British Expats
Page 3 of 5
1
2
3
4
5
Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page

British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)
-   Middle East (https://britishexpats.com/forum/middle-east-60/)
-   -   A wages question (https://britishexpats.com/forum/middle-east-60/wages-question-540430/)

Blue Cat Jun 1st 2008 9:24 pm
Re: A wages question
 
75K a month!!!! I wish :eek:

Kath & Graham Jun 1st 2008 10:44 pm
Re: A wages question
 
So should we negotiate at maybe 35AED a month plus expenses and all schooling fees...

Crickey I wouldnt ask for 75 that is a bit of a p...take innit?:)

Kath

IndieG Jun 1st 2008 11:39 pm
Re: A wages question
 
LH et al...
Please read my post before jumping at me! I said I would personally, with a family of 4 not come to Dubai now for less than AED 75k a month. If you want to do it for less then fine. But don't go accusing me of trying to put off newbies.

The minimum basic living expenses for a family of 4 arriving in Dubai today, with 2 school going children, living in a 3 bedroom villa, driving a family sedan costing AED 100k financed @ 10% would be around 40k a month.

OK – let’s do a break up of costs:

21,875 Rent+tax
2,500 Utilities (Water+Elec+Phone)
7,500 School Fees (35-40k each)+Activities (1k per term – I pay 1,500 for flute lessons) +Bus (6k each)
3,500 Car @ 100k – Finance 10% reducing balance +Reg+Insurance (4%)
5,000 Groceries, petrol
1,000 Out of pocket miscellaneous expenses – Dental/Medical (insurance/contribution) /fines/Salik
1,000 Economy class flights once a year to the UK/holiday (12k?). What about short trips/holidays?

AED 42,000

2,000 Extras– entertainment, birthdays, gifts, night outs, brunches, clothes and shoes
800 Part time domestic help – cleaning @ AED 25 an hour

AED 45,000

Now to the above add:
  • What about shopping - one off large expenses?
  • Then what about saving? Add a % to the above. Say AED 10-15k per month.
  • Does your industry increase your salary every year to keep up with inflation (10%)? Why not build this into your package upfront and keep a buffer? 4k?
  • Do you want to be compensated for the depreciating Dirham? …... ??k

Not too far from my 75k? - I like to save more...!

The salary demographics quoted are from 2005 and meaningless to a new expat. Exclude labourers and the lowly paid expats (earning less than 10k) – the ones who are employed in small trading companies, shops, restuarants, hotels etc. Don’t base your salary on such demographic data and settle for less since 'you are still earning more than 4% of the entire population' - you can’t compare your living standards (accommodation sharing, family staying behind …etc). You have to compare your salary within your industry and see what standard of living that salary will offer you in Dubai. Then decide.

ScotsExpat Jun 2nd 2008 12:09 am
Re: A wages question
 
Originally Posted by IndieG (Post 6425223)
LH et al...
Please read my post before jumping at me! I said I would personally, with a family of 4 not come to Dubai now for less than AED 75k a month. If you want to do it for less then fine. But don't go accusing me of trying to put off newbies.

The minimum basic living expenses for a family of 4 arriving in Dubai today, with 2 school going children, living in a 3 bedroom villa, driving a family sedan costing AED 100k financed @ 10% would be around 40k a month.

OK – let’s do a break up of costs:

21,875 Rent+tax
2,500 Utilities (Water+Elec+Phone)
7,500 School Fees (35-40k each)+Activities (1k per term – I pay 1,500 for flute lessons) +Bus (6k each)
3,500 Car @ 100k – Finance 10% reducing balance +Reg+Insurance (4%)
5,000 Groceries, petrol
1,000 Out of pocket miscellaneous expenses – Dental/Medical (insurance/contribution) /fines/Salik
1,000 Economy class flights once a year to the UK/holiday (12k?). What about short trips/holidays?

AED 42,000

2,000 Extras– entertainment, birthdays, gifts, night outs, brunches, clothes and shoes
800 Part time domestic help – cleaning @ AED 25 an hour

AED 45,000

Now to the above add:
  • What about shopping - one off large expenses?
  • Then what about saving? Add a % to the above. Say AED 10-15k per month.
  • Does your industry increase your salary every year to keep up with inflation (10%)? Why not build this into your package upfront and keep a buffer? 4k?
  • Do you want to be compensated for the depreciating Dirham? …... ??k

Not too far from my 75k? - I like to save more...!

The salary demographics quoted are from 2005 and meaningless to a new expat. Exclude labourers and the lowly paid expats (earning less than 10k) – the ones who are employed in small trading companies, shops, restuarants, hotels etc. Don’t base your salary on such demographic data and settle for less since 'you are still earning more than 4% of the entire population' - you can’t compare your living standards (accommodation sharing, family staying behind …etc). You have to compare your salary within your industry and see what standard of living that salary will offer you in Dubai. Then decide.
Quite agree, IG......:thumbsup::thumbsup:

busybee2 Jun 2nd 2008 12:42 am
Re: A wages question
 
highways that seems about the right money for civils, and exactly directors are not getting 75k !

IndieG Jun 2nd 2008 12:52 am
Re: A wages question
 
Originally Posted by busybee2 (Post 6425409)
highways that seems about the right money for civils, and exactly directors are not getting 75k !
In my industry - at mid-upper management levels that is pretty much average(am including bonus). We have had a very high turnover and I see the contracts they sign quite regularly - they're getting 3-4 times this amount (e.g. the DIFC, govt owned companies).

Yep, they're all buying property and more than happy/willing to pay over inflated prices!

Even junior staff - with 3-4 years of experience who move along with their bosses go at 20-25k.

busybee2 Jun 2nd 2008 12:54 am
Re: A wages question
 
not in civil engineering!

weescot Jun 2nd 2008 12:57 am
Re: A wages question
 
Originally Posted by IndieG (Post 6422916)
You won't believe just how much directors in big companies earn! Way way over that.
This is true - in real estate here in AD, I came across an executive on 185K per month. He is only in his 30's.

Negotiating your package really does depend on what field you are in and what you ask for. But your housing allowance will be key to this as rents are going up by the month in AD as supply is really squeezed by demand.

Like others that have posted, I looked at my whole package and directly compared my lifestyle and income here to what I had back in the UK. When I explained it to a friend who recently visited, I included my housing allowance, as quite eimply there are very few (if any) jobs that provide free housing back in the UK. I consider this a direct perk for me as my mortgage in the UK is being paid for by tenants. The point on the annual bonus is also worth remembering.

IndieG Jun 2nd 2008 1:48 am
Re: A wages question
 
Originally Posted by weescot (Post 6425451)
This is true - in real estate here in AD, I came across an executive on 185K per month. He is only in his 30's.

Negotiating your package really does depend on what field you are in and what you ask for. But your housing allowance will be key to this as rents are going up by the month in AD as supply is really squeezed by demand.
Completely agree. I know for a fact that a LOT of people (in senior management) in Real Estate, Recruitment,Finance,investment holding companies get paid top bucks (upwards of AED 175k a month). The highest I have seen is AED 1.12 million a month!!!

Kath & Graham Jun 2nd 2008 4:06 am
Re: A wages question
 
Originally Posted by IndieG (Post 6425223)
LH et al...
Please read my post before jumping at me! I said I would personally, with a family of 4 not come to Dubai now for less than AED 75k a month. If you want to do it for less then fine. But don't go accusing me of trying to put off newbies.

The minimum basic living expenses for a family of 4 arriving in Dubai today, with 2 school going children, living in a 3 bedroom villa, driving a family sedan costing AED 100k financed @ 10% would be around 40k a month.

OK – let’s do a break up of costs:

21,875 Rent+tax
2,500 Utilities (Water+Elec+Phone)
7,500 School Fees (35-40k each)+Activities (1k per term – I pay 1,500 for flute lessons) +Bus (6k each)
3,500 Car @ 100k – Finance 10% reducing balance +Reg+Insurance (4%)
5,000 Groceries, petrol
1,000 Out of pocket miscellaneous expenses – Dental/Medical (insurance/contribution) /fines/Salik
1,000 Economy class flights once a year to the UK/holiday (12k?). What about short trips/holidays?

AED 42,000

2,000 Extras– entertainment, birthdays, gifts, night outs, brunches, clothes and shoes
800 Part time domestic help – cleaning @ AED 25 an hour

AED 45,000

Now to the above add:
  • What about shopping - one off large expenses?
  • Then what about saving? Add a % to the above. Say AED 10-15k per month.
  • Does your industry increase your salary every year to keep up with inflation (10%)? Why not build this into your package upfront and keep a buffer? 4k?
  • Do you want to be compensated for the depreciating Dirham? …... ??k

Not too far from my 75k? - I like to save more...!

The salary demographics quoted are from 2005 and meaningless to a new expat. Exclude labourers and the lowly paid expats (earning less than 10k) – the ones who are employed in small trading companies, shops, restuarants, hotels etc. Don’t base your salary on such demographic data and settle for less since 'you are still earning more than 4% of the entire population' - you can’t compare your living standards (accommodation sharing, family staying behind …etc). You have to compare your salary within your industry and see what standard of living that salary will offer you in Dubai. Then decide.
Thank you for taking the time out to do this expense for me - very gratefully received I shall discuss with hubbie and see what happens:D

Will let you know outcome..

Kath

LeHunna Jun 3rd 2008 3:39 am
Re: A wages question
 
Originally Posted by Kath & Graham (Post 6426146)
Thank you for taking the time out to do this expense for me - very gratefully received I shall discuss with hubbie and see what happens:D

Will let you know outcome..

Kath
I realise this thread may be (mercifully) dead by now but just to throw my two pence worth in.... The majority of people I know earn between 55k and 70k and lead extremely comfortable lives.

In my opinion 25k is the breadline for a single, young individual, no kids so I'd be very wary of taking a family there for 35k

lazydaisy Jun 3rd 2008 4:15 am
Re: A wages question
 
75k !! in substaion work wow we should be so lucky:lol:

Kath & Graham Jun 3rd 2008 7:55 am
Re: A wages question
 
ho hum all sounds a bit bleak to me:( Mind you you lot over this side dont sound as depressed as the ozzie forum so life cant be that bad!! (she says hopefully;):D)

Kath

highways Jun 3rd 2008 7:57 am
Re: A wages question
 
Originally Posted by LeHunna (Post 6430485)
I realise this thread may be (mercifully) dead by now but just to throw my two pence worth in.... The majority of people I know earn between 55k and 70k and lead extremely comfortable lives.

In my opinion 25k is the breadline for a single, young individual, no kids so I'd be very wary of taking a family there for 35k
LeHunna,

Can you please advise on what kind of people are getting salaries in this range (what age or position and what industry)?

Thanks

zuzu143 Jun 3rd 2008 10:12 am
Re: A wages question
 
Originally Posted by IndieG (Post 6425223)
LH et al...
Please read my post before jumping at me! I said I would personally, with a family of 4 not come to Dubai now for less than AED 75k a month. If you want to do it for less then fine. But don't go accusing me of trying to put off newbies.

The minimum basic living expenses for a family of 4 arriving in Dubai today, with 2 school going children, living in a 3 bedroom villa, driving a family sedan costing AED 100k financed @ 10% would be around 40k a month.

OK – let’s do a break up of costs:

21,875 Rent+tax
2,500 Utilities (Water+Elec+Phone)
7,500 School Fees (35-40k each)+Activities (1k per term – I pay 1,500 for flute lessons) +Bus (6k each)
3,500 Car @ 100k – Finance 10% reducing balance +Reg+Insurance (4%)
5,000 Groceries, petrol
1,000 Out of pocket miscellaneous expenses – Dental/Medical (insurance/contribution) /fines/Salik
1,000 Economy class flights once a year to the UK/holiday (12k?). What about short trips/holidays?

AED 42,000

2,000 Extras– entertainment, birthdays, gifts, night outs, brunches, clothes and shoes
800 Part time domestic help – cleaning @ AED 25 an hour

AED 45,000

Now to the above add:
  • What about shopping - one off large expenses?
  • Then what about saving? Add a % to the above. Say AED 10-15k per month.
  • Does your industry increase your salary every year to keep up with inflation (10%)? Why not build this into your package upfront and keep a buffer? 4k?
  • Do you want to be compensated for the depreciating Dirham? …... ??k

Not too far from my 75k? - I like to save more...!

The salary demographics quoted are from 2005 and meaningless to a new expat. Exclude labourers and the lowly paid expats (earning less than 10k) – the ones who are employed in small trading companies, shops, restuarants, hotels etc. Don’t base your salary on such demographic data and settle for less since 'you are still earning more than 4% of the entire population' - you can’t compare your living standards (accommodation sharing, family staying behind …etc). You have to compare your salary within your industry and see what standard of living that salary will offer you in Dubai. Then decide.

Excellent analysis :thumbup:


All times are GMT -12. The time now is 12:13 am.
Page 3 of 5
1
2
3
4
5
Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page

Powered by vBulletin: ©2000 - 2026, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.