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Original poster

Is this a good package for Dubai? Also advice re schools please.

58 replies

suebfg · 02/09/2012 06:26

DH has been offered a job in Dubai, monthly salary is 55,000 Dirhams per month (to include housing) plus 20,000 Dirhams school allowance for DS, medical insurance plus 1 x flight home per year for the family.

Is this a good package?

Also DS goes to an excellent independent primary school in the UK. DH would be based in Internet city. Are there any excellent primaries near Internet city and what are the chances of getting into one? DS is in second year of primary.

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Labootin · 02/09/2012 19:32

Oooo hello cosmo that was spooky !

Labootin · 02/09/2012 19:36

Agree on ? To 3 year wait ..was that JESS, unless you have a debenture it's pretty much closed shop on that one.

Places do come available ( we had a 3 month wait) but got into a supposedly impossible school.

Be aWare most schools charge (non refundable) to even go on the waiting list
( we were down for 4 schools two of which happily took £200 ( for two children) and have never been in touch since ( that's our 3 year wait!)

Original poster
suebfg · 02/09/2012 19:39

Yes, I've been to Dubai and my DH has been on many occasions ... but I've only been on holiday whereas my DH has been many times on business.

An opportunity to go out and look around hasn't been offered. Is this always offered as standard?

A relocation allowance hasn't been mentioned but we've already noted to query that.

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Labootin · 02/09/2012 19:54

I'd say nothings offered as standard these (post bust) days ,

We moved in the lovely boom days it was all (dust) fields then !

don't ask don't get though

KLdragon · 03/09/2012 04:36

Hi suebfg Like everyone else I think your package looks ok. I think your big disappointment might be schools. Dubai schools although good are not in my opinion in the same league as those available in the UK. My children went to one of the so called outstanding schools but there were still 26/27 children in each class! Although overall I thought it was a good school felt more like an outstanding state school then an outstanding private school. The main problem with overseas schools especially in places like dubai is you get a high turnover of teachers and pupils so dont get the continuity of teaching standards that you might have in the UK. Dubai attracts a lot of young less experienced teachers some of which are really good but it can be a mixed bag I certainly knew quite a few party teachers!. Also huge waiting lists (I was on jess waiting list for 4 years still didn't get offered a place although have to admit wasn't proactive pushing it ) means that even if you are unhappy with the school its not that easy to get into another school. Although with safa and kings both expanding this year it is definatley getting easier than it was. If schools are important to you definately recommend coming for a look see as my favourites looking at the website weren't my favourites after looking at the school. Choose 2/3 favourites and hound the registrar persistence definately pays off in Dubai. The younger years definately have the greatest demand so be prepared to put in a bit of legwork to get the school you want

Original poster
suebfg · 03/09/2012 06:41

Thanks KLdragon and I think you might be right. Schools will be the issue for us. I hadn't thought about the transient nature of Dubai applying to the teachers too. Oh dear!

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gypsymummy · 03/09/2012 07:04

Hi, we moved to Dubai last December ( so not yet a year here) and the kids ( aged 6 and 4) are doing well. There is so much family entertainment here but the kids and I actually joined DH after 4 months because we wanted to make sure the kids got into a good school. They go to RDS which is NOT one of the shiny sought after ones, but I assure you it IS good and they just got a new head who was at a very sought after school! My kids love the fact they get to do swimming at school and yes it may not be the same education quality as back home but if you keep in close contact with the teachers and monitor things well, you will not get disappointed. RDS is not crowded and it has a very very active parents group which is doing brilliant. I suggest you check it out and as it is a Gems school you can easily move to another Gems if you want later. Dubai is not to everybody's liking, but if you are busy and you make good money( not necesarily too much either) you can have fun and travel overseas whenever you please. i just got myself a job too and am sure it will make a difeference to how my life will be here. Good luck!

Original poster
suebfg · 03/09/2012 07:21

Thanks. I've started to receive responses now from some of the schools.

Gems Wellington looks as if it might have a place. Any feedback on this school?

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gypsymummy · 03/09/2012 07:43

yes Gems Wellington is one of the most sought after schools here and is top rated. The deputy head there is now taking over at RDS as i alluded above. Good luck!

gypsymummy · 03/09/2012 07:44

once again check Expat woman's website..very informative

Labootin · 03/09/2012 08:04

Which Wellington is it ? There are a couple

if it's silicon oasis ( the new one) I wouldn't tbh

gypsymummy · 03/09/2012 08:48

the one in Silicon Oasis is called Wellingtom Academy ..you may want to make sure about this and check distances as some schools may be very far off and the traffic can be horrendous here

Original poster
suebfg · 03/09/2012 09:04

It's the one behind the Shangri-La

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Labootin · 03/09/2012 09:20

Ah Wellington primary.

I don't know anyone whose child goes there and haven't heard anything about it tbh

(if a school is really awful you do tend to find out on the expat grapevine)

Wellington international (sufouh) is good but I think it does the IB curriculum which put us off..I suspect that's full though as well

Pm me your other schools if that helps

Original poster
suebfg · 03/09/2012 09:21

If DH accepts the job, he would be based in Internet city. If DS were at Wellington Primary, where would be a good place to live? We have two cats so apartment living is out.

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Labootin · 03/09/2012 09:31

WP is on the Satwa side of Al Wasl Irrc ..I would not live there .

Look at Jumeriah but you would have a short drive

Original poster
suebfg · 03/09/2012 10:45

Is the driving really crazy in Dubai? DH has a friend in Dubai who says it's fine but I've read otherwise.

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KLdragon · 03/09/2012 12:46

Hi suebfg when we first arrived in Dubai my children went to Wellington primary. The school had just opened so they were just filling up the classes so the pupil numbers were a lot lower than they are now but we found the school to be very nurturing and my children settled really well . Class sizes are restricted to 16 as the classrooms are quite small which is a good thing. However there is not a lot of playground space. Infact I can't remember there being any grass (this might have changed) but there is a swimming pool There has been a new headmaster since my children left the school and I have heard good things about him. We left because my eldest started secondary and I moved my youngest to a school nearer the secondary. We lived in Jumeirah 3 and it took about 15 minutes to drive. Driving is fine in Dubai and it is very easy to orientate yourself. If you really didnt want to drive I think the metro runs fairly close to the school although not sure how far the walk is

Original poster
suebfg · 03/09/2012 13:39

Thanks KLdragon - there are some real horror stories on the net so it's hard to understand the reality.

Shame about the lack of green space/playground but the class sizes are fantastic (DS has 21 in his UK private school class) and he loves swimming, so the swimming pool makes up for the playground.

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Original poster
suebfg · 03/09/2012 13:40

Just read this on their website so maybe it's changed or do they have access to an off site facility, if anyone knows?

Sporting facilities at WIS include a Floodlit astro turf ,health and fitness studio, a large multi-purpose sports hall and a Primary Sports Hall, cricket nets, tennis, basketball, netball and volleyball courts, a 25m indoor swimming pool, outdoor pool, climbing wall and a play area for Foundation Stage and year one children. The dance studio, with two fully mirrored walls, also doubles as a gymnasium for floor work.

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KLdragon · 03/09/2012 14:29

WIS is Wellington International school based in Al Sufouh a different school. I believe you were talking about Wellington Primary school based behind the shangri la. for some reason GEMS seem to be naming all their schools Wellington lately so it gets very confusing which school is which.

Original poster
suebfg · 03/09/2012 14:37

You're quite right!

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KLdragon · 03/09/2012 14:46

Just checked their website and they do have an Astro turf football pitch

Cosmostocupcakes · 03/09/2012 17:56

I have friends whose boys go there and are very happy - you could look at villas in Al Wasl and Safa area - some are older but big and 10 mins from beach!

I think you have to give things a chance in life - new experiences etc but then that's just my opinion - I've been here 10 years and had family living here for around 20 years so they have gone through schools - all (except youngest -10) have done well! It's a good life for children - a bit more sheltered than the UK which to me is important!

Original poster
suebfg · 03/09/2012 20:49

Thanks. Yes, we've been after an adventure since before DS was born but now he's here and at school, there's just so much more to think about - it's boggling my mind Confused

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