and spend several hours on weekends going to elaborate brunches at the many hotels. Personally I traveled to UAE, Oman, Jordan, India, Nepal etc. to take advantage of closer proximity.



If you have an experience living on work assignment in Qatar/Doha - please share.

It was a good experience. After 2 years I was very ready to leave. It wears on you after a while, but helped me to appreciate things I had previously taken for granted.

Originally Posted by invisible

So are you contained indoors during these month? BTW, how situation looks like during Ramadan - is it possible to eat out/buy something to eat before sunset? Will it be very culturally insensitive if your local colleagues will see you eating during daytime in Ramadan?

When I lived there, it was difficult to get food before sunset. I used to have to go to the hotels to get food. Also, it was definitely insensitive to eat amongst fasters, and can actually lead to stiff fines. It may have changed since I was there.




OK, question asked differently - do you go out of the city at all? I mean - is there NOTHING to see in whole country requiring having a car, or whatever you can see you can do with a rental car/other means?

Aside from desert sports, not really much to do.



Thanks for an advice. One related question - having border stamps of gulf countries in US passport causes SSSS and other interesting experiences when coming back to US?

My last passport was riddled with dozens upon dozens of Qatar stamps (also other Middle East countries) and almost never got SSSS.




Ok one more question - while living there what you missed the most comparing to your home country and what WILL you missing most when you leave?

Missed mostly general politeness, orderly society, mature processes / systems in society. After leaving I missed real hummus and the fancy hotels (for restaurants and spas -- really US hotels don't even compare).