Life in Doha as an expat
My experience of living in Doha for about 3 years.
Al Hazm Mall, Doha
The decision to move to Qatar for work was not easy. Still, it was the best decision I could have made for my professional career and personal life.
There I was, back in 2015, looking for an opportunity to elevate my professional career and a chance to see the world. I had always heard that contracting overseas could be very lucrative, and having felt like I was spinning my wheels, I made decent money. Still, I was essentially living paycheck to paycheck.
I decided to apply to various positions in the middle east, Not knowing much about what I would ultimately be getting into. After about 3-4 months of applying and interviewing, I got offered a position to work in Qatar as a DOD contractor. The pay was good, and by that time, I was just ready to go, and being that this was Qatar as opposed to Afghanistan, I wasted little time signing the offer letter.
Never having been there and not knowing anybody who did either, I was a little clueless about Middle Eastern countries. But I knew one thing; Qatar was calling to me, and I knew I had to go. Although the financial stability pushed me towards the flight, I was also excited to live and work in a different country; I was optimistic to see what new experiences and adventures awaited me.
The Pearl
When I entered Qatar, the first thing that I thought of was Kuwait. The dusty atmosphere, the extremely humid and hot weather, and the realization that my days of eating pork and drinking alcohol were over, or so I thought. But the more I stayed, the more I began to realize that you can infact buy pork and alcohol in Doha, they have a whole store dedicated to purchasing these items.
I like to refer to Qatar as the calmest chaos I have ever seen; the place was very animated and jolting but tied together by an intense religiosity far opposite to what I had seen at the DMV. The first few mornings, I didn't know what to expect; having no idea about this Middle Eastern country's habit of ringing loud church-like bells to signify prayer times made me hop out of bed, terrified. But I soon grew to love these bells and found the haphazard traffic amusing. Oh, the traffic! Qatar is a wealthy country with all sorts of high-end vehicles driving down the road. Still, the preferred vehicle of choice for the Qataris is the Toyota Land Cruiser. I learned quickly to get out of the way when I saw one of these trucks coming speeding down the highway. They tend to stick to the far left lane, and if you are in this lane and you are not doing at least 100mph, it's best to merge into the right lane. They will ride your bumper until you either move out of the way or speed up; it's actually seen as rude if you don't move over. On one hand, it can be rather annoying. Still, on the other hand, driving on the highway is exciting because you can do whatever you want; you can go as fast or as slow as you desire. Using things like turn signals and caring about speed limits are optional; yes, there are still speed traps that will give you a ticket for speeding. It is not encouraged, but the govt. Driving on the highways there, all but shame you for not driving like a maniac.
My Audi A4
Thanks to its hot weather, all restaurants and markets are situated within shopping malls; and all lounges/clubs and bars are located inside hotels. I was also quite stunned at Qatar's hospitality and customer service; I would be shocked if you didn't have a pleasant experience while shopping or dining out in Doha.
Qatar Distribution Company
Better known as QDC is the only store in Doha that stocks alcohol and pork products for consumption at home. But there are a few requirements to be able to shop at the QDC. There is a limit for purchases, 3 cases of beer and six bottles of champagne, and there is no limit on wine. But to take advantage of this wonderful place, you have to get a QDC license, and you need to have a vehicle. Licenses are available for all non-GCC citizens over 21 with a Qatar resident permit. You will need to meet the monthly salary requirement, obtain a letter from your employer and pay an annual fee. At first, I thought this was a lot, but after a few weeks of working 50+ hours a week, maybe a little drink on the weekend wouldn't hurt.
Fun and Entertainment
There is plenty of fun to be had in Doha and one of my favorite things to do on a hot day is to take in a movie. Novo Cinema in Qatar was my favorite place to catch a movie; you can watch a film in a traditional theater with balcony seating. Or, you can choose the upscale "iPic-style" theaters, with luxurious seating and an extensive menu with food and drinks delivered to your seat. You also have the exhilarating 4Dx theaters, which are quite the experience; chairs moving, lights flashing, and water splashing. One thing about Qatar that slightly put me off in the beginning; was the movie censorship. Any displays of affection or mentions of religious deities are censored from movies; they cut the scenes out altogether. Even though it's acting, you cannot show affection to anyone that is not your spouse; I personally think this type of censorship is unnecessary, and the audience can tell the difference, but in Muslim countries, culture and religion are almost two the same.
I'm not saying there's anything wrong with this; it's just that I wasn't used to such experiences, but I don't mind because, after all, I was a foreigner in that mystic culture, so of course, it wouldn't make sense to me in the first place. What amused me, though, was the cinema's bold affection for violence; not a single gore or violence scene was cut off, and I got quite a thrill out of that!
Dhow Cruise
Desert Safari
Take a ride out to the desert in a 4x4 SUV with friends. This exciting experience offers an opportunity for great pictures in the desert. The ride is intense; the driver speeds up and down the sand dunes in a wild but fun ride. He then stops so you can take some pics with great views of the desert. Some tours have a camp set up, and you can have food and drinks while watching various shows, like belly dancing. You may even get to hold a falcon and ride a camel.
Shopping Malls
Doha is a great place for shopping, as there are plenty of excellent malls; the first two malls I visited were:
Villaggio Mall – a luxurious shopping experience that will remind you of Venice due to the lake going through the mall. Like in Venice, you can ride on a Gondola on the water. The Villagio Mall is an exciting spot with many activities, like a theme park, mini golf, and IMAX theater. You can also check out the many restaurants and browse the shops.
City Center Mall - another leisure spot that shoppers enjoy visiting. The City Center Mall is nearby the water, so you can enjoy sea views as you walk around. There’s a large variety of cuisine, shops for all budgets, and family-friendly activities like an ice skating rink on the ground floor. It is said that the City Center Mall was the first mall to open in Doha.
But my favorite malls to shop at were Doha Festival City and Mall of Qatar.
Doha Festival City is Qatar's largest fashion and dining destination, providing something for everyone, including famous brand names in retail and hundreds of places to eat. Festival city also has the biggest cinema in the country, VOX 4D cinema complex, which features 18 screens, an outdoor leisure trail, three entertainment parks, Angry birds world, and Snow dunes.
A popular shopping district in Qatar is the Souq. If you’re not aware, the Souq is a massive traditional market in Doha, Qatar, known for its amazing variety of spices, garments, handicrafts, souvenirs, decoration pieces, and all sorts of things. There is also a massive line of eateries serving delicious smoky halal bbq. Honestly, you could spend a whole evening at the Souq and not want to leave!
Fine Dining
The party scene in Doha is better than expected, featuring spots like clubs dedicated to the American hip-hop crowd. All clubs sell alcohol, though it’s more expensive than clubs in other countries. When you go out at night, it looks like your average big US city; the locals dress in an American-European style for the clubs. There are no abayas or robes at night. The party typically starts after 11 pm and continues until 3-4 am. Like in the US, partygoers usually hang out at McDonald’s, Applebee’s, or a restaurant that stays open late. Sometimes I forgot I was in the Middle East.
Some popular clubs from my time in Qatar were Pure and Society. Society had a nice rooftop bar with a city view. It’s not unusual to see a large portion of the club enjoying “shisha” (hookah) during their night out, as it’s offered in many Qatar lounges and clubs.
Some popular clubs from my time in Qatar were Pure and Society. Below are a few fun nightlife options to check out.
Society Lounge – a nightclub featuring a nice rooftop bar with a city view. It’s not unusual to see a large portion of the club enjoying “shisha” (hookah) during their night out, as it’s offered in many Qatar lounges and clubs.
Pure Lounge – this Lounge is on the roof of the DoubleTree Hotel. Like Society Lounge, you’ll find pretty views while at Pure. You can relax on a lounge chair or get up and dance with the other customers.
Claw – if you’re looking for a spot to grab a few drinks for Happy Hour, Claw is a must. Happy hour runs from 12 pm to 7 pm daily. On Saturdays, Claw has an extended Happy Hour which goes until midnight and features live music.
The Pearl
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Another excellent place worth visiting in Qatar is the Pearl. The Pearl is a man-made island and is one of the highly developed and luxurious regions in Qatar that houses around 46,000 individuals. The island was built on one of Qatar’s major pearl diving sites. Lying towards the west bay lagoon of Doha, the Pearl exhibits the Mediterranean charm and aura with its public plaza and the canopies. There are cafes and play areas, parks, and pedestrian walkways where you can embrace the lively ambiance during your vacation.
Museum of Islamic Art
Explore masterpieces of Islamic art from three continents and over 1,400 years in a elegant waterfront setting.
One place that became my favorite is the Corniche, a 7km stretch along the coast. You could be having a depressing day and then wander off to the beautiful Corniche and immediately perk up. A lot of walkers, skaters, and joggers will greet you at the Corniche, and you’ll even get kind smiles from families sitting on the tables eating seafood. It’s honestly a very refreshing and compassionate place.
The hotels and airlines are top of th elineI’ve been going on and on about my experience in Qatar, but I won’t leave without mentioning the best airlines I have ever flown on. I know many people boast of Qatar Airways, and I was always skeptical, but believe me, the minute I stepped foot on the plane, I realized how amazing it was. The luxurious airline is like a miniature dreamland; you get to sit on the world’s most comfortable seat, and a kind air hostess comes to get you settled in; they’ll hand you a bag of toiletries, a sleeping mask, a cozy blanket and constantly ask you if you need anything. The meals were heavenly; I was snacking on perfectly seared seafood, drinking cocktails, and biting into delicious desserts, quite the change from your average airplane food.
There are countless entertainment options, too; you can watch a nice selection of the most recent Hollywood movies and TV shows. I was super impressed by the luxurious business and first-class cabins of Qatar Airlines; they offer luxurious pods which recline into a bed, and the luxury only increases. Onboard Qatar Airways’ business and first class, you can even get alcohol, which shows how caring the Airline is.
Qatar is an interesting location, as it’s the wealthiest country in the world per capita. The average salary for Qatar residents is around 130k per year. Residents don’t pay taxes, electricity, water bills, or healthcare. Living in Qatar as a US citizen without paying taxes made me feel upper-middle class, allowing me to enjoy much of what Qatar had to offer. I stayed at the top hotels, rode around in a reasonably nice car, ate at the best restaurants, and shopped at the high-end stores. My company provided us with our own two-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment with a heated swimming pool, an indoor track, and an underground parking garage. Qatar spoils you, from the airlines to the customer service and fine dining options, to have your car washed while shopping at the mall. While I complained about many things during my time there, ultimately, I had a positive experience.
Overall, Qatar is a stunning place to visit or live, with much to offer. It’s ranked highly in multiple areas, including livability and aspiration. With attractions you can’t find elsewhere, friendly locals, and many cuisine options, it’s worth considering moving to Qatar for work. Or, at the very least, vacationing in Qatar for a few days. If you have a layover in Qatar, consider leaving the airport and touring the city. A few hours in Qatar and you’ll be seriously considering moving to this country packed with thrill-seeking activities, top-tier museums, and an ever-expanding food scene.
