Updated 7 November 2026. We lived in Qatar from 2019 to 2024. These tips draw on what helped our family during those years, with old promotions and practical advice checked below. We now live in Hangzhou, China.

Moving to a new country involves lots of small adjustments. These are 11 things we found useful while settling into life in Qatar. The video is from our time there, so its prices, app offers and future plans belong to that period.

1. Get familiar with WhatsApp

We regularly used WhatsApp for business enquiries, deliveries and sharing a meeting point. Confirm a business’s official contact details before sending personal information, and check with your mobile provider about the services available on your plan.

2. Compare discount memberships before buying

We used MyBook Qatar and The Entertainer during our time in Qatar. Check the current offers for places you would use anyway, along with exclusions, expiry dates and membership costs. Old two-for-one hotel offers or bank-sponsored access are not guaranteed today.

3. Learn about local culture

We enjoyed the Q-Tips videos for accessible introductions to daily life and cultural expectations. Explore the series here. For rules or official procedures, check the responsible authority as well as personal advice.

4. Use community groups thoughtfully

Local Facebook groups helped us find practical suggestions and learn from other residents. Search previous discussions before posting, and compare answers when something matters. Membership, moderation and information quality can change. A group recommendation is not a substitute for confirming an official requirement.

5. Compare banks and the full cost of an account

We chose Commercial Bank partly because of the benefits offered at the time. Our old Diners Club lounge access, fee experience and app perks should not be treated as current product terms. Check the bank’s current information and compare eligibility, salary requirements, fees, interest, exchange costs and benefit conditions with other options. Rewards do not make extra spending worthwhile, and paying a credit card in full does not necessarily remove every account fee.

6. Explore our Qatar videos

Our Qatar playlist follows our family’s experiences there. We now make videos from China and our travels elsewhere, but the Qatar archive is still useful for seeing the places and experiences we enjoyed.

7. Try public transport

We relied on public transport while arranging local driving licences. The Doha Metro was especially useful for journeys around the city. Standard and Family travel is QAR2 per journey with a QAR6 daily cap on the relevant reusable card; Goldclub and buying the card cost more. Check Qatar Rail for current conditions, connections and service changes.

8. Decide whether you actually need a car

A car suited our family because we lived outside central Doha and enjoyed exploring. Your home, workplace and regular trips may lead to a different decision. Compare rental, purchase, insurance, parking and transport costs. Confirm current driving-licence requirements with the authorities and your insurer, especially when moving from visitor to resident status. Our own Australian-licence experience is not a rule for every nationality.

9. Compare navigation with the road in front of you

Waze helped us during the rapid road changes before the 2022 World Cup. That was our experience at the time; it does not mean Google Maps is always wrong or Waze is always right today. Check the route before setting off and follow actual road signs, closures and police directions.

10. Follow the places you use

A business’s official social accounts can be useful for changes to hours, events and promotions. Check the date on a post and confirm directly before making a special trip or relying on a deal.

11. Plan how you will stay connected

Test how you will contact family and check roaming, local SIM and internet options before you arrive. Availability of individual calling apps can vary. Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority is the place to check current telecom information. A VPN does not guarantee access to a particular app or streaming service, and service terms still apply. Our updated VPN article explains the practical considerations without promising a particular result.

For ideas beyond the city, see 11 places we visited outside Doha. You can also see one of our original Qatar camping posts and read our first impressions of life in Qatar.

Elisa, The World n Us