Becoming a Qatar resident – part 2
Onboarding in Qatar Let the prodding, paperwork – and fingerprints continue As a newcomer coming to live in Qatar you need a residency permit. You won’t receive one without a sponsor (usually a family member or employer) and a clean bill of health. Fortunately, I have both – a husband and a thumbs up from […]
Becoming a Qatar resident
Onboarding in Doha Let the prodding, poking and paperwork begin The woman bathed in black looked at up at me from her two portable typewriters through spectacles as narrow as the slit revealing her eyes … and I thought, where am I and what decade is this? Of course, I knew where I was – […]
10 first impressions of Doha
If first impressions are anything to go by, Doha achieves a high score on several fronts. This modern, happening city of 2.8 million people is impressive – well, certainly from my South African eyes. “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression … “ Here are ten things that jumped out at […]
The Journey to Doha
A false start … and who on earth is Ehteraz? I first heard about Ehteraz in the build-up to my departure for Doha. By all accounts, this Ehteraz, whose name constantly escaped me, was important and extremely well connected. It was best, folk warned, that I get to know him as soon as I could. […]
All packed for Doha and a new life
Two suitcases and the hang-dog barometer Once upon a time, back in the ‘80s and 90s, South Africans were “packing for Perth”, set on escaping the challenges of Mzansi for the order of Oz. Nowadays, Saffers* can be found the world-over, having packed up their sunny skies and Chevrolet lives for any number of reasons. […]