Mancunian71

Hi Everyone.
I'm new on this site, but would appreciate some advice.
I'm from the UK.
Married with 3 children 5, 10, 12.
I earn well in the UK, but have to work very hard for it. All feels like a rat race.
I am exploring options.
I've had a job offer from a large, reputable employer in Doha:

Monthly pay = QR 69,700
Housing (luxury family villa)/utilities provided separately.
Business class tickets for all once yearly back to UK (can be converted to an allowance and choose to fly economy more often).
50 days annual leave (plus 10-15 days public holidays).
Educational allowance for 3 children of QR 21,000 (for each child).
Interest free car loan.

The offer appears good, but I suppose that depends on cost of living.
I am very experienced, and considered senior in my profession.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

DubInRiyadh

what profession are you ?

Crewegirl

Your schooling allowance from what I hear from friends is very low.
It costs approx QAR 60,000 per child per year to send to a good school and I would get the children school places asap as they are hard to come by.

Mancunian71

The offer is non-negotiable, so I have to make a decision based on the above figures quoted.
I am aware that schooling can be expensive. So "topping up" for school would be needed.
Also, I'm not in a rush and would aim for early/mid 2015, initially on my own, family over in the summer with schooling from Sept 2015.
I would rather not mention my profession, as then the company might be guessed, which would not be good etiquette.
Is the salary of QR 70k monthly a "good" salary?

OriginalSunshine

For a tea boy it's an awesome salary, for a senior exec in oil and gas it's a good salary.

Surely at this level you can do your own sums? Is 60k per month, net salary after all outgoings (school, flights, medical, housing) a good net income for you?

DubInRiyadh

The only reason I asked is so I can bang my CV over there pronto....and your profession is not going to give away your company....my bullshitometer is tingling

Mancunian71

I would still rather not say. I'm not really sure why you would be so sceptical.

DubInRiyadh

....whatever

EastWest

The salary looks great and only a few employers in Qatar can provide such a salary (so I can guess )
The only thing that looks odd is the schooling allowance. You need between 45k and 70k QAR per child per year. If we assume the school fees is 65k per child per year, then you need approx. 2 months salary to top up schooling. This leaves you with 57k QAR per month, which is still great.
The annual leave looks generous!

EastWest

Who told you work here is not very hard?

Millhouse

50 days annual leave (plus 10-15 days public holidays)

Take all of this and be fired.

RI207

Strange is that a company who would offer 70k a month + housing + 50 days leave + luxury Villa + utilities + business Class flights........thereafter 21k on school fees??

If you are joining a reputable company as you say, they would well know that 21k is not adequate and their policies would reflect the reality on the ground......

you should be comparing your 70k package +++ with what you are getting in the UK....now, you are either willing to say your profession or what you do or give a comparison to your UK salary so hard for anyone to help!!

All the best

DubInRiyadh

I never heard of a company over here offering a job where you can choose your own start date -
I'm not in a rush and would aim for early/mid 2015

scrubbedexpat141

I don't understand the problem with the school fees being 21k?

It's not enough to cover the full school fees but it's hardly the end of the world to top up from the remaining is it?

BUT

Difficult to say whether good package or not without knowing what you do?

RI207

Scamp - agree with what you say however what I meant is on that salary it seems the role is a management position.

Now, with such a position and here in Qatar I expect most policies to state they will pay FULL in your community school or have a cap at much higher than 21k....

This is what I have seen in Doha...ofcourse might be different in UAE.....