- Juan Garcia
The Persian Gulf is a long way from home, so I was especially glad to discover this super expat community for Doha.
Discover the Canadian community in Doha
Are you new in Doha and wanting to make friends with other internationals and Canadian expats? Then you’re in the right place!
In our community, it’s easy to hang out, have a chat, or grab a drink with like-minded people. It’s also an opportunity to ask and learn from their experiences, from the up- and downsides of life in Doha to any pitfalls to avoid. Get tips and advice, make new friends, and have fun with InterNations.
Why you'll love InterNations in Doha
and countless possibilities for fun and friendship!
The pros & cons of living in Doha
No place is perfect, there’s always the good, the bad, and the ugly. Read on to find out what our Canadian members love about Doha but also the challenges they face.
Pros:
- A safe place: Doha is one of the safest cities in the world, with a very low crime rate of only around 16% according to Numbeo’s Crime Index by City 2024. With well-lit streets and plenty of police and guards, Canadians can feel safe walking around at night.
- Excellent healthcare: Doha boasts one of the best public healthcare systems in the world, with expats appreciating both the high quality (1st), easy availability (2nd), and comparative affordability (6th).
- No tax: A big perk for Canadians in Doha is the tax-free salary. Unlike the high taxes in Canada, expats here take home much more money for the same salary.
- Housing: Finding a decent place to live in a capital city is usually a challenge, but Doha is an exception! The city has plenty of living spaces, making it easy for our members to find accommodation. We’re not talking about “comfortable enough” standards here; we’re talking luxury with great facilities like pools and gyms.
Cons:
- Hot weather: Be ready to bring a hat or wear sunglasses everywhere you go, because it’s hot and dry in Doha throughout the entire year. From June to August, daytime temperatures can reach up to 45°C. Doha doesn’t really have spring and autumn, or certainly no Canadian winter; it’s basically summer all year round. This drastic weather change may not be for everyone.
- Bad air quality: Due to the widespread use of fossil fuels in the region as well as the arid surroundings, Qatar ranks among the worst countries in the Air Quality Life Index.
- Work-life balance: Although slowly improving, the city still ranked 43rd for work–life balance in our 2024 Expat Insider survey, with an average workweek of 45.3 hours in full-time jobs.
Why Canadians move abroad (& how they like it)
Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys among expats and ask them about various aspects of their expat life. Learn what motivated our Canadian members to move abroad, what keeps them there, as well as what they struggle with or miss about home.
Meet Canadian expats at our events in Doha
It’s never easy to make friends and build a network in a new city, but you have nothing to worry about. Our events are designed for internationals from all over the world, so it’s normal to introduce yourself and ask others about their experiences as expats here. It’s a great opportunity to connect with other Canadians and international people.
Still a bit unsure? Don’t worry, at our Newcomers’ Events, the amazing hosts (called Ambassadors) will warmly welcome you to the community and help you make your first friends. So don’t miss out on our upcoming events — and be part of Doha’s large expat family!
Want to meet other Canadians at our events?
Frequently asked questions about life in Doha
As with most expats pursuing their careers, our Canadian members tend to live in the city center where most international companies are located. Here are some of the most popular parts of Doha:
- The Pearl Qatar (city island, luxury lifestyle and housing, most high-income expats live here)
- West Bay (suburb, great for high-income expat families, best attractions, diplomatic area)
- Al Sadd (city center, popular for families, but pretty crowded)
- Al Gharafa (great for families, with many good schools and spacious housing)
The average salary for jobs in Doha is 15,800 QAR or 6,000 CAD per month (190,000 QAR or 72,000 CAD per year). If you’re making at least this amount, you can live comfortably here. However, if you have a family and kids to support, you might want to aim higher. Earning between 24,500 and 30,000 QAR a month per household is already considered a good salary for a family.
Of course, your actual expenses will vary depending on your situation and lifestyle. But to give you some idea, here’s an overview of the cost of living in Doha:
| CAD per month | Local currency per month | |
Utilities (electricity, water, etc.) | 140 CAD | 365 QAR |
Rent for a one studio apartment | 1,500–2,234 CAD | 3,900–6,100 QAR |
Rent for a small family home | 2,800–4,300 CAD | 7,250–11,200 QAR |
Mobile phone & Internet | 150 CAD | 400 QAR |
Basic health insurance | 20-40 CAD | 50–100 QAR |
Public transportation | 45 CAD | 120 QAR |
Groceries (per person) | 310–460 CAD | 800–1,200 QAR |
Meal at a restaurant | 20–100 CAD | 50–250 QAR |
Doha is a very international city, with expats making up 85% or more of the population in Qatar. The use of English as a lingua franca is therefore widespread, and getting around or chatting with others will be easy, even without Arabic language skills.
Still, nothing speaks against using your time in Doha as an opportunity to learn Arabic. There are various language courses available. Or you can learn for free using language apps or websites that provide free lessons.
And if you’re still worried about not getting around without speaking Arabic, we’ve collected some services that cater to English speakers in Doha (these services are not affiliated with or endorsed by InterNations):
General practitioner (GP) | HeliumDoc Directory to search for GPs (and other specialties); results can be filtered by language: https://heliumdoc.com/ |
Dentist | Sharq Dental Center Dental clinic with multiple English-speaking dentists and staff: https://sharqdental.com/ |
Urgent care | Reyada Medical Center A private hospital with a dedicated multilingual approach, international standards, and great reviews: https://www.reyadamedicalcentre.com/ |
Immigration assistance | Qatar Company Formation Offers relocation, visa, and immigration support with a full-service approach: https://qatarcompanyformation.com/immigrate-to-qatar/ |
Immigration assistance | Ecovis Qatar An international tax advisory that can assist you with tax returns and provide advice in multiple languages, including English: https://www.ecovis.com/global/locations/qatar/ |
interpreting service | DayInterpreting Get connected to a native Arabic speaker on your phone and use it to have an instant interpreter with you: https://dayinterpreting.com/ |
Meet other Canadians in Doha
Our Global Partners
Find friends to pursue your passions with
You don’t have to leave your hobbies back home in Canada!
There are various interest-based InterNations Groups you can join, from the Doha Tennis & Padel Group to the Arts & Culture Group and more. These groups organize at least one activity each month, led by our creative Consuls. So buckle up and get ready to explore everything Doha has to offer! From sightseeing at Mathaf, the Arab Museum of Modern Art, to climbing the dunes at the iconic Inland Sea, you’ll be amazed at how fascinating Doha is!
Find other Canadians to share your hobbies with
Enjoy the international experience with InterNations
We’re not just active in Doha! InterNations offers lively communities that are close by, too. So if you’re traveling the region, check out our Canadian communities in Dubai,Abu Dhabi, or Cairo, for example.
And that’s not all: If you’re in the mood for a nice night out while further abroad, you can find InterNations communities and events in 420 cities worldwide. Browse all InterNations Communities.
- Look through our Members Network to connect with Doha’s Canadian expats.
- Become active in our Expat Forums in order to find insider tips and suggestions from fellow Canadian expats in Doha.
- Make full use of the Expat Guide for Doha to obtain important information on your temporary home abroad.
Mix and Mingle with Canadians in Doha at Our Events
Our Doha community is also lively and welcoming offline. The InterNations Ambassadors host regular get-togethers and a range of expat activities, e.g. a chic dining experience in Doha’s trendiest restaurant or a get-away with fellow Canadian expats to discover the booming city of Doha. These activities make it easy for you to get to know other expats from Canada in your local community and meet Canadians in Qatar in a comfortable setting. If this sounds interesting to you, simply sign up for membership – we are looking forward to welcoming you among our Canadians living in Doha!
- Juan Garcia
The Persian Gulf is a long way from home, so I was especially glad to discover this super expat community for Doha.
- Amarilis Castillo
I loved the InterNations expat gatherings in Doha, and I hope we'll have another opportunity to meet up at 'La Villa' or the golf range.
