alJazeera Jobs – Jane's Blog

Overview Of Jobs In Qatar Energy Sector

Qatar is a small country situated in the Arabian Peninsula, and is surrounded by the Arabian Sea from all sides except the south, where it’s neighbored by Saudi Arabia.

Qatar’s economy is driven by oil and petroleum, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and a bit of banking and finance, and tourism. The major cities in Qatar and their job prospects are:

1. Doha: Doha is the capital city and economic center of Qatar, and houses most of the country’s oil and natural gas companies, and thus has most of the job vacancies in administration and management in Energy sectors. Other major sectors are Education (as the Education City in located in Doha), and construction (because of the population explosion during the last decade, construction is at boom). The major job vacancies are for administrative assistants, marketing co-coordinators, construction engineers and sales personnel. Most of the time eligibility criteria are graduation with basic computer skills (MS Excel, Word etc.). Candidates don’t need to be experienced. The salaries vary from 5000 QAR to 15000 QAR (about 1300 USD to 4000 USD) per month. Due to the living cost of Doha, which is highest in the Gulf, the salaries which may seem high can sometimes result in minimal savings.
2. AL Rayyan: it’s the only land-locked city, so companies related to seafood and related industries are negligible here. The jobs offered in Al Rayyan are related to construction, retail and banking primarily.  Salaries vary from 3000 QAR to 10000 QAR for fresh graduates and are variable for experienced personnel. The work culture is healthy, with a diverse workforce, as many companies have employees from European countries.
3. Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLIC): RLIC is the petroleum and natural gas hub of Qatar. It’s the world’s largest exporter of LNG. All the major petroleum companies, like ExxonMobil, Shell and Dolphin, have plants there. It’s a full-fledged industrial estate with very few “on campus” homes, so if you are thinking of working and getting your family there, you MAY have to stay at Doha or Al Khor, and commute daily to work. The vacancies are mostly for mechanical engineers, office administrators, plant operators and specialized technicians. Minimum eligibility depends on the job profile, and can vary from a science graduate to Masters in Technology or Science with 6-15 years of experience. The salaries vary considerably depending upon the position one is holding. Salaries can range from 2000-10000 QAR for fresh graduates and for experienced people, it depends on many factors.
4. Mesaieed Industrial City (MIC): It is the major industrial area of Qatar, about 40km south of Doha. MIC is the center for oil refining and petrochemical industries. The major industries are Qatar Petroleum Refinery, Petroleum Natural Gas Liquids Complex, Chemicals, Steel, Vinyl, Lubricants etc. The vacancies are mostly in IT, Engineering and Management fields.
5. Dukhan: It is another oil rich city just few kilometers from Doha. Vacancies are mostly in senior technicians and engineers. Salaries in most of the cities range from 3000-20000 QAR, depending on the experience of the aspirants.

The work environment is very healthy in most of the cities; recreational activities, golf courses, clubs and spas have been setup for the employees in almost every industrial area.