Hijrah Journal #6: My Days in Doha
In December 2024, I decided to travel to Doha to check it out as a potential Hijrah location. There were many reasons I chose Doha, it is a Muslim country with a strong economy, it is safe peaceful land without any crime or political instability, there are direct flights to Doha from my home country, traveling there is visa-free for people from my country, and I had friends who were traveling there that same week. With all this in mind, I set off on one of my most unplanned trips ever. I had no clear goals on where I would go, who I would meet, and what I would do.
I knew that one of my friends was speaking at an important political event but it was an exclusive event for politicians, journalists and leading figures. Everyone told me it was impossible to get in. For fun, and to challenge myself, I applied for a pass to attend the event. To my surprise, I got the pass easily, entered the event and found myself in a conference attended by many kings, presidents, prime ministers and other important leaders. I was able to meet my friend there and even he was surprised that I managed to get in. I didn’t really want to attend the event, just to prove to myself I could get in. So I met my friend, attended half a day of sessions, and left, keeping my access card as a souvenir.
That was my morning. The rest of the day went in another unplanned adventure which I mentioned in my previous entry. I met up with some other friends who were exploring Doha as a potential Hijrah destination (they live there now), and a Yemeni brother showed us around the city, introducing us to the various aspects of life for immigrants and expats in Qatar. In one unplanned day, I learned more about Doha than many do in a month. Over the past few years, I have spent several weeks in Qatar and it has become one of my favorite vacation destinations.
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My Thoughts on Qatar
Every time I visit Doha, I am reminded that it is what Dubai should have been. There are many similarities between Doha and Dubai, both are megacities in the middle of the desert that sprung up suddenly in the past century. Both cities have massive skyscrapers and some of the lowest crime rates in the world. Yet Doha feels more Islamic. On the ground, there is a stronger attachment to the religion and a lot more Islamic events, and a greater respect for Islamic scholarship. In general, people are kind and life is peaceful. It is safe, Islamic, peaceful, and beautiful.
If the skyscraper megacity lifestyle suits you, then Doha is probably the place for you. But there are several cons to life in Doha to be aware of. Starting with the heat, the heat in Qatar gets intense during Summer. It is so intense that many people leave the country for Summer and return afterward. If you prefer cold climates, this desert city is not for you. There is air-conditioning everywhere, but when you step outside, it can get intense. It is better to travel to Doha during Winter when the heat is less intense, and the evenings are cooler.
A second issue with Qatar is the cost-of-living. Qatar is expensive. As most products are imported, the prices tend to be higher than other countries. Everything in Qatar is expensive, rent, school fees, groceries, eating out. However, if you get a good job there, the salary and benefits usually balance this out, so the cost-of-living is not really an issue for someone working in the country. However, if you are a digital nomad or planning on opening a business there, it can get really difficult to sustain yourself and your family. Cost-of-living ends up being a determining factor whether it is worth moving there for not.
Qatar is also a very small country, with just one major city, Doha. The local population is relatively small, and most people living there are immigrants and expats who are there for work and business. This brings me to the final issue with Doha as a Hijrah destination, the lack of paths to stay long-term and lay down roots for future generations. A key criterion for me is finding a place where I can live for the rest of my life, and more importantly, where the next generation can integrate and eventually become part of the local population within a generation or two. Qatar lacks clear paths to do this. Most people I met in Qatar were there for work or business, and planned to move somewhere else after a few years or decades. The lack of paths to long-term residency combined with the high cost-of-living makes it an unfavorable destination for retirement.
My Review of Qatar
Doha, Qatar is a beautiful city in a safe, peaceful, Islamic country. You can access every luxury and convenience there, and live a happy peaceful life, while earning a good salary. It is centrally located with an excellent international airport, making it a great base for anyone who travels often. It is close enough to Makkah and Madinah to make travel for Umrah easier. However, the high cost-of-living coupled with lack of clear paths to long-term residency make it a temporary hijrah destination, rather than a permanent one. If you are looking to lay down roots for future generations in a Muslim land, then Qatar may not be your ideal destination.
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