Possibility of moving to Dubai - Garhoud

[MaryIngalls]

DH is in talks for a job in Dubai. Initial indications are a decent enough pay package, but we pay housing and schooling (DD just started Year 1). No initial recon trip (we have visited once before though, and DH was there for couple of months on a project), they will pay family airfare and one month's hotel stay. Anything else we should bear in mind during initial salary discussions?
DH office will be in Garhoud. DD currently goes to outstanding rated state school in UK. There seems to be a 'good' rated school in Garhoud - Cambridge International School. I've read the online reviews, any other experience/ opinions would be vey welcome.
Also what would be a good place to live. We aren't into nightlife etc but do want a nice neighbourhood, with enough to do for kids. We are looking to rent a 3 or 4 bed apartment rather than a villa.
Internet research is on, but would love to hear from others with first-hand experience!

[Barbie1]

Winter, where are you now?

You need to add up what it will cost per month to live, we can help with approx figures. See if they match your dh salary

[Barbie1]

Jbr traffic is soooo bad. Avoid, avoid, avoid. Or get a driver

[MaryIngalls]

WWT - we are going for apartment purely on the premise it might be a bit cheaper (given that we pay for housing), and also that it might be easier to maintain and keep dust-free. Community living another plus since we don't know anyone there, and thought it might be easier to get to know people in apartment blocks. Happy to be corrected if I am wrong though!

[MaryIngalls]

Monthly salary offered 53k. Family is me, Dh and nearly 6yo DD. Help with numbers most welcome!

[Barbie1]

So about 9k Stirling a month?

[Barbie1]

Apartments are not always the cheaper option, the nicest apartments cost a premium and they tend not to be as social as the gated communities.

The springs is a great place to live, supermarkets, cares and gyms all within walking distance. So many expats and totally safe for you dd to play out in streets

[Barbie1]

Cafe not cares...

Remember stuff like hairdressing, dentist and other services cost more there so factor that into the budget

[MaryIngalls]

Yes 53k aed, about 9k gbp per month. Guessing at least a third (18k per month ie 200k per year) towards housing, another 3-4k for school. That leaves about 30k for bills, food etc.

[Barbie1]

Ok talk in Stirling

Rent 3k
School 3k?
Dewa and Internet. £300
Food shop?
Petrol about £100 per month, petrol is dirt cheap

What other essentials do you have?

Cleaner about £20 for four hours, ditto gardener.

[Barbie1]

Right it's bed time here, pm me if you need anything.

Obviously on that salary it's perfectly easy to live in Dubai. However you won't be saving a great deal but instead will have a fantastic experience and excellent life style.

If saving is important to you then I suggest you try to get a better deal with regards to schooling and rent. Best of luck op.

[samuelwhiskers]

That sounds an ok budget Mary - we had everything paid for (including DEWA) and about that left per month. We bought a new Land Cruiser (bigger the better in my opinion). Definitely try and go for a smaller house in the Springs, Arabian Ranches type of community because you meet loads of people around the pool and in the playgrounds. Some of the houses are advertised as 2 bed plus study but the study could easily be a 3rd bedroom (for instance on Palmera, AR, Springs). That will keep the cost down. These type of communities are the best because as Barbie says, you have supermarkets, gyms, pools, restaurants, all nearby. If you are given a relocation budget, then look online to see how much Ikea would be to buy new etc. You can always pick up secondhand out there as there are always people leaving.
I would go back in a heart beat too Barbie!

[MaryIngalls]

Thanks everyone, think I have lots to think about and research now. Will ping if I think of anything else to ask.

[Barbie1]

Samuel where are op you now.

I get so sad when I think of my old life there

It certainly wraps you up in the expat bubble doesn't it?

[samuelwhiskers]

Dubai was one of the happiest times of my life tbh!! I did it twice, in my teens and later.
Barbie - we are now in central europe, but miss my Dubai days. Where are you?
Also, we met the nicest people in Dubai....friendliest, most helpful, loved the place and loved the Emirati people too. I do get upset when people are rude about Dubai, especially the Daily Mail.....!

[colditz]

In July this year, a Norwegian woman went to jail after reporting a rape in Dubai. Her crime was 'extra marital relations'-she was jailed because she was raped.

Don't raise a daughter in Dubai.

[Barbie1]

Mumsnet and the daily mail both seem to have a dislike for Dubai

I love it and will defend it until I'm blue in the face.

We left Dubai and spent last year in Paris. In July of this year we moved to a small island off South Korea, about as far removed from Dubai as one can get...my Dubai bought Chanel 2.55 and louboutines are so out of place here

[Barbie1]

Winter, Singapore is great though? I loved my holiday there. Seems like a good expat community? Middle East is easier than Asia though, I'm struggling with the food at the moment and the humidity.

[samuelwhiskers]

Would love Singapore, haven't a clue though about your island Barbie.

[Barbie1]

I am here

[YoungBritishPissArtist]

Can you defend the fact that it was built by people who are essentially slaves?

[Barbie1]

Those 'slaves' have houses back home bigger then any I would ever own. Their children have all been put through university, their parents and partners are being looked after from money being sent home from the 'slaves'.

Most of the 'workers' there are extremely well educated but can't get work in their home country. So being well educated they make the decision to work away from home in order to provide for family.

As with any country people are exploited, there is no doubt about that however the uk has just as many bad things going on there, but we can't slate GB can we now

[KLdragon]

I think classifying the UK and Dubai as equally as bad may be a step too far! I also spent 4 years in Dubai and loved it mainly because of friends I made when there. but there is massive inequality The system is completely hierarchical with Emaratis at the top followed by western expats down to those from the Indian subcontinent at the bottom. Barbie is right money the workers from the sub continent receive do support families and definately provide a better future for them than at home but it dosent justify in my opinion the poor working conditions these guys work in (long days often 7 days a week, poor pay, living in camps). Women are still seen as second class citizens and shocking cases like the rape of that Norwegian women do not help their case (can you believe the rapist got a lower sentence than she did!). I think living in Dubai actually made me realise how lucky we are in the Uk to have equal opportunities whatever and no matter what background,race etc we are it is within our hands to change our fate. A lot of workers in Dubai do not have this freedom especially as a lot of employers take their passports as soon as they arrive so they can't even leave.
That aside if you go with your eyes open Mary and accept that some of the things you see may make you uncomfortable and not seem fair you will love your time in Dubai. With your DH working in Garhoud. I would look around Mirdiff (property seems to be cheaper here but just watch the flight path as might be noisy school would be Royal Dubai) Festival city (quite a few apartments here , silicon Oasis has GEMS world academy, Repton school is close but a very expensive school or look at Arabian ranches.
I hope I don't seem too negative about Dubai I did love my time there and you will have a great experience as there is so much to do and the architecture is amazing but I do think we should call a spade a spade. I would never defend Dubai on its racist, sexist , exploitive issues because it is all those things and more

[LolaCrayola]

That doesn't sound like a good package at all. I agree that packages are not what they once were. Oh those were the days! But be very very careful, there are many hidden costs and I don't think that would give you a terribly good standard of living. How many flights home per year is that? And is that just one car for the family?