Thinkingaboutit

Hi

I have spent the afternoon reading this forum and am hugely impressed by the amount of information being shared, hopefully someone here will be able to help!

I am a 25 year old brit and work in consultancy for the oil and gas sector. I have recently been approached about several jobs in Dubai for c750,000 UAE. I am single, adventurous, and seriously thinking about it! I seem to get very mixed messages on Dubai depending on who I speak to. I would be keen to hear of anyone elses experience of living in Dubai in their 20's,30's (or others who live that lifestyle, your as old as you feel I guess!).

I would be working for a small company, and so making friends outside of work would be important for me, are there certain areas/complexes that are sociable for people of my age? How were other peoples experiences of meeting people? Could I afford a decent living on the salary I mentioned earlier?

Also, without meaning to sound crass, I have been told that life in Dubai is difficult for the single gentleman due to the high ratio of men to women. I think that for me Dubai would be a minimum of 3 years were I to go there, and the thought of not having a girlfriends for that long is a bit off putting! Has anyone here got a view this?

I don't expect anyone to be able to answer all my questions but I would very much appreciate any answers I get.

Thanks.

David.

Blue Cat

go for it and welcome!!! that is one great package. Once you have got 5 posts on the board you can send PM's. Get in touch with Arbroath Abroad he is in the same field of work as you will be. You will love it out here, there is tons of nightlife and yes there are more men than women here, but judging by the standard of men I saw when I was out the other night I don't think you would have too much of a problem! I have always had a great social life here, though now I am married I do remember the years before that!!

on a lighter note - what's your chest like!!!

Thinkingaboutit

Bluecat, thats really encouraging! It's always difficult to ask the question about dating without people taking it the wrong way so thanks for your answer. My chest is currently pasty white, as one would expect with summer being elusice in the UK!

The package doesn't include housing, but I would try and move into a shared place for the social element.

Madam Medusa

you're going to the wrong places, BC...next time stick with me, lol...

MM, xx

Blue Cat

great idea! once you get here check out all the notice boards etc, and www.dubizzle.com.

Miss Eck

Finding the right flat/villa share is really important. I have a 25yr old colleague who moved over recently and is finding it really hard to meet friends as he moved into a house with 2 guys who work endless hours in IT and travel a lot. If you are into any sports, that will make it alot easier to meet guys your own age.

Blue Cat

speak to the Jammy Dodger

Miss Eck

I have two new girls moving over in Sep. Both 21. I am sure he would find a room for them

Blue Cat

apparently he is full up. But maybe thinkingaboutit Dave might be interested!!

Miss Eck

Do you think he could handle two girlfriends??!

jvr20

David - once you get your 5 posts send me a PM. I'm also in the oil and gas - it woudl be great to know someone else in the same game outside work.

I can't speak for the social scene as since coming out here i've become something of a recluse, which is quite unlike me. I'm used to socialising a lot in the UK with a large circle of friends but it's difficult to meet like minded people in Sharjah and it's not hard to see why. Much of the Sharjah population consists of workers who generally earn a lot less than westerners, which is what forces them to live here and endure the commute into town. When they get back understandably they want to rest and relax with their families.

Since living in sharjah and earning a sharjah salary (which compared to your Dubai based package is a total pittance, though I remember that I'm much better off than most here) I've learnt not to expect much. But if you are a player and looking for booty and have cash to spend there's a lot to be had. The "high spending, fast car driving leading to dripping in honeys" thing still works out here if you're a player. Apparently.

I'm already getting somewhat disillusioned with the place and I've only been here a few months. It's been tough for me to make friends because at work everyone is here with their families, and outside work (i.e. in Dubai) I just haven't got an 'in'. I'd dearly love to see somethng of the outside, desert camping, weekend trips to Oman etc - but everyone else who is into that sort of thing already has their own groups and I'm finding it impossible to find out who these people are and how to get in.

Back in the UK in a couple of weeks. I just hope i can make it back again.

MataHari

oh, I am sorry to hear that...I hope things will get better for you! Maybe get that fast car thing going afterall eh...

Blue Cat

JVR I am sorry to hear that you aren't settling in as well as you had hoped. Maybe after the summer we can get a bit organised and all go out in the Desert with the 4x4's. SAMS said we could tag along with his group

jvr20

thanks BC. My point isn't that i'm not settled - it's just that i hadn't expected to be quite this lonely. As they say, you're never lonelier than in a crowd. And it doesn't get much more crowded than this.

Blue Cat

yes you are right there! You need to take up a new hobby!