RHD

Hi,

I have a job offer in Dubai and I'd really like some advice.
We are in the early stages of negotiating.

The pay looks to be about UK £40K a year but when I asked about Housing allowance, car allowance (need a car as have to supervise subcontractors and buy stuff etc) and relocation expenses I just got a "No".

When I explained I'd heard you had to pay your whole rent for the year up front and for a 1 bed flat that was likely to be UK £24K, I was told that wasn't so, you could pay three months at a time. (You still have to FIND three months rent upfront though)

The UK recruiter is telling me she's placed five people in Dubai and they didn't get any housing allowances or anything, just the basic pay, but I'm not convinced.

I'm single, in my 40's and somewhat daunted by all the visa, health check, driving licence and the rest of the red tape plus the apparently dire housing situation a move to Dubai would entail. I thought London was bad.

Can anyone advise on what a standard package might be.
A reasonable housing allowance, car allowance etc.

Thanks very much.

Roadking

Again, it's all relative. Housing; you need to figure +/-100'000 AED per annum minimum. Car will cost you but are cheaper than the UK. However, financing is becoming a serious issue. 40K GBP is really not much but it depends what you are earning in the UK and what your ops are there.

benzonar

Will you get paid in sterling, if so £40k isn't much these days.

The exchange rate has been battered so you need to check what the dirham rate is if they pay you in that.

RHD

Didn't even think to ask about Sterling.

Valid point.

My industry in the UK has been hit by the reccession but I don't see how I can get anywhere to live in Dubai without taking out a huge loan and then working my bum off to repay it. Hoping I don't get fired or the company go bust before I do so. (It's been going ten months)

Plus if I want to take out a huge loan I can stay here and do nothing for a year before I run into trouble without having to run the gauntlet of a Dubai debtors jail.

busybee2

r but thats how it works in dubai, yes most companies now will only you give you a lump sum, but in abu dhabi you have to pay your rent up front for the whole year, very rare if you are allowed to pay in more than 1 cheque, better chance of that happening in dubai, always has done, but in 3 months no, some ll will accept 4 cheques but the majority i hear about is 2 or perhaps 3. i dont really think its a good time to be moving over here to a new job in the construction industry, if you have a job in the uk i would stick with it as you dont have all the added 'complications' that come with the uae remember that dubai is not paved with gold.

Blue Cat

if this position is construction related, forget it.

RHD

It's not in the construction Industry. It's in Events.

Blue Cat

Salaries are never good in the Event Industry. It isn't with ITP is it?

W10

If it was with ITP it wouldn't be Dh20,000 plus a month

Blue Cat

valid point

Duracell_Bunny

I would advise against taking the job at £40K P/A. Rent will set you back at least £25K to £30K P/A for a small place, then you have other expenses.

Dubai is not a cheap place anymore. I am leaving next week back to the UK. Job in UK (even after paying 40% tax I am still better off in UK now).

In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, you pay 2 times more on rent than what you would pay in Tax in the UK.

In my opinion, Dubai has had its heyday and now it is in steep decline.

RHD

I've found some little new studios and 1 beds at around £17 K advertised. I'm waiting for someone to get back to me to find out more. I don't know where they are exactly though. Google Earth isn't keeping up with Dubai

Blue Cat

it will be International City?

RHD

No. There's some in Warqaa, which look like really nice flats, but it's obviously in the middle of a building site. Probably out in the desert somewhere.

Is International City good?

Blue Cat

it depends, it looks nice but apparently it is smelly. Where will your office be? I honestly do think your mad to spend half your salary on rent though? a studio in Warqaa? sounds odd to me.