Advice Needed On My Dubai Package !

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Advice Needed On My Dubai Package ! Apr 04, 2008
Hello everyone,

I've been offered a procurement position with a large building material company in the UAE. I would be working in the Jebel Ali area.

They just sent me their first offer as follows:

- Base Salary: 210 000 AED / year
- Accommodation Allowance: 75 000 AED / year
- Car Allowance: 20 500 AED / year

The package also includes 30 days vacation along with flights for my family and I (Wife and 2 children, 3 year old twins). SO the package is worth about 300k / year.

I am very interested in the position offered and the thought of relocating. But, the package seems low.

I'd like to get some feedback from you guys. What is the true cost of living in Dubai? Does it make sense to move my family from Canada to Dubai for 300k per year? Is it common practice in Dubai to send a counter offer?
How much more should I ask for in order to live a modest but comfortable life with my family?

Please help.

Shab

Shab
Dubai Forum Guest
Posts: 3

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Apr 06, 2008
The accomodation allowance is nowhere near enough to pay all the rent for a place suitable for a family. Even a 2 bed apartment in an area convenient for where you would be working would start at around AED130k per annum.

A salary of AED 17,500 per month is not enough for a family of four, especially if you will have to subsidise rent from your own pocket.
Elphaba
Dubai Forum Visitor
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Posts: 11
Location: Dubai

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Apr 07, 2008
Thanks for the info..
That is exactly what I thought..
Do you have an idea on what I would need to live comfortably with 2 children?
Shab
Dubai Forum Guest
Posts: 3

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Apr 07, 2008
Shab wrote:Thanks for the info..
That is exactly what I thought..
Do you have an idea on what I would need to live comfortably with 2 children?


3 bed Villa +/- 200k p/a

Dewa etc +/- 20k p/a

School fees +/- 100k p/a

1 x 4x4 150k financed @ 6% over 4 years

1 Saloon car 80kfinanced @ 6% over 4 years

Total transport loan payment 71.3k p/a

Running cost 150 pw x 52 = 7.8k p/a

Insurance @4.5% 10.35k p/a

Total +/- 410k p/a

Of course you could always look for a cheap place to live, cheap school (not many of those here) 2nd hand vehicles or better still a bike for the wife.
sage & onion
Dubai Shadow Wolf
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Posts: 16338
Location: Dubai and beyond

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Apr 07, 2008
This should help you do a rough calculation...

Cost of living in Dubai
bonk
Dubai Master of Thread Hijackers
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Posts: 1511
Location: Dubai Zoo

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Apr 07, 2008
According to Sage & Onion, I am quite a bit away form the "Comfort" number with this package offered. Thanks for the info.
Shab
Dubai Forum Guest
Posts: 3

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