Relocating to Qatar from Dubai - Advice

[SunStruck]

My DH has a good job opportunity on offer with a large company in Qatar. We currently live in Dubai and have done for a number of years, so the culture is not what I'm wondering about 😄

I am pregnant and if all goes well, we will have our first baby by end of September. Husbands package has really good family benefits, holiday benefits and working hours which is why we are seriously considering this move.

We are both working in a Dubai though, and I'd have to resign from my job which worries me - How is the job market in Qatar at the moment? I'm thinking due to the blockade. I'm not fond of my job anyway and had planned to look for something else after my maternity (which is only 3 months out here by the way)... but I am worried about not finding anything in Qatar.

Also in terms of housing, do they usually allow pets? We have 2 indoor cats.

Any advice and pearls of wisdom from MN:ers residing in Qatar at the moment?

I'm not I'm Qatar (so I can't answer on the job market but it will depend a lot on what you do) but I have lived in both Qatar and Dubai. I just wanted to warn you that there is a massive cultural difference between the two countries and be aware of that. I've known a lot of people move from Dubai to Qatar and really struggle.

I loved my time in Qatar but I would have to be paid an absolute fortune to move back. Life in the UAE is far easier.

I'm not saying don't do it, but your statement on knowing what it will be like because you've been in Dubai for years worried me! It's nothing like Dubai.

Oh but cats aren't an issue. Position on that is similar to Dubai - some land lords allow, some don't and make sure you have permission in writing from the landlord if the lease says no bug you're told it's ok.

@Somewheredreamingofcheesecake oh I didn't think I'd get a reply - thanks so much for replying :) and thanks for the heads up. What is the expat community like in Qatar? May I ask what type of job you did out there?

I'm in professional services. Certainly in my industry there are still jobs if you have good, relevant experience.

The expat community are perfectly nice. It's just a tiny place compared to the UAE.

I’m the opposite to the previous poster and prefer Qatar! We lived in Dubai for 4 years and now been in Qatar for 3 years.

I don’t find it too dissimilar culturally, Qatar has become a lot more relaxed just in the time we’ve been here - lots of places open during Ramadan now, usual brunches etc. It’s all on a smaller scale than Dubai but still a lot of similarities.

For us we find Doha more family friendly, great compounds for the DC to play out with their friends, smaller schools. The expat community is much smaller so, in our experience, much tighter.

I do miss a lot from Dubai - the museums, galleries, concerts but prefer the relaxed pace of Doha.

The blockade hasn’t hugely affected people here and still plenty of opportunity for jobs.

@Autumn101 oh amazing advice from someone who lives there now! Thanks for this, I'm most worried about the job market for me when I start looking again due to the blockade, but it seems like the economy is still fine and there are still jobs for expats.

This has really reassured me! We love Dubai, but it's because we don't have kids at the moment, and I think just like you say that Qatar will be a good option for a new little family.

Do most expats live near Pearl or West Bay?

Lots of people live on the Pearl if you’re in the no kids/young kids stage - traffic can be bad here so we live close to our DCs school! Plenty of places in Westbay too, if you’re after a villa in a compound try Al Jazi! But great apartment options too.

What field are you looking for a job? There’s lots going on in Qatar and plenty of new arrivals

Also on the cats, no problem at all. We brought ours over from Dubai and she’s settled in great

@Autumn101 lovely :) I am a headhunter, and I'm thinking for the next move to move in-house to talent acquisition/HR related field. What do you do if you don't mind me asking?

Since I will be ok maternity for about 6 months I think we will try live in an apartment at a good location first (in terms of I can walk places with the buggy, cafes and restaurants etc) and not depending on driving to get out. When I get a job we could look at moving a bit 'out' to a bigger place.

Where would you recommend to rent in a livelier place? I have seen flats at Qanat Quartier that also seem pet friendly, is this place good?

Also did you relocate your cats yourself or did you use a company to do it (were you able to bring them as hand luggage or did they have to go as checked luggage?). Sorry lots of questions 😅

It was my DHs job that we moved here for - I do a small amount of freelance analyst work (I’m a chemical engineer) with contacts back in UK, But predominantly a SAHM I guess!

Definitely the Pearl for being able to walk to cafes, activities - it’s a lovely place. A bit like a cross between the Palm and the Marina. We have friends in Qanat Quartier and they have various pets! I think there’s lots of baby groups on the Pearl too so would be ideal for you.

Where will your DH be working? Feel free to pm me, Doha is small so I may know more info!

With the cats I would use an agency - especially as they need to go via Muscat due to the blockade. We used Snoopy Pets but there’s quite a few reputable companies in Dubai

@Autumn101 PMed you :)

How much did you pay per cat? Yeah we want to use an agency too!

It was expensive I’m afraid!! Just shy of 10k (dirhams) but that included 2 weeks in a cattery and they did everything........ We had a trip back home planned, booked before we knew we were moving, so it was too complicated to bring her with us. Can be done much cheaper I’m sure!

Join the FB page Two Fat Expats, there are definitely people on there who have lived in both

Try and live near where your husband works, as traffic is a bit of a nightmare although we left before the metro opened so maybe that's eased it.
All Waab has some great family compounds.

@MaxNormal thank you!!! Will remember that :)

@BritInUS1 I will follow :) thanks for the advice

In some ways, life with a baby and toddler is the same wherever you are! My advice is just to go in with eyes open but please don't expect it to be the same. Some people do prefer Doha to Dubai but it's a minority (Autumn101 is only the third I've heard prefer Doha). I was in Doha for 10 years and have been back several times since I left. Superficially it may be more open than it was before but it's still a much more conservative country than the UAE. I find things function much better in the UAE day to day and locals are more accepting. They might not approve of what you're wearing/doing but they're less likely to take it as an attack on their culture. Obviously that's a massive stereotype but it's by experience having lived in both countries.

On the plus side it seems yo be very easy to make friends, unless I was just lucky with our compound. I suck at making friends but I got sort of swooped up by our lovely neighbours. It had a great community feel.

It definitely does feel more conservative than the UAE although that didn't bother me personally, and yes smaller and like there was a bit less going on.
Also the driving was way worse.