marycatherine

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Latest post on 19 September 2014 - 15:33

Number 1, please be aware the major employers monitor sites like these on a regular basis. Depending on your questions and the answers they get - this may or may not be a problem. @Abby, if it's not in your contract it's not included. I have lived and worked in 3 countries in the GCC for close to 20 years and these items have always been part of the written terms and conditions. I would be very surprised if a major employer "accidently" omitted them. Generally, the rule of thumb for Western expats is that your Doha salary (not including the benefits) should be closer to 150% of your current gross. Otherwise, it's not worth it.

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Latest post on 19 September 2014 - 15:28

I very much doubt if any but the upper echelon of SIDRA staff would be housed in West Bay. It is very expensive in comparison to the Mshereb area. Be very aware that traffic from Mshereb to Sidra will be dire for the foreseeable future unless you are on shift work and can travel against traffic. Lots of people like Mshereb because it is older and more interesting, has established businesses and restaurants within relatively good walking distance (when it starts to cool down). If you have never lived in the GCC or a developing country, Mshereb can be a bit of a shock to the system. I have no doubt the building itself is acceptable, but as Qatar was named the 2nd most polluted country in the world by WHO this week, be prepared for a big change coming from a more developed country.

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Latest post on 19 September 2014 - 15:22

cream of tartar is available here - I found it at Megamart glass measuring cups and mixing bowls are widely available in various hypermarkets for reasonable prices not familiar with using unbleached paper in baking, is it like parchment paper or wax paper? (both available here) I use a knife to cut my sandwiches or are you making fancy shapes?

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Latest post on 11 September 2014 - 10:20

The SEC has decreed that the child/family has to have residency before they can apply for places in schools. In practice, some schools will accept applications if residency has been applied for but not yet obtained. The SEC has also said that students cannot join mid school year, they have to start in September - haven't heard of anyone's experiences regarding this though. As for finding a place at a school you want - that depends on which school. The more sought after schools by Western expats usually have long waiting lists and probably won't even be taking applications to be put on the waiting lists until the new year. As you said, this impacts recruiting of expat employees with families. I would be very careful if any company "promised" your children would find a suitable placement quickly/without trouble. There are some of the oil/gas companies and some passport holders who might get priority in some schools but you're out of luck if your family is not in that group. The SEC has approved many new school openings. These will take time (read Doha News for info on 2 of the them)and a whole lot of patience. Generally, expect a lot of teething problems for new schools as well.

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Latest post on 09 September 2014 - 13:07

Any one of the big 5 banks in Canada are very good. I prefer Toronto Dominion but the others are good too CIBC, Royal Bank, Scotiabank, Bank of Montreal. They will all have fairly convenient branches and hours across Canada. HSBC is there but they will only have one branch in several provinces (because they are required to do so as a retail bank operating in Canada)but only Toronto and Montreal and Vancouver will offer multiple branches - and then not nearly as many as the Canadian banks do. There are a couple of other banks that offer day to day retail banking/lending services - Tangerine being an online one and PC Bank which operates out of one of the larger supermarket chains. The big 5 all operate internationally and have a vast network of banks in other countries they do business with as well. They are all represented in major financial centres like Tokyo, Hong Kong, Mumbai, London, the USA etc., but usually on a corporate level not for day to day consumer banking but they do provide services like international transfers etc.

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Latest post on 09 September 2014 - 07:29

For myself, Toronto would not be at the top of my list (neither would Vancouver or Montreal for different reasons). If your DH is in IT what about a University town? There are many top notch universities in smaller cities across Canada that would be more attractive for family life than the larger ones. Halifax, Saint John/Frederiction, Kitchener/Waterloo, Calgary, etc. Except for Calgary at this time, housing is reasonable in the other cities and for me, offer a higher quality of life for everyone in the family, and good schools providing you live in the right school district. In Toronto, one or both of you would probably have a lengthy commute to work if you are interested in a house rather than a condo/apartment.

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Latest post on 09 September 2014 - 07:21

The PRO at Sidra should be able to advise. I know of a few cases but they had lots of hurdles to jump and lots of paperwork and time were involved.

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Latest post on 09 September 2014 - 07:20

There are many small laundries around the city - no launderettes that I am aware of. These small laundries will do your washing for considerably less than the hotels.

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Latest post on 09 September 2014 - 07:20

If you intend to sponsor her you will need written permission from the child's father to do so.

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Latest post on 09 September 2014 - 07:18

It isn't legal to give in home classes (or perform any other services) and charge $$ for them. Qatari law does not allow for home based businesses. As RachelA says, people do it. However, you might be in trouble if an annoyed neighbor (parking issues?) or an unhappy student decides to report you. Do I think you're likely to encounter problems? Probably not. But you should educate yourself and consider carefully what risks you are willing to run.

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Latest post on 07 September 2014 - 14:56

The long commute between Al Waab and West Bay depends on your route. One (or more) my be contingent on construction, but others are because of roundabouts that have yet to be replaced with intersections and overall poor urban planning. There are literally dozens of new apt blocks being constructed city wide with no infrastructure being put in place to accommodate literally 1000s of new cars/drivers on the roads (or a place to park them). Al Sadd is overbuilt already and they're still going gangbusters.

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Latest post on 07 September 2014 - 14:51

Buy the chicken breasts with skin on and bone in - you can remove both once they cool a bit and the skin helps keep the chicken moist and anything cooked on the bone has that much more flavor. It's a little more work but the results are good.

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Latest post on 07 September 2014 - 12:45

I would not be surprised if the commute from Al Waab in the morning and back again from West Bay in the afternoon was close to an hour. Of course, after the drop off and going to pick your children up you would be going against traffic, say 20 - 25 minutes. So a total of close to 1.25 to 1.5 hours round trip each way.

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Latest post on 04 September 2014 - 10:57

For the bills can you put a credit balance on the card to cover the amount of the final charges? As for the airline, can you buy the tickets with cash at their offices?

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Latest post on 01 September 2014 - 09:26

IKEA also carries Christmas décor, but usually not until November

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Latest post on 01 September 2014 - 09:25

Do you have a professional accounting qualification? Even if you do, many/most of the jobs you mention are filled by fully qualified applicants from the subcontinent and other parts of Asia who are willing to work for 25% - 50% of what Westerners/Europeans might accept. Think 5,000 - 10,000AED which won't take you very far with a family. Few of them will offer any benefits such as housing, tickets or education - all of which are expensive in Dubai. The housing will probably require a full year's rental payment upfront as well - are your pockets deep enough? A lot more research is required for you to make an educated decision. If you do have a professional qualification, contact Charterhouse or other recruiting companies. You may get lucky. Definitely don't come here without a job or bring a big pot of money if you do.

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Latest post on 01 September 2014 - 09:14

And they might give you 3 weeks notice too. Working in Qatar is not like working in Canada or the UK or US. The employer/sponsor holds all the cards and there are a lot of people looking to come to Qatar because they believe it is the land of milk and honey. Most hospitals and clinics are staffed by doctors, nurses, etc. from the sub-continent and other parts of Asia. They are fully qualified but are willing to work for lower wages than most Western/Europeans. As for Sidra being willing to wait for you? Only if your skill set is unique and there isn't a bunch of people willing to accommodate them. You all seem to be very savvy professional people but the GCC is a unique place to work and has many rules and regulations and cumbersome procedures and protcols that must be navigated and adhered to. In fact, if you look at any offers, your employment will be contingent on your passing the medical (after you get here) and getting your work/residency visa. That's why you have to have a chest xray and blood test before you come - to weed out those who don't meet the medical requirements. You also get to do it again here at a government facility. Sidra has no control over either although they may have some influence if your skill set is urgently required. But if your application hits the wrong desk on the wrong day, with the wrong person. you will be returning to your home country within days/weeks of your arrival. The same medical requirements will apply to any family members older than 12. I know of a woman (wife of a colleague) who was refused residency because they couldn't get a clear set of finger prints - so she was rejected on security grounds. Does this happen often? Not really, but you should be aware of how this system works. edited by marycatherine on 01/09/2014 <em>edited by marycatherine on 01/09/2014</em>

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Latest post on 19 August 2014 - 19:21

I've heard there's someone who works at CNAQ who does this. Have no idea how to contact them. Perhaps someone else can help?

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Latest post on 19 August 2014 - 19:04

If you are buying a puppy in UAE expect to pay between 5,000 to 10,000. Then you have the costs of vaccinating, neutering and microchipping the puppy - probably another 3,000 (and the vaccinations are ongoing). If you get one of the puppy mill puppies (and you probably will) factor in the costs of dog behaviourists (as most puppy mill puppies are taken from their mothers too soon and as a result are improperly socialized and will probably have some behaviour issues, ranging from mild to extreme). Health issues/costs as well will most likely be a problem, the most frequent being parvo where the treatments will cost you about 10,000 and the puppy will probably die anyways after cruelly suffering. Genetic issues are more likely than not, hip displaysia, etc. etc. etc. Also, to relocate the puppy outside the UAE will cost more 1000s of dirhams, make sure you have enough money to cover those costs. As an expat, you could lose your job tomorrow and have to leave. Adopt - preferably a dog that is older than 2 years to avoid some of the health and behaviour issues. Otherwise, you better have deep pockets.

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Latest post on 31 July 2014 - 23:36

When I change countries (which I've done 3x in the GCC) - I ask my cleaning person to assist with selling items I have no need for. S/he is to take 10 - 20% of whatever they get for the items (so the more they sell them for, the more they themselves earn). I am fortunate enough that I don't need every last fil from each sale. It has worked for me in the past and I will do the same when I leave my current country. BTW - I've cleaned out a 3 Bed house in less than 24 hours this way - they came and took everything, including curtains/curtain rods, dismantled wardrobes etc. Worth it to me in every sense of the word. <em>edited by marycatherine on 31/07/2014</em>

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Latest post on 31 July 2014 - 23:33

If you have soft sided luggage, a determined thief will not even bother with the locks when a knife will do the job much more quickly. I never lock my bags, but then, I never pack anything of substantial value in my checked luggage. Jewellery, electronics etc. go in my hand luggage - however, I do often put all the cables etc. in my checked bags, they're no good (or cheaper to replace) to a thief without the actual item that needs them.

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Latest post on 30 July 2014 - 22:13

I don't know if you are planning to be present at the airport to pick up the boxes but it may be required for you to clear them through customs. Something to check on. As for a pick up truck, ask colleagues about private drivers, often they will have contacts (or even a truck) that they will help you with the delivery. Also, often there are "freelancers" at or just outside the cargo clearing area who are available for a price, be prepared to negotiate

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Latest post on 28 July 2014 - 21:01

Satwa is quite a hike for upholstering Doha furniture. ;) You could try Najma - there are lots of upholstery fabric stores on the main drag there.

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Latest post on 23 July 2014 - 14:24

Based on past experiences, please be sure you make sure you and your family are able to wait until the project is completed to the point where they are actually bringing people in (i.e. don't quit your current job until you have your plane ticket and entry visa in hand). Qatar has a poor reputation for completing anything on time - the airport being a case in point - it is still not complete and is now 6+ years behind schedule. When they canned the previous contractor on that project the authorities refused entry to the site to the new contractor for the better part of a year and then blamed the new contractor for the continuing delay. If you google various projects around the country you will find that most projects are at least 3+ years behind schedule if not more. Private initiatives also have similar problems, mostly because of the lag time waiting for inspections or approvals (IKEA is a case in point). I don't want to discourage you but this is the environment in Qatar. It's not that the contractors don't want to complete the job on time, but the continuous changes to specs cause the delays - the major contractor on the expressway finally walked away from the project because of the changes coupled with the refusal of the government entity to make payments.

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Latest post on 21 July 2014 - 22:31

You could try the Ritz or the Intercon - I'm not sure if the Diplomatic Club offers classes. They may not be offered right now due to Ramadan, but it's worth asking.

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Latest post on 21 July 2014 - 17:54

Then you should be asking him, or the HR Dept Manager, via email or phone these questions. Some things may have to be completed before you leave your current location and can be more difficult to accomplish long distance. Asking us will get our opinions based on our experience, but you want clear and current and reliable answers, your employer or DH's employer should be providing those to you now. We do try to help, but we're not always aware of recent changes because they are almost never published and we find out the hard way.

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Latest post on 21 July 2014 - 13:04

Your organization's PRO should be who you are asking. He's the one who will be dealing with the MoI etc. to get the residency permits etc. I strongly suggest you make an appointment with him, take your documents with you and go through each one individually to make sure you understand which need to be attested. You and your husband's birth certificates will not need to be attested - so far as I know, your childrens' will. Again, I am not the MoI - and they can (and sometimes do) change the rules without warning.

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Latest post on 20 July 2014 - 15:28

Question 1: what sort of visa is this, is it a tourist visa? It may be a tourist visa, it will be a temporary visa of some kind until your DH gets his RP and then can apply to sponsor you - hopefully, his employer will be able to arrange you don't have to wait for 6 months (which has happened for others - not usually for Westerners/Europeans tho) ** Question 2: What documents do I need to have with me for this; what is the process? You will need attested copies of your marriage certificate and your son's birth certificate at least - others will be able to advise on other docs. The company is then paying for us to remain at an appartment/hotel for 30 days and from what I understand I then need to apply for another visa/residence permit within the 30 days, to stay permanently/until my husband changes jobs or countries, Extensions are only good for 30 days so far as I know and after the 1st one you and your DS will have to exit and re-enter, so far as I know ** Question 3: what type of visa/permit is this? - see question 1 ** Question 4: what is the process? - see question 1 ** Question 5: can I apply for it in Qatar or do I have to come back to the UK to apply? - you don't have to return to the UK, you just have to exit Qatar and re-enter, many go to Bahrain or Dubai and return within hours. ** Question 6: what documents do I need? See answer to question 2. ** Question 7: have I missed anything? What else do I need to know? - Your DH's PRO should be advising you of all of the above. I would strongly recommend you/DH get in touch with the PRO as he will be handling most of these issues/documents (or should be if the employer is any good). Other questions you need answered: Is the employer providing permanent accommodation or accommodation allowance? If the latter, how much? Rents are rising here almost daily, you don't want to be lowballed and end up paying out of pocket next year. Does the employer give an education allowance? If so, how much? Yes your baby is still young but this is a big cost further down the road. Does the employer provide health/medical for the entire family? Does the employer provide annual tickets home for the entire family? Is all of this written into the employment contract? If not, that's a big red flag. <em>edited by marycatherine on 20/07/2014</em>

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Latest post on 19 July 2014 - 15:39

There's a Crate and Barrel in Doha? Where?

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Latest post on 19 July 2014 - 13:24

Garmin does a series of watches/fitness gadgets that allow the wearer to see their elevation, their GPS coordinates and a little "tracking system" that will allow the wearer to see their outgoing path and follow it back to the beginning. You can also set different points (via the GPS) that allow you to move from point to point.

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Latest post on 08 July 2014 - 13:01

If you leave without being issued your RP, your application is cancelled and you start from scratch (including all attached expenses) again. If you're footing the bill, you may be OK with that. If an employer is paying they may not be very happy. I know one large employer that refuses to assist dependents with the process at all if they leave the country before the first employer assisted application is completed. Who is making your application? Your husband? Your husband's employer's PRO? Or is it your employer's PRO? The latter 2 may be able (if they are good at their job) to help push your application through. If they're not good at their job (or not motivated to help you) or your husband (who presumably has no wasta)can't plead your case with an official at immigration, you may have to make some hard choices. <em>edited by marycatherine on 08/07/2014</em>

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Latest post on 06 July 2014 - 04:14

do a search for nurseries/schools - you may have a challenge there with such short notice. Expat housing is all over Doha including the areas you mention. Shouldn't be an issue if your budget is sufficient.

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Latest post on 06 July 2014 - 04:12

So long as your nanny is aware she is being recorded/observed, you can place them anywhere. If this is not the case, then what is happening is illegal under UAE law and YOU can be prosecuted if things go pear shaped. As for known camera placements - the bath the bedroom and any other room where the nanny and child spend the most time.

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Latest post on 03 July 2014 - 14:04

I agree with previous posters, these shorts haven't been an issue for more than 10 years. However, there have been the 2 personally known to me incidents, and others by hearsay in the past 2 - 3 months (as one guy said, "I've been to motor vehicles every year for 10 years and this year they wouldn't let me in wearing the shorts"). Personally, I hate going to government offices for anything, so I dress so that I can do it in one go without worrying if I'll be turned back.

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Latest post on 02 July 2014 - 04:05

Government offices (Ministry of Interior, Car inspection/Registration/Driver's License, etc.) are refusing entry to men wearing this type of clothing. I know 2 personally who were told to go home and change. I have heard (but don't know anyone myself) that some women have been turned away as well for not wearing clothing covering knees, shoulders to the elbow or showing "too much" cleavage. Elsewhere, your DH is most likely to be OK. However, I wouldn't be surprised to hear if it was an issue occasionally.

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Latest post on 23 June 2014 - 17:04

I think you mixed up your arrival dates but no matter. Finding a place in schools is dire, hopefully someone can give you an idea of where there is hope to find places. As for point 3, your DH should be asking his HR Dept. how he can sponsor his family and if they will assist with the process. Some employers help expedite the process, others don't and your DH would have to wait 6 months before he can sponsor you. There are also minimum salary requirements that have to be met. Your DH has to ask his employer for specifics on what and how much they will assist. Your marriage certificate will have to be attested. Not sure about the children's birth certificates.

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Latest post on 23 June 2014 - 17:01

You should be alright for an expat community, but it won't be limited to Brits and Americans - you will be delighted by a myriad of nationalities (and if you're lucky, their cooking). Usually places like RasGas and QatarGas will support their employees social activities in various ways. In small towns like Al Khor, that means nearly everyone who wants to will be able to participate in various events and activities. I believe Lulu (a large hypermarket) opened a year or so ago and Doha is not far away for a weekend day trip. IKEA (if you need it) is on your side of the outskirts of Doha which is convenient. Only downside is that if you enjoy a glass of something occasionally, you have to get a license (requires permission from your employer) and travel to Doha to get any alcohol. There are some nice beaches and I prefer Al Khor over Doha because it is quieter and definitely slower paced. Good luck

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Latest post on 23 June 2014 - 13:42

kimmc3 is that what you have done? And it worked? In my experience when dealing with damaged government issued ID the Department generally asks that the mangled/damaged document be returned when requesting a replacement. At least that's the case with my own home country's government when issuing a new passport. They wanted the old (went thru the wash) one back before reissuing it. Otherwise the whole application process would have to be done again. Maybe it's different here in Qatar? OP I'd keep the police report just in case. IMHO, it's never good to lie to government authorities. edited by marycatherine on 23/06/2014 <em>edited by marycatherine on 23/06/2014</em>

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Latest post on 23 June 2014 - 08:49

All suitcases are scanned before they reach the luggage carousel. Those of "interest" are flagged electronically and will be subject to a second scan and possible inspection before leaving the arrivals area. I've had it happen 3x. The last time, they didn't even have to open the bag to determine the item was innocuous but they spent 2-3 minutes examining it in the secondary scanner. Be aware real vanilla is packed in alcohol. Whether it would be confiscated is up to the individual inspector (or even if it would be questioned). Don't know if I would want to risk it on my first entry to a new country. Some over the counter medications in the UK/North America are considered controlled substances here and could be a real problem if discovered. Anything with any amount of codeine is banned. Here's a link to the UAE Ministry of Health's list of controlled drugs (I don't know if Qatar has a published list, but I imagine it is very similar to UAE). http://www.uaeinteract.com/travel/drug.asp

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Latest post on 23 June 2014 - 08:38

Just an FYI in case you're not aware - Ramadan starts next week and regular business/shop timings etc. change. It can take longer to get things done than usual so pack loads of patience. I don't know if you have lived in the GCC before but you should be aware of things like no eating/drinking in public between dawn/sunset - that includes in your car, not even water. Most restaurants will be closed during the day. There will be some who offer take away/delivery. Some of the big hotels will have one restaurant open for guests that can be sheltered from the public areas/lobbies of the hotel. Your husband's employer/HR dept should be able to advise on other matters that may affect your settling in during Ramadan.

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Latest post on 23 June 2014 - 08:33

Get a police report from India just in case. As Gina said, you don't need it to re-enter the country. However, if you had e-gate privileges on it, you get to go through the regular line at immigration Yippee!

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Latest post on 23 June 2014 - 08:31

Does your lease specify 4 weeks or a month's notice? They can be different things. A month's notice generally (at least in my part of the world) means a full calendar month's notice. So if you advised him on the 17th of June, you would be liable for the rest of June and all of July - IF that is the rental interpretation here in Qatar and I stand to be corrected. If the contract states specifically 4 weeks notice, then you might be correct in your interpretation.

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Latest post on 21 June 2014 - 08:46

Hi Nona It's good that he has experience in the GCC. In the past, the MoI has had moratoriums on Egyptian visas because of various issues between the 2 countries. His employer may prefer to hire him because he is Arab and his expertise but it could be (I don't know as I'm not MoI) be a reason for the delay in getting his visa. I would say 2 months as a minimum, getting set up can be expensive. Also remember some landlords will require an entire year's rent upfront, others might be more flexible but you don't want any unpleasant surprises with 3 children in tow. As for accommodation, I strongly suggest you get a confirmed school placement for your children first, then start looking for accommodation. Traffic here is dire during the school run and the school buses start picking up even small children as early as 5am in some neighbourhoods. As for driving them yourself, you don't want to spend an hour there and back 2x per day if you can help it. Rent is going to be your only option unless you have very deep pockets and are prepared to live far away from most good schools. There is a www.dubizzle.com section dedicated to Doha - you can get an idea of prices for buying the limited properties available for expats. Good luck <em>edited by marycatherine on 21/06/2014</em>

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Latest post on 18 June 2014 - 21:53

To put it bluntly, your qualifications are not going to get any type of legal teaching work anywhere in the GCC. Your other experience will not get you a living wage or sponsorship. Most customer service or administration positions are filled by nationals from Asia who work for substantially less than a UK expat unless you want to work for Pocket money. edited by marycatherine on 18/06/2014 <em>edited by marycatherine on 18/06/2014</em>

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Latest post on 17 June 2014 - 09:20

Unfortunately, how you feel and how things work in Qatar may not be in agreement. I know people who are still waiting after 6 months to join major national health care facilities for their entry visas let alone their RPs. One issue may be nationality. From your posts I am guessing English is not your first language and your husband's nationality may be making it difficult to secure a visa for him. If you don't have an accommodation allowance, you will need a lot of money to set yourselves up. Renting IS your only option. Buying property here as an expat is limited to a small area and the properties are very expensive and will require as much as a 20% down payment minimum. A family of 5 in a villa on a decent compound can be as much as 15 - 25000 per month. Have you also checked the school fees demanded by your preferred schools. They are not cheap either and not all inclusive either (trips, sports, etc. can all add to the bill). Even if the landlord will accept more than one cheque, you are looking at 50,000 riyals (USD15000) minimum to secure accommodation for 2 months, let along all the rest of the incidentals (furniture etc, if unfurnished). It is also generally recommended you bring at least 2 months worth of cash to cover your expenses to ensure that you have a minimum financial cushion. Have you lived/worked in the GCC before? These circumstances are not atypical for this part of the world. <em>edited by marycatherine on 17/06/2014</em>

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Latest post on 16 June 2014 - 08:20

Three weeks is not unusual, some people wait months for the entry visa and then more time for their RP. Your husband will have to get his RP before yours and the children can even begin to be processed, more time. How long? Depends on the employer's PRO and how quickly they want/need your husband on the ground. Only DBS can tell you if the children can be registered without an RP in hand. Some schools will allow registration if the RP process has been started. The Supreme Education Council sets the rules, not the schools. As for even getting them into school at this late date let alone one of the more popular ones, you may be (probably are) too late. But fingers crossed they will be able to move up the waiting list quickly - if they are even added to the list. As for how much money you will need - does the employer provide housing or an allowance for accommodation? If not, you will need a serious amount of money to rent a home as landlords regularly demand and get up to a full year's rent in advance. Car? An SUV on rent will cost about $3000 riyal/month at least. Used, if you get here soon you would be in a buyer's market as people are leaving now, you might get a decent 2nd hand SUV for between 70,000 to 120,000 (Nissan, Toyota or similar)be sure to be careful when buying second hand to be sure the vehicle is mechanically sound. Housing can be furnished (badly and of poor quality usually) or unfurnished but IKEA is here so setting up from scratch would be relatively painless. <em>edited by marycatherine on 16/06/2014</em>

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Latest post on 05 June 2014 - 11:50

How long is a piece of string? Will the offer include housing, medical, tickets and an education and transportation allowance? What are your spending habits? Evenings out at 5* hotels? Gym memberships needed? etc. etc. etc. Doha is an expensive place and to get a decent 2 bedroom apartment(acceptable by most European/Western standards) in a good area will set you back a minimum of 12 - 15000 riyals/month - that can easily double for a villa (although some are cheaper)

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Latest post on 05 June 2014 - 08:41

I buy excellent coffee beans at the local roastery. He has Columbian, Arabian and French Roast in various roasts (light, medium, dark). I just buy the beans and grind them myself as I need them. It runs about 70QAR/kilo which is about USD19.50/kilo. The only people I know (other than a previous poster) who used to bring in coffee was a Canadian couple who lived for Tim Horton's brand of coffee (yuck). I couldn't imagine giving up valuable suitcase space for that swill. HTH

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Latest post on 05 June 2014 - 08:37

Good choice, you won't regret it. The trip may not be their idea of a pleasure cruise but cats generally recover quickly.

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Latest post on 05 June 2014 - 08:36

My maid always moves in when I go on vacation/holiday to care for my pets. However, I have been very lucky with my household help, they are responsible, caring, and love my pets as much as I do.

How expats in Germany can get German pension refund

Bye Bye Germany - Hello German Pension Refund?

UAE Emirati Lawyer Awatif Khouri in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Meet the Emirati Woman Breaking Grounds in UAE Law: Awatif Khouri

Mashreq NEO NXT Account | Why Kids and Teens Need Financial Education

Why Teens Need Real-World Financial Education?

International university transition tips

How to Make the Transition to University Life Easier

How to apply for Germany VBL Pension Refund as an expatriate | Germany Pension Refund

Bye Bye German Public Service Job - Hello VBL Pension Refund

Tourist SIM cards in Dubai guide

Tourist SIM Cards in Dubai: Where to Get One and Package Prices

World's most expensive cities to live in 2024

These Are the World's Most Expensive Cities To Live in 2024

Dubai ranked as one of the best cities to work in 2024

Dubai Ranked Among Top 5 Cities in the World to Work In

What are the signs that your online date is a fraud

8 Warning Signs Your Online Date is a Scammer

10 Expat Experiences You Should Check Off Before Repatriation

10 Expat Experiences You Should Check Off Before Leaving For Good

Best and Worst Countries to Get Started Abroad for New Expats

Best and Worst Countries for New Expats to Get Started Abroad

Under the Mango Tree by Robyn Fok | Expat Books

Expat Author Robyn Fok's 'Under the Mango Tree' Deals With Pet Grief & Loss

Expat Wife, Happy Life: Interview With Expat Author Florence Reisch

(Images: Supplied)

Expat Interview: Meet Florence Reisch, Author of 'Expat Wife, Happy Life!'

Remembering Queen Elizabeth II: A Tribute by UAE Expats

Remembering an Extraordinary Woman: A Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

10 reasons why expat women love the UAE

10 Reasons Why the UAE is a Popular Choice for Expat Women

6 Common Fears of Moving Abroad By Yourself and How to Overcome Them

Moving to the UAE Alone: 6 Common Fears and How to Overcome Them

Ultimate Babyshop Baby and Toddler Travel Packing List

These Baby Travel Essentials Are Must-Haves For Your Next Family Getaway

Requirements to apply for a UAE Golden Visa

How Do I Obtain a UAE Golden Visa? Requirements, Eligibility, and Process Explained

5 Tip for Expats to Survive Long-Distance Relationships

5 Tip for Expats to Survive Long-Distance Relationships

Opening a bank account in the UAE

A Newcomer to the UAE? What to Consider When Choosing a Bank for Opening an Account

Culture shock in the United Arab Emirates for expats

14 Ways You Will Experience Culture Shock in the UAE

5 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Upload a Resume to Your LinkedIn Profile

10 Secrets to Happiness as an Expat

10 Secrets to Finding Happiness as an Expat

4 Ways to Network as an Expat

4 Ways to Network as an Expat

8 Expat Problems That Are Just Too Real

8 Expat Problems That Are Just Too Real

How to Make New Friends in a Foreign Country

How to Make New Friends in a Foreign Country

Top 10 Countries with the Best Quality of Life

Top 10 Countries with the Best Quality of Life

The best European cities for new expats

Pictured: Prague

The Best Cities in Europe for Expat Arrivals

House in Husavik

10 Amazing Things To Do In Iceland

How to Make Your Own Life as an Expat and Why It’s Important

How to Make Your Own Life as an Expat and Why It’s Important

The Labriz eforea spa location

Why Seychelles is One of the Best Holiday Destinations

The Real Expat: Chasing Your Dreams to Find Your True Purpose

The Real Expat: Chasing Your Dreams to Find Your True Purpose

6 Annoying Things Expats Hate Hearing

6 Annoying Things Expats Hate Hearing