School fees in middle east
 

Hi all - a generalist question regarding a professional senior manager's position in the middle east - should we expect school fees to be included into a package?

Thanks

Re: School fees in middle east
 

With international companies it is usually expected.

Re: School fees in middle east
 

I wouldn't do without, the fees are horrendous!

Re: School fees in middle east
 

Well, you need to consider the package as a whole.

The traditional Dubai package set up was base salary + housing allowance + transportation allowance + school fees + flights home.

However, when the time comes to leave the company you will be paid gratuity only on the base salary component and all the allowances (which can easily total half the overall package) aren't factored into the calculation.

The best package is now the one lump sum package for the gratuity will be based on the whole amount. The lump sum package is becoming more common especially in the free zones. You just need to mentally break down a lump sum package by how much you would need to spend on fees, housing, transportation and flights, and see how that works out. There are plenty of people on lump sum packages making more than they did on the traditional package even with all the benefits added.

Anyway, this will be up to the discretion of the company. If they are offering the standard Dubai package breakdown odds are they won't go for the lump sum package for financial reasons (see the gratuity explanation above). But yes, ensure school fees are included. Get at least 40K per child if they are still young, or 60K per child for the higher ages. Here's a breakdown of fees by year for an above average Dubai international school:

http://www.eischools.ae/Meadows/admi...cy_2010-11.pdf

But other schools are even more expensive.

Re: School fees in middle east
 

Best to get full fees included in a package as school fees inflation is even higher than standard price inflation.
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Re: School fees in middle east
 

I would try to avoid specifying an amount for the reason below.

Another approach is to negotiate a % of what the whatever the cost is to be paid by the co.

Re: School fees in middle east
 

no not nowadays, a lot of companies now just give you a lump sum, industries such as the o&g may still tho.

Re: School fees in middle east
 

They do..... (plumps his feather pillow, on his feather bed..!!!)

Re: School fees in middle east
 

No school fees paid by my UK employer. They cost me about Dhs 15,000 per annum, so not bank breaking.

Re: School fees in middle east
 

yes as i said some do, but the majority now dont, lump sum salary is now more common with the recession etc here.