Originally Posted by archi2

Am I trying to find ways to make it a yes? Of course. Only wanting to hear a yes? No. Has the input of people on this forum helped? Yes! I have updated my figures to match what everyone here has suggested and have decided that I will not do this UNLESS my wife can get a job with certain benefits that would, in total, help increase our net disposable income by 150k AED/yr vs where we are now. An extra 100-150k AED/yr is sizable for me and worth the move. Here are the updated expenses I'm basing my decision off of now:150k rent100k schooling other monthly expenses:4k food & toiletries (we don't eat out + many of my own meals covered by co.)2k DEWA (including 5% rent tax, the 2-beds I'm looking at are around 1600 sqft)1k transport (car paid for, so this is fuel/maint/repair/tolls/parking)1.5k other recurring bills (mobile phone, internet, no tv, 300 AED/mo health ins)1.5k kids uniforms, clothing, little extras, surprisesTotal = 10k/mo So annual total = 150k rent + 100k schools + 120k other = 370k AED, which is exactly what my salary is. If my wife can effectively add 250k AED to this (100k is due to the elimination of schooling expense alone), then we're talking. Otherwise, no deal.

Originally Posted by Scamp

Woah woah woah there sailor.

If she is hired locally as a local teacher she'll likely get a local contract and they'll likely want to see proof that her owner / husband DOESN'T receive housing / flights before they pay that.

Schools will want to hire her on basic only. Which will probably (depending on experience) be around that 100k a year mark.

I've thought about marrying my Mrs but don't want to lose the 70k housing and her flight. Money talks, love walks.

Originally Posted by mission

Mate there are a lot of 'ifs' in your scenario - you need to take out all the 'ifs' and stick to what you will actually have as an income......this is Dubai, NEVER count on any possibilities/opportunities/verbal promising.
With the current downward climate out here, people who have been here for years and thought their job was secure have been let go at a drop of a hat, and particularly those expats on whooping packages.
Have you thought about the possibility of you coming out on your own and then once you think it could work/and or your Mrs can get a job, then for them to come out and join you.

Originally Posted by archi2

I literally get no allowance for anything, just a salary, that's why it may seem low to you guys (370k AED/yr total, nothing else.)

Originally Posted by mikewot

One thing to be cautious about is your thinking on being frugal here with no family. I can tell you that it is (or can be) very very lonely here until you start meeting people (outside of work). Stuck in your accommodation all evening and weekend by yourself, irrespective of skype, will make you wonder why on earth you left your family behind.

Originally Posted by Ditzy

Mission, the UAE farmed vegetables are not always obvious and can sometimes be at foot level or tucked in a corner. They are not usually stored with the imported organic items.

The Aubergines, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Green beans, marrows, cherry tomatoes etc are all grown here in the UAE, and seriously, are very cheap.

Fruit is less common in this range but you can obtain organic fruit from companies such as Greenheart who will deliver to your door.

Fruit and veg from the Lavant region are also much cheaper than your Dutch/other imported items.

I realise this is a very small portion of archi's potential UAE life but just saying there are cheaper options but sometimes you just have to be aware of where they are.

Originally Posted by Ditzy

Most of the locally grown veg is organic. You do however find some which just says locally farmed and not organic, but both are still cheaper and more fresh than any imported items. Also supporting local farms and businesses, less carbon footprint etc.

Originally Posted by DXBtoDOH

As someone who does a lot of home cooking I find the local stuff very mediocre. Bland, rarely ripe. Often tastes weirdly metallic. Cheaper, yes, but you get what you pay for. Doesn't mean I think the fancy imported stuff in Spinneys is worth it, just that if you're expecting cheap but flavourful you'll be disappointed. It ain't the UK.

Anyway, you will have no choice but buy imported in many (most) instances. Never seen local carrots for example, it's all from Australia. Pretty much all fruit is imported.

Don't always agree buying locally is more environmentally friendly. Where does the water for the local farms come from? It's a desert country so the water is desalinated Gulf water, which is not good for the environment. It's all subsidised by the government, by the way.

But the milk is good, oddly enough.

Originally Posted by Scamp

I like the local cucumbers.

Originally Posted by mikewot

Very small but I suppose that suits you sir.

Originally Posted by DXBtoDOH

As someone who does a lot of home cooking I find the local stuff very mediocre. Bland, rarely ripe. Often tastes weirdly metallic. Cheaper, yes, but you get what you pay for. Doesn't mean I think the fancy imported stuff in Spinneys is worth it, just that if you're expecting cheap but flavourful you'll be disappointed. It ain't the UK.