DH offered a job in Dubai

[SESthebrave]

DH has often spoken about taking a job abroad. Initially I was clear that I wouldn't choose to do that but he would start trying to describe the detail when he hadn't received a concrete offer. In the end - about 3or 4years ago - I said to him that he knew how I felt but that I wouldn't be in a position to make a firm decision until he had a definite offer - ie salary, country, etc.
In the last 3-4yrs there have probably been about 10 specific jobs he has spoken about where they may be interested. These have all been in either Qatar, Dubai or Australia but have never resulted in a firm offer.

That is until today. On Monday DH mentioned he'd had an email about a job in Dubai. Suddenly today, there is an email with a firm offer.

There are a number of reasons why I don't want to move abroad, some of them I admit are selfish. My reasons are:

• DC2 is due on 27th May. I do not want to move before the baby is born or within the first 2-3 months after the baby is here. DH has said that he may have to move out there in that time and could be away for the birth.
• I have lived in the town we are in since I was 2yo and have family (my parents) and friends here as well as roots in the community through our church.
• my career is going well and I have built up good service with my company and have agreed with my boss that upon return from ML, I will be pushing for promotion. I could apply for a 1yr career break after ML but that would not guarantee me a job at my current grading and would write off thoughts of prompt promotion
• I'm worried I would be bored without work and my usual mummy friends.
• DS is 2.10yo and settled well at nursery with a good group of friends.
• I'm not sure I want for us all to be so far away from family. Neither my parents nor DH's parents enjoy the best of health and would not travel to visit us.

There are obviously advantages. These are:

• financially, we would have a good income tax free. Car and villa are provided with utilities paid.
• DH may not get another opportunity and he really wants to do it.
• DH would probably be looking for another job anyway within 12 months as he finds his current one stressful. Another job would likely mean a play cut in the current economic climate.

We've talked things through this evening but can't seem to find a solution we are both happy with. Please help!

I lived in Dubai for a few years. It really is not great in fact for me it was hell on earth. It is so different to the UK everything is so backwards, trying to communicate with people over there is so hard, most of the people employed there are from the 3rd world so it runs as a 3rd world country. I really appreciate how amazing the UK is after living in the Middle East.

Healthcare is awful ALL of the Arabs come to the UK or Europe for medical treatment, the ruler of Dubai will pay for Arab nationals to go abroad for treatment so I think that tells you how awful it is over there. One of my friends gave birth at the American hospital in Dubai, they told her that her baby had flat feet and that the baby needed a cast from the waist down to his ankles to correct it. They agreed (first time parents and they trusted the Dr) a family member (who happened to be a Doctor) flew in from the UK to visit the baby and was horrified when he saw the poor baby and told them to remove it straight away. Thing like this happen all the time all the hospitals want is your money.
Schools are sub standard there are only 4 schools in the whole of Dubai that have the equivalent of an outstanding ofstead report.

Driving in Dubai is horrendous every day you see an accident. There was a 120 car pileup not that long ago in the UAE that should give an indication of how close they drive behind you.

The weather is so horrible, please believe me I feel sick even thinking about it. For 6 months of the year you can?t even walk on the floor without burning your feet, you cannot do anything outside during the day from May to October. At least in the UK we can go out ALL YEAR ROUND. I don?t know why people in Dubai think we are stuck indoors all winter, the weather has never prevented me from doing anything outside in the UK.

Your DH will be committing professional suicide if he works in the Middle East. So many people have found it hard to get jobs back in the UK after working in the ME.

Please read Expat woman, particularly the thread about child abductions the police response was nothing like this happens in Dubai and if people spread stories like this they will be prosecuted. Dubai may seem safe but most of what happens is hidden or covered up.

I hope it all works out in your favour.

Did you watch homes from hell last night?!! You can get banged up for missing a credit card payment over there! Very scary.

Ringo

it is illegal to bounce a cheque here ..in reality the bank phones you to warn you have insufficient funds, and represented the cheque a day later.

You are not carted off to jail ( generally .....)

Update OP?

All had been quiet and I had decided to leave it until a couple of months after the new baby arrives and then bring it up with DH in terms of a "in theory if you had another offer what would we need to consider / do" discussion.

However, Tuesday this week DH texted me to say this Dubai job is still an option and he was still keen. For various reasons, we won't get to talk about it properly until tomorrow evening.

And so the saga goes on....

I've just been reading this thread and didn't know what I would do in the OP's place.

Is there any news, OP?

Did you go to dubai then?