LyLDLStarting a business in Qatar

Moving to Qatar and adapting to Qatar way of life

There is no getting around the fact that moving to Qatar is going to come with some pretty major culture shock. You are moving to a country that is very different from your own and you need to be prepared for it. The best thing that you can do is to just accept that things are going to be different and enjoy the experience.

The biggest thing that you have to be aware of when you move to Qatar is that you are moving to a Muslim country. Admittedly the rules that you find in most Muslim countries are not enforced as strictly here as they are in other places they are still enforced. In general there is quite a bit of leeway given to Westerners but you do want to make sure that you show respect for local sensibilities. The biggest issue for most people will be that there is no alcohol allowed in the country. Again there are ways around this for Westerners but you don't want to be drinking in front of the locals.

The other big difference in Qatar is in how women are treated. Again this is not as rigorously enforced as it is in other countries but it will still come as a shock. Western women are not generally required to cover their faces and are usually allowed to go out by themselves but there will be some places that they are not able to go. They will also need to make sure that they don't wear any revealing clothing when they are out of the house.

There are lots of other differences that you will experience when you first move to Qatar; the biggest will be the slower pace at which everything gets done. This will really be obvious during the several times a day when everybody stops for prayer. This can be frustrating but it is part of the culture. Not all of the differences are negative of course; most of the people in Qatar are very friendly and respectful. It is also one of the safest countries in the world.

Most of the other details of moving to Qatar are going to be the same ones that you would have moving to any other country. The biggest will be finding a place to live; housing is very expensive in Qatar. You should be able to get this arranged by your employer but you may have to pay for it yourself. You will also need to deal with things like getting furniture; most of your electronics will not work in Qatar. In addition things like getting a drivers license will be necessary. There are lots of books that can help you with all of these details; it is definitely a good idea to bring one with you.