chileflake

Hi , ChiLeFlake here!

Currently living in Dublin (I'm not Brit). Married but no kids yet... I've been doing lots of research lately and awaiting my background check to be completed to have a date too.

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Abu Dhabi (office @AlDar HQ)

38K AED/month (Inclusive of: basic 50%, housing 30%, transport allowance 20%). I can spend it how I wish.

Health Insurance: medical plan for self, spouse and up to three children. Daman Enhanced Silver. Includes Dental & Optical.

Annual Holiday Entitlement: 30 calendar days per annum + one return flight for each family member.
Annual Bonus: Up to three times basic salary (hopefully!)
Group Life Insurance: Life, personal accident and disability insurance for self of 3 times basic annual salary.
Education Allowance: 20K AED per child (up to 3 children above the age of 3...)

Working Hours: 8 to 16 hrs
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Does it look good enough? with possible savings of around 10-15K AED per month ? we don't go to pubs or restaurants, mostly healthy cooking at home... but will require some IKEA trips at the beginning :] (my wife made me write this line

I'm looking for updated recommendations (I already almost read all the forum posts by now) for a 1 or 2-bed apartment between 100k-135k AED/month ? I'm still thinking if living in the Corniche area is a good idea (due to the office being near the Airport). But my wife will be able to just go out and walk to all those nice places, instead of taking a taxi or driving (hopefully we'll rent/buy a car after a few months) and avoid feeling isolated.

So these are some options: Corniche, WTC, Al Raha Beach area, Al Reem Island, Yas Island, etc .. Saraya (corniche right side) looks like a good option as well, since I could drive through Saadiyat, instead of going through the city (is that a good idea to avoid the morning traffic?)

Also, I've seen that the rents posted in (e.g. propertyfinder) can be negotiable (10% less or how much in average ?).

Thanks!,

ChiLeFLaKe

Millhouse

is Mrs ChiLeFLaKe going to getajob?

chileflake

wow, forum famous Millhouse responded to me!, Thanks...

Hopefully yes, Mrs ChiLeFLaKe promised to do her best to get a job once there.

Millhouse

Then I reckon you're going to be just fine!

Two people will easily live inside a budget of 20-25k, giving you your savings. When Mrs ChileFlake gets a job, you're in for a windfall. She will need a job to preserve her sanity - and don't let her fall into the usual expat trap of "not accepting less than 15k, it's not worth it" etc. Even a 5k job is some serious additional savings.

chileflake

ok Thx, that's a big relief!, thanks for the advice on the job.

And what about the Location? Corniche, Al Reem or Al Raha Beach.. (or Yas Island)?
Thoughts? .. Or is this not really an issue due to not being a big city yet? (e.g. compared to London)

I've been reading that Al Raha Beach area is not that isolated now, but not completely sure about it. Anyway, company will pay our 1st month there, so we'll have some time to get around and feel the city, and maybe rent 2 or 3 months if still undecided .

ChiLe FlaKe

Charl01

Married but no kids yet... I've been doing lots of research lately and awaiting my background check to be completed to have a date too.



Always good to have a background check before you have kids :-)

Millhouse

I lived on the Corniche years ago - for me it was and still is the best area. Others will prefer the newer areas for sure.

Brains1983

That only works when you don't have kids I think. My Mrs is looking to go back to work right now, and even with a flexitime agreement so she can collect kids, the cost of having someone looking after the kids at home over the various school holidays is mental. 5k definitely won't cut it. Breakpoint I think would actually be the 15k.

jam25mack

Overall package looks good and sufficient for a couple with no kids who don't go all billy big balls to keep up with the Jones.

scrubbedexpat141

Solid package, you'll be fine.

What does your Mrs do?

chileflake

Thank you all for the answers.

Mrs ChiLeFlaKe used to be an IT service delivery manager for several years at ibm... she's very good at managing people and stuff. Is this a good area where you think she could find something in UAE ?

Thx!

jam25mack

IT is always tricky here as those roles are usually filled by sub con folk. I'm sure she could find something easily enough though.

carcajou

It looks fine. As well - I second what millhouse said about the job for your wife being necessary for sanity purposes.

scrubbedexpat141

IBM are big out here....try them?
Decent IT roles will still have Expats in them, we have one on a major programme.

I don't know anything about it but a few on here might.

IKnowNothing

Na, I concur, Corniche is still the best, I lived there 2 years.