To relocate to Dubai before September?

[ShouldIGoShouldIStay]

Please help me figure out what to think/ decide. Is it a good time to relocate to Dubai before September with two small DC? DH wants to but I am not liking the idea because of the current pandemic and the economic uncertainty. I would love to hear from any Brits currently living there. Thanks!

@ShouldIGoShouldIStay

Please help me figure out what to think/ decide. Is it a good time to relocate to Dubai before September with two small DC? DH wants to but I am not liking the idea because of the current pandemic and the economic uncertainty. I would love to hear from any Brits currently living there. Thanks!

What does "economic uncertainty" mean?

Why would you not like the idea because of "economic uncertainty" when the UAE is remarkably resilient despite the coronavirus crisis (see today's lead article in Gulf News).

Is it more that it's just a big move, and you'd like reassurance from people living there?

@GinDaddyRedux
I think a little of both. Dubai's economy is not as strong as it used to be once and a big move after 4 months of lockdown is a bit too much to digest to be honest. So any reassuring -or otherwise- info from people living there is welcome.

Well, the weather in August is a bit shit, so if it slipped to October or Nov, it wouldnt be a bad thing temperature wise!
An international move in 6 weeks is quite tight. Do you need school places? Or are the kids younger than that?

Having seen families split over borders, or stuck in places they dont want to be, I'm not sure I'd be jumping to go abroad again. Is it with his current company, or is it a new position? I'd be more comfortable with the former.

I am sure there was a very recent thread with a similar question. Maybe google mumsnet Dubai move.

Have you / your husband for a job to move for? Decent package? If not it's all a bit pie in the sky isn't it.

In a stable international world? Maybe.

In an unstable international world? Not a chance.

In relocation, you should also think hard about becoming stuck abroad in the event you divorce. Women can find themselves stuck, no visa and no job, living on whatever their family can send. Think carefully.

Zero respect for people who would have an average life here money wise who move to UAE to play the big men/ women while ignoring the appalling human rights there for a home who’s not Expat or a male Emirati ( so long as he’s not gay obvs)

Before Sept when it’s currently 50C. Why would you relocate to somewhere stupidly hot in the middle of the Summer.

What is the job situation? How easily will it be for you to come back? What if you want to come back and your DH doesn’t?

‘Oh FFS not this again....... not really the point of the thread, is it?’

Boring, innit. When someone points out it’s only greedy, dicks who ‘love’ Dubai .
I think ‘should I move to Dubai’ posts should absolutely contain all the facts. Totally relevant.

Marhaba! I live in Abu Dhabi. I'm assuming that your DH is already there, as he won't have much flexibility around his start date, rather just when the family follow on. If your children are school age, you will have great difficulty getting placements now (potentially depending on his company). If not, then I'd probably see what his office advises. For example, are you shipping furniture? A lot of these things are going to take a lot longer than they would have previously.

We're not experiencing any issues with the pandemic or economic uncertainty. The first has been dealt with very adeptly by the UAE government. The second is very situational, there is no mass financial issue in the UAE that goes beyond personal finances. Businesses have been supported to continue trading and constructing.

I would probably move as soon as possible though, yes, as I think settling in when the city is a little quieter lends a huge advantage. Particularly in Dubai. If you have more details, I'd be happy to answer questions - there are quite a few MN members from here.

Wouldn’t want to be a ‘trailing spouse’ at any time, nor live in dubai. What’s in it for you personally?

Before Sept when it’s currently 50C. Why would you relocate to somewhere stupidly hot in the middle of the Summer.

Would you say the same if the OP was considering moving somewhere really cold? It’s pretty much like that but the opposite. You deal with the extreme weather by using heating / air conditioning. It’s effects are just the same as being in the U.K. when it’s sub zero temps.

Wouldn’t want to be a ‘trailing spouse’ at
any time, nor live in dubai

Yes but plenty of other people do. Not everyone wants the same things, bizarrely enough.

We used to live in dubai and in the Brit mums dubai fb group there are people losing jobs, taking pay cuts and leaving in droves at the moment. I wouldn't rule it out but consider it very carefully

Do you/your dh have a job lined up, I think you need to demonstrate tbat you do or be financially self sufficient. It is very hot until autumn, many expats come back for cooler summers until school starts again.

My dd1 lives there, she loves it. I also have friends there who have no plans to come back.

I holiday frequently there but I wouldn’t live there.

@Mrbigb

Zero respect for people who would have an average life here money wise who move to UAE to play the big men/ women while ignoring the appalling human rights there for a home who’s not Expat or a male Emirati ( so long as he’s not gay obvs)

yep yep THIS

yep yep THIS

I don’t think that’s really relevant, do you?

PS just out of curiosity, have you ever actually been to the UAE?

Yes, @Mrbigb, and yes, @19lottie82, I used to live there.

Zero respect for people who would have an average life here money wise who move to UAE to play the big men/ women while ignoring the appalling human rights there for a home who’s not Expat or a male Emirati ( so long as he’s not gay obvs)
^^ this.
You say you have small children. Is this the kind of society you want to raise them in?

@19lottie82
I have a Lebanese friend in Dubai who was complaining about the heat yesterday. My DH is North African and that is hot enough in the summer. Interestingly my DH (mother tongue Arabic speaker, Muslim etc.) is not particularly positive about Dubai and some of their attitudes.

We used to live in dubai and in the Brit mums dubai fb group there are people losing jobs, taking pay cuts and leaving in droves at the moment. I wouldn't rule it out but consider it very carefully

This is pretty much what I was going to post.