A driving licence in Qatar is not an ordinary thing - it is extra-ordinary. It's kind of a dream - though not an unrealisable one - and there are thousands of the Indians residing in Qatar who have realised, but good many of them - after quite an ordeal!
First of all, the cost involved in securing one is almost prohibitive - the normal channel is a driving school. And a driving school here is some real school!! The process is cumbersome - in spite of all its faults, it does ensure some basic frame work for driving on Qatar roads, and develops minimum skills.
So being able to drive with a valid licence would imply lesser carbon foot print, lesser expenses and greater mobility and freedom. A pan-middle-east drive would also be something that could come about by having that 'key to freedom'. The MD had indicated the same on my arrival itself, though I did not take any further initiative. It was almost mid May when the systematic, though cumbersome process of obtaining a licence was initiated.
The first step lies in getting admission in some driving school There are said to be a few of them in Doha - but Al Khebra, is said to be the leading one. It is just across Rajagiri School, and its campus appears vaster than the school campus. From my assessment, it has a fleet of over 100 cars (automatic and with manual gears), vehicles of all other sorts - buses, mini-trucks, trailers, forklift, loader, crane, excavator and so on, covering all sorts of vehicles, requiring different licenses. Two wheelers not permitted on Qatar roads till recently. With the emerging popularity of food-delivery chains in this part of the world, with Talabaat, in the lead, there was a huge demand for two wheeler riders as employees for moving through the crowded urban space quickly and reducing the burden of finding apt parking slot. So, driving licence for two wheelers also has become a very important area in the whole business of running driving schools.
In my assessment, there were 200 or more employees at Al Khebra - most visible among them, being the instructors in off white uniform shirt, tie, black trousers - appearing very business like. There are male and female trainers. There are supervisory category staff with a manager over all of them. There is an office category, who deal with registrations, class arrangments, testing, fee payment etc. And there is a group of well trained security staff - generally a bunch of black people. Among the instructors and supervisors there are quite a few Malayalees, North Indians, Pakistanis, Philippinos and a few of African origin. The office desks are generally managed by some Arabic-African people.
There are 2 main categories of training - VIP and normal; again each of them having full and half course. Half course is permitted for those who already possess a valid licence (of some couuntry?). That means only half the duration in training, but the fees is almost 80%. The fee structures are really high - I heard that Al Khebra treats itself as a premium school, and levies much higher fees when compared to the other schools - yet to be verified.
VIP implies priority in training, tests, some preferential treatment, and perhaps, provisions for extra classes, in case of failure etc. It has a gold package costing QR 9000 to 4800 - for half course manual. For automatic full course it costs QR 6500 and half course QR 5300. Some of those who experienced it advise against it, as VIP learners are not taken out into the highways etc. for training, though they make effort to get them cleared. One of our alumni who had undergone VIP full course had the bitter experience of having to go for extra course to finally clear the test, and possess that dream greenish white plastic card!!
When it comes to Ligh Vehicle (regular) course, a distinction is made between male and female ranging from QR 250 to QR 100!! Here Full course for male is QR 3820; whereas half course costs QR 3270. It is indeed unwise to make this choice, as loss is much more in comparison with the QR 550 saved. In this case, no distinction is made between manual and automatic vehicles. There is also another option called Together Until You Pass Flexible - costing QR 8500. I am yet to know what it is. Two wheeler licence is separate, and the training of 25 sessions will cost you QR 2795.
The school itself has an eye testing centre, and the licensing authority office functions, as if it is an appendage to the school. Once you get the approvals for half course from the licensing office, get your eyes tested and pay the fees, you could get an identity card of the school. Now your instructions begin. You have to download the driver guide app of the school, and complete 5 video lessons of 1 hour duration each. They are accompanied by on line tests. They familiarise you with the vehicle types, roads, speed limits, signals etc. These are monitored and once you completed the five tests, you are eligible to go for an online signal test at the school. It has 40 multiple choice questions. You can get a slot and attend it, and you usually clear. The process assures that the candidate is familiar with the traffic regulations. Now you are eligible for a Learner's Licence. Usually this can be a long wait. After joining in May, when I got the LL, it was already end of June.
I would advise the ordinary citizen to go for a full course in automatic category, which is said to be easier to clear - and for general purpose, all cars are automatic . However, if you are of the adventurous type, you could go for the manual category, which will give you the authority to drive both categories in Qatar.
Usually a full course has 40 lessons and half course 20 lessons. But this is tricky. You expect 40 sessions, but in fact you get only 20. This is explained only when you go for a clarification, and usually not beforehand. So you tend to think, it is the first schedule to prepare you for road test and go ahead, and complete it, and think you have another set coming. When you realise that this is not going to be, you get all the explanation required. Each session is for 45 minutes. And 2 sessions are combined to give you a 90 minutes slot in a given day. The schedule is all pukka, dates, instructor, vehicle number, time - all this are allotted. Changes are possible, with advance information.
After a great deal of follow up, with one of our parents in the front office, I was allocated a training slot towards the middle of July - 3 days in a week. It took 3 weeks. I had the instructor Jeffrey Delos, a Philippino, who always appeared drowsy and bored, but showed his alertness when you tend to go wrong.
Usually you arrive in time, not to miss the training - but the instructor usually arrives 5 to 10 mts late. So when you finally get settled in the allotted car, it is almost 15 minutes. Then the road training outside the campus happens. For the uninitiated, within the campus. The instructors are rather strict regarding winding up the session, generally almost 15 minutes ahead of the schedule so that the vehicle will be ready for the next slot. For me, in such sessions, 40 to 50 kilometers were covered on an average. But when it comes to the trickier aspects of L and Box or parallel parking, in your allotted 90 minutes at the most you might be able to do 3 times, with a long queue of trainees for the exercise. That will cause you trouble with just 10 sessions of experience.
The aashan (instructor) is to be kept in good humour to receive the fine tricks that will help you to clear the tests - that is the general impression. So a periodical tipping of 10 to 20 QR is said to do the work for you. If you happen to get an instructor who speaks your language, it is easier - to follow the instructions. Otherwise, you will find it a little difficult to get the instructions right with differing accents. Before the scheduled training ends, your instructor makes you do a pre-test, which is to be cleared for the road test. It is monitored by a supervisor. Usually, they clear you.
By the time, your training gets over, your LL also gets expired. There is nothing to worry. You have to go the front office, pay QR 150, get a renewed one in a week's time. You were instructed to wait for the message from Metrash, to get your test schedule. Waiting,, waiting... nothing came. Now the scheduling requires great patience. It happens in a class room named Room C. The officer in-charge (usually a Malayalee) would be available only from 5 to 7 pm. You have to come, collect a token, wait for your turn to be called. Only this office appeared open to men and women equally, but on unequal terms. When a woman came, she was attended to off turn. Thus I had to wait for 1 hour and more to get a schedule, after 3 weeks of waiting for the 'promised of a message from the traffic police' did not bear fruit.
The entire training system is designed bearing male-female separation in mind. Usually women are trained by female trainers. There are separate class rooms, waiting rooms. Even separate lanes for walking inside the campus! However, the training tracks and vehicles are same. And no specific dress code is insisted upon for women.
I was given Oct 16th Sunday for the road test. I reach the room A, a week before, wait for my turn for about 40 minutes, ask for a trainning ride before the test. The officer refuses, saying that my turns are all over. I persist, argue - that as a student of Al Khebra it was their duty to train their students prior to the test etc. Finally, he grants a session for me on the previous day of the fatal road test! I am assigned one Mr. Nikson Matsiko - he comes (as usual almost 15 minutes late); He is from Uganda. We become quite pally with each other. He guides me out, corrects me, we discuss Uganda, Idi Amin... and lo 40 minutes are over.. I request him that I be tested for my side parking. But now he is very strict - time is up!! We part on good terms.
On 16th we are to report at 5.30. Our transport department has arranged a ride for me. Reach well in time. We are made to wait in AC cabins created out of huge containers. Tokens are given, and accordingly people are called. By 7.20 candidates began to be taken out for test. My turn comes. Each time a bunch of 3 are taken out. I had 2 Srilankans with me - youngsters, younger than my Indian licence. All ceremonies have to be performed by each candidate - 1. Seated 2. Engine start (usually it is on) 3. Adjusting the seat - height & distance from the steering wheel 4. Adjusting the mirrors L, R and front 5. Seat belt 6. Ease the hand brake, shift gear from P to D, 7. Drive (in the name of the F, S and H. Sp!), 8. Attend to the instructions, but follow the rules. (Many stories are being told about this part - that they would confuse you, ask you to stop or park in the wrong place, you should say 'yes', and stop only when a legally permitted space is found etc etc.). With us the police man followed standard patterns - negotiating round about, U turn, road side parking, L and R turns. I had the last turn and somewhere I had missed the hazard light was switched on, and on the final L turn, he pointed out that I had not paid adequate attention to the right side traffic - true! I thought I flunked. Parked - stepped out - a lo, the message is there; you have successfully completed; Now complete the rest of the field tests.
I really can't believe! It's a kind of miracle - either the standards are such, and I have managed to maintain the minimum - or the policeman concerned had some sympathy for my age - the white beard, and bearing, a senior executive dressing up!! I attribute it to Allah -Al Rahiman al Rahim!
Mr. Matsiko met me - enthusiastically responded when I said I had cleared; asked if I wanted to do the Parking tests now. I was reluctant, not knowing whether it was possible, and whether I was equipped. So another schedule; another waiting for Metrash message; No message; You pursue with Class Room C; another hour of waiting - a slot is allotted for 20th Thursday.
I seek another training session. I am flatly denied by the desk officer 2 (a non-Malayalee) and asked to pay QR 150 if I required one. I decide to explore the next day. Come to the office, argue with the lady at the desk, and she directs me to the manager; I wait for the manager who is busy - the tall Malayalee Supervisor Mr. Salish asks why I was there - on my request, he assures that I could come next morning and ask for a session; and if there was any hitch, he could be contacted. Next evening, I reach. Queue up where the students wait for instructors. I am allotted a person - Mr. Lui; and we take 2 L & P turns. I am much more confident, though I feel I require two more. But on this aspect of training - winding up before time - all Al Khebra instructors are very strict. Time is up!!
Next morning - it is again early morning, queue up, our turns are allotted. My turn comes arouund 8.40 am. L goes smoothly and comfortably. I am confident of P as well. Reverse, full R, full L, Again full R - felt it should be straightened, and took a little more to the front, and there was 'beeep'. The examiner asked me to apply hand brake, then asked me to reverse. I did, without releasing the hand brake. And he requests me to step out - finito! Instruction - come for P alone next. The process is repeated - Class Room C - Now our MD intervened. Called our young IT head, who rides a car and had gone through all these processes; instructs him to facilitate my schedule. He calls up his acquaintance Mr. Noufal, a senior instructor, and in 2 hours I get message from the school with schedule. Request for another training slot is flatly denied. They would, if I paid QR 150. I think - I will try once again, if I flunk, will think of further training. Do my own training bit in the school parking area, with some help from our alumnus Alan. Feel confident. Arrive on 27th early morning. I feel more confused - Sense that I do not know the exact points for the R, L, R, L, R... I request for the input from my instructor Jeffrey; there is a Malayalee instructor Mr. Lins - I request him - apply, apply - no reply!!
I keep my trust in the Lord. Get some inputs from the jovial Malayalee supervisor Jayanath from Lulu, who afer completing 13 years in Qatar, was trying for a licence now. For him, he was getting the slot after more than 9 months into the process!! So, comparatively, I had a faster track! He gave a small tip regarding the R & forward step in the P test. But, now, observing the size of the box, gives me jitters! My turn comes quick this time. Got seated. Same examiner. He comforts, says: apply the formula. Nothing else. Watch the Pole. OK. I try out R - L- R- feel unhappy with the position, feel it is not straight. But I am already missing the white mark in front of the bumper - any move further will result in the beep. I reverse; get out of the box! Lo, I am cleared!! In five seconds METRASH sends the magic message : Don't drive till you get your licence in hand.
The tip I can give in this regard is borrowed from my student Alan Jerson - go at the slowest possible speed for the P test. And it does work! You are buying space & time in the process for maneuvering.
The examiner instructs that I could go out to the licence office, and get the licence. This is indeed a surprise! Never expected that! Go to the 'annexure' of Al Khebra. Get my slot without any delay. The lady asks for my credit card inaudibly. (Another QR 250 to be paid for licence). I hand it over; it is declined. I hand over my debit card. It is declined. No cash payment. I go back, get the school to assist. School sends Mr. Ashok along. Payment is made, and we wait for 3 minutes. The lady at coutner 5 mumbles my name - hardly enough to hear! But I make a guess; go to the counter. And the greenish white licence card is handed over. 5 years validity!
Total costs involved - QR 3710 = equivalent to Rs. 82000.00 only!!
1. Make and assessment of the various schools and their offers around.
2. Definitely go for at least one full course - choose automatic, if more adventurous go for the manual!
3. Regularly pursue with the school to get the training sessions arranged, and test dates fixed.
4. Ensure that of the 40 (in real terms, 20) sessions, at least 3 real sessions set apart for future use immediately before the tests; or be prepared to make additional payments.
Interesting!
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