US or Dubai?
May 3rd 2008, 3:08 pm
#33
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: Atlanta via Dubai, Belgium, Greece, Saudi Arabia
Posts: 953
Re: US or Dubai?
As someone who spent 9 years living in Sharjah and Dubai prior to moving to the US18 months ago I guess I could offer some personal advice on this subject.
If you don’t care about your fellow members of the human race then Dubai is the place, all the sci-fi construction is built by people who are paid less than $200 a month (if they get paid on time). Can you imagine the quality and pride that goes into building a multi-million dollar home or apartment tower when you haven’t been paid for 3 to 6 months? So many villas are simply photocopies of their neighbors yet cost more than many people make in a lifetime, there is no character from one to the next lump of concrete. Many people who are currently resident are now questioning if Dubai is worth it any more, inflation is unofficially above 20%, service sector workers are being squeezed between rising housing, food and schooling costs matched with limited salary increases. Families are being separated as husbands are sending family’s home, the gap between the ‘use to have’ and the ‘have not’ laborers who live in concentration camps is narrowing. Single bedroom apartments costing $10,000 a year are now being shared by 6-8 bachelors (male or female) or even 2 families with kids as a way try to make ends meet.
When I first went to Dubai it was possible to save money and have a satisfactory lifestyle, presently people are spending all they earn (and more) just trying to maintain what they think is practical.
All I can say if you still want to make the move is make sure you get
· At least 2 months salary moving in allowance if moving from the US as all appliances are 240v 50hz, nothing from the US will work.
· a watertight foreign assignment contract with a multinational company with lots of money, tax free is ok but remember your wife will almost surely not work in Dubai so you have to count on loosing that income,
· your housing allowance has to be in excess of 50% of annual salary ($75,000 is a minimum at today’s market rate),
· children’s schooling must be fully funded, if you can get them into a school, all the good ones have waiting lists into next year,
· at least business class travel home for the family at least once if not twice per year, summer time highs in excess of 45C force the wife and kids home for 2 months, sure everywhere is air-conditioned but you still have to park the car at the mall and walk in it unless you are the Sheik
· a fully funded company car, insurance is high and accidents are frequent, car values for expats are like leaky buckets.
· Full repatriation at the end of your contract.
I know this may sound like doom and gloom but I think you have to be there for more than a passing business trip to see the reality underneath the façade that is often seen as modern Dubai.
I initially I enjoyed my time there but now I never want to go back and work there again.
If you don’t care about your fellow members of the human race then Dubai is the place, all the sci-fi construction is built by people who are paid less than $200 a month (if they get paid on time). Can you imagine the quality and pride that goes into building a multi-million dollar home or apartment tower when you haven’t been paid for 3 to 6 months? So many villas are simply photocopies of their neighbors yet cost more than many people make in a lifetime, there is no character from one to the next lump of concrete. Many people who are currently resident are now questioning if Dubai is worth it any more, inflation is unofficially above 20%, service sector workers are being squeezed between rising housing, food and schooling costs matched with limited salary increases. Families are being separated as husbands are sending family’s home, the gap between the ‘use to have’ and the ‘have not’ laborers who live in concentration camps is narrowing. Single bedroom apartments costing $10,000 a year are now being shared by 6-8 bachelors (male or female) or even 2 families with kids as a way try to make ends meet.
When I first went to Dubai it was possible to save money and have a satisfactory lifestyle, presently people are spending all they earn (and more) just trying to maintain what they think is practical.
All I can say if you still want to make the move is make sure you get
· At least 2 months salary moving in allowance if moving from the US as all appliances are 240v 50hz, nothing from the US will work.
· a watertight foreign assignment contract with a multinational company with lots of money, tax free is ok but remember your wife will almost surely not work in Dubai so you have to count on loosing that income,
· your housing allowance has to be in excess of 50% of annual salary ($75,000 is a minimum at today’s market rate),
· children’s schooling must be fully funded, if you can get them into a school, all the good ones have waiting lists into next year,
· at least business class travel home for the family at least once if not twice per year, summer time highs in excess of 45C force the wife and kids home for 2 months, sure everywhere is air-conditioned but you still have to park the car at the mall and walk in it unless you are the Sheik
· a fully funded company car, insurance is high and accidents are frequent, car values for expats are like leaky buckets.
· Full repatriation at the end of your contract.
I know this may sound like doom and gloom but I think you have to be there for more than a passing business trip to see the reality underneath the façade that is often seen as modern Dubai.
I initially I enjoyed my time there but now I never want to go back and work there again.
May 4th 2008, 12:04 am
#34
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: US or Dubai?
Thing is, it's not like people aren't treated like poo over here either though...and yeah substandard pay is terrible, but it's also more money than they would have gotten else where in the region, or they wouldn't be moving there to work, which is just an indication of the sad state of affairs in general...
May 4th 2008, 1:53 am
#35
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 913
Re: US or Dubai?
Thing is, it's not like people aren't treated like poo over here either though...and yeah substandard pay is terrible, but it's also more money than they would have gotten else where in the region, or they wouldn't be moving there to work, which is just an indication of the sad state of affairs in general...
Last edited by smurtaza; May 4th 2008 at 2:03 am.
May 4th 2008, 2:08 am
#36
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 8,497
Re: US or Dubai?
There is more in life then booze and money.Its better to have a non working wife then the wife developing relationship with boss and ending into bed with him..Its very common here in US.There is no family life and no family support from govt. in tax,medical,education,single parents etc. for single earning families in US.On top of this these is a law for everything even sitting on a toilet seat have a law.
Edited to add ... of course if you're not working ... there's always the pool boy.
May 4th 2008, 2:12 am
#37
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: US or Dubai?
There is more in life then booze and money.Its better to have a non working wife then the wife developing relationship with boss and ending into bed with him..Its very common here in US.There is no family life and no family support from govt. in tax,medical,education,single parents etc. for single earning families in US.On top of this these is a law for everything even sitting on a toilet seat have a law.
May 4th 2008, 3:01 am
#38
Riding on silver wings
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,543
Re: US or Dubai?
You know Smurtaza that has to be the most obvious wind-up I've seen yet. Try again for more subtlety. You might just get me in the argument.
May 4th 2008, 3:11 am
#39
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Aspen, CO
Posts: 9,845
Re: US or Dubai?
There is more in life then booze and money.Its better to have a non working wife then the wife developing relationship with boss and ending into bed with him..Its very common here in US.There is no family life and no family support from govt. in tax,medical,education,single parents etc. for single earning families in US.On top of this these is a law for everything even sitting on a toilet seat have a law.
May 4th 2008, 11:37 am
#41
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 8,497
Re: US or Dubai?
Well Smurtaza - if you really believe what you say to be true - and are still considering living in the U.S. - then I'm worried about your values. What you have described is not reality for many of us - but then again we live here and might know a thing or two about this country.
I don't know enough about Dubai to make an assessment - but it seems your choice is clear. Or it should be given your beliefs about this country.
I don't know enough about Dubai to make an assessment - but it seems your choice is clear. Or it should be given your beliefs about this country.
May 4th 2008, 11:41 am
#42
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: US or Dubai?
Well Smurtaza - if you really believe what you say to be true - and are still considering living in the U.S. - then I'm worried about your values. What you have described is not reality for many of us - but then again we live here and might know a thing or two about this country.
I don't know enough about Dubai to make an assessment - but it seems your choice is clear. Or it should be given your beliefs about this country.
I don't know enough about Dubai to make an assessment - but it seems your choice is clear. Or it should be given your beliefs about this country.
May 4th 2008, 12:02 pm
#43
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 8,497
May 4th 2008, 5:22 pm
#44
Queen of my house
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 5,043
Re: US or Dubai?
My too....it's a good thing that was an option for me. I don't know how I would have ever gotten by (esp. after my divorce)