str

Hi all!

I got an offer lately to work in Dubai and as I'm fully make use of the holidays to do my homeworks (wasted 2 days with dozens of dead forums before I found you guys here ) to weigh the pros and cons.
Here are some questions I couldn't find answers for:

First and probably most important question to all those who like/love Dubai: Was it love on the first sight?? Or does it take a while until you will like it?
I've been down there for 1 day and two nights last year for an interview (didn't work out in the end for the money) and I was a bit disappointed - my impression was like it is just an artificial and sterile cluster of shopping malls and hotels in the dessert and didn't get the exciting feelings you get when you come to great cities like Paris, HK, Moscow, etc for the first time.
Do you think that there is still any hope for me that I will enjoy the city one day? (Of course you can enjoy any place with right people )
Considering the trip was for free it wasn't that bad though

My package tends to be a few% below my current one but seems to be fairly good for Dubai standards (I'm in a hardship location now - so I can only get from worse to bad in the worst case).
The company will provide me company accomodation, 1 bedroom, all bills covered. I think that is a good think as I don't have to bother about exploding costs. But as I'm dealing with the European HQ only, they couldn't give me too many details on this and they are on Xmas break now. Does anybody know what the norm is for "company accomodation"? Will they have rented whole blocks where they put their staff in or will I have a choice? I will be alone out there btw.
Does anyone knows how the salaries in the construction industry have developed recently? The only posts from construction ppl. are at least a year old or so...

Just another issue I'm wondering about but not concerning me: As acco and school is a huge cost factor for the employers, are people with family usually in very senior positions? I guess those in need of a family package are not able to compete with me and my fellow singles for the lower level jobs?

Thanks for all useful answers that will hopefully come!

beebee

Hi..its pretty dead on here at the moment but I will answer your first question... I love Dubai and hate the thought of going back to the U.K, in fact I have been putting off visiting family back there for nearly 3 years. I love the weather and I feel safer here.

Border Reiver

I love Dubai as well, and there are lots of opportunities here if you want them. However if your first impression is:

....it is just an artificial and sterile cluster of shopping malls and hotels in the dessert...

then that is unlikely to change as, basically, that is exactly what it is. If you want culture, museums, theater etc then it is not the right place for you, although it is getting slowly better.

lionheart

Unless you can afford wining and dining in 4-5 star hotels, your first impression of Dubai is about right...not forgetting the multitude of building sites, tower cranes and omnipresent traffic congestion. However, it's probably better than some cities I could name so come and enjoy the tax-free opportunity while you can.

Inselaffen

i know a few people who didnt like the place much when they arrived but after 4-6 months of getting to know the place and the social scene they now love Dubai.

str

well, that's what i do like in dubai! as i said, construction bizz...


good to hear that, inselaffen. so there's still hope for me!
I should probably grade the expectation down for a better good surprise/bad surprise ratio

Thanks for your replies so far!

Paidtoplease

Dubai I had a roller coaster of emotions in teh 1st year but once you accept it is what it is, it is an enjoyable place but culture is not high on the list of things to do.

shakh your bootie

LOL - a lot of people here moan about lack of culture but 8/10 of them I reckon weren't hitting the galleries, museums and theatres when they lived at home....

Paidtoplease

What they had Galleries/Museums and Theatres in London ??? I never noticed....

Inselaffen

they were next to the pubs you were in!

Paidtoplease

You sure ???

shakh your bootie

Some of them even have bars inside them....

Paidtoplease

Now you piggin tell me

Inselaffen

looks like you have found that excuse you were looking for to leave Dubai and go back!

Paidtoplease

Naaaa it's okay, I found some good one's here