UAE

[DoraJar]

Considering a job in Dubai or Abu Dhabi - both will pay about the same. Have read old posts on MN - and note lots of people refer to needing a good package - but what I need to know is why does that mean in reality? Bottom line is £175k a year sufficient for two of us (DH probably won't bother getting a job - he will have a small pension of his own). We will also have to continue to pay the mortgage at home and maintain some support for 3 DCs (at university!) - so will need to transfer funds home on a regular basis.

I also want a centrally located apartment (don't want to have a long drive) and am told will need a car. Apartments I like are around 130k (dirhams p.a.) - I can pay with one cheque myself (would have around £40k to come over with to bank initially). Both roles will cover both of us for health care.

Can your husband stay without working? Please find out. It may be different if he is considered retired . A female friend had an issue when moving to UAE as her husband didn’t have a job and so he was struggling to get a visa . A man cant depend on a Woman...
I do not have all the details and may be wrong but best to ask the question and find out more

Not in UAE, but close by. Expensive things are housing, school fees, flights/holidays. Do you need enough space for the kids to visit for the holidays?
You will know how much you roughly need in the UK. Our food bills are higher than UK, eating out is expensive (easily £80 for 4, drinking water, one course, and a couple of deserts to share), petrol is cheap. Overall, i think its similar, after housing and schools are paid for.

I'd have thought AD woukd be the cheaper of the 2 places.

Hey thank you all. I have had interviews (for Dubai) and position regarding DH is known and didn't appear to be an issue. I understand if he wanted to work I would have to agree! He won't be able to join me FT in UAE if I were to start before October (this is known as well). The DCs are unlikely to visit at same time - and there should be room for up to 2 at a time in Dubai! We can't rent house in London out as need to maintain as a base for them! I would like to be able to transfer up to £3k a month home and still be comfortable.

AD does seem to be a bit cheaper (at least get much bigger centrally located accommodation) - I haven't interviewed yet for AD - and likely salary might be a bit higher. I think I will pursue option of both and see what happens! I haven't had a definite offer yet - but if /when I do will have very little time to consider! Very helpful responses - thank you!

Not sure if my last update was clear - but after paying accommodation and sending money home - should have about £100k left to (hopefully) live comfortably (and if possible save a bit for the same reason as you @ HariboIsMyCrack)

Just need to get the final offers!

I'd have thought you'd be saving pretty nicely on those numbers then.

That salary is excellent and you will be able to live comfortably and save a lot on that.
We live in the AD emirate and our biggest outgoing is school fees. Our salary is comparable. You have uni expenses so we both have a considerable outgoing. We are very comfortable and you would be too on that package.
Come.... its brilliant!

Sorry to be a stick in the mud but my parents moved to middle East when my dsis and i were at uni and it was tough. Also for my younger sister it was a bit like they just waited reluctantly until she was 18 and then left. Although we enjoyed the hot Christmas breaks, there were stresses like my dad getting unwell when abroad and us feeling helpless, my grandparents becoming more fragile and my dsis and I bearing some of that associated stress. Just make sure you think all that through as well as the lifestyle and housing angle.

Hi and thanks again,

@Milkjetmum - DCs are a bit older (youngest on his gap year - and part of reason DH will delay joining is to ensure youngest settles ok without us around). As long as the salary means we can be ok then I think it makes sense to move - its just all the research I have done is a bit coy about the actual amount!! Fingers crossed second interview went better than I thought (though have a second bite in May for similar post in AD!)

Grateful for all replies as I am keen to spend next 3 years or so in UAE,

Please update if you decide to go - I'm moving to Dubai in August and DH is already there. My daughter starts uni in September and her dad (exH) will still be here. I think most of my colleagues will be considerably younger than me so it sounds like you might be around the same age and I'll need some new friends!

That salary/package sounds excellent to me.

You can sponsor your husband but start the paperwork early. There are lots of hoops to jump through! We married in Gibraltar and I had to wait almost two months for a notarised copy of our marriage certificate. Now all my docs are at the FCO and when I get them back they have to go to the UAE Embassy.

@movingoverseas - I think I am going to be taking the Dubai option! I will get there before you - possibly next month!! - but you do make some good points. I will let you know how it is before you get there!