Hi there. I am have been offered a job in Dubai and am trying to do my sums to see if I can afford it. In terms of housing allowance, I would only get AED50000. This would be paid upfront.
From the research I have done, if I want a 2 bedroomed furnished flat, somewhere like the Marina, this will only pay for the first quarter of the year, inc agency fees and deposit. After that I would need to save up for the next cheque.
I really don't want to go into debt just to pay my rent, so my question is are there many landlords out there likely to accept 4 cheques over the year.
Many thanks for your help, I have to give an answer to the company tomorrow and my head is spinning!

Not really, especially not in the Marina. But you could always try your luck.

Not much help to you, but there are predictions that the situation is going to change over the next year or so, as landlords have to become more competitive with each other to get tenants in. Splitting the annual rent into a greater number of cheques could well be one way they try and do this.

Or of course, they could just do what the developed world does, and charge rent monthly

A great many people here have no alternative. It's just the way things are.

try and get more housing allowance or you will get in debt...

I feel so sorry for people who come here with a dream and find out the reality is that they cant afford it and fall into debt.....

Did you fall off your bike and land on a compassion gene?

Thanks for the quick response everyone, I appreciate it because as I said I have to reply to the company by tomorrow.
I have tried to get the housing allowance increased by had no luck. My salary (not including the AED50k housing) would be AED350k, does it still sound unfeasible?
Thanks

well in total its 400K which works out as 33K is a month...

that is dooable

Are you single, no kids etc?

if so, can i have your number (joking...)

For a single person that should be enough but more than likely look at a 1 bed in marina...

yes, its the new caring me....

Scuse me if I don't stand up and bang my tambourrine.












Yet.

arbroath_abroad - thanks for giving me my first smile of the day (your number request!) - a big achievement as I have been stressing as I don't want to make a $$ mistake. I am hoping my fiance will be able to join me at some stage, he works in Close Protection in Baghdad. So if anyone knows of any jobs for him in Dubai please let me know. Just wanted a 2 bedroom so people could come visit, Marina was suggested to me as means I would go in the right direction at rush-hour traffic time, are there any other recommended areas in that vicinity? Thanks AGAIN everyone.

well he will be minted so its not a worry, interestingly enough, one of my pals is doing that stuff also (ex RM type thingy)

or was that the 'my fiancee is a hard bastard so back off'

dont worry, im married and my wife lurks on here

In a similar vein to Alan's queries, 33k a month is an extremely comfortable salary for a single person - plenty of Western expat families are having to survive on a lot less!

That is AED33k a month? Not being sarcastic just want to check.

Re the CP fiance, just looking to live together after 8 years of living in different countries, hoping it is more likely to happen in Dubai than UK, fingers crossed x

good luck, yea 33K a month is around 4600GBP

All i will say thou, the cost of living in Dubai is expensive, for many things

interesting use of the word 'survive'

is he ex military? or just watched too many arnie movies?

reason i ask, i have a good friend who works training the UAE army, maybe worth a shout...