Considering the small size of the country, Qatar has a large number of expat workers, and that number is growing rapidly with the vast number of new developments. Expats can enjoy a good standard of living in Qatar. Most international companies recruit employees from abroad and offer good packages.

Not having to pay taxes means more opportunity to save money (or spend it!). However, you will have to work hard to earn your money as people tend to work longer hours than they would at home: especially in certain industries that employ a large number of foreign workers (such as oil and construction).

As a rule, there is no need to speak Arabic, but it can be an advantage to be able to speak a few words. Greetings and pleasantries are worth learning as a mark of respect. Generally the working week is Sunday to Thursday and the normal number of hours worked per day is eight. However, many companies only give their employees one day off, which is usually Friday, although most international companies will have a two-day weekend.

By law, workers must be given one month of paid annual leave once they have worked for a company for a full year. They are also entitled to an air ticket to their country of origin after two years of employment. International companies usually provide their employees and families with a ticket home once a year, or the equivalent monetary value. They may also pay housing, medical insurance, schooling and often utility bills. Some international companies might even offer share option schemes, depending on company policy.

In general, working for an international company usually means that you will get better benefits than if you were to work for a local company. However, to compensate, local companies may offer a better salary package.

It is therefore wise to do your homework on all the expenses that you are likely to incur during your stay and find out who pays for what.

Working hours vary, depending very much on what type of industry you are in; but on the whole, people tend to work about eight hours a day. Some companies give their employees a two-day weekend, usually Friday and Saturday, but some only give one and a half days off, usually Thursday afternoon and Friday. Many offices work split shifts, but most work straight through. Government offices tend to work from 07:00 to 14:30. Commercial offices sometimes work from 08:00 to 12:30 and then from 16:00 to 19:00; or a straight shift through to 17=00. Office timings vary from company to company.

Shopping centres are generally open from 09:00 or 10:00 to 22:00, but individual shops tend to follow the split shift, usually 08:00 to 12:30 and 16:30 to 21:00.

June 27 is Accession Day and September 3 is Independence Day, so these dates are always public holidays. There are also two Eid holidays Eid Al Fitr and Eid AI Adha. Eid AI Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and is determined by the sighting of the new moon. Ramadan dates are not always guaranteed, although a rule of thumb is that it begins about 11 days earlier than the previous year. Eid Al Adha falls around 70 days after Eid Al Fitr. Due to the uncertainty in pinpointing actual dates, public holidays are often announced at the last minute in the daily newspapers.

The majority of expats coming to Doha are transferred internally within their companies. Others may have applied for vacancies advertised in their home country, but not many people arrive looking for work as the visa process makes that very difficult. Finding work in Doha should not be a problem, as long as you have the right qualifications and experience - there is generally a shortage of professionals, particularly within the construction, oil and gas industries.

If you are already in Doha, a good way of job hunting is to present your CV personally to the companies and word of mouth will help put you in touch with the right contacts.

There are not many recruitment agencies in Doha at the moment, but that is bound to change as business needs increase. Key Resources, which is located in the Home Centre Building after the Jaidah Flyover, has a good reputation. You may be asked to take a test of some description when you register, but there is no registration charge.

Job vacancies are also advertised daily in the Gulf Times and the Peninsula newspaper.

Recruitment Agencies
Al Noof Recruitment Services	4422076
A-One Placements	4383820
Key Resources	4353360

If you are accompanying your spouse to Qatar, you may find that due to higher salaries and not having to pay income tax means that you have the choice to work or not. If you opt not to work full time you can always offer your services as a volunteer. There are a number of charity organizations in Doha. However, it may be difficult if you do not speak Arabic. The Qatar Centre for Voluntary Activities (467 4888) may be a good place to start your search. The Cats and Dogs Rescue Home is always grateful for volunteers, as is the Qatar Animal Welfare Society (www.qaws.org). Some other charity organizations in Doha are: Qatar Charity (466 7711), Qatar Red Crescent (443 5111), Sheikh jasim bin Jaber AI Thani Charity Association (441 1011) and Sheikh Eid bin Muhammad AI Thani Charity Association (487 8061).

The Qatar British Business Forum was set up in 1992 as a means for business people to meet up and share their knowledge with one another. They meet on a regular basis to discuss business developments and opportunities in Qatar. For more information call 487 4548 or visit www.qbbf.com.

The American Business Council of Qatar is a similar operation, with the aim of improving relations between the two countries and maximising business opportunities. For details call 483 6389 or visit www.abcgc.orgjregmemjqatarfor a list of contacts.

Other groups around Qatar are more social and you can find out about them through word of mouth. These types of organisations are a good way of making contacts, especially if you are in the market for a new job.

The employment contract (service contract) must be in writing and attested by the Labour Department. There will be three copies of the contract: one for the Labour Department and one each for the employee and employer.

The contract should include the following details:

• Name of employer and place of work
• Name, qualification, nationality, profession, address and ID of employee
• Expiry date of contact
• Work duties and place of employment
• Commencement date of contract
• Duration of contract
• Salary and date and method of payment
• Probation period, if applicable

The Ministry of Civil Service Affairs and Housing has a Labour Department that can give you invaluable advice on labour laws. You can also get a copy of the labour law book from this Ministry. Because of the complexity of the labour laws, if you are involved in a labour dispute, it would be advisable to seek the advice of a lawyer.

In Qatar employers may dismiss an employee without warning in certain circumstances. If the offence is not a serious one, the employer has to give the employee one written warning before the employee may be dismissed. The employee has the right to appeal to his employer within seven days and if his appeal is rejected, the Ministry will decide upon the appeal within a further seven days. Their ruling is final. Committees may be formed within companies, but only for Qatari nationals.

An employee has the right to the following public holidays: three days for Eid AI Fitr, three days for Eid Al Adha, and one day on Independence Day. A further three additional days may be given if announced by the government. A Muslim employee is entitled to 20 extra days, without pay, to go on the Haj (a religious pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia).

Employees are entitled to three weeks of annual leave if they have been with the company for less than five years, and four weeks if they have been there for more than five years. Most international companies allow four weeks of annual leave after one year of service. Sick leave is granted after three months of employment and consists of the first two weeks on full pay and a further four weeks on half pay.

Male employees are entitled to two days paternity leave for the birth of each child.

An employer is allowed to 'ban' an employee for a period of two years. This means that they can prevent an employee from working for any other company or getting their sponsorship to work in Qatar until your ban period is over. There isn't really much you can do if your employer does not give you a release letter, which is a compelling reason to stay on good terms with your employer.

If you leave the company on amicable terms, it should not be much of a problem for you to transfer onto the new company's sponsorship, providing you have the release letter from your previous employer. This rule is currently under review.

Local business, like in most Arab countries, is done at a more leisurely pace than you may be used to, which may be frustrating at first. Local businessmen like to do business in person, not over the telephone or via e-mail. You will need to check that appointment dates and times are still valid, but even so, be prepared for meetings to be cancelled at the last moment, sometimes without any notification to you.

Try to make sure that you remember the names of contacts, which may be difficult as many local men will be dressed the same, with similar sounding names! Eye contact is very important in the Arab world, much can be read in a person's eyes. Learning a few words in Arabic would be an excellent ice-breaker.

When conducting business in Qatar, you will require lots of business cards as they are a popular way of introducing yourself and you will find yourself handing them out continuously. If you are given someone's card, make sure to look at it and take time to read it as they make take offense if you just casually shove it into your pocket.

When making small talk, try to avoid inquiring about family matters as this is not a subject to discuss with strangers. Rather concentrate on sport, such as football or the upcoming Asian Games which Qatar is proudly hosting.

Before business commences, you may be offered something to drink. Make sure you accept something, even if it is a glass of water, as a sign of respect.

It is important not to promise anything that you might not be able to deliver. The spoken word is very significant and can be just as binding as a written contract. Try to keep contracts simple and clear and keep all business dealings to yourself as confidentiality is invaluable.

Try to remember that, at the end of the day you are in a foreign country and any relationship in such a small, close-knit community, either pleasant or unpleasant, is bound to have an effect on your future dealings.

Be very careful when accepting a job with a recently launched company, especially if it is a small establishment. If the company closes down and doesn't pay you, you could end up with a major problem. If you are unfortunate enough to land in such a situation, the best advice is to contact a lawyer who will be able to advise you on the best solution to the predicament.