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After arriving in Qatar
Upon arrival:
- Al Maha “meet and greet” service at the airport will assist you through the immigrations, after which they will hand you over to VCUQatar Liaison officer and HR representative who will take you to your accommodation.
- You will be provided with your accommodation keys, a temporary mobile phone and a laptop.
- You are required to submit you and your family’s documents as mentioned below for your residence permit process to HR representative on the day of your arrival in order for HR to expedite your residence permit process.
Your first two weeks in Qatar:
It is mandatory that you submit your passport (s) along with the following documents to the HR representative who will meet you at the airport OR to the HR Generalist / Immigration immediately because we are supposed to schedule you and your family (if applicable) for medical screening within 7 days from your arrival in Qatar.
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Document checklist for RESIDENCE PERMIT process |
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HR Generalist / Immigration will notify you the date and time of your medical schedule via e-mail/ telephone. You passports will be with the HR office and will be returned to you after the residence permits have been issued for you and your dependants.
(It is advisable to not travel outside Qatar till you obtain your residence permit and the process will take approximately four to six weeks)
- Medical Screening:Once you receive your medical schedule, Qatar Foundation will arrange a bus to take you (and your family) along with other new hires from other branch campuses for the medical screening. Qatar Foundation liaison officer will assist you with your medical screening which will basically consist of the following tests:
- Draw Blood for HIV, Hepatitis B and C,
- Chest X-ray to screen for TB.
The process may take two to three hours. Children under the age of 10 years do not need to go through the medical testing. (This is subject to change so please check with VCU-Qatar Human Resources after arrival in Qatar.) You will be provided Men and women should wear loose T- shirt for the X-ray and should avoid any kind of jewelry. Anyone not in the right garment will be asked to change into a hospital gown.
Positive results will prevent you or your family members from remaining in Qatar.
- Fingerprinting: After clearance for the medical tests which will typically take two weeks, you and relocating family members will be scheduled for a fingerprinting appointment in the CID (Criminal Investigation Department). HR Generalist / Immigration will notify you the date and time of your fingerprinting schedule via e-mail/ telephone.
Again, positive identification will prevent you or your family members from remaining in Qatar.
- Residence Permit in passport: After clearance from CID which will typically take one week, we will arrange for your residence permit to be stamped into your passport. Once your residence permit has been stamped into your passport, you will receive a Qatari Identification card that mentions your name, photo, residence permit number and blood type. This is a laminated wallet sized Qatar identification card.
Please notethat residence permit holders cannot stay out of Qatar for more than six consecutive months; otherwise your RP will be automatically cancelled. RP holders who are out of the country for six consecutive months + one day will have their passport taken away by the Qatar immigration authorities upon re-entry at Doha International Airport and will need to pay a fine of QR500 per day and QR25 for stamp charges to have it reinstated and re-stamped upon approval by the Qatar immigration authorities.
Employee Orientation
HR will be organizing an employee orientation which will include the following information
- Introduction to various academic departments and program they offer
- Introduction to administrative department and services they provide
- Cultural Awareness training
- Doha City Tour
- Benefits Information
Obtaining Various ID Cards
- Employee ID / Family ID card
HR Generalist / Recruitmentwill request an employee badge for you and a Family ID card for your dependants from QF facilities department. This badge (employee and family ID card) allows you and your family to utilize the recreational facilities like gymnasium, swimming pool etc. available to all branch campus employees.
You will be able to apply for your dependants only after their residence permit has been issued.
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Document checklist for EMPLOYEE ID / FAMILY ID process |
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Education City Vehicle Pass
This Vehicle Pass allows you entry into the Education city without being stopped by security at the gates and having to leave some kind of identification (like your passport, driving license, Qatar Id card etc) with them.
In order to apply for a vehicle pass, please email the following details to the Director of Procurement & Facilities, Ms. Noel Knille at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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Information checklist for obtaining VEHICLE PASS |
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Liquor Permit
After you receive your residence permit, you are eligible to apply for liquor permit to purchase alcoholic beverages. If you plan to obtain a permit, kindly request a letter of no objection and employment verification letter from the HR Office.
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Document checklist to apply for LIQUOR PERMIT |
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With these documents, you are required to go to the Qatar Distribution Company (QDC) and submit a refundable deposit of QR 2000 along with these documents. The QDC is the only shop where you can purchase alcohol. It is closed during the month of Ramadan. There is a monthly limit on the quantity that can be purchased.
Banking in Qatar
Currency and Exchange Rate
The currency of Qatar is the Riyal, printed in paper units of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500. The Riyal is divided into 100 Dirhams, and there are thin coins worth 25 and 50 Dirhams.
The riyal is pegged to the U.S. dollar, at an exchange rate of QR 3.65 to US $1. Currencies can be exchanged at banks, large hotels, and exchange centers in shopping malls.
Financial Transactions
Most transactions require a credit card or cash, as checks are not often used in Qatar. Dirhams are in short supply, so stores will often round off your purchases to the nearest riyal.
It's a good idea to carry with you a supply of small bills since many stores will not be able accept the larger QR100 or QR500 bills. Many shops outside of malls prefer cash and will offer better prices for cash purchases.
There are 17 national and foreign banks operating in Qatar. Banks in Qatar offer standard banking services - checking, savings, loans (including car loans), credit cards, traveller's checks, money transfers and ATM services.
In general, bank hours run from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. Some bank branches, particularly those in malls, have Friday and afternoon/evening hours.
ATMs
There are ATMs at bank branches, shopping malls, hotels, and some supermarkets. Qatar National Bank (QNB) has both a branch office and an ATM available in Education City at the Qatar Foundation Recreation Center.
While few, if any, Qatari banks charge a fee for using their ATMs, you may incur a fee from your personal bank if it is located outside of the country. Fees can run as high as US$5, so for this reason alone it may be advantageous to open an account with Qatari-based bank.
Networks accepted at most ATMs are American Express, Cirrus, Plus, Visa Electron, MasterCard and Visa.
Opening an Account
Banks almost always require that you have your residence permit, proof of employment or a Sponsor, and a statement of your monthly salary in Qatari riyals in order to open an account. Some banks may also require passport photos.
Direct Deposit
The Human Resources Department will help you set up a bank account within days of your arrival. Once your account is established, you may choose to have your salary deposited directly into a U.S. bank or have all or part of their salary deposited in Qatari riyals in one of the banks in Qatar.
Driving and Transportation:
Please note that Qatar driving rules are strict and all expatriates arriving in Qatar should be aware of the traffic rules before they hire a rental vehicle or buy their own vehicle.
After arrival in Qatar, if you intend to drive, you are required to apply for a temporary driver’s license immediately until you receive your residence permit. Our Liaison Officer will assist you in obtaining a rental vehicle for the first few weeks until you receive your residence permit. After RP has been issued that, the temporary Qatari driver’s license can be automatically converted to permanent driver’s license. The Qatari driving license is typically issued for five years for residents.
There are some countries whose licenses can be converted to Qatari driver’s license without a driving test. All you need is your passport or ID card, three photos, original driving license and a letter from your company. If you wear glasses, you must be wearing them in the photo, or you will not be allowed to wear them in the eye test. (They don’t allow you to draw the glasses on, either.)
Eye Test
You will, however, need an eye test. Our Liaison Officer will make the arrangements and accompany you to the eye test at the Traffic Department.
If your driving license is not from one of the recognized countries, you will have to register with a local driving school to apply for a temporary driving license, and pass a driving test before obtaining a temporary/ permanent driving license. Please note all charges (enrollment fee/driving school fee, driving test fee, etc.) will be on your personal account. Please contact VCU-Qatar HR Office for more information on who needs to take the driving test.
Once your residence permit has been issued, the Liaison Officer will request the return of your temporary driving license and replace it with a permanent driving license.
Registering with a Driving School
For those nationalities who are required to register with a driving school, a full course of 50 lessons typically costs 1,850 riyals ($500) and a half course typically costs 1,350 riyals ($370). There's also a 40 lesson course for 1,600 riyals ($440). If you've driven before you might get a 12 lesson course for 600 riyals ($160). A driving test currently costs 50 riyals ($15). The Liaison Officer will assist you in registering with the driving school and help you obtain your driving license.
The driving test typically consists of the following steps:
Road sign test: You will receive the road sign booklet from the school you register. This test is quite easy – the officer points at a sign and you have to say what it means. You will have to pass this to go to the next level
Pocket Parking – This means maneuvering your car backwards into a small place. You have to do it in one go, although you can take as long as you want. You can also fail if you stall the car.
Slope test: You will be asked to do the L-turn up and down a ramp without stalling the car.
Road Test: The final test is the road test where you will be instructed to drive the car on the road and will be evaluated based on your driving skills and adherence to road safety rules.
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TEMPORARY/ PERMANENT DRIVER’S LICENSE |
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Point to Remember:
- Only credit card payment is accepted.
- Ladies are not permitted to take Road Test in the Holy month of Ramadan.
- If caught driving without a license – Jail term and penalty fee according to prevailing laws applicable
- Traffic Dept open working hours – 7.00AM to 11.00AM and 4.00PM 7.00PM. Ladies section is open only in the morning hours.
Buying your own Vehicle
You can purchase your own vehicle as soon as you receive your residence permit. There are lots of car dealers and second hand car dealers. Salwa Road has a lot of second hand dealers, and there are car auctions. Also look in the local newspapers, on supermarket walls (Mega Mart always has a good selection) and on Qatar Living website. You can also check on the PAL ( advertisement across Education city) for used cars.
If you intend to purchase a used vehicle, you must test the vehicle’s performance by taking it to one of the garages that has a computer testing capability. Please check on Qatar Living or Marhaba guide book for the best garages in Doha.
You are also required to have your vehicle insured (new vehicle / used vehicle). The car dealers will be able to assist you with the insurance packages. Incidentally, your insurance is not valid when you drive in the desert.
All vehicles need a road permit. Vehicles older than three years must first pass an annual inspection of road worthiness. You will also need this before you can get your car insured. The inspection can be done at Qatar Technical Inspection Unit in the Industrial area (24th street) for 75 riyals (Tel: 4460 4029/4460 4086). The centre is open from six in the morning to half past five in the afternoon. You will need to carry your road permit (called Estimara in Arabic). Many garages will put your car through the test for you, repair anything it fails on and then resubmit it. Having done the test, take it to the vehicle inspection and registration counter next door along with your insurance to obtain your new road permit (Estimara). (See Marhaba Information Guide Issue 34 p.270).
In the event of an accident
Don’t move, even if you are holding up half of Doha. (You can move if it is a minor accident and both parties agree on the details, but most people prefer not to). Call the police on 999. They will come, and make notes and give you a time to be at a police station. You will have to go to this appointment to obtain a police report. Without this report, you can’t get your car fixed.
Traffic offences
Qatar is committed to reducing traffic offences. Due to its conservative Islamic norms, Qatar maintains a zero-tolerance policy against drinking and driving. To check if you’ve committed a traffic offence, you can go to www.moi.gov.qa, enter your vehicle registration number and vehicle type. You can also pay your fine through the website. (Interest is charged on unpaid fines).
Tips to ensure road safety in Qatar
- Do remember to keep your driver's license, vehicle registration, road permit, and insurance documents on hand. There is an on the spot QR 500 fine when pulled over by the police for not having your documentation.
- Do wear seat belts at all times. Seat belts save lives.
- Do check your tires often. Heat and road conditions can lead to blowouts.
- Do check for no-parking signs. Parking fines range from QR 300 to QR 1000.
- Do watch out for emergency vehicles and make way for them.
- Don't use your cell phone while driving.
- Don't drive off road into the desert. The sand can "swallow" tires and leave you stranded. Seemingly hard packed ground can give way unexpectedly. Leave the desert driving to the experienced locals.
- Don't forget to take your vehicle in for regular maintenance checks.
- Don't speed. Qatar police use surveillance cameras on highways. Fines start at QR 300. Driving through a stoplight is a minimum of QR 6000. ($1644)