Qatar
Qatar is one of the countrries in the Gulf bordering Saudi Arabia. The capital is Doha. The Hamad International Airport is located in the capital city.
If you require any information or you are stranded and need help in Qatar you can contact the Doha Embassy through information below.
ADDRESS
Kenyan Embassy in Doha, Qatar
West Bay, Zone 66, Street 840, House 131
P.O. Box 23091
Doha, Qatar
TELEPHONE: ((+974) 4493 1870
EMAIL: information@kenyaembassydoha.com
OFFICE HOURS: 09.00-13.00
HEAD OF MISSION:Mr Ghalma Boro, Ambassador
WEBSITE: kenyaembassydoha.com
- Islam is the official religion. There are also Hindu, Buddhist and Bahai communities. Qatar is more tolerant of non-Islamic religions than other Arab states, with non-Muslims serving in government.
- Arabic is the official language, but English is also widely spoken.
Qatar does not have any dress code for foreigners, but it is best to dress modestly (avoid revealing clothes, sleeveless clothes and short pants/skirts/dresses).
The currency used is the Qatari Riyal (QAR), divided into 100 dirhams. The foreign exchange rate for QAR 1 is about Ksh 28.
- Public buses are available across Qatar.
- There are no railways or metro services.
- Before leaving India, check whether your visa is an appropriate one. The visa may have endorsements in Arabic. If you are unable to make out the endorsement please ask a person who can read Arabic to translate. Do not rely on what the RA tells you.
- Foreign workers need to get a residence permit (called iqama) and a work permit. You need to carry your permits with you wherever you go.
- The sponsor/employer has to arrange for the residence and work permits for employees within thirty days of their arrival.
- Employment contracts have to be in Arabic, though a second language can also be used for non-Arabic speaking workers. The Arabic version is the only legally valid one.
- Contracts can be made for a term of up to five years.
- If a worker violates the rules of the workplace, the fine should not be more than five days’ salary in any month.
- Carrying drugs and other narcotic substances entails a very harsh sentence in Qatar. You must be extremely careful not to accept any gift or packet or any item from anyone, not even from close relatives, while coming to Qatar. The baggage that you have, both check-in baggage and hand baggage, should not have any open pockets on the outside into which packets can be pushed by anyone.
- If the employee has taken an advance, salary deduction in any month should not be more than 10% of the advance.
- Passport with validity of at least six months
- Employment/tourist visa
- Valid employment contract
- Copies of marriage certificate, academic certificates and birth certificates
- Passport-size photographs
- Workers should have the necessary medical certificates as well.
- If any Kenyan national faces a dispute with his sponsor regarding non-payment of wages, leave, end-of-service benefits, etc., they can contact the Embassy Labour attache. The officials of the Embassy try to sort out their problems by correspondence and through discussions with the sponsor for an amicable settlement. If no agreement or settlement is reached through discussions with the sponsor, the matter is taken up through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Even after that, if the matter remains unresolved, the worker has to file the case with the Labour Court concerned. It is always good for all Kenyan nationals to keep a copy of their contract with them to safeguard their interests.
- The work week in Qatar is from Sunday to Thursday, and Friday and Saturday are the weekend.
- For workers, the normal working hours are forty-eight hours a week, with eight hours a day for six days. During Ramadan, this is shortened to six hours a day.
- Friday is the rest day for workers, except for shift workers. If you have to work on a Friday, you have to be given another day off along with an additional 50% of your basic wage.