Re: Looking to relocate to Dubai for a few years
 

If you have friends and family in Dubai then you need to be visiting. Spend a few weeks, take time to absorb the bigger picture. Maybe try and do some Chamber of Commerce meets or other networking. You'll be much better prepared with some first hand info. Reality vs the internet, not much of a comparison. You'll soon know if its a realistic expectation and desire.

Re: Looking to relocate to Dubai for a few years
 

Sounds like a good idea. Will see if we can plan something and explore networking opportunities. Any recruitment agencies as well that you'd recommend I get in touch with - ones that perhaps deal with British expats specifically interested in moving to Dubai/UAE?

Many thanks!

Re: Looking to relocate to Dubai for a few years
 

Those agencies don't really exisit...One question you need to think over is why are you better than someone who is already here?

my guess is most of the people posting here (who are all long term expats) probably came here from the UK with an employer. Few showed up with a suitcase.

I came here on the 2008 lifeboat and joined a client. I moved from a bank to a consultancy two years prior with this specific idea in mind. Again I already knew my new employee and had worked for them.

Back in 2008 the labour market was very tight and people did try to recruit directly from the UK. Now this is not the case unless it's a very specific skill they are after (ie we recruited a CEO from the UK on a portfolio company but this is rare).

Re: Looking to relocate to Dubai for a few years
 

Re: Looking to relocate to Dubai for a few years
 

I recently got job in Dubai from London through a recruiter who contacted me out of blue just because i applied for a different role a year ago. I think its not easy to get job remotely until l and unless your skills are in high demand. But that does not mean its impossible you have to keep trying again and again. If you are earning 150k and not saving then you will not save even if you are earning 200k. Remember Warren Buffet “Do not save what is left after spending; instead spend what is left after saving.”

Re: Looking to relocate to Dubai for a few years
 

That's encouraging. It's less to do with saving, more to do with the quality of life really. Money doesn't go a long way here tbh! Although, I mustn't take for granted a lot of things too I'm aware...

Thanks all for your suggestions, been very helpful!

Re: Looking to relocate to Dubai for a few years
 

Re: Looking to relocate to Dubai for a few years
 

As it stands, I'd prefer the better quality of life in Dubai for a few years (say 5). As I said, I've got quite a few friends and family there that I hardly get to see often, so would be a big positive change if we can move there as a family, with both my wife and I working, and get to live there for a few years along with our daughter.

Moreover, we did the hard grind and saved up last several years, so touchwood, we've got something to show for it and to use on a rainy day (nothing major, couple of houses here but not in London obv, clearly couldn't afford that! )

I'm guessing if we earn around 50-60k between us (so say 30k per head which I think isn't overly ambitious) should still be decent enough to get by comfortably hopefully? Clearly, what I don't know is how realistic that is to achieve and how to go about it.

Re: Looking to relocate to Dubai for a few years
 

Ask about quality of life in July. Or during a sandstorm. Or better a sandstorm in July .

That said, it's better here. But not everyone sees it that way.

Re: Looking to relocate to Dubai for a few years
 

they really are not. Both are possible in Dubai and London.

Re: Looking to relocate to Dubai for a few years
 

Re: Looking to relocate to Dubai for a few years
 

Re: Looking to relocate to Dubai for a few years
 

I was referring to 60k dirhams per month, which would equate to around 150k GBP but obviously 150k gbp NET. To get that that kind of money in the UK, we would need to earn a lot lot more....

@ Millhouse - Would you say based on your experience, 30k per person salary is reasonably achievable? I know it's pretty subjective and vague, sorry, but just want to understand if that level of salary is average for someone coming from here etc..

Re: Looking to relocate to Dubai for a few years
 

See it from an employer's perspective " Why shoulkd I hire you when for a third of your salary i could hire a Filipino or Pakistani who would be just as competent and much more subservient ?"

Re: Looking to relocate to Dubai for a few years
 

International experience in FTSE 100 companies?

Alternatively , Charisma and Chutzpah? That'd seal the deal no? ;-)