US or Dubai?
May 2nd 2008, 2:27 am
#1
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 913
US or Dubai?
Hi,
I am a family man with wife and 2 kids. I may land in US on E-3 Visa.I got job offers from US and Dubai.Dubai is future....
Where to go and which one to select?
Thanks
I am a family man with wife and 2 kids. I may land in US on E-3 Visa.I got job offers from US and Dubai.Dubai is future....
Where to go and which one to select?
Thanks
May 2nd 2008, 2:33 am
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Lake County IL
Posts: 1,953
Re: US or Dubai?
It depends entirely on what you want for you and your family.
I couldn't live in Dubai. Absolutely no way. It's way too hot and the restrictions would be way too much for me to handle. That's not the way I want to live. Plus there's only two things to see - concrete or sand.
(My husband has been there for business btw so I do have some real life experience of the place).
But there are places in the US I also wouldn't want to live. And I'm sure there are plenty of people who would prefer Dubai over the US.
I couldn't live in Dubai. Absolutely no way. It's way too hot and the restrictions would be way too much for me to handle. That's not the way I want to live. Plus there's only two things to see - concrete or sand.
(My husband has been there for business btw so I do have some real life experience of the place).
But there are places in the US I also wouldn't want to live. And I'm sure there are plenty of people who would prefer Dubai over the US.
May 2nd 2008, 2:44 am
#3
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: US or Dubai?
Where in the US? How old are the kids?
All depends on what package you get, you'd have to have a huge package for dxb as the rental is mental, annual upfront and all that, as well as the driving being insane and schooling really expensive if your able to get kids in them, so that's all stuff to be found in your package....and there's plenty of threads on cost of living and packages in the ME section as well as the wiki.
Similar concerns over here regarding medical insurance, holiday etc....
I don't know all that much about the Oz E3 visa though, would that allow the other half to work? What about the kids if old enough?
All depends on what package you get, you'd have to have a huge package for dxb as the rental is mental, annual upfront and all that, as well as the driving being insane and schooling really expensive if your able to get kids in them, so that's all stuff to be found in your package....and there's plenty of threads on cost of living and packages in the ME section as well as the wiki.
Similar concerns over here regarding medical insurance, holiday etc....
I don't know all that much about the Oz E3 visa though, would that allow the other half to work? What about the kids if old enough?
May 2nd 2008, 3:16 am
#4
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: US or Dubai?
It depends entirely on what you want for you and your family.
I couldn't live in Dubai. Absolutely no way. It's way too hot and the restrictions would be way too much for me to handle. That's not the way I want to live. Plus there's only two things to see - concrete or sand.
(My husband has been there for business btw so I do have some real life experience of the place).
But there are places in the US I also wouldn't want to live. And I'm sure there are plenty of people who would prefer Dubai over the US.
I couldn't live in Dubai. Absolutely no way. It's way too hot and the restrictions would be way too much for me to handle. That's not the way I want to live. Plus there's only two things to see - concrete or sand.
(My husband has been there for business btw so I do have some real life experience of the place).
But there are places in the US I also wouldn't want to live. And I'm sure there are plenty of people who would prefer Dubai over the US.
http://www.timeoutdubai.com/dubai/?u...edium=redirect
I and my spouse would quite happily live there and very nearly did and I liked what I saw when we went on a 'look-see' visit a few years ago (but like most expat wives & families would go on 'home leave' during the hot summer months eg. June-late August). I know a number of people who've enjoyed living there - including some who also lived in Houston, Texas and hated it there!
Dubai is not the sort of place where one would want to live indefinitely but with a very low income tax rate (and as a sign of the times - dirt cheap petrol LOL (plus the opportunity to have inexpensive household help) it's a good opportunity for many expats to make a shed-load of money for a few years; it's probably not quite so attractive to Americans who have to pay tax to Uncle Sam based on worldwide income, but it seems that the O/P is an Aussie or a Brit so this means paying much less tax than back home.
Do push for a housing allowance and international school fees and medical insurance, home leave airfares, club membership, perhaps company car/lease etc. though.
O/P - You can glean lots of info on living in Dubai - including school info, nursery schools etc. and info the other Emirates here (although your wife might find it more interesting LOL!):
http://www.expatwoman.com/
For a position in the US it's unusual to get the full expat 'package' ie. no school fees, company car, club membership etc.
Can you go for a 'look-see' visit to both countries? You need to be a bit more specific on where you would be going to in the US though....like Oz it's a huge place.
May 2nd 2008, 3:51 am
#5
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Lake County IL
Posts: 1,953
Re: US or Dubai?
It may be the most liberal of the UAE but it is still a Muslim country and as such there are restrictions on what women (as well as everyone else) can do. And the heat would impose even more constraints, that I personally couldn't live with. The fact that I'm not an 'expat wife' probably also plays a big part.
And I've done the whole expat bubble thing. It's fun for a while but for most people there comes a time when you want to put down roots and build a home. We wanted to do that before our daughter started school which is why we did so much to get out of our last country and come here in time for that. I can't see that being possible in Dubai for most people with a young family looking for some stability.
And I've done the whole expat bubble thing. It's fun for a while but for most people there comes a time when you want to put down roots and build a home. We wanted to do that before our daughter started school which is why we did so much to get out of our last country and come here in time for that. I can't see that being possible in Dubai for most people with a young family looking for some stability.
Last edited by chicagojlo; May 2nd 2008 at 4:01 am.
May 2nd 2008, 3:54 am
#6
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: US or Dubai?
there is usually a few sober people there ...
May 2nd 2008, 4:03 am
#7
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 913
Re: US or Dubai?
Which restrictions are you talking about? Dubai is the most liberal state in the UAE with plenty of bars, nightlife, concerts etc! (Bon Jovi are in concert there soon).
http://www.timeoutdubai.com/dubai/?u...edium=redirect
I and my spouse would quite happily live there and very nearly did and I liked what I saw when we went on a 'look-see' visit a few years ago (but like most expat wives & families would go on 'home leave' during the hot summer months eg. June-late August). I know a number of people who've enjoyed living there - including some who also lived in Houston, Texas and hated it there!
Dubai is not the sort of place where one would want to live indefinitely but with a very low income tax rate (and as a sign of the times - dirt cheap petrol LOL (plus the opportunity to have inexpensive household help) it's a good opportunity for many expats to make a shed-load of money for a few years; it's probably not quite so attractive to Americans who have to pay tax to Uncle Sam based on worldwide income, but it seems that the O/P is an Aussie or a Brit so this means paying much less tax than back home.
Do push for a housing allowance and international school fees and medical insurance, home leave airfares, club membership, perhaps company car/lease etc. though.
O/P - You can glean lots of info on living in Dubai - including school info, nursery schools etc. and info the other Emirates here (although your wife might find it more interesting LOL!):
http://www.expatwoman.com/
For a position in the US it's unusual to get the full expat 'package' ie. no school fees, company car, club membership etc.
Can you go for a 'look-see' visit to both countries? You need to be a bit more specific on where you would be going to in the US though....like Oz it's a huge place.
http://www.timeoutdubai.com/dubai/?u...edium=redirect
I and my spouse would quite happily live there and very nearly did and I liked what I saw when we went on a 'look-see' visit a few years ago (but like most expat wives & families would go on 'home leave' during the hot summer months eg. June-late August). I know a number of people who've enjoyed living there - including some who also lived in Houston, Texas and hated it there!
Dubai is not the sort of place where one would want to live indefinitely but with a very low income tax rate (and as a sign of the times - dirt cheap petrol LOL (plus the opportunity to have inexpensive household help) it's a good opportunity for many expats to make a shed-load of money for a few years; it's probably not quite so attractive to Americans who have to pay tax to Uncle Sam based on worldwide income, but it seems that the O/P is an Aussie or a Brit so this means paying much less tax than back home.
Do push for a housing allowance and international school fees and medical insurance, home leave airfares, club membership, perhaps company car/lease etc. though.
O/P - You can glean lots of info on living in Dubai - including school info, nursery schools etc. and info the other Emirates here (although your wife might find it more interesting LOL!):
http://www.expatwoman.com/
For a position in the US it's unusual to get the full expat 'package' ie. no school fees, company car, club membership etc.
Can you go for a 'look-see' visit to both countries? You need to be a bit more specific on where you would be going to in the US though....like Oz it's a huge place.
Dubai is future and US is sinking economy. OZ/US is sometime hot too but Dubai is far better because its tax free....Plus the rules, visa troubles in US are all well known. Going to US means trouble because E-3 visa to US Passport is 15 years of planning.
May 2nd 2008, 4:06 am
#8
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: US or Dubai?
Why did you bother asking the question ..you seem to have decided ....
May 2nd 2008, 4:16 am
#9
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Lake County IL
Posts: 1,953
Re: US or Dubai?
There's more to life than taxes and visas...
What does your wife think?
What does your wife think?
May 2nd 2008, 10:18 am
#11
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Mother Land.
Posts: 14,858
May 2nd 2008, 10:26 am
#12
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 913
Re: US or Dubai?
US is famous for its problems and troubles.Tax,Visa,inflation,petrol prices,no family assistance, medical insurance, car insurance, school fees.....i mean give at least a single authentic reason to pay tax there?
May 2nd 2008, 11:49 am
#13
Unmitigated Gall
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
Re: US or Dubai?
Sounds like you'd be much happier in Dubai. I believe the expat wives there do engage in many activities to pass the time.
May 2nd 2008, 12:00 pm
#14
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Lake County IL
Posts: 1,953
Re: US or Dubai?
