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Worried about Package - Advice Please

Worried about Package - Advice Please

Old Sep 1st 2008, 9:32 am
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Default Worried about Package - Advice Please

Firstly I want to say Hello All......

I have been reading through a lot of your posts over the past 4 weeks as my husband and I consider relocating to Dubai. Needless to say it has been interesting reading but I feel like I still have a massive amount to learn.

Basically my husband is a Senior Development Manager and is interviewing for a few jobs. 2 in Dubai and 1 in Qatar. We don't really have a preference on location yet.

What I would like to do is ask your opinions on the package being offered for one of the jobs (the one my husband prefers, in Dubai). We are a family of 4 (2 sons aged 5 & 18 months).

55,000 AED per month which includes car, housing allowance and school fees. They will pay our housing costs and school fees up front and then deduct the total over 12 months from above salary.

Cash allowance to spend on flights - we are told it equates to 2 business class flights for family back to UK a year, but we can spend it however we wish and to where ever we wish.

Health & Dental Insurance paid by the company.

1 months salary for relocation costs and they will pay for business class flights for us to come out.

It all sounds good in principle, but after reading all of you posts and after researching as much as possible about costs of living, I worry that it won't be enough. We plan on leading a quiet lifestyle, our aims in coming out are a better quality of life for us as a family, an opportunity for me not to work. We would ideally like to rent a 3 bedroom apartment.

Any advice and opinions would be greatly appreciated. Many Thanks in Advance!
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Old Sep 1st 2008, 9:38 am
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Default Re: Worried about Package - Advice Please

Hi

Do a search for IndiG's breakdown. You'll find your answer there.

Reasonable package in my opinion but you probably won't be able to save anything!

x
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Old Sep 1st 2008, 10:38 am
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Default Re: Worried about Package - Advice Please

family of 4, housing will be around 200K mark so thats 16K a month out of the 55K straight away...

School fees are expensive (unsure of costs!!)

I am not sure what he actually does or develop but the word 'senior' and 'manager' if used correctly, should demand better....
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Old Sep 1st 2008, 10:41 am
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Default Re: Worried about Package - Advice Please

u will be lucky to get housin for 200,ooo
school fees 45,000 senior 38,000 junior ish
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Old Sep 1st 2008, 10:47 am
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Default Re: Worried about Package - Advice Please

Originally Posted by lobby lou
u will be lucky to get housin for 200,ooo
school fees 45,000 senior 38,000 junior ish
you will get a 3 bed in springs for 200K
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Old Sep 1st 2008, 10:50 am
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Default Re: Worried about Package - Advice Please

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. He will be working in residential development (is that an evil phrase on the board?)

I guess the next logicial question would be how much more could he ask for?

Thanks!
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Old Sep 1st 2008, 11:06 am
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Default Re: Worried about Package - Advice Please

There you go...


http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Cost_of_living_in_UAE
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Old Sep 1st 2008, 11:07 am
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Default Re: Worried about Package - Advice Please

Originally Posted by arbroath_abroad
you will get a 3 bed in springs for 200K
No you wont.... 220K up at the moment....
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Old Sep 1st 2008, 12:13 pm
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Default Re: Worried about Package - Advice Please

Originally Posted by TGFKASE
No you wont.... 220K up at the moment....
yes you will, my friend just got one in springs 9
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Old Sep 1st 2008, 12:20 pm
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Default Re: Worried about Package - Advice Please

Originally Posted by arbroath_abroad
yes you will, my friend just got one in springs 9
then he is very lucky, they have shot up to 250k !!!

3 bed apartments are few and far between, there are some at JBR and they are renting in the region of 220k. Do a search on www.bhomes.com for prices. Schooling - I have a 4 year old - 30k a year. Sounds like a good package to me.
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Old Sep 1st 2008, 12:37 pm
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Default Re: Worried about Package - Advice Please

Originally Posted by Blue Cat
Sounds like a good package to me.
Yes, a comfortable package. Congratulations!
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Old Sep 1st 2008, 1:10 pm
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Default Re: Worried about Package - Advice Please

Thanks for the confirmation. As far as apartments, we thought it would be better then a villa for at least the first year, until I feel settled in and know my way around. I have seen prices range from 185k on dubizzle to 300k+ on betterhomes. We really want a 3 bedroom so that the boys can share and then we can have a permanent guest room as we are expecting a lot of visitors.

It is 3-5 year contract, which suites us perfectly, we should know in 2 to 3 weeks if it is all go. They are going to fly husband out for second interview. He is hoping to hand his notice in by the end September, work out his notice in October, fly out in November and then the boys and I to follow in January!

All Very exciting, thanks again...
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Old Sep 1st 2008, 4:27 pm
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Default Re: Worried about Package - Advice Please

Originally Posted by blitster19
Firstly I want to say Hello All......

I have been reading through a lot of your posts over the past 4 weeks as my husband and I consider relocating to Dubai. Needless to say it has been interesting reading but I feel like I still have a massive amount to learn.

Basically my husband is a Senior Development Manager and is interviewing for a few jobs. 2 in Dubai and 1 in Qatar. We don't really have a preference on location yet.

What I would like to do is ask your opinions on the package being offered for one of the jobs (the one my husband prefers, in Dubai). We are a family of 4 (2 sons aged 5 & 18 months).

55,000 AED per month which includes car, housing allowance and school fees. They will pay our housing costs and school fees up front and then deduct the total over 12 months from above salary.

Cash allowance to spend on flights - we are told it equates to 2 business class flights for family back to UK a year, but we can spend it however we wish and to where ever we wish.

Health & Dental Insurance paid by the company.

1 months salary for relocation costs and they will pay for business class flights for us to come out.

It all sounds good in principle, but after reading all of you posts and after researching as much as possible about costs of living, I worry that it won't be enough. We plan on leading a quiet lifestyle, our aims in coming out are a better quality of life for us as a family, an opportunity for me not to work. We would ideally like to rent a 3 bedroom apartment.

Any advice and opinions would be greatly appreciated. Many Thanks in Advance!

Hi

55k AED all inclusive is not much for Senior Development Manager. In Abu Dhabi for large developer you are looking at 100K AED per month for similar role.
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Old Sep 1st 2008, 6:28 pm
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Default Re: Worried about Package - Advice Please

Are you sure about that 100K per month? We haven't seen anything like that on offer. Should he be asking for more?
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Old Sep 2nd 2008, 4:10 am
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Default Re: Worried about Package - Advice Please

Originally Posted by blitster19
Are you sure about that 100K per month? We haven't seen anything like that on offer. Should he be asking for more?
My package is 70kAED per month and I am 33 years old working for Main Contractor as MEP Manager. Our Client's Development Managers are Earning more than that, the villas they are living in are more than 300,000 AED per year!

My 3bed appartment in city centre is 225000 AED per year and villas out of town are close to 400K mark... Property is biggest expenditure here. Fees for british school are 36000 AED for Primary and 46000AED per year for Secondary school. Food bills are same as in UK
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