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Original poster

Moving to Dubai with baby and dogs - should we?

34 replies

beachwine · 19/02/2024 16:25

Hi everyone,

My husband has been offered an exciting opportunity to work in Dubai - and the ultimate question is do we go?

We have a 1 year old and 2 small dogs, and would want to go as a family. We’re really not into the “showy” stuff or brunch vibes, but more going for the young family feel which Dubai seems to be good for. We have a friend who moved out there 5 years ago and loves it and she is trying to convince us but I really want to be realistic as this would be a huge move for us all that will take an awful lot of planning! Like most people in the UK - financially we are struggling. Bills and mortgage rates have gone through the roof, and we feel it could be a great opportunity to get a nice chunk of money behind us with the plan to return back to the UK by the time our little one starts school. Is it unrealistic to think we can come away with lots of savings?

I have a million questions going through my mind but ultimately the main ones are is it worth and should we go? I feel like I have read lots about the realities of Dubai being hugely expensive, and I think in itself it will be a massive expense to just get us all out there! To begin with, we would probably just try and live off my husbands salary (roughly 450,000AED) is this doable? Trying to research is quite tough and lots of places say different things about the cost of everything!

Any help and constructive guidance would be really appreciated!

This thread is a few months old now. If you've found this page in search of information about moving to Dubai, you might find our guide on moving to Dubai with kids useful. Hope this helps! MNHQ

OP posts:
Original poster
beachwine · 20/02/2024 15:00

Puppylucky · 20/02/2024 14:59

I lived in Dubai for a couple of years a few years ago and echo what everyone else has said about upfront costs and just general living costs. We didn't live the highlife as we couldn't really afford it. Also, what tends to get forgotten in the excitement, is that coming home is as expensive, if not more, than going out there. You will probably get at least some contribution to relocation costs to get out there, but coming back you're on your own! We managed to save about 15k but that took quite a hit once shipping costs back to the UK etc were taken into account. I vaguely remember there was some kind of exit payment that your company would add to your final paycheck which helped a bit, but it was still expensive - plus you may need to support yourselves whilst you find work back in the UK. Long story short make sure you have an exit plan!

Very helpful thank you!

OP posts:
AlohaRose · 20/02/2024 15:16

If you already have a one year old whom you wish to educate here and depending on when your child turns four, you are potentially looking at only a bit more than two years of work out there? Can you realistically save a worthwhile sum of money in that time, given you may have to pay for your dogs to be transported, plus all the other up-front costs people have mentioned? Your comment about the "massive expense" of getting you all out there makes me fear that your DH's employer is not going to meet all the costs of the move.

If you have a house here, what is the plan for that? Rental - again, a chunk of costs with potentially changing your mortgage, letting agent fees, gas safety checks etc.

Very importantly, does your DH have a guaranteed exit route from Dubai? if not, what is your plan to get back to the UK in time for school applications? And who will be paying for it?

Sodndashitall · 20/02/2024 16:32

crumpet · 20/02/2024 12:28

Don’t take the dog. It simply would not be fair to it.

Re dogs, my sibling had a couple of dogs and they were absolutely fine. Although they were local rescues!

On school and return, absolutely second the points on that. Bear in mind you cannot apply for a school place until you are back in the country ! This tripped me up and ended up having to send my DC to private as I was unable to get confirmation of school places in advance of my return and I wasn't willing to risk them ending up in different schools ( as LA would school them but only wherever there was space and unlilely theyd both get space in same school).

Moving is super expensive especially if you air freight stuff. Animals especially!

Lilacsweat · 20/02/2024 18:55

Echo what puppylucky mentioned, check your husbands contract for the end of service payment. Only very unscrupulous companies don’t pay it and it’s about a months salary for each year. We never had any trouble getting ours and it’s a really nice bonus when you move back or onto a new job.

Lilacsweat · 20/02/2024 18:57

And don’t worry about the dogs, I see people here with husky’s and other large dogs which I think is mad but early morning and late night walks are the way to go.

Original poster
beachwine · 20/02/2024 21:27

AlohaRose · 20/02/2024 15:16

If you already have a one year old whom you wish to educate here and depending on when your child turns four, you are potentially looking at only a bit more than two years of work out there? Can you realistically save a worthwhile sum of money in that time, given you may have to pay for your dogs to be transported, plus all the other up-front costs people have mentioned? Your comment about the "massive expense" of getting you all out there makes me fear that your DH's employer is not going to meet all the costs of the move.

If you have a house here, what is the plan for that? Rental - again, a chunk of costs with potentially changing your mortgage, letting agent fees, gas safety checks etc.

Very importantly, does your DH have a guaranteed exit route from Dubai? if not, what is your plan to get back to the UK in time for school applications? And who will be paying for it?

Some good questions here for us to think about - thank you! Maybe I’m being unrealistic that it would be short term. I feel like it’s a bit of a safety blanket in my head to say it would be 2 years! Still figuring it all out in my head!! But these are good points!

OP posts:
Boomboomshakeshaketheroom · 21/02/2024 03:58

I lived there with a baby and don't have much to add on top of the good advice you've already received, other thatn your budget doesn't seem to factor in family reunion trips. Would you want to return to the UK regularly, or at least for Xmas and the worst of summer? Would family rely on you to help them pay to visit?

Also, while you might have a pretty modest lifestyle here and expect to have one there, you might find you get pulled into a more expensive social scene as a lot of your peers will have bucketloads of money.

Boomboomshakeshaketheroom · 21/02/2024 04:03

Another thing (and this is what really hit my savings goals!) is the short trips away - hard to resist exploring relatively nearby destinations like Oman, Egypt, Maldives etc etc while you are in the region. Everyone's doing it and it becomes a bit addictive...

CarRer · 21/02/2024 06:28

Will you be back in the UK in time to apply for primary school? You won’t be able to apply from Dubai which means you’ll only be over there for 2 years before you have to return.

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