I miss my Dubai salary badly
Mar 25th 2012, 2:59 pm
#31
Confirmed grumpy old man
Joined: May 2005
Location: Moved back to Riyadh KSA 2016
Posts: 1,298
Re: I miss my Dubai salary badly
The 'fur coat no knickers' types (ie have an artificially elevated status they would never enjoy in UK) stand out and are probably the worst when it comes to thinking they are above themselves.
Mar 26th 2012, 5:41 am
#32
MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Dubai
Posts: 6,370
Re: I miss my Dubai salary badly
[QUOTE=rowell;9971481]
Lack of decent friends is a huge problem here.
I'm fortunately to know a lot of really decent people - proper human beings who don't give a crap about where you are from or what you earn...only if you are a tosser or not (which is how it should be!).
N.
I'm curious. Why did your wife hate Dubai? Had she lived someone other than the UK before?
After 4 half years here my wife has just told me she hates Dubai, how on earth has it took her so long and in my opinion the solution is in her hands, as she said its simply lack of freindships.
After 4 half years here my wife has just told me she hates Dubai, how on earth has it took her so long and in my opinion the solution is in her hands, as she said its simply lack of freindships.
I'm fortunately to know a lot of really decent people - proper human beings who don't give a crap about where you are from or what you earn...only if you are a tosser or not (which is how it should be!).
N.
Mar 26th 2012, 6:16 am
#33
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Posts: 930
Re: I miss my Dubai salary badly
[QUOTE=Norm_uk;9972496]
Spot on. You're losing you're touch man - nobody has called you a Nazi in weeks.
When we lived in Abu Dhabi in 2007-9 the way in which people would suss you out/proffer business cards etc within 1 minute of meeting really grated on me. In Bahrain that doesn't happen and I much prefer it that way. As we will be moving to Dubai in the next couple of months I'm hoping it was just a phase during the boom years and there will be nice people aplenty this time around.
The point about friends is an interesting one. Back in the UK I had loads of good mates but they've been much thinner on the ground since we came to the Middle East. In my opinion it's a lonelier life out here for men as we tend to take a long time to form friendships. Women on the other hand, bond in seconds over a coffee and are telling eachother deeply personal stuff by the end of the first G&T.....
When we lived in Abu Dhabi in 2007-9 the way in which people would suss you out/proffer business cards etc within 1 minute of meeting really grated on me. In Bahrain that doesn't happen and I much prefer it that way. As we will be moving to Dubai in the next couple of months I'm hoping it was just a phase during the boom years and there will be nice people aplenty this time around.
The point about friends is an interesting one. Back in the UK I had loads of good mates but they've been much thinner on the ground since we came to the Middle East. In my opinion it's a lonelier life out here for men as we tend to take a long time to form friendships. Women on the other hand, bond in seconds over a coffee and are telling eachother deeply personal stuff by the end of the first G&T.....
Mar 26th 2012, 6:56 am
#34
banned
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,611
Re: I miss my Dubai salary badly
[QUOTE=Norm_uk;9972496]
tosser
Mar 26th 2012, 4:29 pm
#36
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Abu Dhabi
Posts: 1,633
Re: I miss my Dubai salary badly
[QUOTE=Ronnie Biggs;9972537]
If you thought AD was bad for that type of thing wait until you get to Dubai!
Better make sure that you drive the right car and your kids go to the right school!
When we lived in Abu Dhabi in 2007-9 the way in which people would suss you out/proffer business cards etc within 1 minute of meeting really grated on me. In Bahrain that doesn't happen and I much prefer it that way. As we will be moving to Dubai in the next couple of months I'm hoping it was just a phase during the boom years and there will be nice people aplenty this time around.
Better make sure that you drive the right car and your kids go to the right school!
Mar 26th 2012, 4:35 pm
#37
MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Dubai
Posts: 6,370
Re: I miss my Dubai salary badly
[QUOTE=Ronnie Biggs;9972537]
Spot on. You're losing you're touch man - nobody has called you a Nazi in weeks.
When we lived in Abu Dhabi in 2007-9 the way in which people would suss you out/proffer business cards etc within 1 minute of meeting really grated on me. In Bahrain that doesn't happen and I much prefer it that way. As we will be moving to Dubai in the next couple of months I'm hoping it was just a phase during the boom years and there will be nice people aplenty this time around.
The point about friends is an interesting one. Back in the UK I had loads of good mates but they've been much thinner on the ground since we came to the Middle East. In my opinion it's a lonelier life out here for men as we tend to take a long time to form friendships. Women on the other hand, bond in seconds over a coffee and are telling eachother deeply personal stuff by the end of the first G&T.....
No one is posting anything about religion or politics anymore - it's so boring here.
A lot depends on your hobbies I suppose. Aside from drinking I am a bit of a nerd and so have found pretty good friends in similar circles but as mentioned I have been lucky enough to meet some really decent people through my work and general socialising.
N.
Spot on. You're losing you're touch man - nobody has called you a Nazi in weeks.
When we lived in Abu Dhabi in 2007-9 the way in which people would suss you out/proffer business cards etc within 1 minute of meeting really grated on me. In Bahrain that doesn't happen and I much prefer it that way. As we will be moving to Dubai in the next couple of months I'm hoping it was just a phase during the boom years and there will be nice people aplenty this time around.
The point about friends is an interesting one. Back in the UK I had loads of good mates but they've been much thinner on the ground since we came to the Middle East. In my opinion it's a lonelier life out here for men as we tend to take a long time to form friendships. Women on the other hand, bond in seconds over a coffee and are telling eachother deeply personal stuff by the end of the first G&T.....
A lot depends on your hobbies I suppose. Aside from drinking I am a bit of a nerd and so have found pretty good friends in similar circles but as mentioned I have been lucky enough to meet some really decent people through my work and general socialising.
N.
Mar 26th 2012, 4:36 pm
#38
MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Dubai
Posts: 6,370
Re: I miss my Dubai salary badly
[QUOTE=soukie;9973320]
Spent seven years in Dubai before moving to Abu Dhabi...and only keep in touch with the people who aren't bothered by such things (all six of them!).
N.
N.
Mar 27th 2012, 5:25 am
#39
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: I miss my Dubai salary badly
OP, how much did you earn?
Is that all that matters to you? You keep mentioning your family but that wasn't an original concern by the soudns of it.
Is that all that matters to you? You keep mentioning your family but that wasn't an original concern by the soudns of it.
Mar 27th 2012, 1:01 pm
#40
Perky but sarky
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Limboland
Posts: 608
Re: I miss my Dubai salary badly
OP - money really isn't everything. And I'm not saying that from a fur lined lifestyle, whilst sipping my champagne.
I miss my Abu Dhabi Salary (not the Dubai one, that one is tainted by the hell I went through earning it). But I appreciate the other things I now have instead.
This may sound crazy, but do you count your blessings at night? I do this regularly. Not in a "thank you god for x and y" way but I just focus on what is around me that makes me happy. My son almost died two and a half years ago at the age of six and I find that puts EVERYTHING into perspective. So the rest of life is a bonus in my mind.
Life at home isn't easy - I've only got one kid in a school and I'm playing domestic goddess/teacher until the other one is sorted (could be september -
joy) which means money is tight as I'm the the bigger earner. No car, can't get back into our own home (again not untilSeptember)... But, well - it's not THAT bad is it? we spent five weeks in India when we left Dubai and seeing people living in shacks and on rubbish dumps and kids running around in rags... Being rich is just about perspective isn't it? I feel pretty rich most of the time because my family are safe and well. yes it's a cliche to say all this but it's true.
Good things are all around: spring is in the air: the daffs, magnolia and tulips are out and the sun is shining all week which makes everybody so SMILEY - I'd forgotten that. All the walking about means my kids are rosy cheeked and healthy, my husband is back at work and thriving again... AND THERE IS A BLACKBIRD BUILDING A NEST IN MY HEDGE.
Mind you, I'm not so happy about the price of booze - bloody hell they've been hiking the tax on spirits. Gin is so expensive! Gin!
I miss my Abu Dhabi Salary (not the Dubai one, that one is tainted by the hell I went through earning it). But I appreciate the other things I now have instead.
This may sound crazy, but do you count your blessings at night? I do this regularly. Not in a "thank you god for x and y" way but I just focus on what is around me that makes me happy. My son almost died two and a half years ago at the age of six and I find that puts EVERYTHING into perspective. So the rest of life is a bonus in my mind.
Life at home isn't easy - I've only got one kid in a school and I'm playing domestic goddess/teacher until the other one is sorted (could be september -
joy) which means money is tight as I'm the the bigger earner. No car, can't get back into our own home (again not untilSeptember)... But, well - it's not THAT bad is it? we spent five weeks in India when we left Dubai and seeing people living in shacks and on rubbish dumps and kids running around in rags... Being rich is just about perspective isn't it? I feel pretty rich most of the time because my family are safe and well. yes it's a cliche to say all this but it's true.
Good things are all around: spring is in the air: the daffs, magnolia and tulips are out and the sun is shining all week which makes everybody so SMILEY - I'd forgotten that. All the walking about means my kids are rosy cheeked and healthy, my husband is back at work and thriving again... AND THERE IS A BLACKBIRD BUILDING A NEST IN MY HEDGE.
Mind you, I'm not so happy about the price of booze - bloody hell they've been hiking the tax on spirits. Gin is so expensive! Gin!
Mar 27th 2012, 8:46 pm
#41
banned
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,611
Re: I miss my Dubai salary badly
OP - money really isn't everything. And I'm not saying that from a fur lined lifestyle, whilst sipping my champagne.
I miss my Abu Dhabi Salary (not the Dubai one, that one is tainted by the hell I went through earning it). But I appreciate the other things I now have instead.
This may sound crazy, but do you count your blessings at night? I do this regularly. Not in a "thank you god for x and y" way but I just focus on what is around me that makes me happy. My son almost died two and a half years ago at the age of six and I find that puts EVERYTHING into perspective. So the rest of life is a bonus in my mind.
Life at home isn't easy - I've only got one kid in a school and I'm playing domestic goddess/teacher until the other one is sorted (could be september -
joy) which means money is tight as I'm the the bigger earner. No car, can't get back into our own home (again not untilSeptember)... But, well - it's not THAT bad is it? we spent five weeks in India when we left Dubai and seeing people living in shacks and on rubbish dumps and kids running around in rags... Being rich is just about perspective isn't it? I feel pretty rich most of the time because my family are safe and well. yes it's a cliche to say all this but it's true.
Good things are all around: spring is in the air: the daffs, magnolia and tulips are out and the sun is shining all week which makes everybody so SMILEY - I'd forgotten that. All the walking about means my kids are rosy cheeked and healthy, my husband is back at work and thriving again... AND THERE IS A BLACKBIRD BUILDING A NEST IN MY HEDGE.
Mind you, I'm not so happy about the price of booze - bloody hell they've been hiking the tax on spirits. Gin is so expensive! Gin!
I miss my Abu Dhabi Salary (not the Dubai one, that one is tainted by the hell I went through earning it). But I appreciate the other things I now have instead.
This may sound crazy, but do you count your blessings at night? I do this regularly. Not in a "thank you god for x and y" way but I just focus on what is around me that makes me happy. My son almost died two and a half years ago at the age of six and I find that puts EVERYTHING into perspective. So the rest of life is a bonus in my mind.
Life at home isn't easy - I've only got one kid in a school and I'm playing domestic goddess/teacher until the other one is sorted (could be september -
joy) which means money is tight as I'm the the bigger earner. No car, can't get back into our own home (again not untilSeptember)... But, well - it's not THAT bad is it? we spent five weeks in India when we left Dubai and seeing people living in shacks and on rubbish dumps and kids running around in rags... Being rich is just about perspective isn't it? I feel pretty rich most of the time because my family are safe and well. yes it's a cliche to say all this but it's true.
Good things are all around: spring is in the air: the daffs, magnolia and tulips are out and the sun is shining all week which makes everybody so SMILEY - I'd forgotten that. All the walking about means my kids are rosy cheeked and healthy, my husband is back at work and thriving again... AND THERE IS A BLACKBIRD BUILDING A NEST IN MY HEDGE.
Mind you, I'm not so happy about the price of booze - bloody hell they've been hiking the tax on spirits. Gin is so expensive! Gin!
Mar 29th 2012, 6:12 am
#42
Banned
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Jeddah, KSA
Posts: 822
Re: I miss my Dubai salary badly
I apologize if I came as arrogant. The problem is how to control people expectations. We did not buy a penthouse in London. The house cost us less than GBP 120K. Gosh we saved every single dhs when we were there (Satwa and Deira were our treat on a weekend out). Maybe that is why we hated Dubai... we did not make the most of it. Looking back we should have stayed one or two years more, to save for the house AND the rainy days. Its is bloody hard to make enough to sustain a family these days in Europe. I guess that is why you see people asking in the forum if 9K dhs is a good salary.
When we came back I felt the same you feel now. Should have stayed two years more, should have traveled a bit more and I did miss that entire gross landing at my account every month. Most of all I missed the lifestyle and the tightly knitted expat community. Back in Dublin we both had to work our arses off at work and then some more when we got home. There were no champagne brunches with cigars by the pool, no maid, no car-wash for Euro20 all month long, wife was pissed off for having full time work and small kids and I was pissed off surrendering more than half of my income to the taxman. A E100 to fill the tank on my SUV?? Well that did it for me.
My research shows that people coming back to the Middle East for the second time stay for the long haul. So this time I am much less strict about saving and will enjoy it more. Certainly now that I have tried European middle-class struggle the stuff that annoyed the c**p out of me in Bahrain before doesn't bother me that much.
Apr 8th 2012, 9:39 am
#43
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 4
Re: I miss my Dubai salary badly
hi there.reading all of the comments on life in dubai. currently considering the move to dubai. can anyone elighten me..what activities are there for weekend and nightlife. we enjoy restaurants abars but wht about concerts, movies? where do ou go to the gym? thanks a lot for any helpful replies
Apr 9th 2012, 6:26 pm
#44
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: Dubai, UAE
Posts: 291
Re: I miss my Dubai salary badly
hi there.reading all of the comments on life in dubai. currently considering the move to dubai. can anyone elighten me..what activities are there for weekend and nightlife. we enjoy restaurants abars but wht about concerts, movies? where do ou go to the gym? thanks a lot for any helpful replies
Apr 9th 2012, 6:45 pm
#45
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Windscale....
Posts: 5,712