I have been in Qatar now for a few years, now these are a few true facts about the country and about Qatar Airways. I am employed on the Technical (sorry, Engineering) side of the company.
Housing allowance at the moment includes a temporary allowance, including this temp allow it is still impossible to find accomodation (without sharing with other familes as our Indian colleagues do) due to the expense.
It is now rumoured that any wage increase (not before, quote 1st July as company is re-evaluating the complete package/structure unquote) will also result in the removal of this temp allow so therefore there will in effect be no wage increase as we will have to subsidise our rent out of our own pockets.
The company has an unwritten rule, you work late, usually 7pm every day and Saturdays also even though your contract states 3.30pm finish and Friday and Saturday off, the company does not pay overtime pay. If this is not acceptable to you, leave or be fired! The Indians will do this so it makes you look bad!
There has been no pay increase for the last two years even though inflation is running at 14% per year.
The only cheap commodity is fuel.
European swimwear is quite acceptable on private (hotel) beaches or public beaches, the only problem with women wearing bikinis on public beaches is invariably a Qatari will park at the edge of the water in his Land Cruiser watching and waiting for the woman to come out of the water so that he can ogle.
Litter on the public beaches is a very big problem, biggest culprits being the Qatari's and Indians.
Driving, is quite safe as long as you have your wits about you, you not only have to think about what your going to do next but try to predict what the two or three cars around you are going to do next and as they don't know how the hell do you?
The Qatari's drive fast and have to be first, this you get used to, they come behind you and flash their lights, just ignore them, stay in the lane your in if your driving at the maximum speed limit (if that's possible due to the queue's), they will just drive around you, the most dangerous drivers are the Indians, they truly do not know what they will do next, they approach roundabouts in the right hand lane and exit at the left hand exits cutting in front of anyone going straight ahead without warning.
They also sit in the centre lanes when both lanes either side are free because they are told at the time of their tests that this is safest, for them maybe, but they only prove to frustrate everyone else who then proceed to overtake on both sides of them.
Nobody uses indicators, nobody! except when there's fog and then the hazard warning lights come on, without putting headlights on, even when turning, so basically know one knows that they are going to turn.
Parking is impossible except at Villagio Mall which has a large car park.
Simple tip when driving is be aggressive, especially at roundabouts, get your nose in front and then you won't be chopped in.
To live here, basically, you get used to it, smile at the Qatari's and they smile back, sure they are arrogant but you get used to it.
The country in itself is ok, it's the Qatar Airways pay and in particular the housing that makes it difficult and makes everyone unhappy, if the company looked after you, treated you fair then life out here would be good but they don't, they just don't care which is very sad, so many people from all sectors are leaving every month thus costing the company money, if they looked after their employees (quote 'our employess are our No1 priority' unquote...that is one absolute bullsh*t statement) the company would benefit.
Finally, beware, anyone planning to come to Qatar Airways, the Indians will stab you in the back, they believe that it is the only way for them to progress in the company and they are encouraged to do so.
Other than that, it's great here
)
As a footnote, I have no immediate plans to leave, I live in hope that the company will recognise us all financially...we can all dream can't we?