Oh yeah, the cars that look like they have smashed through a halfords.

I could rent you a room in the staff accommodation where the drivers and labourers kip - probably one of the best in Dubai

but I dunno if the lads would put up with a skunk

You could try the local stables...no fighting though

Thanks everyone, some good comments helping me here.

It does sound harsh, but realistically it is going to be very hard and most people on this bored have seen people struggle here before and its no fun. You will be surrounded by other brits going out and enjoying themselves whilst you wont be able to afford it. Realistically you will have to pay 4k a month for accommodation thats OK leaving you 4k, or 1k a week. The cheapest blow out you can have is friday brunch which will cost you 400 of the 1k (Including your cabs) If you want to carry on the party your whole weekly budget will be gone in one day. What will you do for transport and food?

In 2008 I had a friend in Dubai working in real estate, had and lost a million in the UK before he ran away taking a job on 6k a month. He had about £20k in his bank and I watched it slowly disappear as he tried to keep up with his 'friends'. After subsidising his 6k a month for 6 months and selling nothing (It was 2008 after all) he ended up living in a room with 4 prostitutes as he could afford nothing else and one of them felt sorry for him. Dubai can be a tough and lonely place with no money and no friends.

On a brighter note, check out dubizzle as I found a place for someone 2 weeks ago for 2500 a month but for that you wont be sharing with westerners and the chances of a beer in the home are slim. But find somewhere before you jump on a plane and know the costs for getting to your office etc. You can do it on 8k but you need to have everything planned in detail before you move out.

You are planning on breaking the Golden Rule: Never bring money into the country to live on. Set up costs is fine, not live on.

8k is very tight and 10k isn't much better. You will be worse off here on 10k/month than you would be in the UK on 18k/year.

some friend you are...

Living with 4 prostitutes, I was jealous..........

Did they charge him rent? Did it include 'utilities'?

People come to UAE to share accommodation ? That does not sound very grown-up to me.

18k in the UK = 1254 per month nett.

Live with parents - 0
make mummy make lunch - 0
Go on the piss - 50/weekend
Getting around - 250
----
450
----
804 quid left.


MUCH better off in the UK and getting experience before moving to the Middle East in a management role or something.

which is all well and good but you can't blame the lad for wanting to get out of the North East and experience a different lifestyle

Oh of course not.

I think we'd be an irresponsible lot to not give him a heads up that shit isn't cheap here though.

He could always try Swansea for that purpose.

I agree