yoyo92

Hi,

My name is yoyo and I live in Europe.

I have just been offered a position in Abu Dhabi as a Research Scientist (Oil industry) and I'd like to know if my family (my spouse and 2 kids) and I, could afford to pay the bills in Abu Dhabi with such an offer.

Fyi, I have 9 years of experience.

Here is the offer:

• Salary: AED25,900/month
• Housing allowance: AED10,000/month
• Educational allowance (up to AED30,000/year/kids)
• Free Water&Electricity
• One trip/year back to Europe for the entire family
• Medical care coverage (except dental) for the entire family

Is this a good package given my years of experience?

We are not especially extravagant in our way of living but we still want to have a decent 3 BR flat or townhouse, a car, etc.

Looking forward to hearing from you guys.

Cheers!

Madam Medusa

the housing allowance looks very low...

MM, xx

Paidtoplease

I would suggest you check what is covered in the medical cover as some cover only for inpatients and general practice visits and medicines are extra and these are expensive best cover is the BUPA Gold standard

arbroath_abroad

3 bed townhouse? for 120,000 a yer

No chance, you will get a one bedroom apartment for that in Abu Dhabi on Island..

3 bed townhouse, 210,000 plus....

Blue Cat

I agree, the housing allowance is too low

lionheart

For a research scientist in the oil & gas industry, the salary looks very low. They appear to be trying it on here so, if I were in your shoes, I would certainly ask for more.

Eeyore

Also, make sure that you can take your full year's housing allowance in one upfront payment, and that the education allowance is paid in a way that ensures you've got enough money available at the start of each term to pay that term's fees.

yoyo92

Hi guys.

Thank you all for your very valuable inputs.

I totally agree with you, there is definitely something wrong with the housing allowance


So I will probably try to negotiate that and come back to u ... wish me good luck

Cheers!

Madam Medusa

good luck...!

MM, xx

seven seas

good luck.........

Eva

Yoyo92,

You really need about 200kdhs for a decent apartment now-that amount might get you smaller villa off island but you would need to be very lucky.Remember you pay at least 5% if you task a realtor to find.

I recently(nov 07) looked at school fees for a work colleague-this is not the most expensive school :BSAK :junior per academic year@35kdhs + 6kdhs registration;senior(11yrs-18):47kdhs+ 6kdhs registration.So, you need to up the school fees too.

There was a member who recently quoted figures one of his candidates was paying for rent : see below


''I have a candidate who's been in Abu Dhabi for 7 years and pays just under $1,000 for a 2 bedroom accommodation.

There's a misconception it's very expensive. It's not..''

I'm sure it was ADR.
I am not the only AD resident who found this surprising!
Can't imagine where his candidate is living .....unless its in the Dolls House in the window of Early Learning Centre ,Al Whabta Mall-and he's a candidate for Abu Dhabi Film Festival's version of The Borrowers..........

Very best of luck

yoyo92

Thanks Eva for the tips!

Regarding the school fees, since my 2 kids are rather small (KinderG), I think 30kdhs should make it, isn't it?

cheers!

Eva

9k per term =27k per annum at that school for k'garten+registrastion;varies from 1.5-7k depending on entry point(Reg is one off)So yes 30k will do it;without music lessons etc etc.Ask for more;school fees jumping too

Grace O Malley

BSAK fees just gone up again!

and defo accomm allowaince is way too low

good luck

yoyo92

Many thanks guys ...

But how much do you think I can expect to negotiate my housing allowances?