Is Qatar a good place to raise a young family?

Qatar is a great place to raise a family. The Qatari's are very family orientated so you'll find lots of things designed to families (such as family parks and family days at the malls).

You'll often see families picnicing on the Corniche in the evenings.

It's true that Qatar is very family oriented in terms of culture but for 'family things to do' it is very limited. The Corniche is about the only place that one might be able to go (in the non-humid cooler season October - May). The desert is great but is difficult to fit into a normal weekly outing. There's a few malls where you can get everything you can in the west (well almost). No real museums, good bookshops, or kids entertainment complexes. All of this is coming but you should be prepared for the negative side of it until it develops. There are a few expat clubs which are nice (e.g. Natural History Group).

But Qatar has a lovely small-town-feeling and the Qatari's are warm and friendly - a good place for a family and I quite love it for those reasons.

This is from Ramsha Malik, 4th grader

I like Doha a lot especially the Corniche where I go for picnics with my family. There is a nice park near our house where we go for a walk. The giant malls in Qatar are very clean, beautiful and fun to go to. I adore Circus Land in the Landmark mall and Extreme World in the City Center. I love my school, Qatar Academy, which is very multi-cultured and there are students from all over the world. I like my friendly teachers and have made lots of new friends. I went to a beach camp with my class and we stayed there for 3 days and 2 nights. This was the most fun camping trip in my life. Our class also went to an animal farm where we rode on camels and horses. Last month, we painted our schools cafeteria walls, and printed our hand prints on it. We live in a beautiful compound. My house is big and I feel comfy in it. The nice thing of all is that my best friend lives in the same compound and we often go to each others house. There is a swimming pool in our compound, and a basketball court where I play with my friends. Qatar is a fun place to live and I like Qatar a lot!!!

(via http://www.qatar.cmu...)

I'm single in my late 30's.
My experience has been- "I've never felt more single than now"
Qatar is family orientated, very difficult for me as a female to buy car/ get house, etc. Salesmen simply assume we are imbeciles??
I find dining out/ coffee out on my own difficult.
Men tend to be hostile or their approach inapprpriate.
I have enough friends to keep me occupied- but again, when they are with their families- there are a limited number of activities one can do.
I'm outgoing-I do desert drives, go to beach, work-out and clubs- but so so limited
And yes-meeting places for singles are UNHEARD OF.
Single males that I know- drink a lot and are always at bars.
The one male we danced with- his first 4 months, he used to cry- I swear- cry tears.
It was hard in the beginning, I'm finding it easier- but I would go another place anytime.

Life only can be understood backwards, but must be live forward.

Yes Qatar good place for family life. We plan to stay here for 10 yrs, not 5 yrs already nearly gone. Looks like we even staying longer. My social life revolving coffee, school run, and taxis driver for my son.

We have single friends ... most of them said the life for single in Doha is boring compare to another country.

Hi Emilia,

I don't know about the rent is Dubai but I heared it is expensive but I am not sure how expensive compared to Doha.

If you want to rent an apartment or villa here in Doha then let me know what is your requirments and I will try to help as I work in this field.

Ayman
safwany/-a-t-/hotmail.com
+974 555-2197

Giasi,
I read that post the first time round, I did not reply as i wasnt sure when I would be getting to Doha, now I do
I shall be one of your first customers for the "club", you have to think of a catchy name.
I drink coffee strong no sugar, and as for the shopping its always interesting getting the male perspective on that (to die for) dress, do you know where I can get my nails done? do they wax ? eye brow plucking? do I wear opened toed shoes to work? ohh you opened a new forum for me :-) lol, do you get the Finacial times out there in tablet form, lol

In respect of the original question. We found Qatar a great place to raise a family and that was before all the new facilities.
Our kids were so happy in Doha that one of them spent 23 years there and has only recently left.
In terms of arranged activities there isn't a lot but we used to spend every weekend at the beach or in the desert. make your own activities, don't expect it to be delivered on a plate.

3BD FF villa in a compound might cost about QR. 15,000 or above in a good location, sometimes less in other locations.

About those compounds you mentioned they are full and with a waiting list.

You can contact me anytime if you want and I will be glad to find your requirment.

Ayman

Safwany do you have anything 4 beds, semi furnished only (just a/cs) near Lulu or DOha college preferably stand alone with a swimming pool?

And no 11yo kids!! :)

Oh Caroline is it your 11yo?

I need all the rooms anyway

Hmm I have always found that women sharing together is pure misery. Lots of [Mod Removed]ey goings on and problems with who ate the others muesli

You are welcome to him. I am sure he is wonderful.

I don't want anywhere until Mid may anyway as that is when my rent runs out I am just getting all sorted now. So it will be all yours (BTW wouldn't your 11yo prefer a compound? normally loads more to do on them for kids - there are some good value ones around too)

thanks for the information regardiing complexes
I have given Ayman quite a list of have and have nots to share with,
A) the Woman /women have to be over a size 12 - so they cannot steal my clothes
B) have very small/huge feet any other sizes than 6 - so they cannot wear my shoes
C) no peroxide blondes - they give us naturals a bad name and all the jokes that go with that, lol
D) must be able to pluck eyebrows - im useless
E) must have a sense of humour
the list is quite long

but made in jest

I dont know the lay of the land as yet so where it is .......... its a blonde thing. lol
he dislikes playing football but likes watching,Rugby he likes so that would be good for him

can you beleive we can fly to the moon and yet we cannot make clothes that dont need ironing .......life sucks
To be honest Ive had much information from Ayman as well hes been very very very helpfull-not just about villas etc

Ayman
with respect, no problem,(afwan), too many people in this world are quick to slight someone, Its nice to meet nice helpfull people, I hope someday to be able to do the same for you

shokran

caroline

Ok Super7...

But it is useless to search from now if you are planning to move mid of may, lets start searching by end or April.

Ayman