I can advise on the living in Qatar query - having lived and worked there up to the FIFA WC.
It is like Dubai perhaps 25 years ago, its glizty and show-off in some areas, but still there are wild natural areas to enjoy at weekends (that's Friday in Qatar).
Since the WC it has also rather emptied out, all construction is more or less complete, so there is no great headlong rush of projects, its all rather quiet and therefore not much business either these days.
Costs of living is gradually coming down especially accommodation as that had become crazily expensive, now there are︀ not so many European engineers/architects etc etc, however alcohol, while freely available, even too freely︁ for the girliewhirlies of QR on their nights out, remains monstrously expensive.
To summarize its︂ a nice place depending on what you want .................. but this if from a now︃ 30 year resident in UAE.