Expatriate Forums in Middle East

JOBS VACANCIES ANNOUNCEMENTS-TOTAL ENERGY PETROCHEMICAL

Mrs. Belinda — Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:02 pm

Author: Mrs. Belinda

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:02 pm

Hello Everyone,
We take this opportunity to publicly make this last announcement to every liked minded individual, that the TOTAL ENERGY PETROCHEMICAL COMPANY (UK) PLC. Is hereby announcing jobs vacancies/ training programme 2009 in United Kingdom . We need the services of able men and women around the globe to fill in the jobs gap placement in our company in United Kingdom. Below are the summaries
list of jobs vacancies with Total Energy Company as follow :- Accounting / Audit / Taxation Jobs, Administration / Clerical Support / Service, Jobs, Banking, Business Analysis / Data Analysis Jobs, Business Consultancy Jobs, Business Development Jobs, Call Centre Jobs, Civil Services Jobs, Company Secretary Jobs, Customer Service Jobs, Design Jobs, Documentary Credit / Bills Processing, Energy / Natural Resources / Oil & Gas, Engineering Jobs, General Management Jobs, Hospitality / Hotel Services Jobs, Human Resources / Recruitment Jobs, Information Technology (I.T.) Jobs, Insurance Jobs, Junior Executive Jobs, Legal & Compliance Jobs, Inventorying, Marketing / Public Relations Jobs, Merchandising Jobs, Order Processing & Operation / Setting, Others Jobs, Petroleum / Petrochemical Jobs, Procurement / Purchasing / Sourcing
Jobs, Research & Development (R&D) Jobs, Research / Survey Services Jobs, Sales Jobs, Student / Fresh Graduate / No Experience, Telecommunications Jobs, Top Executives (CEO, CFO, CTO, GM, Manager, Tourism / Travel Agency Jobs, Trading Jobs, Transportation / Shipping / Freighting, and many more jobs place available.

Thanks for your audience to read this publication message.
Mrs. Belinda Clifford
(Chief international Announcement officer).
Total Energy Company Plc London - United

Nhon Trach City Center (NTCC)

siewlee26 — Wed Apr 01, 2009 2:31 pm

Author: siewlee26

Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 2:31 pm

Nhon Trach City Center (NTCC)

International Future City of Vietnam
Nhon Trach City Center (NTCC); the first satellite township concept in Nhon Trach District, Dong Nai Province; incorporates housing, commercial and recreational complexes to present the opportunity for the elite in Vietnam to experience luxury life where home, work, business and play are all within reach in a secured environment. With the essence of design contributed by specialists with hands-on housing scheme development experiences in Hong Kong, China, India, Australia and Malaysia, NTCC is shaped to be the International Future City of Vietnam!

Strategic Location
The position of NTCC in the would-be administrative center of Nhon Trach; which is about 60km from the bustling HCMC, in close proximity to numerous established industrial parks, namely Nhon Trach Industrial Park I-VI; benefits our tenants / owners in taking advantage of all the current and future planning for either Nhon Trach or its neighbouring cities in the south, collectively known as Southern Key Economic Zone.

Office Tower - NTCC’s kick off!!
NTCC will begin with the construction of our 15-storey Office Tower (Block H) which will be the first international standard high-rise office building in the heart of Nhon Trach. The elegance of the featured façade coupled with the creatively designed floor spaces shall fulfill every discerning owners’ differing investment requirements. Still hesitating? The following facts may help you decide:

- Total net floor area : approx. 16,448 m2 with typical sizes of about 76 m2 to 699 m2 / unit, or up to 1,480 m2 / floor.
- Spacious parking lots in basement and open car parks.
- Floor to ceiling height of 2.6m to 4.0m spreads out high-end visuals.
- Central air-conditioning system.
- 3 high speed passenger lifts and 1 service lift.
- Round-the-clock security services with CCTV surrounding the building.
- Managed by Professional Property Management Company.

Our elegant and first ever Office Tower in Nhon Trach is now opened for registration. It’s only 15 floors. Hurry and be amongst pioneer new owners!! For more details and registration, please contact us via :-

Marketing Hotline : +84 (933) 268 968

Looking for job

work824 — Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:17 am

Author: work824

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:17 am

I am looking for a job in the GCC region. Mech Eng with exp in building facilities management, project management, fleet management and office administration. Fluent in English and Hindi. To join on single status at this time.
Prefer to work in Commercial, Health, Educational, Airport, Sea Ports or oil and gas companies. Experience in using CMMS, CAFM with ability to fully automate the PM for any location as part of building facilities management. Available from Jan 2009.
Any guidance is appreciated. Thanks.

visa for housekeeper

bwallis — Sun Jun 03, 2007 8:16 pm

Author: bwallis

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 8:16 pm

I have been offered a job in Doha. Can anyone tell me what I must do to bring my housekeeper with me? I understand that a man cannot bring a female housekeeper to Qatar. However I am a man and have had a male housekeeper, driver for many years. Can anyone help me figure out what I need to do to bring him with me. I expect to be in Doha for about 3 years. If necessary he could do a visa run every few months.

We are both American citizens/

I appreciate your help.

Best Buy for Property investments in the Philippines!

beline — Mon Nov 13, 2006 1:00 pm

Author: beline

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 1:00 pm

Best Buy for Property investments in the Philippines! The friendliest and easiest way to secure real estates purchase in Manila and everywhere for filipinos and expats all over the world. Condos,townhouses, house & lots, residential units, villas, apartments & house constructions. Pls. visit the site www.filbuyproperties.com

Tagaytay Highlands, Grand Soho, Casitas Canyon Ranch, Adriatico Grand Residences, Mckinly Park- the fort, Mondrian Residences Alabang, Mission HIlls Antipolo, Lions Park Paranaque, Woodsville Viverde Mansion, Sta. Rosa Heights, Adriatico Residences, East of Galleria, Otis 888 and for house Constuction Filhomes .

For more details contact: Cymbel at PH +6399174888860 /
U.S + 1 (315) 535 71 58 or e-mail me at cymbel@filbuyproperties.com or cymbel77@yahoo.com www.filbuyproperties.com

FX Currency Trading / Forex FX Trading Online - Know More

admin — Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:06 pm

Author: admin

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:06 pm

Forex Trading – FX Trading

Foreign Exchange
This short introduction explains the basics of trading Forex online, a brief explanation of the markets and the major benefits of trading Forex online. There are also two scenarios describing the implications of trading in a bear as well as bull market to better acquaint you with some of the risks and opportunities in the largest and most liquid market in the world.

As an additional aid for those who are new to Forex, there is also a glossary at the bottom of this text which explains some of the terms used in connection with currency trading.

Overview
Foreign exchange , forex or just Forex are all terms used to describe the trading of the world's many currencies. The forex market is the largest market in the world, with trades amounting to more than $1.5 trillion every day. This is more than one hundred times the daily trading on the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) . Most forex trading is speculative , with only a few percent of market activity representing governments' and companies' fundamental currency conversion needs.

Unlike trading on the stock market, the forex market is not carried out by a central exchange, but on the "interbank" market , which is thought of as an OTC (over the counter ) market. Trading takes place directly between the two counterparts necessary to make a trade, whether over the telephone or on electronic networks all over the world. The main centres for trading are Sydney, Tokyo, London, Frankfurt and New York. This worldwide distribution of trading centres means that the forex market is a 24-hour market.

Trading Forex
A currency trade is the simultaneous buying of one currency and selling of another one. The currency combination used in the trade is called a cross (for example, the Euro/US Dollar, or the GB Pound/Japanese Yen.). The most commonly traded currencies are the so-called "majors" - EURUSD, USDJPY, USDCHF and GBPUSD.

The most important forex market is the spot market as it has the largest volume. The market is called the spot market because trades are settled "immediately" or on the spot. In practice this means within two banking days.

Trading on Margin
Trading on margin means that you can buy and sell assets that represent more value than the capital in your account. Forex trading is usually done with relatively little margin since currency exchange rate fluctuations tend to be less than one or two percent on any given day. To take an example, a margin of 2.0% means you can trade up to $500,000 even though you only have $10,000 in your account. In terms of leverage this corresponds to 50:1, because 50 times $10,000 is $500,000, or put another way, $10,000 is 2.0% of $500.000. Using this much leverage gives you the possibility to make profits very quickly, but there is also a greater risk of incurring large losses and even being completely wiped out. Therefore, it is inadvisable to maximise your leveraging as the risks can be very high. For more information on the trading conditions at Saxo Bank, go to the Account Summary on your Client Station and open the section entitled "Trading Conditions" found in the top right-hand corner of the Account Summary.

Why trade Forex?

24 hour trading
One of the major advantages of trading forex is the opportunity to trade 24 hours a day from Sunday evening (20:00 GMT) to Friday evening (22:00 GMT). This gives you a unique opportunity to react instantly to breaking news that is affecting the markets.
Superior liquidity
The forex market is so liquid that there are always buyers and sellers to trade with. The liquidity of this market, especially that of the major currencies, helps ensure price stability and low spreads . The liquidity comes mainly from large and smaller banks that provide liquidity to investors, companies, institutions and other currency market players.
No commissions
The fact that forex is often traded without commissions makes it very attractive as an investment opportunity for investors who want to deal on a frequent basis. Trading the "majors" is also cheaper than trading other crosss because of the high level of liquidity. For more information on the trading conditions at Saxo Bank, go to the Account Summary on your Client Station and open the section entitled "Trading Conditions" found in the top right-hand corner of the Account Summary.
50:1 Leverage
With a minimum account of USD 10,000, for example, you can trade up to USD 500,000. The USD 10,000 is posted on margin as a guarantee for the future performance of your position.
Profit potential in falling markets
Since the market is constantly moving, there are always trading opportunities, whether a currency is strengthening or weakening in relation to another currency. When you trade currencies, they literally work against each other. If the EURUSD declines, for example, it is because the U.S. dollar gets stronger against the Euro and vice versa. So, if you think the EURUSD will decline (that is, that the Euro will weaken versus the dollar), you would sell EUR now and then later you buy Euro back at a lower price and take your profits. The opposite trading scenario would occur if the EURUSD appreciates .

Important Forex Trading Terms

Spread
The spread is the difference between the price that you can sell currency at ( Bid ) and the price you can buy currency at ( Ask ). The spread on majors is usually 5 pips under normal market conditions. For more information on the trading conditions at Saxo Bank, go to the Account Summary on your Client Station and open the section entitled "Trading Conditions" found in the top right-hand corner of the Account Summary.
Pips
A pip is the smallest unit by which a cross price quote changes. When trading forex you will often hear that there is a 5-pip spread when you trade the majors. This spread is revealed when you compare the bid and the ask price, for example EURUSD is quoted at a bid price of 0.9875 and an ask price of 0.9880. The difference is USD 0.0005, which is equal to 5 "pips". On a contract or position, the value of a pip can easily be calculated. You know that the EURUSD is quoted with four decimals, so all you have to do is the cancel-out the four zeros on the amount you trade and you will have one pip. Thus, on a EURUSD 100,000 contract, one pip is USD 10. On a USDJPY 100,000 contract, one pip is equal to 1000 yen, because USDJPY is quoted with only two decimals.

Trading Scenario - Trading Rising Prices
If you believe that the Euro will strengthen against the dollar you'll want to buy Euro now and sell it back later at a higher price.

You buy Euro	We quote EURUSD at Bid 0.9875 and Ask 0.9880, which means that you can sell 1 Euro for 0.9875 USD or buy 1 Euro for 0.9880 USD. In this example you buy Euro 100,000, at the quote price of 0.9880 (ask price) per Euro.
The market turns	Later the market turns in favour of the Euro and the EURUSD is now quoted at Bid 0.9894 and Ask 0.9899.
Now you want to sell your Euro and get the profit	You sell Euro at a Bid price of 0.9894.
The profit is calculated as follows:	Sell price-buy price x size of trade (0.9894 minus 0.9880) multiplied by 100.000 = $140 Profit (Note that the profit or loss is always expressed in the secondary currency )

Trading Scenario - Trading Falling Prices
If, on the other hand, you believe that the Euro will weaken against the dollar, you'll want to sell EURUSD.

You sell Euro	We quote EURUSD at a Bid price of 0.9875 and Ask price of 0.9880 and you decide to sellEuro 100,000 at a Bid price of 0.9875.
The market moves in your favour	The Euro weakens against the dollar and the EURUSD is now quoted at bid 0.9744 and ask 0.9749.
Now you buy back your Euro	You buy EUR at an ask price of 0.9749.
Your Profit/loss is then	Sell price-buy price x size of trade (0.9875 minus 0.9749) multiplied by 100.000 = $ 1260 Profit

Remember that trading EUR 100,000 as we have done in our examples, does not mean that you have to put up Euro 100,000 yourself. It means that you have to deposit 2.0% of Euro 100,000, which is Euro 2,000 on margin as a guarantee for the future performance of your position.

Further Reading
To see how you can trade the forex market and benefit from our toolbox of information and live quotes, please proceed to our Forex Quick Start found under the Trading menu on the toolbar, under Forex.

Glossary

Appreciation	Anincrease in the value of a currency.
Ask	Theprice at which you can buy. Traders also speak of an ask price,the price requested. This usually indicates the lowest price aseller will accept.
Basecurrency	Thecurrency that the investor buys or sells (i.e. EUR in EURUSD).
Bear	Someonewho believes prices are heading down. A bear market is one inwhich there is a sustained fall in prices and which does not looklike it will recover quickly.
Bid	Theprice at which you can sell. Traders also speak of a bid price,the price offered. This usually indicates the top price apurchaser will pay.
Bid/Ask	TheBid rate is the rate at which you sell. The Ask (or offer) rate isthe rate at which you can buy.
Bull	Someonewho is optimistic about the market. A bull market is characterisedby enthusiastic and sustained buying.
cross	Whentrading currencies, the investor buys one currency againstanother. These two currencies form the cross: for example, EURUSD.
Crossrate	Anexchange rate that is calculated from two other exchange rates.
Depreciation/decline	Afall in the value of a currency.
Exchangerate	Whatone currency is worth in terms of another, for example the $Amight be worth 58 US cents or 70 yen. Currencies traded freely onforeign-exchange markets have a spot rate (applying to tradessettled 'spot', ie, two working days hence) and a forward rate.Countries can determine their exchange rates in a variety of ways:a floating exchange rate system where the currency finds its ownlevel in the market; a crawling or flexible peg system which is acombination of an officially fixed rate and frequent smalladjustments which in theory work against a build-up of speculationabout a revaluation or devaluation; a fixed exchange-rate systemwhere the value of the currency is set by the government and/orthe central bank.
EURUSD	Meansthat you trade EUR against dollars. If you buy Euro you pay indollars and if you sell Euro you receive dollars.
FX,Forex, Foreign Exchange	Allnames for the transaction of one currency for another, e.g. youbuy £100.00 with $150.25 or sell $150.25 for £100.00.
Interbank	Short-term(often overnight) borrowing and lending between banks, as distinctfrom banks' business with their corporate clients or otherfinancial institutions.
Interestrate differential	Theyield spread between two otherwise comparable debt instrumentsdenominated in different currencies.
Leverage(gearing)	Inthis case leverage means that the investor only funds part of theamount traded.
Long	Tobuy.
Longposition	Aposition that increases its value if market prices increase.
Liquid(-ity)	Thecapacity to be converted easily and with minimum loss into cash.Ultra-short-dated treasury notes are an example of a liquidinvestment. A liquid market is one in which there is enoughactivity to satisfy both buyers and sellers.
Margin	Theinitial amount or deposit required when entering into a position.Margin is a guarantee for future performance.
NYSE	Acomputerised system providing brokers with the prices of sharesand securities traded on the New York stock exchange and over thecounter. The quotes are published in real-time.
Openposition	Aposition in a currency that has not yet been offset. For example,if you have bought 100,000 USDJPY, you have an open position inUSDJPY until you offset it by selling 100,000 USDJPY.
"Overthe counter"	Whentrading takes place directly between two parties, rather than onan exchange.
Pips	Apip is the smallest unit by which a cross price quote changes. Soif EURUSD bid is now quoted at 0.9767 and it moves up 2 pips, itwill now be quoted at 0.9769.
Position	Money-market,futures, foreign-exchange and sharemarket traders talk of 'takinga position' which simply means buying or selling one currencycross. 'Position' can also refer to a trader'scash/securities/currencies balance, whether he or she is short ofcash, has money to lend, is overbought or oversold in a currency,etc.
Risk	Tryingto control outcomes to a known or predictable range of gains orlosses. Risk management involves a set of steps which begin with asound understanding of one's business and the exposures or risksthat have to be covered to protect the value of that business.Then an assessment should be made of the types of variables thatcan affect the business and how best to protect against unwelcomeoutcomes. Consideration must also be given to the preferred riskprofile - whether one is risk- averse or fairly aggressive inapproach. This also involves deciding which instruments to use tomanage risk, and whether a natural hedge exists that can be used.Once undertaken, a risk-management strategy should be continuallyassessed for effectiveness and cost.
Secondarycurrency (variable currency or counter currency)	Thecurrency that the investor trades the base currency against (i.e.USD in EURUSD).
Shortposition	Aposition that benefits from a decline in market prices.
Short	Tosell.
Speculative	Buyingand selling in the hope of making a profit, rather than doing sofor some fundamental business-related need.
Spot	ASpot rate is the current market price of an asset.
Spotmarket	Thepart of the market calling for spot settlement of transactions.The precise meaning of 'spot' will depend on local custom for acommodity, security or currency. In the UK, US and Australianforeign-exchange markets, 'spot' means delivery two working dayshence.
Spread	Thedifference between the bid and the ask rate.

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LifeStyle Homes & Properties, Qatar's first and for

Qatar News — Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:15 pm

Author: Qatar News

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:15 pm

LifeStyle Homes & Properties, Qatar's first and foremost real ...
AME Info, United Arab Emirates - 17 hours ago
LifeStyle Homes & Properties, the first and foremost real estate sales consultancy in Qatar, will be exclusively promoting the Sabban Towers on The Pearl-Qatar ...

Qatar runners reap rich harvest in Newbury - Gulf News

Qatar News — Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:15 pm

Author: Qatar News

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:15 pm

Gulf News

Qatar runners reap rich harvest in Newbury
Gulf News, United Arab Emirates - 7 hours ago
Newbury: Qatar-based French trainer Alban de Mieulle took Newbury by storm, on Dubai International Arabian Race Day, when landing a double on the biggest day ...
Dubai trainer Charpy seeks first win in Britain Gulf News
all 2 related

A Guide to... Education Fee Planning for Expatriates

Candour — Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:04 pm

Author: Candour

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:04 pm

A good education is one of the few investments that can be made for a child that will be of permanent benefit. However, building this benefit will involve effective planning and considerable outlay from either capital or income.

Typically, the basic fees for a year at a private secondary school work out at over £7,500 a year - and that’s before paying for the inevitable extras such as school trips, books and music lessons. Fees for full time borders - often a necessity for the internationally mobile - can be twice as much.

Even more horrifying, the cost of a full time university course plus living expenses can be over US$ 35,000 per annum for anywhere between 3 and 6 years.

However, with foresight you can use an investment that will provide the growth potential to give you part or even all of the money you need to ensure you can provide the best education for your children. Candour provides investment advice on various types of school and university expenses plans, whether funded from capital or income.

Funding from Capital
If capital is available to invest for education expenses (perhaps from generous grandparents!) tax efficient investments and Trusts can be used to maximise the return on this capital. The investment return is partly dependent on the length of time before fees have to be drawn down, so the sooner you start the better.

Funding from Income
The benefit of saving for a child’s education is that the investment is generally for the longer term (more than 10 years) and very often made on a regular basis.

When saving smaller regular amounts, the best way to invest is through a unit or investment trust. These are pooled investment funds which give access to a wide spread of shares and other securities such as bonds.

These funds may be actively managed - where a fund manager picks individual stocks based on a view of their future potential - or passively, where a manager invests in all the shares that comprise a stock market index, such as the FTSE 100 or the S&P 500.

Example
Mr & Mrs Jones wish to send their daughter to university in 15 years time. They believe that inflation will rise on average by 3% per annum in that time and consequently wish to save for fees that will be in the region of £30,000 per annum.

As such, the total fund they are likely to require is £90,000 to cover these costs. By saving as little as £350 each month, they should reach their target and avoid the day-to-day strain on their future finances.

Candour Consultancy advises on a wide range of lump sum and regular contribution education fee planning products from the worlds leading financial institutions

A Guide to... Expatriate Retirement Planning

Candour — Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:03 pm

Author: Candour

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:03 pm

Most people look forward to a retirement where they can devote more time to the pastimes they enjoy. However, when it comes to retirement planning and pensions, a veil of confusion tends to cloud their perspective. This is especially the case for expatriates who may live in several countries and work for numerous employers throughout their life.

The essential fact about retirement planning is that it is simply making provisions out of your current income and investing for the time when you come to retire. Though most countries provide some retirement income for their citizens, at the end of the day it is up to the individual to make provision and, in this way, providing for retirement is no different than setting aside money for any other future purpose such as a new car, a house deposit or holiday.

The significant difference between retirement planning and other investment objectives is one of magnitude. In retirement, we expect a continuation of, at the very least, our current standard of living. Given that we spend an increasing proportion of our lives in retirement and State benefits are reducing, the need for early, effective retirement planning has never been greater.

However, modern society is told by TV adverts, children’s demands, etc… that immediate gratification is the only way. So how do you marry up these 2 key ideals?

Basically, the answer is NOT TO DELAY!

The cost of delaying the savings process can have a dramatic effect on both the amount you need to invest and the impact this will make on your lifestyle. Friends Provident International has illustrated this perfectly in their sales literature for their offshore pension plan.

Friends Provident calculated the increase in monthly contributions for a fictional individual who would like to retire at the age of 55 with a retirement fund of US$1 million, assuming he kept delaying contributions by a further 5 years.

The tables below show how much extra the individual would need to contribute each month just to reach the same target.

Example A
Age Minimum monthly premium required (2) Duration of policy Total premium required to achieve US$1million at age 55
30 $1,845 25 years $553,500
35 $2,659 20 years $638,160
40 $4,065 15 years $731,700
45 $6,935 10 years $832,200

Example B
Age Minimum monthly premium required (2) Duration of policy Total premium required to achieve US$1million at age 55
30 $1,053 25 years $315,900
35 $1,729 20 years $414,960
40 $2,983 15 years $536,940
45 $5,689 10 years $682,680

Example A assumes an average growth rate of 5% whilst Example B assumes a 9% average growth rate.

Now US$1 million sounds like a lot of money, but when you consider current annuity rates for a 55 year are just over 5%, this only amounts to an annual income of US$51,000. This would be lower still if you want to inflation proof your income!

As such, the questions we all need to ask are:

* Is this going to be sufficient to maintain your lifestyle in retirement?
* Is this enough to do all the extra things in retirement, like travelling, you wish to do?
* What about inflation, what about annuity rates falling further?

All these points mean that two things are vital, one that you start saving for your retirement as soon as possible and secondly that you review these plans regularly.

Additionally, as an expatriate, it is important that you an international pension policy established in a freely convertible currency to ensure you can seamlessly save for your retirement as you move from employer to employer or country to country.

What you can afford to contribute to ensure your future is dependent on many factors; including your current, ongoing financial commitments. Candour Consultancy recommends you contribute 15% of your income, throughout your career, as a good benchmark for achieving a financially independent retirement.

After all, the true cost of delay is not achieving your goals and dreams, not the cost of saving money now!

A Guide to... Expatriate Medical Insurance

Candour — Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:02 pm

Author: Candour

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:02 pm

Having medical insurance while you're abroad may well be essential but it’s not going to be much good if there are conditions that are not covered under your plan. Most private medical insurance providers now operate on such a large, global scale that there are few glaring exclusions that could trip you up. However, a little time spent going over a company’s terms and conditions will bring to your attention some omissions in plans that you may want to know about before you sign.

The most important thing that might be missing from your plan, according to many PMI providers, is cover for chronic conditions. Obviously, a provider won't cover you automatically for any pre-existing conditions that would be like insuring a house that is already burning down, but should you develop asthma or diabetes after signing the plan, you will want to know that you are covered for this. Some providers, however, will only cover you in severe cases of any chronic condition that has arisen, such as a diabetic coma.

This means that some companies, particularly ones that offer basic-level plans, will cover you in an emergency or in the short term, but not for the routine, ongoing treatment that you need. From an insurer's point of view you can understand why they may do this as illnesses like asthma and diabetes are spreading in today’s world and costs could spiral out of control if they insured everyone. Yet there are a lot of plans out there that will cover your everyday treatment of such illnesses, so it's up to you whether you want to pay the costs or be covered for them, (albeit sometimes with restrictions on the amount you can claim), under your plan.

There are also other features that are worth checking to see if you are covered. One of the greatest omissions on many PMI plans is cover for congenital defects. It is worth checking to see if there are any restrictions in their plans when, for instance, they have a baby with a birth abnormality that needs treatment. There are restrictions to this with some providers. People buy healthcare when they reach a certain age, and are more conscious of protecting their family - for this reason people should check all that is covered under pregnancy cover.

It must be also borne in mind that pregnancy cover is usually only available after you have had your plan for one year. This is pretty standard, but will make you plan that bit further, especially if you are set to have a baby in a country where healthcare is expensive, like the US or the Caribbean. You may well want to check the amount you can claim for a normal pregnancy, too, as the average cost, according to Goodhealth, will be around US$4,500 - US$ 7,500.

Sports
Aside from treatment for serious illnesses, potential clients should consider what activities or sports they may like to enjoy. A lot of providers, such as William Russell, provide cover for all sports so you’re free to go white-water rafting or throw yourself off a bridge with some elastic tied round your ankles. Jenni Sobnack, marketing consultant at William Russell says: “You will be covered for all sports as long as you’re not doing it professionally. If, as is more likely, you have an injury playing something like football and break your leg, it is important to get in touch with us or our partner International SOS as soon as possible so that we can arrange to pay the hospital directly and leave you with no upfront fee to pay.” Other firms do have restrictions on what they would like you to do, so hang-gliding may have to be postponed.

A recent addition to some plans has also been infertility treatment which is often not covered. Some provides now cover investigations in to infertility up to the point of diagnosis. It also covers IVF treatment up to a limit of £2,000 a year with four attempts allowed in a lifetime.

Psychiatric treatment is another area that not every provider is agreed on. Most will provide some level of cover, but there it is often limited to inpatient care and the amount you can claim back. Landers says that providers put these restrictions in place as it is hard to know how many visits to a psychiatrist will need to be made and how much ongoing treatment will be needed. Although having cover for such things as emergency evacuation are of higher priority when selecting a plan, most PMI providers have warned of the dangers of stress, especially on a busy expatriate lifestyle.

As such, only by doing the boring work of checking a firm’s terms and conditions (or by speaking to an independent financial brokerage such as [url-http://www.candourconsultancy.com]Candour Consultancy[/url]) can you figure out exactly what you will be protected against and begin to compare plans.

Commonly left out of many policies are:-

* Pandemics - such as Bird Flu!
* Chronic conditions arising after purchase of plan
* Pregnancy cover, complications and congenital defects.
* Infertility cover
* Psychiatric treatment
* Sports (including extreme sports)
* AIDS (often not covered for individuals but under group schemes)
* Routine dental treatment

An Introduction to Candour Consultancy

Candour — Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:02 pm

Author: Candour

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:02 pm

Candour Consultancy is an independent financial brokerage offering impartial advice to expatriates based in the Gulf region.

Whilst our primary goal is to do business with you, we would prefer to put you in the picture even if you don't. As such, please feel free to visit our website which contains a wide range of articles and impartial regional advice for expatriates living in the Gulf including:-

* Offshore Savings & Investment Policies
* Expatriate Life Assurance and Medical Insurance
* International Pension Plans
* Tax Planning
* Expatriate Mortgages
* Offshore Banking
* Business Protection and Gratuity Replacement Policies

We look forward to welcoming you to www.candourconsultancy.com.

Obtaining resident permit for family on 14 day visit visa

Anonymous — Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:39 pm

Author: Anonymous

Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:39 pm

I am employeed in Qatar and have valid resident permit. I have taken 14 day visit visa for my spouse and kids.
Is it possible to convert it into resident visa and obtain resident permit after their arrival ? If yes, what is the procedure and documents required. Please advise.

Financial Services, Planners, Offshore Banking - Know More

Anonymous — Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:47 pm

Author: Anonymous

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:47 pm

Financial Services, Planners, Offshore Banking - Know More

Dear members & guests

Due to the continuous marketing approach of our expatriate community by mutiple financial planners services company, Allo' Expat has decided to provided you with some usefull imformation on the Expat Offshore Banking issue. Hope you'll invest wisely..... in the future

Financial Advisors - who are they?

Q1 - How do I get the best offshore financial advice?

The best offshore financial advice is probably given by Independent Financial Advisors. Independent financial advisors (or IFA's, as they are sometimes called) advise their clients on savings, investments and pensions. They may also provide Savings Plans for offshore investing to their clients.

When counselling a client, the best offshore financial advisors should complete the following steps:

* Step 1 - collect detailed information about a client's financial circumstances and requirements ? be they for retirement planning, retirement income, expat investment, or another purpose.

* Step 2 - check all the offshore tax havens for the best offshore plans.

* Step 3 - provide impartial advice as to which plan(s) best meet their client's needs (in the form of a written report).

* Step 4 - arrange for a client to buy the chosen offshore plan(s) on the best terms available.

You may want to complete your own research to ensure you know the right questions to ask your advisor.

When all these stages are completed, you can be confident you have received the best offshore financial advice.

Q2 - What is a Certified Financial Advisor?

Financial advisors may need a license to practice, issued by the Financial Services Regulator in their Country. Only these advisors may be called 'Certified Financial Advisors'.

It may be a condition that prospective certified financial advisors show their Regulator that they are:

* competent to advise

* impartial in their advice

* independent of Providers

* covered by professional indemnity insurance.

So it is important to check that your financial advisor is listed under:

* Certified Financial Advisors, licensed to advise in the Country where you live and

* Independent Financial Advisors - advising on a wide range of offshore plans from a full list of providers.

Now you should feel confident you are receiving the best offshore financial advice.

Q3 - How are offshore financial advisors paid?

Independent financial advisors (IFA's) earn their living from commissions they receive from plan providers. This is their income for the offshore financial advice they give.

The commission that advisors (IFAs) receive from offshore financial advice cases may range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Good offshore financial advisors should not be influenced by the amount of commission they receive.

Some clients prefer to pay fees to their financial advisors for advice to ensure impartiality. When this occurs offshore financial advisors refund commission received from a plan provider either in cash or as an increased allocation of contributions invested.

Q4 -How do I find a list of Independent Financial Advisors (IFAs)?

Search the web! Try searching using the search words independent financial advisors or certified financial advisors PLUS the name of the Country in which you live.

Personal recommendations are always helpful - ask your friends if they would recommend their offshore financial advisors. Always check that a recommended advisor is both certified and independent.

Offshore Investing - What do that mean

Q1 - What is Offshore Investing or Offshore Investment?

When we talk about Offshore investing plan opportunities it is like the savings plans available in many countries, except these plans:

* Are registered in tax havens and are regulated by their Financial Services Authorities.

* Can be used for investing by non-residents of the tax havens.

* Are sometimes more tax efficient than or have other advantages over domestic savings plans.

Q2 - Why would expatriates choose offshore investing?

Expatriate investment in the savings plans catalogued here and offering offshore investing opprotunities might be appropriate when:

* No local or Home Country tax free regular savings plans are available.

* No local or Home Country tax free lump sum investment plans are available.

* An expatriate is planning to retire to a third country.

If you fit any of these categories of expatriates you should investigate the offshore plans researched by Offshore Boffin and consult your Financial Advisor.

Q3 - Are there other people who might benefit from Offshore Invesment?

Yes. People who are not living abroad might find offshore investment attractive in the following circumstances:

* They have more cash available for savings than can be invested tax free in their resident countries' investment plans (perhaps because the amount they can invest each year is capped).

* They may live in countries which do not have domestic tax free savings plans.

* They live in countries which are not suitable long-term investment environments for political or economic reasons.

* They wish to limit the effects of inheritance tac on their estates.

Q4 - Is there safe offshore investing?

The answer is that All investors should remember that the value of ALL their investments can go down as well as up!

Safe offshore investing is more likely by choosing plans:

* From politically stable tax havens - the quality of tax havens varies.

* From well-regulated tax havens - the tax havens whose savings plans are catalogued here all regulate their financial services companies to avoid 'fly-by-night' companies.

* From reputable investment management and life assurance companies - whilst past performance is not always a guide to the future, the companies whose savings plans are listed here are all well-known names.

* Investing in 'mutual' or 'collective' funds. these funds are based on a simple idea. If a large number of investors pool their savings in - for example - an equity fund, the larger fund can be invested in shares in many companies, spreading each individual's risk.

For expat investment - and others - to be successful the best offshore investment opportunities must be found. For that you'll need a good Financial Advisors.

Visa To Qatar / Qatar Immigration Guide

Anonymous — Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:44 pm

Author: Anonymous

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:44 pm

VISA TO QATAR / QATAR IMMIGRATION GUIDE

Fast Facts

Straight forward tourist or business visa

Since December 2001, Qatar has been able to offer a straight forward tourist or business visa simply on arrival at Doha International Airport for persons from the following 33 countries:

USA, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Finland, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Korea.

Cost of the visa for single entry is USD 15/QR 55 per person per passport – visa cost is non-refundable. Payment can be made at any of the immigration desks with the following cards; Visa, Visa-Electron, Mastercard, Maestro & E-Cash (a pre-paid credit card that can be bought in the arrival lounge with cash)

If you are not from one of the countries listed above, then you can apply for visas in the following ways:

Tourist Visa

Applications for tourist visas are submitted to the Immigration Department (Airport Visas Section) by one of the registered hotels. Visas are usually given within 24 hours and are valid for 14 days. They can be extended for another 14 days. Discuss with the hotel where you have a reservation.

Business Visa

A company or a recognized establishment can submit an application to the Immigration Department (Airport Visa Section). Visas are usually given within 24 hours and are valid for 14 days. They may be extended for another 3 months. Discuss this with the company who would sponsor you.

Visas

Applications for visas are normally issued through the Qatari Embassy or Consulate in the Home country. They must be based on a formal offer of employment or upon an invitation.

Visas are also issued for business purposes, tourism and residency. A 14 day business visa extendable for up to 3 months is issued to visitors who visit Qatar for business purposes. For this, the visitor must have a valid passport and a return ticket. In addition, a letter signed by a sponsor in Qatar stating that the visit is for business purposes only, must be submitted to the immigration authorities at the airport 48 hours prior to the visitor’s arrival. Tourist visa valid for 14 days, extendable for another 14 days, is available on arrival for nationals of 33 different counties, mostly from OECD countries. A 14 day visa costs QR 55 ($15).

Foreigners with valid residence permits from GCC states do not require a visitor’s visa. On arrival in Qatar they will be granted an entry visa that will be valid for 14 days; however, the residence permit stamped on their passport must be valid for at least 1 month, and they must be of certain professions.

Holders of British passport with the right of abode in Britain may obtain a visitor’s visa for Qatar for up to 6 months on application to the Qatari Embassy in London, as well as other Qatari embassies oversees. A 7 day business visa may also be obtain from the embassy in London. The application for the business visa should be accompanied by a letter from a sponsor in Qatar stating that the visit will be for business purposes only. British citizens will, on application be granted a multiple entry visa for a maximum five year period, depending upon the validity of the passport.

U.S. Citizens are entitled to a multiple entry visa valid for 10 years. However, the maximum length of stay in the country is 6 months after which the holder of the visa must leave the country. The application for the multiple entry visas must be made to a Qatari Diplomatic mission outside Qatar. The visa is valid for business and tourism purposes.

A residence visa valid for up to 3 years is granted to persons holding employment contracts to work in Qatar. Upon arrival in Qatar, expatriates are required to go through an intensive immigration process in order to obtain residence permits. Employers arrange the necessary appointments, which include a medical examination, finger- printing, and blood testing. Up to twenty passport-size photos will be required throughout the entire immigration process. Photos of improper size, background color or proper eye-wear will be rejected. These photos are inexpensive and easy to obtain once you have arrived in Doha. The medical examination includes a blood test for Aids and Hepatitis, as well as an X-ray for tuberculoses. It is recommended that women wear a white t- shirt for the X-ray exam, this way they will not need to disrobe for the X-ray. Men and women are tested in separate areas of the hospital (sometimes even in different hospitals), and results of these tests are normally received within 48 hours.

Occasionally, re-testing is required. During the finger-printing process, an impression is taken of each fingertip as well as of both palms. It is very a messy business! Wear work clothes and take along some wet-wipes with which to cleanse your hands afterwards.

Blood testing is done to determine your blood type: this is one of the most important stages of the immigration process. These are the required steps for securing residency permits, health cards and drivers licenses.

In February 2000, new expatriate-friendly measures were taken. Holders of “Work Visit Visas” can bring their families to Qatar, get an official ID card from the Bureau of Immigration, obtain a health card, driving license and enroll their children in schools. The new “Work Visit Visa” is valid for one year, renewable every year after that. Two other two types of visa were also introduced; namely “Personal Visit Visa” and ”Commercial Visit Visa” The former applies to an expatriate’s spouse and relatives and is valid for six months or one year. Upon expiry, it can be renewed for another year after exit from the country, with a renewal fee of QR 300.

Work Permits

Work permits may be obtained only by local sponsors. employees satisfying certain criteria may sponsor their immediate family to enable them to obtain a residence permit. Holders of work visas require an exit permit to leave Qatar, however, their dependents do not require such a permit while traveling abroad.

ID Cards

It is essential for permanent residents in Qatar to obtain an identity card. The ID card is essential when dealing with Government institutions on a day to day basis.

There are no restrictions on the employment of women. Opportunities for such employment are determined by market demand and lie mainly in the teaching and medical professions, and in administrative work.

Applications for residence permits are made after arrival in Qatar through the Immigration Department. These are becoming increasingly straightforward to arrange, and are normally available within 6 weeks of arrival. Family dependents’ also receive residence permits, and are deemed under the sponsorship of the family member employed in Qatar. For long-term visitors and residence visas, it is necessary to complete various health and fingerprint examination procedures. Most companies have well-established departments to assist arrivals in the completion of all necessary formalities.

A person employed in Qatar may not work for anyone other than his or her sponsor. Sponsorship cannot be transferred until an employee has worked the original sponsor for at least 2 years, and has been granted a release letter by that sponsor.

Foreigners resident in Qatar are advised to register with their embassy on arrival.