omair85

Hello All, I would really appreciate some advice on whether to move back to the UK or stay in Dubai.

I have been out here since 2010 and wonder what the career prospects could be upon my return to London. I am 35 (qualified accountant) and working as a Financial Controller for an International bank.


Financially, we would save £70k per year in DXB compared to £30k in London.

Reasons for moving:

1. Education - Have two kids 7 and 6 Yr old currently at a British School in Dubai (wife not too impressed with schooling here)

2. Sporting opportunities- My son is an extremely keen and talented cricketer and could really develop well back home, but this could easily wait until he is 11years old.

3. Career - Having been out of the UK for almost a decade, I wonder whether delaying the move to another few years would make it harder to land a good career opportunity back home when we eventually return.

Personally, I would love to stay out here until kids are 11 and then move with the extra savings - but my wife would rather move next year.

Has anyone in a similar situation made the move? What do you think?

Thank you all.

Millhouse

Only you know the dynamics at home. The money will never make her happy.

Don't be fooled into thinking that the education is somewhat better in the UK, it isn't.

omair85

I remember exchanging messages with you on here back in 2017 which was hilarious. I did manage to keep the Mrs here for 3 more years.

The problem is that she is a teacher herself and apparently the gap between the quality of education here and back home seems to widen every year.

Personally, I love the sunshine and the savings and would be happy to keep my son busy with cricket here until he is 11, but this daily/weekly debate is driving me nuts.

Millhouse

Honestly, probably time to leave. You dragged it out a few more years.

As for the career, I think it would be easier to go back at 35 vs 40.

omair85

I wish never going back was an option too. I do agree with you that at 35 I could still manage the grind, but at 40 I might struggle.

Gavtek

Working with an International Bank should give you plenty of scope to re-locate to London with the same employer? Unless Brexit has already buggered that?

omair85

Lol! Brexit did just that! I was set for a position to manage EMEA and UK out of London but thanks to Brexit, the bank moved it’s operations to Dublin and Luxembourg.

Millhouse

He probably doesn't want to do product control with the shift starting at 6am and the first report out by 7.30 am every day.

miserable.

scrubbedexpat141

In reality, another few years isn't going to damage your chances of getting work in the UK. It's now at 10+ so if it's 13 or 15 it makes no odds.

Schools here are hit and miss, good ones are great and bad ones are atrocious. Much like the UK although here they can punt shit teachers if they're inclined and trying to improve. In the UK it's almost impossible to shift the 54 year old old-fashioned, doddery ***** that think computers are a fad.

The Mrs moved to a new school recently and it's not as good as the one she was at out here, but it's a project and there's an opportunity for it to grow and change etc.
She had a kid who moved over from Manchester and was struggling to adjust so kept getting sent to her as a senior leader. He kept asking her where the gangs where and who he needed to speak to about which gang to join. Couldn't get his head around there not being gangs etc.

I know where I'd rather teach.

fth

nothing wrong with those two locations. Irish cricket has become pretty good...

scrubbedexpat141

hnd

[QUOTE=Scamp;12936948] ....

The Mrs moved to a new school recently and it's not as good as the one she was at out here, but it's a project and there's an opportunity for it to grow and change etc.
She had a kid who moved over from Manchester and was struggling to adjust so kept getting sent to her as a senior leader. He kept asking her where the gangs where and who he needed to speak to about which gang to join. Couldn't get his head around there not being gangs etc.

I know where I'd rather teach.[/QUOTE

Just about sums up our thoughts. I know where I’d rather be a pupil 🙄

flares

Well you got Arabian Ranches Posse, Jumeirah Spartans or the So Sharjah Crew...blud

christmasoompa

Perhaps, if inner city Manchester is the comparison. But there are some amazing schools in the UK, my children are at one. Small class sizes, amazing opportunities like learning to scuba dive, learning Mandarin, learning to sail etc, brilliant facilities including one of the biggest climbing walls in the south of England, and incredible teachers. So depends where the OP is looking to move to, if he needs to commute to London then he can avoid Moss Side and will have a huge choice of excellent schooling areas.

scrubbedexpat141

Definitely tempted by here, that being said a good old fashioned UK school education isn't the end of the world. I thoroughly enjoyed private and grammar school. Was lovely.
There's probably a different sort of bullying and trouble here but the nature of the environment would make me think you'd end up with a kid who's at least far more aware and accepting of different nationalities / cultures.

Genuine chuckle at them.

I had a sailing club at my school, was my absolute fave.