DH wants to move us all to Dubai.

[Theknitwitch]

He’ll be working for his current company in their Dubai office. I’m not working at the moment. Kids are primary age.
It’s not a done deal yet. But DH is very keen. Says it’s good for his career and will be great for the kids - new experience - but I know nothing about Dubai or what to expect.
Can anyone offer advice/information please?
Thanks

I don't live in Dubai, but with regards to expat package expenses suggest you look at whether the following items are included:
is the company offering a pre trip visit for you to view schools and accommodation?
schooling - fully paid?
accommodation - paid in full?
medical and dental and medical evacuation
car/driver
utilities
tax advice and completion of tax returns
flight home in the event of death or illness of close relative
flights home each year - how many and which class
shipment of household items to Dubai - quantity and method?
Not all of these may be applicable to your situation but ime it's worth spending the time looking very carefully at any expat contract before you sign.
My kids have lived overseas their whole lives and there are many advantages - international community, new languages, opportunity to travel, they cope well with change, but leaving friends can be difficult and sometimes expat life is just same shit, different view!

Waited for,posters to pile in on the awfulness of Dubai...

Good points by shanghai.

How old are the children - younger or ladder range of primary school?

How late my would you be thinking of living there?

Agree with all the points made by @ShanghaiDiva
If its an ex - pat limited contract eg. 2 years, then of the above should be standard as a minimum plus repatriation costs.
A transfer is a different story entirely. You would obviously need to take into account these costs, which will not be insignificant.

Dubai used to be a good place to live for a few years. Less so now since VAT and the cost of living rocketed. The days of stuff being paid for is long gone! Companies shed their most expensive staff - the ones with a spouse and young children who need healthcare and schooling.

I'd go, but I know the system there really well. Would I recommend someone new to expat living went? Probably not to be honest.

Shanghai has made a good list. Dont expect to get everything on that list, but it is an excellent place to start doing some maths about how realistic the package is. Other thing to factor in is the summer. The summer holiday is often long, and extreemly hot. Many expat families spend much of the summer apart - for example I spent 9 weeks the summer out of Saudi, and obviously this is expensive. Our UK home is rented out, so we have paid for accomadation for much of that time. Keeping the family home available has other costs associated with maintaining an empty house. DH also doesnt get 9 weeks leave!

Dubai (and much of the Gulf) is very much hated on Mumsnet. Be prepared for some harsh comment once the UK wakes up.

Try the British Mums In Dubai facebook group/ website for more detailed info

I moved to Dubai a few weeks ago and work in a primary school, happy for you to send a PM.