Living in Dubai vs. Australia? Opinions?

[mae2014]

Hey mumsnetters,

As a backstory, I'm 27 and have been offered to move to Dubai with my work with 3 other girls I work with - were all similar ages.

My dilemma is, I was initially thinking of jacking in my job and moving over to Australia on a working holiday visa.

Has anyone lived/been to both and can advise which is better? in your opinion?

For Dubai, Id be on 32,000€ a year plus commission (600–1000€ a month)—my boss will be paying the first 3 months of accommodation, and then I will be contributing 450–750€ a month towards my rent and ill be paying utilies, it will be a 2 year contract.

The alternative to this is to sell my car (about 8k) and head over to my best friend in Brisbane and travel the east coast for 2 months and then find myself a job.

Really torn in what to do, I've always wanted to go Australia and feel like the lifestyle is more me, but then feel like its more logical to go to Dubai,

Please please give me some helpful advice, i need to decide over the next few days as my boss would like an answer xxx

I’d go Australia. I loved living there. It’s an actual real place, Dubai is pure fake.

I had some items stolen in Dubai, in one of the top hotels, when we tried to report it to the hotel and the police, they told us that would be investigated for drinking alcohol (in the hotel bar!) and they’d seize our passports from us, and this could take three months and they would have to do that first before they even looked at the CCTV or investigated this theft.

I’ve never set foot in the country again.

I dread to think what would happen if we’d been attacked. It’s a horrific country, just with a shiny fake plastic outside.

I'm in Dubai and theres no way you could live on 32k euros pa. Rent, bills, food, transport would add up to 3k euros pm even without having a life/saving etc.

Go to Australia and travel. I went for a month a couple of years ago and spent a month in a camper van travelling north from Brisbane. The nature is amazing, the weather is amazing and I found the people genuinely friendly.

Dubai sounds like dreadful place full of fake people.

ill be paying between 450-700 on rent and utilities and my boss will be paying the rest

Australia without a doubt - worked a couple of contracts in Dubai, will never go back. Undercurrent of sexism is real and deep, racist and unpleasant comments from locals are the norm - it's hard to feel safe. Aus however wonderfull, would return in a hearbeat !

I wouldn't move to Dubai with that salary. I live in Saudi and take home in excess of twice as much as that, have stupidly low rent and no bills. I'm not particularly well paid either, by western expat standards.

It's an expensive part of the world to live in. Everything costs more than it should. Unless you have a burning desire to live in the UAE then I wouldn't move this way on that package.

What sort of job do you do?

You'll probably earn bugger all money in Australia, but have a better time.

That’s food for thought, thank you. I do sales, is cost of living really high then?

32k, even with that tiny rent, is nowhere near enough for Dubai.

Really? Is it really that expensive? 😬

Is your offer in Dubai because of your job/profession?
If so will there be more opportunities?

I would go to Australia as planned and spend time doing more research on Dubai before saying yes/going.
A time like this with your best friend is one not to be missed!

As I said before, groceries and other expenses will wipe you out. All food is imported, so for example Spinneys which is the equivalent of Budgens, a packet of biscuits will cost you £4/£5, strawberries are £4/5...the only thing cheap is bottled local water. A coffee out is £6, a juice £5, coke £3. You will have to eat noodles or rice only.

I’d go to Aus purely because you’ll never get this time back with your best mate. Would work maybe let you take a sabbatical before accepting the offer?

Cost of living in Dubai is insane.

Duabi isn't cheap, I know people on double what you'd earn and they still struggle. It's an expat bubble, nothing close to real life. I'd choose Australia and give that my best shot.

This isn’t working for DeVere is it?

I lived in Bahrain for 3yrs- admittedly when at school. Not exactly the same as Dubai, but agree that food is more expensive than you'd expect- because nearly everything, other than dates, are imported! There is a disparity between wealthy and the very poor and an undercurrent of racism- especially against the multiple Asian workers there. In my mid 20's, I explored work opportunities and went back there for 2mths. Seeing it through adult eyes, I decided as a single woman, it was not the place I wanted to live/work.

I'm not saying Australia can't be racist BTW. Like others, I too think Aus would be better. Just ensure you get the right visa to allow work. You will meet LOTS of like minded Brits, Europeans and travelers of all ages doing the same as yourself. There is also a specific Aus/NZ mumsnet section you could post your question in a few weeks time too.

Australia gets my vote 100%.

Dubai as already explained is very expensive to live in. There is also a cultural difference there, that while more relaxed than other Arabic states, can still be problematic. If you get into trouble I would rather have the Australians than the Dubai state disciplining me. There are at least good diplomatic links with the UK.

For a young person Australia is largely out-doorsy lifestyle and dependent on where you are going a great social life.

Australia is much further away which can present its own challenges, but for a few years it is an excellent opportunity.

Australia 100%.. it's an actual country where people are not trying to impress each other ...

Australia.

I would go to Australia. It is pretty much a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel like that with no responsibilities, and you have a friend you can stay with for part of the trip as well.

Australia!
My ds1 went out there (met an Aussie girl over here) ..did the working visa, then after much to and fro-ing, is now there permanently (and married to his lovely aussie
We've been twice and I love it. Of course there are some downsides (we find food expensive) but the weather, the people, the opportunities to travel around a vast country... (and drive on the same side..).

Given you have somewhere to stay in Australia (rent situation is ridiculous!) then definitely Australia. You will have a ball!

Even our minimum wage is a much fairer wage to live on, and if you have experience in sales I'm sure you'll quickly find a great job.

Racism Vs sexism. Neither a good choice.

Australia 💯