Qatar is considered a very attractive prospect for expatriate professionals and workers, and has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world.

In the past five years, the number of expatriate workers has increased to over a million. In the preparations for the 2022 World Cup, Qatar offers nearly 2 million job opportunities, out of which 1.5 million are in the World Cup projects alone, and the rest on infrastructure projects.

Job seekers in Qatar can search for jobs on Qatar Living's jobs section.

Here's what you need to know before you come to Qatar for work

Once a contract of employment has been agreed with your employer, a temporary visa will be sent to you.

You can follow-up on visa issuance through the Ministry of Interior's website. Visas can also be printed via this link, or the Hukoomi portal.

To obtain a residence or work permit, you must submit a passport, a good conduct certificate (hand fingerprints) from the country that issued the passport, and latest educational certificate in Arabic, or translated into Arabic.

All documentation must be certified/attested through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Qatar Embassy in the country from which you applied.

All original documents must be certified/attested through the embassy of your country followed by the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

To complete the residence permit procedure, applicants must take a medical examination. To avoid waiting, an appointment can be booked in advance through the Ministry of Public Health's website.

The medical examination results should be sent online to the Criminal Evidences and information Department, for the final stage of taking hand fingerprints. Once the process is completed and the authorities are satisfied with the application, the permit will be granted.

Bringing your family after getting your work permit and RP

After receiving a residence permit, you can bring your wife and children to Qatar to live under your personal sponsorship.

You must submit a salary certificate from your employer, birth certificates of children and a marriage certificate to the Foreign Ministry and the Embassy of Qatar in your country.

You can also apply for a family visa at the Hukoomi portal.

Photo credit: Ziad Hunesh