Originally Posted by wilsonc (Post 8788460)

Hi,
Been browsing forum for a few weeks now and I have finally got my offer from my employer to move to Al Ain for 2 years. I would be grateful if anyone with some relevant knowledge would respond as I have to give reply on Sunday. I am halfway through the monster "Living in Al Ain "thread. I stay in Scotland and yes it is raining outside!

I am an Engineer and have been offered a 2yr position. Is two years normal. They say I will get a residents visa. Is this only valid with my current employer and will it expire if I do not get a new contract in two years?

normal 2 years, well it can be anything. yes the company will need to sort out your residence visa. yes residence visa is only valid with company, if you transfer/change you need to redo your visa. a resident visa is valid for 3 years at a time, then you renew. if they do not renew your visa after 2 years it will be cancelled.

The salary is 35k a month. They expect me to start in two - three weeks:eek:

I need to check with my HR about tax implications. Is this tax free if I start soon for 2009/2010 if I stay as UK resident?
you have to be out of the uk for a whole tax year, so as being part way through now you would only qualify from next april to the following april, so you would need to be out of the uk until april 2012 if you go back you can be liable for tax etc. but meow is the one that knows the ins and outs on here.

I have been told that apartments are 60-90k a yr and villas 120k a yr.What other running costs?

al ain is much cheaper than the rest of the uae, elec can be over 2k a month in the summer.

Schooling at 23k per child per yr( I have two kids 7,9)

al ain is easier for schools but have you looked into them, if you are wanting the uk curriculum there isnt much choice.

I am not sure if I will bring my family out and may live singly for a couple of years and then see if I get a follow up contract.
you are best to try and get all the red tape done and ease yourself in before bringing family just in case it doesnt work out. but of course it depends on if you get school places etc, quite often some people have to wait over a year for a school place in places as ad or dxb al ain may be a little easier as well as being cheaper place too.

Cheers and I may be seeing you soon!:)

Originally Posted by Madam Medusa (Post 8790369)

don't know about al ain, maybe the schools are cheaper, but in dubai you would need at least double your allowance, so defo check it out...

MM, xx

Originally Posted by seven seas (Post 8790849)

check your UK income tax exposure if you stay only two yeasrs

Originally Posted by wilsonc (Post 8788460)

Hi,
Been browsing forum for a few weeks now and I have finally got my offer from my employer to move to Al Ain for 2 years. I would be grateful if anyone with some relevant knowledge would respond as I have to give reply on Sunday. I am halfway through the monster "Living in Al Ain "thread. I stay in Scotland and yes it is raining outside!

I am an Engineer and have been offered a 2yr position. Is two years normal. They say I will get a residents visa. Is this only valid with my current employer and will it expire if I do not get a new contract in two years?

The salary is 35k a month. They expect me to start in two - three weeks:eek:

I need to check with my HR about tax implications. Is this tax free if I start soon for 2009/2010 if I stay as UK resident?

I have been told that apartments are 60-90k a yr and villas 120k a yr.What other running costs?

Schooling at 23k per child per yr( I have two kids 7,9)

I am not sure if I will bring my family out and may live singly for a couple of years and then see if I get a follow up contract.

Cheers and I may be seeing you soon!:)

Originally Posted by haloola (Post 8792980)

for the Inland Revenue. As far as I understand you get a tax rebate for this tax year and provided you're gone from april 2011 until april 2012 will not have to pay tax when you return. But I'm not an expert and I hope someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Originally Posted by wilsonc (Post 8793034)

hi,
Cheers for tha do I pay tax on income in UAE from Sept to April next year? My employers will pick up all costs involved with visa's licenses etc.

Originally Posted by busybee2 (Post 8793040)

when you rent a house etc it usually costs 5% of rental price. yes tenants pay it here and nowadays there is a 5k deposit for rental. 1k charge for contract. 1k deposit for elect/water. 2/3 car rental for small car. u can only get a booze licence from various companies, some local companies will not issue. if u want to watch english footie then that is now on ad sports at 999dhs for card and box.

Originally Posted by Tillybean (Post 8793809)

Haloola - looks like you have done some good research but would comment that 350 AED for food is on the cheap side, and wouldnt include you going out. An average meal with a couple of glasses of wine would be around 150-200 AED.

Also, 70 AED for petrol - is this a month? I spend this roughly every 10 days in my Jeep. Petrol has gone up twice recently and looks set to increase again. I drive around 40 kilometers to and from work, plus bits and pieces and fill up roughly every 10-12 days; more if I do an off road trip.

I pay around 5,000 AED a year for water and electricity for a three bed, two bathroom small villa in Abu Dhabi. Internet costs me 250 AED a month and my phone bill is probably around the same, especially if I remember to only call internationally on a Friday when its cheaper. Also remember to factor in for your mobile phone which is probably another 100 AED a month for me. I dont have a TV so cant quote on that and I pay more in housing costs per year but I know the prices have stabilised a little and Al Ain is cheaper.

I also have a regular savings plan and I go on holiday - a lot!!