Hello everyone,

I would love to hear any input/advice you all might have on my situation:

I am a 24 yr old British guy, about to graduate from architecture school in London, and have been offered a job in Dubai. The job in question is with a well known architecture firm (with head office in London), is relatively entry-level in architecture (I have 1 year's experience) and is known as a RIBA Part 2 position. In London, for the same role, according to official figures and surveys and the like, I should expect to earn between £23-£27,000 pa.

My offer for Dubai is 10,500 gross AED per month. They say that 3,000 of this is an accommodation/travel allowance - but I am assuming this is an accounting technicality so they can base any redundancy pay etc on 7,500 not 10,500 - and that I will receive 10,500 per month.

Factoring in the lack of income tax in Dubai, this means that my net income per month equates to around a £28,000 salary in the UK - and that is certainly on the higher end for the position in UK terms.

However, my question is whether 10,500 AED is enough to survive in Dubai. I am under no illusion about renting a place by myself - rather I am certainly looking to flatshare. In London, for an example two-bed flatshare, I'd expect to pay upwards of £800 per month, not including utilities.

I am not really looking to save vast amounts of money in the bank - rather to gain some overseas experience and get involved in some ambitious work. I would like to be able to buy a few clothes every month or so, to have a few drinks in bars after work/on the weekend, eat out perhaps once or twice a month, but nothing lavish. I have been a student in central London now for 2 years - so my lifestyle is somewhat frugal. I will be looking for a gym membership too - in London I would expect to pay anything from £30-£80 per month for this.

I am very eager to make the move, but I must be realistic about whether I can actually survive financially. Also, how easy is it to secure a flatshare or similar without actually being over there to view? I have been looking on Dubizzle, but a lot of the offers appear dubious... Accommodation is my biggest concern.

Many thanks in advance - and input from architects/those involved in the industry also would be wonderful.

- d

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=794780

read this thread it might be of some help to you

Thanks. Seems life won't be flashy, but will be do-able. I also notice you've put someone up which is very generous. I might PM this guy to see how he is getting on - as his situation seems relatively similar to mine.

Thanks though!

Somewhere like Disco Gardens would be affordable and lively but it really depends on where your office is located.

Ok - thanks. The office is just off Al Quoz Industrial Area 1. That's about an hour's commute from Discovery Gdns right? Are the bus and metro system good?

nope about 20 mins max, not sure about metro connections. Yes it has worked out for us with our new addition to the family. I will tell him to make contact with you, he is managing but due to being with us, he would be struggling on his own.

BC is right about the 20mins, BUT only if you count that from the exit from Disco. Others will know more precisely, but from looking at the traffic jams getting into Disco of an evening, you could add an hour onto that if you're driving.

You'll be able to have a decent life on that if you be careful what you spend your money on. Message me on FB as Im not on here much - https://www.facebook.com/Jonk5?ref=tn_tnmn < Ill be able to give advice.

Ok great - many thanks. I've sent you a message, but as we're not FB friends apparently it will be in your 'other' inbox on FB - not the main one. I didn't even know there were two.

But thanks again.

- d