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11. Moving to Doha

Doha at a Glance

Doha's Districts and Local Transport

Today, taxis are the main mode of transport in Doha - camels are just for fun.

Doha is a relatively safe city with a low crime rate and no particularly rough districts. However, the industrial areas are not a nice place to live. Pollution, dust and muddy roads during rainfalls make them an unpleasant environment. In some of the nicer neighborhoods, Doha offers different housing options, such as apartments, accommodation within compounds or stand-alone villas.

Districts of Doha

• Al Muntazah includes new apartment blocks and office buildings, some of which were built not too long ago. This district is located in the heart of Doha. Here, expats can find cheaper apartments and single family villas. Newer apartment blocks in particular come with excellent facilities.
• Bin Mahmoud is a centrally located and relatively cheap district of Doha. While it has some charms and is full of life, some buildings are rather run-down. Many companies make use of the low rents, leasing apartments for their employees. Hence, a lot of Indian and Western expats (or people with a lower income) live in Bin Mahmoud.
• Al Sadd is one of Doha’s livelier areas, where offices, independent shops, restaurants, small cafés, and apartment buildings are located side by side. It is easy to walk the distance from the shops to one’s office or apartment.
• Landmark (Duhail)/ Al Rayyan is popular among expats, offering mostly single family villas, some compounds, parks and one of the nicer malls. As Education City is nearby, this district is very popular with families.
• Najma / the Mall & Airport area is an older part of town with local shops and chain stores, offering residents everything they need. This area is home to many single men. Single expat women may receive a high amount of (undesired) attention, which is why only few decide to move here. The area around the mall and airport is more expensive and upscale, with compounds and single family villas.
• Salwa Road and Abu Hamour have experienced extensive development for the last few years. New compounds and roads were built, and many different kinds of shops have recently opened. Families in particular enjoy living in this district, with the biggest schools close-by.
• West Bay and Al Dafna belong to the more upscale part of Doha. There are many foreign embassies and some beautiful parks. It is a place for families preferring villas and compounds to small apartments.
• Villagio Area (Al Waab and Al Aziziyah) is among the most popular parts of the city. In close proximity to Doha’s newest shopping mall and several parks, this district is ideal for expatriate families. While there are a lot of family villas to rent, residents have to go a bit further out for restaurants and stores.
• Old Ghanim/ Old Ghuwailina stays true to its name, hosting mostly older buildings which date back to a poorer time. While the rent is cheap, the parking situation is a nightmare and the maze of backstreets is confusing. This district belongs to Doha’s poorer parts; it is home to many Asian expats and less affluent Arabs.
• The Pearl is one of Doha’s biggest developments, a property construction project on a man-made island in Doha’s bay. This $2.5 billion project is still under construction, but already, a few thousand residents, as well as many luxury retailers, have moved in. upon completion in 2012, the Pearl will have ten residential districts with villas, apartments and town-houses.

Move to Doha: Transportation

The company Mowasalat introduced modern public buses in Doha in 2005. They operate on different routes all over the city, including the industrial areas. They offer expats an alternative mode of transportation to commute to work.

Only recently, the company also introduced Karwa smartcards as an easy way to pay the fare. They will soon be mandatory and can be used instead of cash on all buses in Doha. A rechargeable smartcard costs QR 30 and can be purchased at the Karwa bus station or several outlets. Currently, passengers without a smartcard have to pay an additional “no card fee” of QR 10 per trip.

Mowasalat also operates taxis and airport service shuttles in Doha. Normal taxis can transport up to 4 passengers and can be found at taxi stands or booked in advance. Airport service shuttles are fit to transport up to 6 passengers, including bulky luggage.