Career in Dubai

[IWasWondering822]

My DH and I both have moderately successful careers in London, working in technology / consulting. We have a 9 year old DS. My DH is now looking for roles in the UAE and it’s looking promising! My question is — is it possible for both of us to have careers - and live a similar life to what we have now? At the moment , we split our daily chores depending on our respective calendars, coordinate pickups /dropoffs , cooking etc., and make time for our own interests.

Is it even possible to have this while we are working in similar jobs in the UAE - or will we need to have a nanny / housekeeper to manage the day to day? I suppose my question is to what extent are jobs and working culture flexible ?

Yes, you can both have careers in Dubai.

You'll have to pay for private schooling though, which starts at about £15,000 per year

Thank you…

Having a nanny or some kind of home help is very normal there, they don't have to live in. School hours are approx 7.30am - 3pm. Like anywhere else, some jobs may have partial or full WFH options. I would say that, having relocated from London, our lives (both working full time) are similar to there, with more sunshine and less drizzle, except that our present roles here mean that DH is either WFH or overseas and I have a 65km round trip commute.

Thanks very much @thornbury ! Sounds like you have what I envisage my own situation to be as well.. assuming things work out for my DH of course! Could I ask as well please, do schools usually have wrap around care like in the UK? Also do parents usually drop off / pick up, or is it school buses ?

Thanks very much and sorry to bombard with more questions!

Some have wrap around care, but not in the mornings because they start so early anyway and after school is usually through ECAs rather than a creche type offering, which gives you an extra hour. Buses are available if you don't live too far from the school, as journey times are restricted, plus if you're on a 30 seater bus and picking up all over a particular area, the kids who get on first may be picked up as much as 45 mins before the last few, and kids getting on buses soon after 6am isn't unheard of. You'd need to ask the question about bus timings when deciding. Drops and pick ups are a mixture of parents, buses (usually no buses after ECAs) and nannies/drivers, with the balance depending on the fee bracket of the school!