Go Back  British Expats > Living & Moving Abroad > Middle East
Reload this Page >

48 h/week, is it worth it

48 h/week, is it worth it

Old Jul 25th 2016, 2:27 am
  #1  
Just Joined
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Jul 2016
Location: Canada
Posts: 6
Malhoof is an unknown quantity at this point
Exclamation 48 h/week, is it worth it

Hi
I am about to discuss an offer in Abu Dhabi and I noticed working there is 48 hours/week, that is 20% more than the standard 40 h/week. I searched the forum and did not find any discussion about this when mentioning a package, most people talking about the TAX Free salary only !! So do working in UAE worth it ??
To put things in numbers if a salary here is i.e
$100,000 = take home +/- $65,000
working overtime 20%
$125,000 = take home +/- $78,000 (considering 1.25 for over time)

offer is $100,000 (they are assuming one will save the 35% tax), for basic only

Considering the above (assuming the accommodation allowance 25% is enough to pay), the saving is just 22%, and if the accommodation allowance is not enough than it will start getting equal. Not to mention settling costs and losing of rent at the end (as it will end up working contract is finished before the rent contact, losing of 4-6 months for rent already paid in advance)

So,,,,, is it worth it moving to UAE ?? maybe if working long and counting on the end of service payment.!!!
Malhoof is offline  
Old Jul 25th 2016, 5:21 am
  #2  
BE Forum Addict
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,467
jam25mack has a reputation beyond reputejam25mack has a reputation beyond reputejam25mack has a reputation beyond reputejam25mack has a reputation beyond reputejam25mack has a reputation beyond reputejam25mack has a reputation beyond reputejam25mack has a reputation beyond reputejam25mack has a reputation beyond reputejam25mack has a reputation beyond reputejam25mack has a reputation beyond reputejam25mack has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it

Pimping aint easy!

Yes you get tax free cash here but they work you for it.

I work a 47.5hr week. It isn't unusual.
jam25mack is offline  
Old Jul 25th 2016, 5:59 am
  #3  
BE Forum Addict
 
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,520
DXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond reputeDXBtoDOH has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it

I believe most people's contracts state 48 hours as that's the standard outlined by the Ministry of Labour. The reality differs. Most western expats work Sunday - Thursdays and usually around 9 hours a day inclusive of lunch. That's 45 hours.

The unlucky ones (mostly non-western) will work six days a week, from Saturday through Thursday, and that's where the 48 comes from.

Just ask the prospective company what a typical week is like.
DXBtoDOH is offline  
Old Jul 25th 2016, 6:26 am
  #4  
Banned
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Location: Luton
Posts: 1,162
iggle has a reputation beyond reputeiggle has a reputation beyond reputeiggle has a reputation beyond reputeiggle has a reputation beyond reputeiggle has a reputation beyond reputeiggle has a reputation beyond reputeiggle has a reputation beyond reputeiggle has a reputation beyond reputeiggle has a reputation beyond reputeiggle has a reputation beyond reputeiggle has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it

They work you to the bone here, early starts late finishes. And if your in construction you will work Saturday.

People here are disposable, do not think you are coming here for an easy life.
iggle is offline  
Old Jul 25th 2016, 6:27 am
  #5  
Hit 16's
 
Bahtatboy's Avatar
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Bahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it

Your maths (such as they are) are only valid if you could have a job at home that guaranteed you overtime. As an employer, I'd be extremely wary of anyone who had your attitude and was applying for a $100k job.
Bahtatboy is offline  
Old Jul 25th 2016, 7:35 am
  #6  
Forum Regular
 
Charl01's Avatar
 
Joined: Jan 2016
Location: Kuwait
Posts: 244
Charl01 has a reputation beyond reputeCharl01 has a reputation beyond reputeCharl01 has a reputation beyond reputeCharl01 has a reputation beyond reputeCharl01 has a reputation beyond reputeCharl01 has a reputation beyond reputeCharl01 has a reputation beyond reputeCharl01 has a reputation beyond reputeCharl01 has a reputation beyond reputeCharl01 has a reputation beyond reputeCharl01 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it

If you expect a porn star salary you need to be willing to be screwed once in a while......nothing is for free.

So you work 20% more, big deal.

Better yet, stay home, think you might be better off. Because here you will encounter a longer week and some other challenges which might send you fleeing.

Choice is yours, don't be fooled by us, we are pretending to have a great time...but the struggle is real and the sacrifices worth the monetary (only) reward
Charl01 is offline  
Old Jul 25th 2016, 12:06 pm
  #7  
BE Forum Addict
 
nottmbantam's Avatar
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Riyadh.
Posts: 1,899
nottmbantam has a reputation beyond reputenottmbantam has a reputation beyond reputenottmbantam has a reputation beyond reputenottmbantam has a reputation beyond reputenottmbantam has a reputation beyond reputenottmbantam has a reputation beyond reputenottmbantam has a reputation beyond reputenottmbantam has a reputation beyond reputenottmbantam has a reputation beyond reputenottmbantam has a reputation beyond reputenottmbantam has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it

Aye, 48 hr week is standard contract here in KSA. Working for a construction company, all the sites work six full days a week.

At Head Office we get off lightly - Sunday to Thursday full days, and every alternate Saturdays for 5 hrs. They call it a 'half day' but the timing is such that you can't do anything in the morning, and by the time you finish, it's mid afternoon anyway.

There was proposal a couple of years that was agreed by the Shoura Council ,to reduce to a 40hr week to encourage the lazy locals into the private sector, but it kind of got waylaid at Cabinet approval stage. If you're lucky, you'll get to work only five ( long ) days a week.
nottmbantam is offline  
Old Jul 25th 2016, 1:28 pm
  #8  
Account Closed
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141 scrubbedexpat141
Default Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it

My contract is 50hrs, minus lunches, so 45.

My contract doesn't talk about needing to take calls and deal with shit on Fridays for the rest of the world or rearrange days so I start early or finish late to accompany work in Australia or the US.

Companies don't pay you to come here and toss it off on holiday. They pay the bigger bucks because there's work to be done.

I reckon you should ask your current firm to give you 20% extra hours for 25% extra pay and see what they say.
scrubbedexpat141 is offline  
Old Jul 25th 2016, 2:38 pm
  #9  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Millhouse's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Millhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it

Originally Posted by Bahtatboy
As an employer, I'd be extremely wary of anyone who had your attitude and was applying for a $100k job.
Exactly. I wouldn't employ anyone who thinks that way. We are expected to work 45hr weeks and travel all over the place. Losing weekends and nights is the norm.
Millhouse is offline  
Old Jul 25th 2016, 2:41 pm
  #10  
Just Joined
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Jul 2016
Location: Canada
Posts: 6
Malhoof is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it

So each one case is different, and depends on from where he/she is coming,

>@ Scamp "Companies don't pay you to come here and toss it off on holiday. They pay the bigger bucks because there's work to be done".... is that what r u telling the workers from Asia !!!

Demography of UAE
16.6% Emirati (citizenry)
•23.0% other Arabs
•42.3% Asians (subcontinent)
•12.1% other Asians
•6.0% other expatriates

With Brits making 240,000, US/Canadian 40,000, Aussies 7,000, French/German 10,000 of the 6%, one can see why to work in UAE originating from which country, and the definition of "bigger bucks"
Malhoof is offline  
Old Jul 25th 2016, 2:50 pm
  #11  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Millhouse's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Millhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond reputeMillhouse has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it

Originally Posted by Malhoof
So each one case is different, and depends on from where he/she is coming,

>@ Scamp "Companies don't pay you to come here and toss it off on holiday. They pay the bigger bucks because there's work to be done".... is that what r u telling the workers from Asia !!!

Demography of UAE
16.6% Emirati (citizenry)
•23.0% other Arabs
•42.3% Asians (subcontinent)
•12.1% other Asians
•6.0% other expatriates

With Brits making 240,000, US/Canadian 40,000, Aussies 7,000, French/German 10,000 of the 6%, one can see why to work in UAE originating from which country, and the definition of "bigger bucks"
you've asked a question on a british expats forum. The working assumption here is that you are british... are you arab origin? (no issue in that, but it may explain why we think differently on this - brits tend to be quite flexible regarding working hours whereas arabs are less so)
Millhouse is offline  
Old Jul 25th 2016, 3:13 pm
  #12  
Hit 16's
 
Bahtatboy's Avatar
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Bahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it

Originally Posted by Malhoof
...

With Brits making 240,000, US/Canadian 40,000, Aussies 7,000, French/German 10,000 of the 6%, one can see why to work in UAE originating from which country, and the definition of "bigger bucks"
Westerners earn more money because they add more value. Simple.

Most foreigners in UAE work longer hours than they do in their home countries. Not all add a great deal of value.
Bahtatboy is offline  
Old Jul 25th 2016, 3:21 pm
  #13  
Just Joined
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Jul 2016
Location: Canada
Posts: 6
Malhoof is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it

@Millhouse... I am Canadian. The question was "is it worth it", not about working hours,

so to put the question in a different way "The offer is 30% increase in salary with 20% increase in work" would one take that offer ?? without taking other factors which could make it 20-20

I understand any one working in UAE is having a better situation there than working back home for that person case, without talking about nationality..
Malhoof is offline  
Old Jul 25th 2016, 3:29 pm
  #14  
Hit 16's
 
Bahtatboy's Avatar
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Bahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond reputeBahtatboy has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it

Originally Posted by Malhoof
@Millhouse... I am Canadian. The question was "is it worth it", not about working hours,

so to put the question in a different way "The offer is 30% increase in salary with 20% increase in work" would one take that offer ?? without taking other factors which could make it 20-20

...
That solely depends on your own valuation of your time, and how much the extra money is worth to you.

What would you do with those extra 8 hours a week? If its spending time with a beautiful, growing family, then the loss of those hours may not justify the extra income. If, on the other hand, you'd be in UAE alone, what would you be doing that makes those hours so important?

As to whether the 30% more money is worth it, again, that depends on your own personal circumstances. Do you NEED that money, or would it just be nice? For many, an additional 30% in take-home pay makes the difference between not being able to save, and being able to do so. And that can make a huge difference to your life.
Bahtatboy is offline  
Old Jul 25th 2016, 3:34 pm
  #15  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Bermudashorts's Avatar
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 14,284
Bermudashorts has a reputation beyond reputeBermudashorts has a reputation beyond reputeBermudashorts has a reputation beyond reputeBermudashorts has a reputation beyond reputeBermudashorts has a reputation beyond reputeBermudashorts has a reputation beyond reputeBermudashorts has a reputation beyond reputeBermudashorts has a reputation beyond reputeBermudashorts has a reputation beyond reputeBermudashorts has a reputation beyond reputeBermudashorts has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: 48 h/week, is it worth it

Originally Posted by Malhoof
@Millhouse... I am Canadian. The question was "is it worth it", not about working hours,

so to put the question in a different way "The offer is 30% increase in salary with 20% increase in work" would one take that offer ?? without taking other factors which could make it 20-20

I understand any one working in UAE is having a better situation there than working back home for that person case, without talking about nationality..
Well to be honest your first post was pretty incomprehensible once it got into the figures, so to me you just seemed shocked at a 48 hour week.

Using your completely reworded question, isn't a 30% increase in pay for a 20% increase in work a mathematical no-brainer?

Like others though, I am a bit perplexed if you are a professional person that you are counting hours. I have never had a contract that stated 48 hours I must admit, but have worked that and more for the majority of my working life. It is expected of professionals and even in the UK which has certian European working hour directives, many professionals are expected to sign a piece of paper "opting" out.
Bermudashorts is offline  

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.