I'm going to need an idiot's guide to moving abroad.

[robino]

DH, I, 3 DDs aged 5, 3.5, and 1 and possibly the dog (although if I'm honest with myself I think she's too old and rickety to move) are moving to Doha.

DH will be going out as soon as it can be arranged. We will follow (probably 3 months later).

Last time I lived abroad I was young, free, single, could speak the language and travel with a rucksack! I also didn't have a house and all the trappings that go with it. Help!

Think about whether you want to rent out your UK property or sell it. In Doha, you need housing, visas, bank, electricity, doctors, schools.
Presumably your DHs employers will give you plenty of help?
Find out what vaccinations are recommended and start getting those. When we were in the ME, DD was done against polio, measles, TB and Hep B at birth.

Forgot to say, you'll also need PPs for your DC. More expense.

Thanks!

PPs? I have no brain left. It's been a tough 24 hours.

Passports for the visas

TBH, having re read your OP, I would leave the dog there. If she is really old and decrepit she will have trouble adapting to the climate.

If this is through your DHs work then they should sort out all your flights / visas / temporary accommodation (at least) / shipping of goods etc.

Talk - or get DH - to talk to whoever organises it in HR to work out what you need to do - can/can't take etc.

As a pp said - what will you do with current house / things you need to leave behind etc.

Is it a permanent move - or a fixed length of time?

What about schools / nurseries? At least you'll prob get some staff out in Doha - housekeeper/amah type thing (slightly envious - and it'll be a good deal warmer than my freezing Germany!)

Also look into what the local customs mean you can/can't do/take etc - think about booze/clothing/medication/books etc - some ME countries can be very specific and clamp down hard on these things.

Is there an Expat website for other expats there - they'll be able to give you lots of on the ground advice about where to base yourselves etc.

Good luck - it'll be fabulous!

try this website www.expatwoman.com/qatar/default.aspx for info on Doha, helped when we moved to Dubai

Good luck with the move

Thank you. Will ask pertinent questions and look at other forums...

Stupid question number one- how do you decide what's worth storing, what's worth shipping and what you might as well chuck because it's not worth it? Obviously, we have sentimental stuff we want to store, a load of kids toys we'll need to take but what about cheapo ikea stuff less memorable items?

First place to start is to find out whether the company is paying shipping and if so, how large is the container. Next, decide whether to rent out your current house. When we moved 4 years ago we literally took the kitchen sink with us because we had a 40ft container. We did clear lots of baby things from the house but the rest, including 40 boxes of books went with us and have subsequently come home again.

Ask about housing, whether it is company provided or whether you have to find your own. Also, whether it is furnished or unfurnished. We had unfurnished except for white goods. There is no IKEA in Doha though one is currently being built though when it will open is any body's guess. The rumours have been around for years that it is coming. Now it is finally on its way but like with many dealdines in Qatar they are very flexible.

Check with HR whether they have a checklist. DH's HR took care of all of the visas, medicals, took us to get driving licences etc. All we had to do was make sure we had valid passports and attend the company medical in London.

Make enquiries now about schools for your eldest child. School places are at a premium in Doha.

Pretty much everything is available in Doha. Maybe not brands you are used to but you quickly learn to adapt. Other things you wait for trips back home to stock up on.

HTH a little. Ask away, no question is silly. ExpatWoman is a very helpful site. You could also try Qatar Living though it gets very silly there quite often.

Forgot to ask how old your dog is. We took our cat with us who was 12 at the time. We were very worried about quarantine on our return but the law has recently changed and there is no longer any quarantine. Is the dog very active, likely to want to go on long walks or happy to stay at home most of the time. It is incredibly hot in the summer and very humid so A/Cs run all of the time but the dog would be very restricted. Winter weather is very pleasant.