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Dubai offer

40 replies

meditereb · 17/07/2024 10:21

My husband got an offer for dubai . The package is around 40000 UAE per month .
We have 2 kids and i intend to either find work when i am there or continue my current contracting job from there .
My question is regarding schooling and good areas to live in and if this amount of money is good .
The job is in an area called Al Hudaiba. The recruiter has recommended the following areas to live in : Business Bay, Al Satwa, Sheikh Zayed Road, Meydan City, Jumeirah 1,Jumeirah Villa Circle, Al Barsha
is anyone familiar with these areas and are they good for families ? My children will be 5 and 7 by the time we move . What schools are good around those areas and how much would they cost ?

Thank you so much !

OP posts:
Nahnanananahna · 31/07/2024 08:09

Comments on your costs. With your additional income this is perfectly doable but you are way under on costs.

Rent 180k a year so 15k per month - Where are you looking at and do you want a villa or an apartment. If you want a villa, 180k is outskirts of Dubai. This isn't necessarily a bad thing - lots of schools are on the outskirts. When checking property sites be aware there are lots of fake listings and prices have gone up dramatically in the last year (and even more so in the last two years) so only look at very recent listings. Be aware it is common for landlords to expect annual rent to be paid up front. You can negotiate for this to be spread over the year - but anything more than quarterly is increasingly hard to get (and even anything but annual in more popular areas). Employers often allow for advances on salary to cover this but that will need to be repaid if the job doesn't work out (i.e. if you husband doesn't complete probation the full amount will need to be repaid and he may end up owing more than his final salary due).
School two kids around 90k a year 7.5k per month Have you found somewhere with places for those age groups at AED 45k a month? There are good schools for this amount (or cheaper) but they tend to be full and particularly for early primary. FS2/Year 1 places can be very hard to find. Southview as someone suggested is a good option if they have space - it's on the outskirts and there's a lot of (more) affordable accommodation around there BUT it will be a long commute for your DH. Also be aware that costs escalate at secondary - normally 60k+ (there are cheaper schools of course but as mentioned, they fill quickly).
Car 2k - Only 1 car? How will you manage the school run plus your husband's commute? Doable with one car if you drive and pick up your husband from work but will be a lot of time in the car for you and your kids, and not clear you'd have time on top of work. 2k for a car (all in) is also a low budget. Note you may not be able to get a car loan initially.
Utilities 2k - Maybe ok for electricity/water depending on what you're renting. Phones/internet will add around another 1k.
Food 2.5k per month - LOL! Double that, more if you are fussed about quality of food.

What you're missing? Everything else - any childcare, pension provision, trips home over holidays (v expensive), clothing, school uniform, iPads for the kids (will be required by the school), any extra curricular for the kids, medical fees (and potentially medical insurance for you and the kids), visa costs for you and the kids (if not covered), emergency savings to cover lack of a safety net. Plus set up costs are enormous.

If you're bringing in an extra AED 25k, then the money is fine to cover expenses and some savings but it isn't life changing money so whether it's worth moving depends on what this opportunity is like for your husband and what you're giving up in the UK. If the offer doesn't include medical insurance for you and the kids (it has to cover your DH by law) then I strongly recommend you get quotes for how much it would cost to get the cover you want before committing.

Final point, you haven't said what you do but be aware that you may struggle to get a job locally, and particularly one for anything like AED 25k a month. A lot of trailing spouses end up with a nasty surprise as they don't realize how competitive the job market is and how poor working conditions can be as well (long hours, lack of flexibility - for example standard for a nurse out here is a 48 hour week and they're generally paid less than UK). Appreciate you have the existing self-employment income but wanted to flag so you were aware. Entirely dependent on what it is you do of course, but outside of specific shortage skill areas this is the general position.

Nahnanananahna · 31/07/2024 08:15

Just seen your comment that medical is included for all, so ignore comments on that.

immigrant002 · 31/07/2024 12:52

@Nahnanananahna thank you so much for taking the time to advise i really appreciate it !
My field is software engineer/developer . I consult here and my job is remote. I don't see why i couldn't do it from dubai. I would be paid in pounds though. I don't think i want to find a local
Job if i can continue with my consultancy from there.
I had a look at schools and you are right they are about 50 to 55 for the age group of my kids
In terms of accomodation

SeeSeeRider · 31/07/2024 12:54

MsGoodenough · 21/07/2024 16:11

Why would you move to a country which runs on indentured labour and where you could be arrested for being raped? I just don't get why so many people do it (well, I do, because it's a cash cow, but it sounds like it won't even be that for you).

Yes. Agreed.

immigrant002 · 31/07/2024 12:55

Posted too soon !
I don't mind villa or flat really as long as distance to work and school in not too much ! My husbands work would be in al hudaiba area i liked the kings school no idea about spaces though .
How much would you expect for rent ? Cant tell which properties are fake or real online how do i check ?

immigrant002 · 31/07/2024 12:57

@SeeSeeRider because uk has increasingly become more and more unwelcoming and i fear for my kids safety . Dubai whenever we visited seems safe enough i would rather stay here if it was like the 2010s but is not

Nahnanananahna · 31/07/2024 13:27

I think you'd struggle to find a decently paid SDE or similar role in Dubai - it's a high salary location so the international companies don't tend to have significant tech teams in Dubai (instead having these in IN or even lower cost areas in the Middle East, such as Jordan) and the market is flooded with talent from the region or sub-continent willing to work for much lower salaries than the UK would pay and chasing a very small number of jobs (plus obviously with Bangalore so close a lot can be outsourced easily and cheaply). That said, absolutely no reason you can't continue your existing work from here - just make sure you get tax advice on how to structure it and what registrations you need (you may need to register for UAE corporate tax and VAT but the good news is this is actually lower than if you were UK based). No issues charging in GBP except that you are then taking a currency risk as the AED is pegged to the dollar. [Edited to say - obviously there are opportunities, but on average I wouldn't classify this as a skills shortage area in Dubai so you are unlikely to walk into a position]

On rent, it's really hard as it's a 'how long is a piece of string' question - I'd start by calling up the schools (admissions will be open) to find out where has space and then you can try and work out suitable areas around those schools (and if there are any).

If you check here you can see what rents have actually been agreed for different areas. You need to look at New contracts. Don't look at Renewals as there are rent control laws in place so leases are often renewed at much lower rent than market rate (it can be 50% if people have been renting a while). Allsopp and Allsopp Property Hub

The sales price in undefined

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https://www.allsoppandallsopp.com/dubai/properties/property-data-hub/lettings

immigrant002 · 31/07/2024 15:17

Nahnanananahna · 31/07/2024 13:27

I think you'd struggle to find a decently paid SDE or similar role in Dubai - it's a high salary location so the international companies don't tend to have significant tech teams in Dubai (instead having these in IN or even lower cost areas in the Middle East, such as Jordan) and the market is flooded with talent from the region or sub-continent willing to work for much lower salaries than the UK would pay and chasing a very small number of jobs (plus obviously with Bangalore so close a lot can be outsourced easily and cheaply). That said, absolutely no reason you can't continue your existing work from here - just make sure you get tax advice on how to structure it and what registrations you need (you may need to register for UAE corporate tax and VAT but the good news is this is actually lower than if you were UK based). No issues charging in GBP except that you are then taking a currency risk as the AED is pegged to the dollar. [Edited to say - obviously there are opportunities, but on average I wouldn't classify this as a skills shortage area in Dubai so you are unlikely to walk into a position]

On rent, it's really hard as it's a 'how long is a piece of string' question - I'd start by calling up the schools (admissions will be open) to find out where has space and then you can try and work out suitable areas around those schools (and if there are any).

If you check here you can see what rents have actually been agreed for different areas. You need to look at New contracts. Don't look at Renewals as there are rent control laws in place so leases are often renewed at much lower rent than market rate (it can be 50% if people have been renting a while). Allsopp and Allsopp Property Hub

Edited

Thank you so much for all the info and helpful advice !
I will look into those
Do you live there i assume ? Do you regret it at all ? Thank you again ! @Nahnanananahna

CaribouCarafe · 31/07/2024 15:21

Hi OP, I've just moved back from Dubai (but no kids so can't offer that perspective). I think 40k would be doable but not massively comfortable as food, schooling, utilities, entertainment etc. costs are high. See if your husband can negotiate employer contributions towards rent/schooling.

I was a trailing spouse, I'd just finished an internship in data science in London before making the move. Ended up getting another internship whilst out in Dubai as no company would hire me otherwise (it's not a great place for early careers), however by the end of 5 years I'd worked myself into a 30k per month role and was regularly being contacted by recruiters for similarly or better paid opportunities.

I think the tech sector is generally quite good in Dubai for jobs, so if you're working as a programmer/in computing etc then you should be fine eventually. I think it's hard to get a job from outside the country, but once you actually move there network as much as you can - the hiring culture is very much more about who you know/having seen you etc. than it is in the UK.

So I'd say if you want to move to Dubai because you feel you'd be more comfortable/safer there, then go for it - I've never felt safer walking alone at night, for example. But don't necessarily expect a financially easier time than the UK if you're essentially only guaranteed your husband's salary.

immigrant002 · 31/07/2024 15:45

CaribouCarafe · 31/07/2024 15:21

Hi OP, I've just moved back from Dubai (but no kids so can't offer that perspective). I think 40k would be doable but not massively comfortable as food, schooling, utilities, entertainment etc. costs are high. See if your husband can negotiate employer contributions towards rent/schooling.

I was a trailing spouse, I'd just finished an internship in data science in London before making the move. Ended up getting another internship whilst out in Dubai as no company would hire me otherwise (it's not a great place for early careers), however by the end of 5 years I'd worked myself into a 30k per month role and was regularly being contacted by recruiters for similarly or better paid opportunities.

I think the tech sector is generally quite good in Dubai for jobs, so if you're working as a programmer/in computing etc then you should be fine eventually. I think it's hard to get a job from outside the country, but once you actually move there network as much as you can - the hiring culture is very much more about who you know/having seen you etc. than it is in the UK.

So I'd say if you want to move to Dubai because you feel you'd be more comfortable/safer there, then go for it - I've never felt safer walking alone at night, for example. But don't necessarily expect a financially easier time than the UK if you're essentially only guaranteed your husband's salary.

@CaribouCarafe hi thank you the main reason we want to move is to bring up our children in a safer environment. Its not for money but i wouldn't t want to be worst off .
We are planning to put our house for rent here rather than sell it so we can always come back

Nahnanananahna · 31/07/2024 21:40

immigrant002 · 31/07/2024 15:17

Thank you so much for all the info and helpful advice !
I will look into those
Do you live there i assume ? Do you regret it at all ? Thank you again ! @Nahnanananahna

I do and no regrets. We're happy here.

Nahnanananahna · 31/07/2024 21:51

I don't agree with the previous poster on easily getting a job in your field in Dubai though. Obviously depends specifically what you do, but as I said the market is saturated and salaries are low. Admittedly not always a great source because it doesn't pick up nuances but Glassdoor has the average SDE salary at AED 10k a month. Can't comment on what pay rates are actually like (although I've heard complaints they're low) but Glassdoor is in the right ballpark for the job I do.

But if you have the UK work you have time to look and be picky. In my experience in practice there's a lack of very strong candidates for semior skilled roles in Dubai (or a problem with them matching to roles - bad application filtering maybe).

immigrant002 · 31/07/2024 22:51

Nahnanananahna · 31/07/2024 21:51

I don't agree with the previous poster on easily getting a job in your field in Dubai though. Obviously depends specifically what you do, but as I said the market is saturated and salaries are low. Admittedly not always a great source because it doesn't pick up nuances but Glassdoor has the average SDE salary at AED 10k a month. Can't comment on what pay rates are actually like (although I've heard complaints they're low) but Glassdoor is in the right ballpark for the job I do.

But if you have the UK work you have time to look and be picky. In my experience in practice there's a lack of very strong candidates for semior skilled roles in Dubai (or a problem with them matching to roles - bad application filtering maybe).

Thats a quarter of my current salary so i would definitely prefer to keep my current job is quite low for experience software engineers i am quite surprised !
My husband is in similar field but more into data analytics etc so i thought the salaries would be around the same 35 to 40k

CaribouCarafe · 31/07/2024 23:55

Hmm I've not heard of any software engineer with more than a couple years experience earning only 10k a month, but it does depend on your level of experience and also whether they think they need to make you a competitive offer or not. Since you already have a job presently that you could do from Dubai, you're in a position where you can negotiate a better salary and reject anything that doesn't match your current one (if you even feel like making a jump at all).

Unfortunately there is a structural racist element to the salaries as well - from my experience, people from India and Pakistan were more prone to being subjected to low-ball offers whereas white European expats were more likely to receive higher salary offers for the same level work. The companies you would actually want to work for wouldn't pull this level of bullshit though (I was lucky enough to work for 2 companies where the salaries were fully transparent and everyone was paid equally for the same work, but worked with clients where I know this was not the case).

sanjaantonov · 06/03/2025 20:00

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