To ask ex-pats in the Middle East if it's really worth the move?

[TheresAlwaysAnAskHole]

I have friends who appear to live a life of luxury in the Middle East (Abu Dhabi) area. I have spoken to another friend who used to live in Dubai. They both gush about how different life is there. In pictures of houses to rent online, I find the houses look a bit dull and soulless - probably because of a lack of furnishings we have in the western world.

I feel in the UK life is always such a struggle, even with both parents working, the average family doesn't have much money for luxuries or a show stopping home.

I wonder if it's scary living in these places? The worry of accidentally breaking a law or terribly corrupt police etc. (I don't know if the latter is a big concern?).

Me and DH are teachers in different age groups so could walk into teaching careers quite easily in these countries. Every now and then I think about it and wonder if the standard of living is replacement for leaving other family behind, best friends, snow days and cosy Christmases.

DS will finish secondary school in Summer which seems like the logical time to move if we are going to do it.

Has anyone done it for say, 5 years, to build up a nest egg and come back to the UK? My friend who went out there as a college lecturer became a primary school Head within two years, I presume she could now come back if she wished and be a Head here.

Thought and experiences very welcome

Have you been to the Middle East? Could you cope with the heat?

I also have a couple of friends out there gushing on facebook about how wonderful it is, a life of luxury etc. but I wonder what it is actually like.
Their photos also seem a bit sterile and their main activities seem to be eating out.

I have various hobbies which I wouldn't be able to do there so it wouldn't be for me.

I think there is a living overseas thread on Mumsnet somewhere which has a lot of Middle East posts. There was a fairly recent thread about a teacher in a similar situation.

I lived in the Middle East for a bit when I worked as cabin crew. It’s very different to the UK but I liked the culture and heat.

It’s worth doing for the tax free salary and experience. You do have to be careful to abide by their rules and to respect their culture.

I didn’t find it scary but that’s just my experience!

If you can manage to get jobs in well established schools, why not? But be very careful: there are lots of second rate owner-managed international schools that are not nice to work in.

Has anyone done it for say, 5 years, to build up a nest egg and come back to the UK?

Then if you do that you don't have a flash lifestyle. We have a friend in Dubai- lives in a small flat next to large road- works all hours and has a limited social life- they are on a 5 year plan to pay off UK mortgage and retire. They are highly paid.

My friend who went out there as a college lecturer became a primary school Head within two years, I presume she could now come back if she wished and be a Head here.

Highly unlikely, I do a lot of HT recruitment, in my experience having been to the middle east is a career killer. You usually go if you are not up to much to begin with, they struggle to recruit in many countries.

As a teacher you may be subject to lots of rules, cant socialise with parents etc.

Just come back from over 10years away as an expat including Dubai and SE Asia. yes we made a lot of money tax free and generally life was good but day to day life becomes like everywhere else . The novelty of being by the beach or having a pool in the garden soon wears off especially when it is 45c outside and the day to day problems of work and life don’t disappear just because the sun is shining. I also think expat opportunities are changing. Dubai is no longer seen as a hardship posting salaries are being cut and packages reduced The cost of living has become very expensive recently especially as VAT has now been introduced lots of expats especially in the UAE are now doing the sums and discovering living there is not worth it. If you are after a life experience I would definitely recommend it but If you are after making a nest egg the Middle East may not be the place. (Not sure about south east Asia the figures may still stack up there)

I think it depends on you as a person, which part of the ME you go to and who you work for. I grew up in a very conservative country in the ME and my dad was here for 30 years years. My mum for 25 years and me full time for 9 years and then every holiday (boarding school) for 12 years. So I spent 21 years there too. My dad worked for the biggest company there - which is one of the biggest in the world - hence we had a huge camp - thousands of houses, schools, supermarkets, bowling alleys, horse stables, 4 olympic style pools, our own beach etc etc. It was wonderful - growing up always sunny, everyone we worked with had money, lots of going to parties with others, and amazing American style healthcare, schooling, dental clinics etc, loads of kids o play with and ultimate freedome within our 5 miles across camp.

However .... I also had friends who lived on a small compound in the middle of the nearest town with 2-10 iuses on them and a shared pool. That was much more isolating and boring for a kid I imagine, and for parents.

There were elements that were difficult (fundamentalism, the relentless heat in summer, being away from your family, at time only international schools so most kids had to go to boarding school) , but we were sheltered from a lot of them living where we lived. Having said that I do love the ME as it is "home" to me.

I personally couldnt live or holiday in Dubai as I object massively to the modern slavery used to build that city....... so I think it is dependent on lots of factors and as I went there when I was 4, things that an adult might find a challenge, I didnt struggle with. I

Depends if you value tax free salary or morality more

Living abroad is amazing! You grow and experience so much. People who haven’t done it can’t imagine how much colour it adds to life.

Have a friend over there at the moment and everything they do is inside. Entertainment is having friends over for drinks, eating out or shopping.
I don’t think I could cope with being inside all the time, I like cold, brisk days. Not my thing but if that appeals to you then why not try it

We were expats for years and loved it - we avoided the Middle East though. It didn't appeal to us. We didn't become expats for the money but for the experience of living overseas however, now we are older, we really appreciate the fact that we made so much money. It's set us and our kids up. It very much depends on the companies involved though. Our company was great and paid for housing, cars, schooling, moving and flights home. With none of those costs we ended up saving a good bit. A lot of companies have tightened up.

We met people who were expats 'just for the money' and I'm not sure that works out so well.

We also changed our tune on living in ex-pat bubbles. Originally we avoided ex-pats but as time went on we really embraced the ex-pat good life. It was great fun and very social. Everyone was so helpful and friendly . It helped as we were all in the same boat.
We lived in 5 different (very different!) countries but none were particularly challenging. South Africa, Australia, Canada, Singapore type places - we could get by in English. We never wanted to go to Dubai etc - having since visited I think we made the right decision.

Be very very careful in schools in UAE... all that glitters isn’t gold. I lived there twice as an international teaCher, the last time 3 years ago. We were living in a tiny apartment (no pol. Etc😱) in the arse end of town. It was crap. The days of massive teaching contracts are long gone.
If you are frugal you can definitely save money but most expat teachers spend as much as they make. Think £50 brunches each weekend as norm for the newbies.

If you have kids, half the year will be spent in malls etc and activities are very expensive because it is too hot to go outside - they chill the pools there btw.
If kids are on the menu, childcare costs are crippling.
There are a handful of excellent world class schools in Dubai. There are literally hundreds of awful ones. Ones where people are fired overnight if they tell off the wrong child... really. Careers can be ruined there that is for sure.
Do your research. And join International Schools Review , best $30 you will spend. Yes a lot of disgruntled teachers but listen to what people are saying and avoid the hell holes!
There are nicer places to live and work... Malaysia, Singapore, HK if you are a teaching couple no kids, etc... pay is not as great but lifestyle is amazing.
Good luck.
Oh and your friend who became a Head in 2 years. This is a MASSIVE RED FLAG, anyone can become a head is a crap school. Be careful.

probably because of a lack of furnishings we have in the western world.
This is hilarious, you can buy anything you like in UAE, ikea etc
Just by this line alone I would say you need to do your homework before you look at moving internationally.
It’s a nice idea, I’ve been overseas for years, but it’s not for everyone and can be a very expensive mistake if you get it wrong.

I wouldn’t do it now, the balloon has gone up in the ME and most of Asia for ex pats and the ‘lifestyle’. We have recently returned and there is an exodus back to Europe. You will be lucky to break even let alone save. The good times have stopped rolling for all but the very few on great packages. Be warned.

Horrible place. Disgusting grotesque values. I think if you like bling and feeling like you're rich and better than other people who are slaving away for nothing then you will fit right in.

I love it. I live in a villa on the beach in one of the more liberal states. I'd never afford a sea view on a teacher's wage in the UK! I also love the constant sunshine. I suspect I am part lizard as even in the current temps I'm happy pottering in the garden (in the shade)
But I even have aquaintances who teach in Saudi and are happy there (they earn more ££££ there but being here on my own I value being able to drive myself around over having a driver!)

Lots of good points raised by posters above -
-do a LOT of research on the quality of school you apply for and the package (flights home, rent, bills...).

• If you go to somewhere like Dubai it's like being in Vegas - it is designed to part you from your money as speedily as possible. Very easy easy to get drawn into the expat brunch scene (the last one I went to in Dubai was over £100 a head).
• will it be a set time to maximise cash; or do you want to explore the culture and area too? (great for scuba and sailing, wild camping, climbing/hillwalking if you choose the right bits)

As for scary - I feel safer here than in the UK.
You need to be respectful of local custom but the police (where I am) are reasonable and fairly laissez-faire. As a western expat (yes I acknowledge I have privilege here) you'd have to do something phenomenally stupid (and public) to really get on the wrong side of them.

I enjoy my time in the ME. I go about 6-8 times a year. Worth the visit; living there may be a different story if you can get the right package--you should go.

The outdoor life is amazing, I don't mind the heat and enjoy the constant sunshine. I enjoy water sports and meeting and mixing with other cultures. I also love how Eastern travel is super accessible from the ME.

They have decent standards out there and I never have a problem eating pork or drinking in Dubai. HTH

I guess if you're happy to help prop up a corrupt, misogynistic, medieval theocracy for a few more quid, then go for it.