csdf

I reckon that Waitrose/Spinneys are about 30% more expensive, like-for-like, than your Carrefour or (shudder) Lulu. I have walked out of Waitrose, before, with 3 shopping bags and a bill for 600+dhs. That's £40 per shopping bag.

scrubbedexpat141

I reckon for some items they're cheaper, for some they're 2000% more expensive.
On the whole, 30% is probably the high end of fair but I can't argue.

I'm happy to pay the difference though, Waitrose is a lovely place to be. It's like asking me if I want to drink Heineken or Carling.

DXBtoDOH

The best thing is to really be on the ground before picking where you want to live. JLT is hit or miss. Has advantages but towers vary enormously in quality. Loads of restaurants and a more family friendly vibe compared to the Marina, which is busier. But I'm not sure how often you'll actually be walking over to the Marina with the family and prams in tow. Pick your tower carefully, both the tower and the actual location of the tower. If you're not literally right in front of a metro station you're likely not using it often. JLT is not chiller free, so factor in the cost of district cooling on top of your rent. Some towers have .... interesting demographics. Some towers seem to have fire alarms nightly. Maintenance quality varies greatly as well.

I'd be looking for a temporary serviced apartment for a few months. Back in the day it was the standard for all arriving expats to be placed in one for a few months. Use that time to explore the different areas of Dubai.

Carrefour is much cheaper than Spinneys. It'll have the Carrefour brand and French imports and pretty decent cheese counter. Produce is hit or miss, but Spinney's is barely better, it often looks big and shiny till you realise you paid a fortune for tasteless apples. But Spinneys is better for meat/fish. When you're on the ground, you'll see what I mean.

pratt123

Thank you. If everything goes well, as part of the move, the company will provide 2 weeks of initial accommodation, which hopefully will be enough for us to get a few viewings under our belt. We've been looking online too at bayut, dubizzle, propertyfinder etc., and haven't found the right 3 bedroom apartment yet. We've also been considering chiller-free, which then drastically reduces the number of filtered options as well. Any idea how much chiller would cost for a 3 bed flat? If c 1k/month, then I'm probably better off looking for something at c130k rental, which would work out the same with Chiller fees (i.e. 140kish).

With regards to the towers in JLT, we've identified the ones close the metro and have a few clusters in mind already. However, where we're currently struggling is to really understand how good the maintenance is for those towers (if there's an issue) etc. Not sure how to even get to know this (apart from speaking to people who live at JLT/those specific towers).

A more generic question - if there'a s flat listed at say, 120k/year, what would you normally start negotiations at? I'm assuming the market isn't as buoyant as it used to be years ago, so as tenants, we have more leverage and bargaining power, but at the same time, I don't want to shoot off the hip and go in with a low ball offer which is unrealistic.

Thanks
Pratt

DXBtoDOH

The advantage of going with an Emaar development like the Greens/Views or Downtown or the Emaar complexes in the Marina is that you're as guaranteed as you can be in Dubai to get good and reliable maintenance. Emaar really keeps their communities spic and span. They are *gasp* reasonably professional about it. With places like JLT with each tower built by a different developer and maintained separately, it's really hit or miss and I can't offer advice which to look at. Someone else may know the names of the better towers. I used to but my info is a few years old and the brain hasn't retained that information.

If a flat is listed at 120k, offer 10% off and see what happens. No harm in it. The Arabs are used to bargaining and haggling. But caveat emptor at the same time. Rents are quite soft at the moment, I can imagine. If you are able to pay a full year's rent up front you have more bargaining power. But it is still a caveat emptor. There's always scare stories of someone handing over a full year's rent only for the property owner to disappear....not common but it has happened. There are mechanisms to use to verify the validity of the ownership and sincerity. Evidence of registered contracts, proof of closed DEWA accounts etc. Hopefully Scamp or Millhouse or anyone else can tell you what to do during the negotiation process.

Redddindxb

The Greens are getting old and need updating. The floors in the apartments are lifting, the kitchens look they are from the 80s and the plumbing is akin to the Victorian age
Most LL will not invest money into updating them. Common areas are clean etc but we don't even have a dedicated security guy on the desk. They flit between 4 buildings. They are cheap as chips now but need alot of work.

pratt123

Thanks all. Appreciate the feedback.

Update - the missus seems to have landed the role (HR got back saying all very positive feedback from the multiple rounds of interviews). However, due to Eid, it could be a week or two before anything formal is sent through. We are taking a gamble and beginning to start discussions in the UK under the assumption things will go ahead and they are true to their word. Nothing dramatic, just having conversations with estate agents (renting our house), lining up things to sell (car, furniture etc.).

Regarding accommodation, our current choice is definitely steering towards JLT. Managed to get names of the few good towers there from current residents (thank to FB!) - however, big struggle to get a 3 bedroom place. Limited supply but plenty of 2 beds. So now thinking if we should test the waters with a 2 bed, and then see if we can cope and move to a 3 bed a year from now, although I really don't want to compromise on space (I do however, like the extra disposable income that saving on rent would offer!)

Millhouse

Do not do anything until you have an offer letter and they are starting the process of collecting information for processing visas. The amount of people who get verbal offers and then never hear anything again outnumber those that end up coming.

pratt123

I was afraid someone would say this! They did reach out and collected all her personal information, passport copies, attested degree certificates etc to 'help a smooth process' , to quote them.

Her final interview was also with the CCO within the company, so I'm hoping this isn't something they decide to can after all this.

Clearly, I'm biased!

scrubbedexpat141

We make about 15-20 conditional offers a month.
We hire about 8-10 per month.

Signed contract in hand, then you're good to go.

pratt123

Hi All. Hope everyone's well and safe.

Quick update, just managed to get the contract this morning, which is great. Currently we are getting all the documents they need ready at our end, so potentially looking to make the move in 6 weeks if everything goes to plan. Still need to figure out where to live etc. Yikes!

Couple of quick questions please- hoping someone can help. I ve tried and failed to get hold of an expat tax specialist here in the UK. One did respond, but asked for an exorbitant amount which I thought was taking the piss. Anyone here know/recommend someone they may have used or can vouch for please?

Secondly, how does one find a reliable maid/nanny in Dubai? I ve read through the process online, but just wondering the best way to find one whilst we're here and also how quickly we could get one. We desperately will need a nanny once my wife potentially starts work in August.

Thanks in advance!

RegardsPratt

SandyMcSand

Can’t really help with the tax. Other than to google Statutory Residence Test - HMRC.

For maids/ nannies, check out tadbeer. Bit more pricey but you can pick and choose and in certain circumstances you can return them if it doesn’t work out.

csdf

I'll PM you my accountant who specialises in UK and US expats

Millhouse

Please send to me as well. I probably need him.

pratt123

HI All,

Hit a major brick wall and need some advice please. Everything has been progressing at our end and we were on track to move to Dubai end of July/beginning of August. Currently, final attestation/employment visa processes going on.

However, this morning, my employer has basically turned around and said they cannot support me working remotely from there due to tax implications, potential risk of corporate entity to be set up there and other standard responses around insurance, duty of care etc.

Whilst I'm trying to talk my way through this suggesting me working out there in a non-Business Development, non-Sales role is unlikely to create a permanent establishment out there, I was wondering if anyone on here could advice on Plan B? Is there literally anything else I could look to do? If I went for a 1 year Freelance Visa, does that negate the need for Corporate entity etc? Or if I were to look for an apartment in the FreeZone, would that make any difference?

Really dejected that it's come down to this after months of anticipation and when things were actually materialising.

Thanks All.