No amount of reading about Qatar’s work culture fully prepares you for the experience of actually working here. I’ve seen highly capable professionals arrive in Doha with strong track records from Western or Asian corporate environments and spend their first six months frustrated, confused, and convinced that nothing works. Most of them eventually figured it…
Five years ago this comparison was relatively straightforward. Qatar was the established, stable Gulf expat destination with good infrastructure and a known quantity for lifestyle. Saudi Arabia was where you went for the money, accepted a more restricted lifestyle, and counted the days until your contract ended. That comparison has changed substantially and anyone still…
This is the comparison every expat weighs at some point. You’ve received offers from both cities, or you’re in one and wondering whether the other would be better, or you’re planning your first Gulf move and trying to decide where to land. The internet is full of superficial takes on this question. This guide isn’t…
Health insurance in Qatar is not optional. It’s a legal requirement, and since 2014 Qatar has been progressively tightening enforcement of mandatory health coverage for all residents. Yet despite it being compulsory, the system is confusing enough that I regularly meet expats who don’t fully understand what they actually have, what it covers, or whether…
The Qatar Health Card (also called the Hamad Health Card) is your passport into Qatar’s public healthcare system. Without it, you’re paying full private rates at HMC facilities or going through the Emergency Department for everything, neither of which is a situation you want to be in long-term. Here’s the frustrating part that nobody tells…
If you’ve just arrived in Qatar and someone asks “which hospital should I go to?”, the honest answer is: it depends entirely on what’s wrong with you. Hamad General might be the right answer for a trauma emergency. It’s the wrong answer if you need a specific type of cancer surgery and don’t want to…
Healthcare in Qatar operates on a two-tier system that confuses most newcomers. You have your mandatory health card from Hamad Medical Corporation giving you access to public healthcare, and then there’s the entire private healthcare sector that most expats end up using despite paying for public coverage. Understanding which system to use, when to use…
Quick Answer: The best neighborhoods in Doha depend on your situation. West Bay and Al Dafna for professionals who work in the business district. The Pearl for upscale waterfront living. Lusail for modern city living with space and value. Al Sadd for an affordable, central base. Al Waab, Al Gharrafa, and Abu Hamour for families…
Quick Answer: Buying a used car in Qatar involves five key steps: find the car (Q Motor, Hatla2ee, QatarSale, or a used car showroom), check the Istimara and verify outstanding traffic fines before paying a single riyal, agree on price and sign a sale agreement, transfer insurance into your name, then complete the ownership transfer…
In Brief: Qatar’s laws on relationships outside marriage are clear and apply to everyone living in the country, including expatriates. This guide explains the legal framework, what the rules mean in practice for accommodation and hotels, the serious consequences in certain situations, and the straightforward path to formalising your relationship so you can live in…
Quick Answer: A single expat needs QR 8,000 to QR 14,000 per month to live in Qatar in 2026. A couple without children needs QR 14,000 to QR 25,000. A family of four with two school-age children needs QR 25,000 to QR 45,000. Qatar has zero income tax, the cheapest petrol in the world, and…
If you’re moving to Qatar and wondering whether you can exchange your driving license without taking a test, you’re asking the right question. The answer depends entirely on which country issued your license. The short answer: 38 countries can directly exchange their driving licenses in Qatar without taking any test as of 2026. However, there’s…