Shopping is very varied, to cater for the wide mix of nationalities and disposable incomes.

Several Europea-style supermarkets and department stores mean there is very little that cannot be purchased locally - international retail outlets include Marks & Spencer, BHS, Mango, Body Shop, Carrefour, Debenhams, Body Shop, Starbucks, Next and a wide selection of American fast food. The cost of clothing in these shops is slightly more expensive than the UK.

There are also less-westernised shopping centres, while the older parts of town contain the various souqs and older style shops. These stock a wide variety of imported goods from India, China and the Far East. Unbranded fabrics, jeans and t-shirts can be bought cheaply here, if you are willing to take the time to hunt through the dross.

Electronics and consumer durables are widely available. Prices are broadly similar to the UK. Due to a fairly transient expatriate community, there is also a thriving secondhand market in cars, stereos, washing machines etc..

The old souk in Doha has recently been restored. This gives an interesting and picturesque insight into the traditional culture of the region, but in practice most expatriates buy the majority of their consummables and capital goods in supermarkets and department stores not unlike those available in your home town.

More specialist items can be hard to find locally. For example, the school imports almost all of its teaching equipment and materials from the UK. You should consider bringing with you any display materials orfavourite teaching aids as buying the equivalent here will be difficult.