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LOADING OF PERSONAL EFFECTS, TIME FRAME The less handling is involved, the less likely it is that damage will occur. There are different scenarios: • straight to the container, which will be loaded on the ship the same day or the day after; • or to the moving company’s warehouse. This will depend on when the vessel is due to sail and if you are ready to receive your goods as soon as they arrive in Qatar. It is important to ask how long the shipment will take from its place of origin to destination and what is the route taken. In general, shipments tend to take six to ten weeks to get to destination (six to eight weeks from New York to Dubai or São Paulo). Most often, there is at least one stop along the way. You need to be in constant contact with someone at the moving company who can update you on the progress of the vessel. You will also be given details of the corresponding agent who will be handling customs clearance, loading of the container(s) once the vessel arrives in Qatar and...

THE MOVE Whether you are moving internationally or within Qatar, keep in mind that several of the international movers have partners/agents in the region. The decision you take is a very personal one as you have to feel comfortable, at ease, and trust that what will be promised to you will be done. A list of the major movers that are based locally can be found in the directory. Interem Removals and the Gulf Agency Company have been highly recommended in town. CHOOSING A MOVING COMPANY An essential part of getting ready for your move is the moving company you end up choosing from your point of origin. Finding out who their corresponding agent is at the destination is important as you can make some inquiries before your final decision. Chances are that the agents will be as good as the company who did your packing. If you own pets, do make sure that the company you choose is knowledgeable in this area, as it is not a straightforward procedure. • Moving delicate antiques and artwork requi...

WASTA “Wasta” literally translates into using some specific means to go around the rules, bending them a little in order to get things done much quicker. It is mainly based on favours that are reciprocated on the other side. It sometimes contains an element of bartering and is a local, completely acceptable, means of getting business done. If you have wasta, use it, as it only expedites your business transaction. PERSONAL BEHAVIOUR What is considered offensive is alike in the West. The following are, however, considered particularly disrespectful and may be subject to arrest: rude or aggressive behaviour, wearing revealing clothing in public places, public displays of affection, drunken driving. ADDRESSING SOMEBODY Generally, Qataris will be informal in addressing you. For example, if your name is Susan Johnson, you will be referred to as Miss Susan or simply Susan. If you are to meet a Sheikh (male) or a Sheikha (female), you do not have to call them Mr. Sheikh or Mrs. Sheikha. A simp...

MEDICATIONS AND DRUGS Some medications prescribed in your home country may not be allowed in Qatar. Your doctor might be able to inform you on what is permissible, however, for further clarification, call the officials at the Ministry of Health before you go. Travellers can contact the Ministry of Health’s Drug Control Department for replies on a case-by-case basis. As the list of forbidden medications is unstable and experience is not an acceptable excuse, it is up to the discretion of the customs officer to decide whether the person has made an honest mistake, in which case the medication might just be confiscated. To avoid complications of any kind, paperwork can be obtained to bring in the medication, which is prohibited. Illegal drugs are forbidden. Zero tolerance is the applied law for anyone using, importing, or possessing drugs in Qatar. Punishment is severe and could involve a life sentence. BEFORE THE MOVE PACKING What to take along is very much a personal choice. Qatar now o...

Qatar has joined a number of environmental conventions such as the Biodiversity Convention , and the 1969 Kuwait and 1971 Brussels conventions . Moreover, the Supreme Council for Environment & Natural Reserves (SCENR) was set up in 2000 to conserve and protect the environment and endangered species from threats and disasters resulting from oil and chemical spills. The SCENR initiated an annual Qatar Environment Day , held on February 26 , which prohibits any dealing or trading of endangered wildlife, and hunting of animals or birds. Also, ostriches and gazelles have been reintroduced in the Abrouq Peninsula , located on the western side of the country. Some of the reserves and protected areas in Qatar listed below can be visited: Ras Laffan Industrial City is home to birds, lizards, insects, mammals, snakes, fish and flora. Mangrove swamps in the area allow for a breeding area for a variety of shellfish and fish. Marine Turtle Conservation Initiatives was also set up in Ras Laffa...

ETIQUETTE AND PROTOCOL When moving to a new city, it is essential to know the fundamentals of tradition and etiquette in order to feel at ease, enjoy the new experience and take part in it, not only as a visitor but also as a resident. NATIONAL DRESS MEN The Qatari thawb is unique, specific to Qatar and different from those worn by men in the Gulf region. Easily identified by the collar, it is similar to a work shirt collar (the UAE thawbs do not have any collar, but simply a round neck line). The Qatari sleeves can be worn with or without cuff-links. The pocket on the front left of the thawb must be hard at the top so that it can hold a pen. Down the front of the thawb there are three visible buttons (they are round, as opposed to the square ones in Saudi Arabia). In the summer, the thawb is made of a white light cotton fabric in order to keep the body cool and allow the skin to remain dry. In the winter, the thawb is made of a heavier fabric with wool blends to keep the body warmer, ...

THE ANGLO-OTTOMAN CONVENTION By July 12, 1913, the Anglo-Ottoman Convention was signed. This was done without Sheikh Jassim’s knowledge, as he died of old age within five days of the signing, after having fought hard for it for a long time. The signing from the Qatari side was thus delayed, and the document was never officially formalized until November 3, 1916. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Jasim Al Thani, Sheikh Jassim’s son, took over after his father’s death in 1913. By 1914, World War I had broken out and the Ottomans sided with the Germans. The British were concerned that the Saudis would work on occupying Qatar and control the trading of arms in the region (the other force in the region that emerged at the time was the Wahhabis in east Arabia). By 1915, the Ottomans deserted Al Bida and the British gave it to the Sheikh of Qatar. OILFIELDS Qatar was sticking to their alliance with the British as Abdullah, the grandson of Mohammed Al Thani, secured the safety of his state in 1916 by provid...

MOULOUD (The Prophet’s Birthday) It always falls on the twelfth day of Rabee Al Awal, which is the third month in the Islamic calendar. EID AL-FITR (Breaking the Fast) Muslims rejoice the end of Ramadan with a three-day celebration (dates are variable depending on when Ramadan falls). Expatriates are often invited to break the fast and are encouraged to share and participate. EID AL-ADHA (Festival of Sacrifice) It falls on the tenth day of the last month of the Islamic calendar, 70 days after the end of Ramadan. A four-day holiday is given. Eid al-Adha commemorates Abraham’s will to sacrifice his one and only son to God, and is the culmination of the Hajj, the holy pilgrimage to Mecca. AL ISRA’S WAL ME’RAJ The celebration of the Prophet’s journey to the farthest mosque (to the rock underneath the dome in Jerusalem) and to Heaven. Muslims celebrate this event by offering optional prayers or by illuminating cities with electric lights and candles. It is a festival for families, focused o...

ENERGY CITY Part of the Lusail project (see below), Energy City will take over an area of three square kilometres and will be a signature project that puts top international oil companies together with Qatari hydrocarbon authorities. Microsoft’s Bill Gates has already backed this project, a state-of-the-art complex for companies with smart buildings as their standard. AL KHOR AREA (NORTH OF DOHA) Al Khor is only 35 km north of Doha. It is becoming the next city in the State of Qatar after the capital, with major development plans, as several educational facilities (initially operating out of temporary refurbished buildings) are working on opening campuses in the area. One prime example is the Qatar Foundation, which opened a second Qatar Academy school in September 2008. It has also been reported that two Indian schools will be opening in the area.   Al Khor is heavily focused on by the Urban Planning Development Authority. Early in 2008 it was reported that a multi-million dollar ...

GREETINGS Greetings are an important part of Qatari culture. Even when you do not know someone, it is recommended to greet him. The standard greeting in Arabic is Assalamu Alaikum (“Peace be upon you”). Refer to chapter 18, Quick Arabic, for useful everyday expressions. HANDSHAKING Generally, all business introductions begin with a handshake as you find in the West. It is important for female businesswomen to note that not all men shake hands with women; they should be aware of it and not take offence. NOSE TOUCHING Men greet one another by having the tips of their noses touch. If one is higher in rank than the other, the lower in rank tries to go up to reach the nose of the higher one in rank. There are exceptions in the greetings, though, when age is a factor or if a religious leader such as an imam or a shari’ah scholar is involved. In that case, the rank does not really matter as much as showing respect towards the other person. Both men would move their noses up to reach the other...

ECONOMY Second only to China, Qatar is one of the most visibly thriving economies in the world. Financial analysts have been predicting that by 2015 Qatar is likely to become the second biggest economy in the Gulf following Saudi Arabia, according to estimates from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Oil production accounts for more than 70 per cent of total government revenue. Qatar has the highest per capita income in the world following Luxembourg and Norway. The IMF estimates that economic growth will average out at 12 per cent per year by 2012. POPULATION One of the strongest indications that the economy of a country is booming is the influx of companies and professionals, which has a direct effect on the increase in its population. The latest figures released by the National Statistics Authority showed that Qatar’s population saw a growth of 18 per cent in the first half of 2008, putting the total number at 1.44 million, compared to 1.23 million in August of 2007. POPULATION B...

WHAT MAKES QATAR SPECIAL The State of Qatar is a challenging and charming country for its residents – visitors and nationals alike – and the aura surrounding this part of the world is still a mystery to many.   Just a few years ago Qatar was relatively unknown, yet today it is a famous country of almost unimaginable economic growth rates.   Qatar is now “on the map” for quite a few reasons. To start with, thanks to its formula for economic success Qatar has become the foreign direct investment capital of the Middle East. The country boasts the world’s third largest reserves of oil and natural gas, and it has one of the highest per capita GDPs, not only among the GCC countries, but also in the world. Qatar’s capital and largest city, Doha, is a hub of educational excellence and the country’s economic centre. Moreover, Qatar excels in improving telecommunications services and is the birthplace of the controversial Aljazeera Satellite Channel. Finally, it still presents itself as...