dubaimover26

Hi all,

I am moving to Dubai at start of July and I have a job which pays:

Basic: AED 20k
Rent: AED 9k
Transport: AED 2K

Plus 1 return flight home per year and med insurance for both me and my husband.

My husband doesn't have a job yet (fingers crossed ) he gets something before we go but if he doesn't, will the above be enough to support both of us, even if we basically do nothing fun until he gets something?

We want to rent in JLT or thereabouts (it's just the two of us and we want to eventually experience some nightlife buzz). I know the start up costs can be a lot, with the agency fee, deposit, DEWA etc. But can anyone advise on what we can expect to spend in our first month or so?

I'm particularly nervous of this 1 cheque for a year's rent issue... the whole reason we are moving is because we don't have that kind of money!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Many, many thanks in advance!

CraigM

Dubaimover26 - If your company is happy to give your rent allowance to you quarterly you will be able to find a great apartment in JLT for 108,000dhs p/yr, you can negotiate the amount of cheques you are required to pay up to a max of 4, any more is pretty unheard of nowadays. I would also recommend looking in Motor City, although further out, it is cheap and the buses I am told are regular.. 20,000 p/mth salary will be enough to live on as long as you are sensible, alcohol and eating out are expensive luxury's you may need to live without for a month or 2. You can easily rent a small car for less than 2000 a month, and in July they usually have some discounts running.... I hope this helps

dubaimover26

Thank you very much Globaleye. I will definitely have a look at Motor City too. I just want to check that you think we can both survive on this salary for a while if we need to?

Thank you so much for your reply, it has really calmed me down a bit!

CraigM

You're very welcome, good luck with the move Dubai is an amazing place, you will both love it!

The_Citizen

You will be able to 'survive' no problem. You really need to negotiate your rent with the agent. Also some employers will help with the rent situation as well so it might be worth asking them.

With the package that you have put above you will be able to have a nice lifestyle in a good area but won't be able to save. If you can learn to live on your salary you can then just save your husbands earnings or just spend it on holidays!

Eeyore

It's not really a negotiation, though, is it? All you can do is ask if the landlord will accept more than one cheque, and if they refuse (as they are increasingly doing), you just have to pay or walk away.

Bahtatboy

And when you "negotiate" with the landlord, insist on a "break-clause" that allows you to terminate the rental agreement part way through, usually with 1 month's notice and 2 months penalty: that at least gives you some protection if things don't pan out.

Good luck

NorthernLad

Call me cynical, but I'd expect a PM then a phone call from Globaleye soon if the username is anything to go by.

CraigM

Hi NorthernLad, you will not be receiving a telephone call, if you already have received calls then I apologise. Some within the organisation will use cold calling to promote themselves, I do not. If people want to get in touch they are welcome, I do not need to chase business and beg people to become my clients...

Johnnyboy11

Boring, but sensible tips:

Be mindful that you will be UK Resident for UK tax and NI purposes on your worldwide earnings until 6th April 2016 at the earliest, however once obtained your non-residency status can normally be backdated to when you left the UK.

Usually there is no sickness cover from your employer, and if you are off sick you get no pay or allowances. Similarly there are little or no employment rights in the Middle East. So think about setting some savings aside each month as a precaution.

Don't forget to invest in a pension, as a guide half your age when you start and invest that % of your salary.

Eeyore

Really? Both the companies I have worked for here have provided sick pay. At my current company you can get up to 15 days' sick leave per year on full pay, then X number of days at half pay, and no pay after that.

I'm always amused when I see that it's recommended to have at least 3 months' salary set aside for emergency use, because nobody ever explains how you're supposed to save so much so quickly while also meeting your regular monthly outgoings and keeping some money for yourself to actually have a life. Most people I know will candidly admit they are saving little to nothing, and not because they're busy living a profligate Dubai lifestyle.

busybee2

will your husband have to do visa runs each month then?