Having thoughts about moving to UAE but not sure if will be better off financially. The husband is a project manager in civil engineering. What sort of money should it be for us to be comfortable? We have a house to pay in UK and we do not want to rent it. Two little children (5 & 8 yo) Is education free there?

Can I ask why you want to come?

Sadly schools are not free... no tax means very limited free public services. That means no free schools, health care, cheap sports, arts, libraries, etc.

I doubt that you will achieve what you want on a project manager salary (i.e. keeping the house in the UK on and paying for housing and education here).

On a brighter note, nann breads, and happy ending massages are cheap.

Sorry to be a pain, but the forum already contains huge amounts of information covering your questions. How about having a little look around, and maybe even a search before posting......?

Sorry.... I've been searching but couldn't find anything regarding this exact situation

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Cost_of_living_in_UAE

The main thing is the climat. Can't be living with rain and cold all year round. There is no cheap sports, arts etc in this country. NHS service is not brilliant as well. So paying a great amount of tax you do not have anything.

Thanks!

the weather isn't exactly always nice here...45 degrees plus for 5 months

anyway, don't think you've really searched very hard...if you just type in 'salary Dubai' in the search thing, and click on Middle East there are loads and loads of threads on the subject...

... come on, it has...ok, maybe the kids were not 5 & 8 !

seriously, you need:

(annual amounts)
Housing: 200k Dh (on here)
Schooling: 100k Dh (on here)
Living: 180k (on here in lots of detail)
Annual cost of your house at home * 6 (on on here)
Savings required (if any)
Flights 15K Dh
Total annual ammount
/12 = monthly amount

monthly amount > PM salary.

you do not realise what you have until it is gone.

Healthcare & schooling here is shite and expensive
You cannot 'just go for a walk' - you pay for everything
You get a lot for your tax in the UK.

But, that said... I don't fancy going back any time soon.

if climate is main reason i would go somewhere like spain. the summer here is anything but pleasant. yes i agree the crappy weather was one of the reasons i was happy to leave the uk, but i wouldn't say the 45 plus temperature here is much better...

imagine having a nice pool that you can't sit by for months as you will literally roast, and you can't swim in it for fear of being boiled alive (unless it is chilled)

I do not mind heat, it's a lot better than "british summer"

we are a helpful bunch really...trust me..

Do not want toi argue but in UK you can't just go for a walk as well. You have to pay for everything. Even NHS dentist for over 16 is not free.

Yeh, good country buit I'm afraid that salarys in the construction industries are not that good