Patsy Stoned

Darling, you won't save anything on the package that you have been offered.

Bob

What considerations to healthcare and flights home?

lullabelle

Push on the school fees being paid (up front) and a decent car allowance. Will you be doing driving for work? If so you need a decent SAFE vehicle. So that's why you need a decent car. If you are at the airport the commute won't be too bad. Well, not as bad if you were going on island or the utter shitehole that is Mussafah. Also, you want them to front relocation fees. A container over will cost £3000 up.

Don't worry about Emirati receptionists being paid more - they're local. You can't ever compare or compete with what they will be offered. Think of how the Filipino receptionists feel - they'll be on 2000 dhs a month if they are lucky.

If they top up on the school fees, the car, the relocation costs etc and you can do the first three months on your own (you should get the first month in a hotel) then you could do it - it would not be suicide. You WILL find yourself spending more money than you thought - it can all look great on paper yet fly out of your pocket. You will have time to sort out somewhere to live, schools, get settled etc before the expensive part of your family arrives.

One thing - if you have a house in the UK don't sell it. The UAE is an uncertain place...

TELA

Hi, don't want to hijack this thread but interesting as I have a similar situation & feel I may have shot myself in the foot.

I was approached by a company to go to AD at an executive level, to run a small (15+ employees) company. Interview has gone well etc & I was asked to give my required package; I'll be going as a single person in my early 40's with commitments at home in terms of a mortgage etc.

Asked for just over 30,000 AED a month, insurance, housing & vehicle - wondering if I've sold myself short now?

I didn't mention relocation package or flights etc ...

What are your thoughts please?

Excuse me Jamworld for butting in here; your question really had me wondering!

Patsy Stoned

The company have to give you a flight home every year so just ask them for a relocation allowance. 30k seems a bit low for your position although it is managable I would ask for 60,000 and see what they say..you have nothing to lose and maybe settle at 50,000+housing+insurance, maybe also negotiate a bonus scheme.

kittycat1

does anyone home school out here- just wondering but seeing as most wives dont seem to work and schools are hard to get into/expensive surely it would make sense? I am available for sewing lessons lol The school of BE- god help us!

Jamworld

Don't mind it at all. Welcome.

Patsy Stoned

I know a few people who do online teaching with their children. Seems to work very well. I can do the PE class

Jamworld

Someone mentioned a good point about using "longevity" as a negotiating tool. I guess I will give it a shot and ask for the school fees and an extra car allowance. If my school fees are paid, and I make 63K GBP pa, and my house costs 24 GBP, I would be left with almost 40K for other expenses. Surely that would have to be enough. Anyone care to tell what year they moved to the Middle East, what is the range of the their package so as not to divulge too much, and what industry they work in so I can put things into perspective? Again the feedback has been overwhelming and I can't thank you all enough.

Jamworld

That would save money, but I want my two little girls to be social and outgoing. Don't want them to be shy and introverted like myself.

Patsy Stoned

I was having a laugh re kittycat's post darling, not meaning that you should home school

Jamworld

I know. So how long have you been in Dubai for, Patsy, what type of work do you do if you care to share? Don't worry I'm not going to ask you how much you make.

Patsy Stoned

I have been here almost 9 years, I am a self employed personal trainer. I had to negotiate very long and hard for my salary..my boss is a real bitch

Tockalosh

I am available for history and politics

spartans53

I'll do PE with Commander