Fair enough, I changed my comment before you posted. But you are naive as you seem to feel qualified to condescend against the general feeling, based on what, a few months experience? Get some time under your belt, you're just the latest in a long line of new guys who drink the cool aid and then come back in the future bleating about how unfair it all is.

Nope just happy to be away from my old employer:D

The quality of life depends on what you make of it. Some people remain miserable no matter how successful their career is, others strive to find happiness in not-so-friendly parts of the world.
But to cut the crap - QR is a pleasant workplace, rosters are reasonable if you bid right (can be done), holiday leave can pretty much be assigned based on your preference. Speaking of the widebody fleet you get to spend reasonable amount of time at home.
People you fly with are 99% professional and friendly if you present cooperative attitude yourself (this is true anywhere you fly really).
As to the job security this is an issue which applies to all carriers in the ME. Stick to the SOPs and company procedures/limitations, be assertive with PIC whenever one wants to break the rules and you should be fine.
The key to your well-being in QR is schooling place for kids and living quarters near it.
You don't want yourself or your wife to spend hours on the road. This is a dangerous place to be so limit your exposure to the minimum required.
Once you find school where your kids will be happy and a house nearby find some friends, so you and your wife have someone to socialize with.
Use staff travel tickets to get out of Doha once in a while if you feel overwhelmed with the beige-coloured environment.
Doha can be a good place to live and great majority of people I fly with share this sentiment.
Bringing your Family here for a day can only give you a brief overview what the place looks like, but you need time to find the right place to live and settle in.
PM me if you have any more specific questions.
Regards
Dom

Thanks everyone for your input. Now for the hard decision :-/

Have a look at the EK rosters then make the call.

Errm rather lieks nother thread I am surprised that people consider Doha and Dubai to have a similar quality of life.

I don't recall having to get permission to leave Dubai from my employer every time I get on a plane!

Doha may have stuff to do but Dubai has something for everyone and is hugely more liberal. The quality of what is available is not even comparable. Hainvg spent plenty of time in both I wouldnt take my family to Doha if they trippled the salary adn it is already very good!

Which airline you work for and how **** they treat you to be frank is not the same as the quality of life your family get. Personally, Dubai every time. More to do, better to visit, easier to leave and better to have a family in. Apc, Dubai 7s, etc etc but depends I supse on your nationality and what you like doing for me they werent even choices.

Well, a while ago, when I was down in the ME flying for QR, there was no discussion where to go - it was EK.

Times change, as well in the ME, it seems the QR "package" became better, but it is still QR what is sitting there ugly in the shadow, waiting to jump at you(a bit dramtic, I know, but the best way you can picture QR airlines and it's lovely boss).

There is no comparison between Doha and Dubai.

The current deal at QR might be better, maybe even the off days may be better now(a few years the weren't, a lot of guys jump ship and that's why they changed it - empty cockpits do not fly well). But remember - they always can change the deal. It's even written in the contract(at least it was written in mine a few years back).

Honestly, if someone would ask me right now I would suggest to stay well clear of EK AND QR. If there is no choice, your old outfit is bancrupt or you need to work on your sun tan (:E) then I would always go EK. They are going apparently downhill at the moment but, after loosing enough experienced crew, will turn around(must turn around) or close down.