Ride on
‘Find a reliable driver. There are many around’
Katrina Quirolgico-Salome, Filipino, in Qatar nine years

Handy tip
‘Watch people’s hands when they’re driving – relying on their indicators (if they use them) doesn’t help, but hands never lie as they turn the wheel’
Elly Cardwell, Scottish, in Qatar 10 years

Driving you mad?
‘Get used to people that put hazard lights on without any reason if it’s raining. Also, everyone is very friendly here – locals have stopped to help me change a tyre before’
Sabina Tydrych, Polish, in Qatar seven years

Keep cool
‘There is no point in getting angry when trying to pay a bill or deal with a bank’
Katrina Quirolgico-Salome, Filipino, in Qatar nine years

Shop till you pop
‘If you see something you like in the store, buy it! Buy all of it, because you may never see it again’
Trish Slade-Diotte, Canadian, in Qatar four years

Just relax
‘Everything is slow-paced in Qatar. Just be patient and eventually it all gets done’
Heidi Joie Hulstrom, Filipino, in Qatar nine years

Piling it on
‘You might gain the Doha stone without even realising it, so get active, because you’ll probably be walking less. And Doha is small – everybody knows everybody in this town’
Minu, Indian-American, in Qatar five years

Time to feast
‘Go out and experience the culinary delights that are available in Qatar. Here you can eat really cheaply with good quality food, or splash out at five-star hotels or at the Pearl’
Phillip Leung, Australian, in Qatar five years

Losing it
‘One of my fave things in Doha – get lost, you never know what you’ll find!’
Twitter @ DohaTaoGirl, time in Qatar unknown

Wise words
‘There’s a tendency to get scared – people just get locked in their comfort zone, and want the things they’re used to. But remember, you’re in a different country. Sometimes there are no substitutes, for people, for stuff, that you’re used to. Be open to rediscovering yourself’
Jorell Legaspi, Filipino, in Qatar 20 years