Comanche, here are some true facts:
_ A First Officer with 3 kids going to a decent school, living in a decent villa in a decent compound, driving a used car, brings nothing home.
_ You work on a day off to accomodate them, you get nothing.
_ Your days off are moved around because they're short of crews, it's your problem, you get nothing.
_ Your annual leave is moved to a later date because they're short of crews, it's your problem and you get nothing in return.
_ Training Captains get a 1600 riyal bonus per month. But since they make less on the per diem (I'll save you the details), they actually make less as they have to report earlier than the other pilots, and leave office later after paper work/de-briefing is done and so on......and it's their problem.
All expat employees go home at least twice a year, you get one free ticket. It's your problem. With your family around, you'll note that almost every riyal you earn here, stays here in Qatar and/or goes back to QR.
The CEO approves all of the above and unfortunately is extremely comfortable with it and from what we hear, it is not about to change. At least, if working harder and being more accomodating to them would bring a higher pay check, but no.
Doha with a family, specially if you have kids, is just fine. It is for us anyway. My two grains of sand worth of advice, is to come over here on your own until training is over, than decide for the rest of the family. From what I read, you ask the same questions than I did before joining and although most comments were negative I decided to join anyway, and my conclusion is that, if only corrections were made to my above concerns, we could be around for some time, but we'll see...................
See you in Doha!