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 delivery and unpacking schedules. The corresponding agent will contact you only once your shipment arrives in Qatar.
UPON ARRIVAL IN QATAR
CUSTOMS CLEARANCE
Assume that your container will be checked upon arrival by the Doha Customs. The corresponding agent should take care of processing all the release papers and documents needed. The name of the person whose shipment appears on the forms may be called to show up at the port before the goods are released.
STORAGE IN QATAR
It is worth checking if there is storage available upon arrival of the container. Usually, a grace period of a few days is granted.
The time is limited and an extra charge will be incurred if you are not ready to receive your goods or whether you need a temperature-controlled or air-conditioned warehouse.
The shipment might be taken straight to the warehouse or might be delivered to the new residence upon customs clearance, depending on the time of day and month (during the Holy Month of Ramadan, for instance, working hours change as the working day is shorter). You will immediately be notified upon arrival of the vessel, but delivery is subject to the efficiency of customs clearance. There are no guarantees as to exactly when this happens; only a very approximate time frame is given by the broker handling the shipment. What has gone through customs inspection will be clearly marked.
THE UNLOADING PROCESS
Questions about the process of unloading and the number of people involved in it should be addressed to the corresponding agent in Qatar once you have been informed that your shipment has arrived. Because of differences in the labour market in Qatar, the number of people unloading will probably exceed the number you had in the city you departed from, especially if it is New York or London.
If you are moving during the summer months, a crew will be stationed outside and will be handling the furniture and boxes to the inside crew, who will place them in their corresponding rooms.
SETTLING DOWN
Relocation companies like Country Connections can do your "home search". According to the client's needs (i.e. the expatriate), they will get in touch with the real estate agents they trust and deal with in order to try to fit their needs. They will never show a property without the presence of a broker. They also offer a "settling programme", which is a package that the expat can get before his move, giving information on shipping, pets, and any kind of assistance.
THE SINGLE PERSON
Many expatriates move to Qatar to work in different fields (education, health, relocation...) and to benefit from the tax free environment. If you are single, you should have no worries when it comes to personal safety. Qatar is one of the safest places to live.
Once you start work, it will be easy to find a common link with your colleagues, which will ease your transition. With no family obligations or responsibilities, people are more willing to do things as a group, whether it is enjoying a dinner outing together or clubbing on the weekend. English being the universal language, day to day activities such as grocery shopping or taking a taxi are simple.
THE EMPLOYEE
If the employee is relocated by the company, help is provided in filling out and submitting the appropriate documents, in order to get the necessary permits (employment visa, driving licence etc.; refer to chapter 4: Legal Matters, for detailed information on visas). This is particularly important in Qatar, as regulations and requirements tend to change periodically.
The second step would be to go through the process of getting all appropriate permits for the family, as the employee acts as their main sponsor. The employee's speed in adjustment depends on whether he or she is familiar with Qatar or has acquaintances there, and if a "reconnaissance trip" prior to the move was undertaken. If married but arriving alone, Qatar is an easy city to adjust to. The newcomer can familiarize himself quite quickly to what is available, making it easier for his family's transition.
THE TRAILING SPOUSE
The situation with the trailing spouse varies, depending on the time of year the move is completed and if there are children coming along. If the trailing spouse is the mother and the father has already moved, chances are the whole family will be reunited at the end of the summer holiday, especially if school has been secured (refer to chapter II: Education, for details on the education system in Qatar). This is in fact the longest vacation children have during the school year, and the hottest season to avoid.
WEBSITES FOR AN INSIGHT INTO QATAR
www.qatarliving.com and www.qatarvisitor.com are great sites and blogs for people who have just moved to Qatar or have been around for a while. They have information on everything, from used cars for sale to discussions about traffic madness.
www.qatarhappening.com tells you what's new in town.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: english.mofa.gov.qa.
Qatar Financial Centre: www.qfc.com.qa.
Aspire Sports Complex: aspire.qa. A sports haven.
E-Services: portal.www.gov.qa/wps/portal is the Hukoomi (government in Arabic) website, which provides for government online services; or e.gov.qa (traffic violation payments, visa visits etc.).
Parliament: www.majlis.gov.qa is the official website of the Consultative Assembly (Parliament) or Majlis.
Hamad Medical Centre: www.hmc.org.qa.
Ministry of Education: moe.edu.qa.
Ministry of Interior: www.moi.gov.qa.
National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage: nccah.com.
Road works: ashghal.com is the website for the government road works department.
Qatar Foundation: qf.edu.qa is the website for Qatar Foundation for education.
Qatar International Exhibition Centre: qiec.com.qa.
Qatar National Hotels Company: www.qnhc.com.qa.
Aljazeera: english.aljazeera.net is the English Al Jazeera Satellite Channel website.
Reed: www.reedglobal.com.qa is the Reed recruitment agency website.
Qatar Post: www.qpost.com.qa. You can renew your family residence visa and ID cards online (the only location set up for this service is the Main Qpost Branch, located just off the corniche, close to the Sheraton Hotel). The system also has e-banking capabilities to transfer funds from Qpost to Qatar immigration once your visa is processed.