What makes Qatar different from other emirates?

Although the emirates in general seem to be less popular than before, Qatar is still drawing a good number of expat professionals.

For those concerned about the stability of the region as a whole, Qatar is recognised as one of the safest states in the Arab world and offers an expat-friendly environment. Wages are in excess of those in the West, and stylish living is guaranteed with a great choice of brand new rental apartments set on man-made islands with spectacular ocean views. Qatar is, along with its neighbours, is one of the wealthiest countries on the planet due to its oil and gas reserves, with some 70 per cent of its revenues originating underground.

The small emirate has a fascinating history as a hub for pearl diving, giving it a steady revenue stream even before oil was discovered under its sands. Its present state of development is largely down to expatriate professionals drawn to the location in order to use their expertise to bring the region into the 20th century. Its population totals 2.6 million, of whom only 200,000 are locals and the rest expats. The emirate still has a strong demand for qualified and experienced expatriate professionals in specialised sectors including medicine, the media and especially IT, as it’s betting strongly on tech for its new wealth.

Qatar is a comparatively new country, but the sophistication and opulence of its new residential developments give proof of its success to date. Most buildings are new, built to international standards as regards construction, safety and durability. Unlike several of its near neighbours who’re cutting down on expat jobs, Qatar’s jobs market is actually growing due to the rapid pace of the emirate’s development.
It’s also modern as regards its lifestyle, with non-Moslems with residence permits allowed to buy alcohol from the Qatar Distribution Centre as well as in a number of restaurants. There’s also a range of entertainment and cultural options, and one crucial factor for expats is that English is the language of business.