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squalidae · Mar 07, 2007

Hi there
I have been researching around the forum for a couple months now, while my final job offer came through. Now that it finally did I would like some input from people already in Dubai. I have used the search function a lot and have a rough idea, but I figure getting first hand info can't hurt.
I'm 30, single moving from Canada to work in environmental monitoring.

The package I have been offer is pretty simple

- 15.600 AED/ month- 187.000 AED/year
- round trip ticket home
- visa and work permit
- 30 days paid vacation per year

I will not be receiving any housing or car allowances or health insurance. This is the final non-negotiable offer. The main office will be in close vicinity to the Ibn Battuta Mall, so I guess housing in the marina area would be convenient. Any comments would be greatly appreciated

djl · Mar 07, 2007

187,000AED = ~60300CDN w/o taxes = ~81,500CDN w/taxes.

Let's take a look at your expenses:

Rent: 80kAED (studio)
Car: 30kAED for a used thing, or 1800k/mth to rent (21.6k)
Food: ~20kAED
Furniture: ~20kAED You need bed, couch, tv, coffee table, dresser
Water/Electricity: ~7000AED (it's dubai, think airconditioning)
===========
Total: 157kAED.

Want a girlfriend? ~30kAED.

Oh wait, you don't even have medical insurance...

Not worth it in my opinion.

xty · Mar 08, 2007

In my opinion, djl's calculation is a bit exagerrated for a single.

devilsdiciple · Mar 08, 2007

djl wrote:187,000AED = ~60300CDN w/o taxes = ~81,500CDN w/taxes.

Let's take a look at your expenses:

Rent: 80kAED (studio) - Where in the Marina?????
Car: 30kAED for a used thing, or 1800k/mth to rent (21.6k) - You can get a brand new one at a monthly rental of as low as AED 399.
Food: ~20kAED - Single person with going out to a decent place...You have quoted a high band.Furniture: ~20kAED You need bed, couch, tv, coffee table, dresser - This is one off...GO TO IKEA.....
Water/Electricity: ~7000AED (it's dubai, think airconditioning) - Are you Nutts===========
Total: 157kAED.

Want a girlfriend? ~30kAED.

Oh wait, you don't even have medical insurance...

Not worth it in my opinion.

Why are you trying to scare people....15.6K per month is a decent salary...
Squalidae, Environmental monitoring seems to be a quite specialist field so oppurtunities would come up....

As per Law they would have to give you a medical card for a governmental hospital.

Would you be in one of the free zones??

Well I think as a start it is good..Dont know what other have to say...But dont listen to dipwad!!!

There are better people here to guide you..

Cheers

xty · Mar 08, 2007

devilsdiciple wrote:Car: 30kAED for a used thing, or 1800k/mth to rent (21.6k) - You can get a brand new one at a monthly rental of as low as AED 399.

Water/Electricity: ~7000AED (it's dubai, think airconditioning) - Are you Nutts===========

Hmmm want to know more about that 399 AED. Where do you get it? The cheapest I had was about 1500 AED (now I rent a Lancer for 1700 AED from a big rental company). There are so many ads with lower rates and brand new car, but everytime I called they always have excuses and never called me back.

For DEWA, that cost (yearly) is still reasonable for 1BR. I paid 400-700 AED monthly. But for studio, it could be cheaper. Even many furnished studios offer free DEWA (included in the rent fee).

Other points, exagerrated as I said.

sage & onion · Mar 08, 2007

xty wrote:
devilsdiciple wrote:Car: 30kAED for a used thing, or 1800k/mth to rent (21.6k) - You can get a brand new one at a monthly rental of as low as AED 399.

Water/Electricity: ~7000AED (it's dubai, think airconditioning) - Are you Nutts===========

Hmmm want to know more about that 399 AED. Where do you get it? The cheapest I had was about 1500 AED (now I rent a Lancer for 1700 AED from a big rental company). There are so many ads with lower rates and brand new car, but everytime I called they always have excuses and never called me back.

For DEWA, that cost (yearly) is still reasonable for 1BR. I paid 400-700 AED monthly. But for studio, it could be cheaper. Even many furnished
studios offer free DEWA (included in the rent fee).

The 399 monthly rental must be for a Padmini.

Apartment (1 bed) Dewa Bills if Central A/C should not go above Dhs. 300.00 per month average.

Other points, exagerrated as I said.

fayz · Mar 09, 2007

djl wrote:Want a girlfriend? ~30kAED.

HAHAHAHA I just loved that line.

oh and for the 399/month, he's probably talking about financing something like a Chery QQ or Chevy Spark, to purchase they run ~25,000.

Mar 09, 2007

it seems the guy "squalidae" is not watching anymore so i'll not be detailed.

It all depends on your lifestyle and standards.

I know alot of people getting 9 K and saving more others who are getting 25 k

squalidae · Mar 09, 2007

Thanks to everyone for the postings. For all that I've read seems like yshimy is right about lifestyle influencing most things. It's a good time to move since I just decided to stop spending money on beer.

PedroPop · Mar 10, 2007

Good Day All

Rather than creating a new thread I thought I would follow on. I am looking to relocate from the UK. I have a job lined up. I will be coming with my girlfriend (of 9 years). I have 2 dogs and a cat :-)

so you know the basics. I am 40 years old.

I have a salary of 350,000 a year.

I will need a house/villa with a garden to rent. I will need 2 cars (Maybe a smallish family type, mondeo or similar and a 4x4, rental of the family car and buy a 3 or 4 year old 4x4).

What should I be looking at spending every month on what I have said above? Do I need health cover? Is electricity/water really that expensive? Will my dogs be OK :-)

Is that a good salary for a man of my age?

What type of broadband speed would I be looking at?

Thanks for any help, its greatly appreciated

scot1870 · Mar 10, 2007

PedroPop wrote:Good Day All

Rather than creating a new thread I thought I would follow on. I am looking to relocate from the UK. I have a job lined up. I will be coming with my girlfriend (of 9 years). I have 2 dogs and a cat so you know the basics. I am 40 years old.

I have a salary of 350,000 a year.

I will need a house/villa with a garden to rent. 2 bed - 110-120k dirhams a year, 3 bed add 20-30k

I will need 2 cars (Maybe a smallish family type, mondeo or similar and a 4x4, rental of the family car and buy a 3 or 4 year old 4x4). Rent a small car for 1800 Dhs a month, I bought a Honda CRV with 8000kms for 64,000 Dhs

What should I be looking at spending every month on what I have said above? Do I need health cover? Yes, it's obliged by law, your employer should pay

Is electricity/water really that expensive? Depends where you come from, it's cheaper than the UK

Will my dogs be OK Dunno

Is that a good salary for a man of my age? Depends on your skills

What type of broadband speed would I be looking at? 1MB costs about 200Dhs a month, one of the most expensive places on Earth for internet due to government duopoly

Thanks for any help, its greatly appreciated

Mar 10, 2007

Following the same style

Note that all estimates are based on my experience and towards the higher side to be safe.

PedroPop wrote:Good Day All

Rather than creating a new thread I thought I would follow on. I am looking to relocate from the UK. I have a job lined up. I will be coming with my girlfriend (of 9 years). I have 2 dogs and a cat so you know the basics. I am 40 years old.

I have a salary of 350,000 a year.

I will need a house/villa with a garden to rent. I will need 2 cars (Maybe a smallish family type, mondeo or similar and a 4x4, rental of the family car and buy a 3 or 4 year old 4x4).

Villa 2 BR = 130 ~ 150K (Springs, Arabian ranches, or mirdiff)
2 cars = 180K total 45k PA (3750 pm on 5 years 5% intrest)
Both brand new (Pajero + Accord)

PedroPop wrote:What should I be looking at spending every month on what I have said above?

~ 5k pm is very fair

PedroPop wrote: Do I need health cover?

your job should provide it for you, but your GF ... donno if you can add her as a wife (but you both should have, it is expensive here)

PedroPop wrote: Is electricity/water really that expensive?

Reasonablly priced i think, add to it 3% of your rent, so i would expect you pay 1.2~1.5k a month. so 18 k a year

PedroPop wrote: Will my dogs be OK

Depends on their breed and how much they can take heat if you will keep them outside in summer... it gets really hot

PedroPop wrote: Is that a good salary for a man of my age?

I believe it is medium good

PedroPop wrote:
What type of broadband speed would I be looking at?

i'm using 512kb and it is very enough.

PedroPop wrote:

Thanks for any help, its greatly appreciated

so in total you will be spending around 270 PA, so to be extremely cautious i would put 30% as unidentified scope and risk factor :lol:

, then you would be exactly 350 pa.

As the way i do the calculations and they are all on the high side from my limited experience.

I would very confidently tell you:
This is a good offer, take it. You can save alot if you had moderate lifestyle, but in the end it all depends on what you do and how you do it.

Opportunities are:
2 used cars 2-3 years old. It will be one time investment of 100 K for both.
no need for villa, get an apartment as in summer dogs won't stand the heat (i do assume).
have a modest lifestyle and less expensive outings and you will be saving a 100k a year at least.

PedroPop · Mar 11, 2007

Thanks Yshimy and scot1870

As far as the dogs go, will it be easy to find an apartment who will allow me to keep animals?

As I will be new to Dubai, will I be able to get credit for things like cars?

Thanks again

Mar 11, 2007

Yes

Yes

xty · Mar 11, 2007

sage & onion wrote:
xty wrote:For DEWA, that cost (yearly) is still reasonable for 1BR. I paid 400-700 AED monthly. But for studio, it could be cheaper. Even many furnished
studios offer free DEWA (included in the rent fee).

Apartment (1 bed) Dewa Bills if Central A/C should not go above Dhs. 300.00 per month average.

sage, I think you forgot Housing Fee/Tax many people have (including me), that is 5% of rent fee.

gtmash · Mar 11, 2007

PedroPop wrote:Good Day All

Rather than creating a new thread I thought I would follow on. I am looking to relocate from the UK. I have a job lined up. I will be coming with my girlfriend (of 9 years). I have 2 dogs and a cat so you know the basics. I am 40 years old.

I have a salary of 350,000 a year.

I will need a house/villa with a garden to rent. I will need 2 cars (Maybe a smallish family type, mondeo or similar and a 4x4, rental of the family car and buy a 3 or 4 year old 4x4).

What should I be looking at spending every month on what I have said above? Do I need health cover? Is electricity/water really that expensive? Will my dogs be OK Is that a good salary for a man of my age?

What type of broadband speed would I be looking at?

Thanks for any help, its greatly appreciated

350K! JEEBUS CRYST!

GloballyRelaxed · Mar 11, 2007

Thing is though the reason everything I reckon now will be on the high side for the near future is due to the USD going to hell in a handcart...so in reality when you track it back 350/3.67/1.94 adds up to roundabout a half decent GBP salary....well smidgen under 50k about right for a management position in some places......but you get the idea.

Tracking the USD might have been good in the past...but for the moment reckon its going to be a bit of a strain on the inflation front and also the new hires from outside front as well.

Interesting times indeed..

Cheers

PedroPop · Mar 11, 2007

Thanks guys

As Globally Relaxed points out 350K is less than 50k in the UK which is a poor salary for a senior manager. However the lifestyle is rubbish :-(

Its great to get so much insight.

When you talk about credit it always seems to be over 5 years, can you get it over less? Also can you as easily get credit for a second hand car?

What about car insurance as well, is that expensive?

I know I go on about my dogs but they are important :-)

If I had an apartment are there places that dogs can be walked safley (I am thinking of my other half here). I know you cant take them on the beach.

Thanks

Concord · Mar 11, 2007

In USD 305K AED is about 96K which is not a bad salary for 2 people.

The problem is that housing is relatively expensive.

With respect to the dogs: many people have dogs and it is easier to have a dog in a villa than an apartment for obvious reasons. Many apartment buildings won't allow dogs. Or if they allow them it is conditional that the neighbors don't complaint, barking etc. You also have to consider the cost of bringing the dogs into dubai. Dogs can't come into Dubai as excess luggage but must be "cargo" - i.e. customs, etc. On the way out of Dubai they can go as excess luggage.

Even if you have a villa, it is extremely hot outside for Dogs except for the short time for them to do their "business".

It's all relative - many people live in dubai on far less (so in the UK, etc.)...

I think you have all the "answers" in the previous posts.

Good luck.

Mar 11, 2007

PedroPop wrote:Thanks guys

When you talk about credit it always seems to be over 5 years,can you get it over less?

yes from 1 to 6

PedroPop wrote: Also can you as easily get credit for a second hand car?

Yes providing it is less than less than 8 years old as they depreciate the car over 8 years. so if you got 1999 model, you can't finance now as 2007 models are out
2000 model, you do finance over 1 year. etc.. got the point

PedroPop wrote:
What about car insurance as well, is that expensive?

Varies, get a no claim letter from your existing company and it will help.
usually ~ 5 % and it is easy as you are over 25 y.o

PedroPop wrote:I know I go on about my dogs but they are important If I had an apartment are there places that dogs can be walked safley (I am thinking of my other half here). I know you cant take them on the beach.

Thanks

Yes there is alot of green places specially in compounds
also you can take them to the beach. you can take your Pajero

and park anywhere on the coast. i met people with dogs alot.

apartment is not convienient but you pay less for DEWA as AC you don't pay. Villa you will pay for water alot for the garden and electricity as the AC which will run 24/7 for at least 9 months will be paid too.

good luck

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