Tommy Davison

Thanks

nottmbantam

No idea.

You're welcome.

Dry as Dust

See link below.

http://www.scad.ae/en/Statistics/Pag...SubTopicID=133

Approx 1.1m non nationals in a total population of 1.5m

Millhouse

very interesting website.

However, while you have given the correct answer, old Tommy asked the wrong question. What he wanted to know was... how many rich, gullible, long term savings plan buying, western expats there are - or as PIC refer to them: customers.

Sadly, of the 1.1m non nationals that is probably only a few thousand - 90% of expats in Abu Dhabi can just about afford to eat twice a day.

don't do it Tommy! I'm not sure this going to be a great move for you and the chances of you seeing that 6 figure tax free salary that you have been promised is minimal! (Although fair play for doing some research).

Blue Cat

I am with EM on this, don't bother.

lullabelle

Maybe the six figures promised was in dirhams...

More realistic.

soukie

Agreed - a lot of new expats have been lured to Abu Dhabi by what they see as large tax free salaries and some just come to save paying tax (many recruitment consultants try and get people out on that alone). Unfortunately their salaries are soon eaten up with the high prices in the Emirate. The only thing that is cheaper is petrol but the "essential" bigger car soon drinks that up. Not much left to invest for the majority.... the expats who have been living here for a few years have a bit more money as the wages were slightly higher then and accomodation costs lower but they will not be rich pickings for new investments with the Company discussed; they will already have had the cold calls numerous times a month.

Millhouse

I agree with that. I spend way more on petrol here each month than I ever did in the UK - even more so in Dubai where the whole city is set up for not walking and the distances are further.

We fill our 2 cars every 4 days here (excluding weekend trips out). In the UK it would have been 1 car once a month max.

hnd

Don't understand this. To refill both tanks in the landcruiser (close to 30 gallons) is around GBP35. At a conservative cost of GBP1.20/litre this would cost something like GBP136 in the UK. To refill our Pajero in the UK (back in 2005 before we moved here) even with around 1/4 of a tank left, it cost us something close to GBP80.

Granted, distances can be greater but that depends on where you choose to live, where you school your children, where you work. For some of our friends it works out cheaper to get taxis to and from work rather than own a car. No depreciation, no insurance, no annual registration etc.

Millhouse

Well the point is that fuel here is roughly 28p / litre vs 125p / litre in the UK. i.e. it is around 4.6x less expensive. However, due to a city that doesn't really lend itself to walking we consume about 8x more fuel. I admit that some of this is my doing - in the UK I had a hot hatch, here we run 4x4s so cost / trip is higher. However, there is no way I would drive a lowered type R yaris with mini in the back on the Kahill, SZR or Emirates roads. Whereas, I would have done that in the leafy suburbs of London.

I also agree it's a function of where you live - but for me it is still vastly cheaper to run the cars than it would be to take taxis. For a while I did use taxis but one day in AD they all disappeared and so I was forced into a car - in the UK I had the option of a bus, train and tube network. These options just simply do not exist in practical form here.

Blue Cat

I spend 50 dhs a week, if that!

Millhouse

you obviously drive that Pajero like a nun. I'm the bloke tailgating and flashing you.

Blue Cat

nah I just don't get out much

Ethos83

I spend 120 AED a week for a full tank and it lasts me exactly a week. Always fill up on Saturday evenings.

Since I'll be selling the car in a few months I did a quick calculation:

Purchase cost: 95,000 AED (in cash, no loans).
Insurance x 3 years: 10,500 AED.
Petrol x 3 years: (cost has gone up so average of 110 AED/week x 52 x 3) 17000 AED.

Total car cost: 122,500

Sale cost: 70,000 (projected)

Total depreciation: 52,500 AED.

Cost on a monthly basis (36 months): 1450 AED.

Cost of a cheap Lancer hire: 1750 AED monthly including basic insurance but not including petrol.

So, not bad.

As for taking taxis in lieu of cars, it does depend on where you live and work. Assume you spend 50 AED/day x 7 days x 4 weeks = 1400 AED a month.

flares

you'll not get 70k for it...just a hunch