Dubai Forums Dubai Expat Forums Dubai Expat Help Forum

HI,
I currently live in the UK and am thinking of relocating to Dubai! Im a landuse/transport planner and have bn offered a job (masterplanning&project management role) with a large global firm but have yet to discuss a salary - they have asked me to consider what I would be expecting. Its difficult to get any info. on potential salaries for this kind of work in Dubai...I dont want to sell myself short!Any ideas about a realistic salary package?I have 4yrs experience but have progressed well (current salary £45,000 stg)...

Also, if I work in Dubai for a couple of yrs and then return to the UK will I have to pay tax on my Dubai earnings to the UK government on re-entry to the country?
Any advice/suggestions much appreciated!

I would say get at least as much as you would get in the UK as the tax-free status would mean an automatic raise. They are no longer (if ever) throwing money away in Dubia for those sort of jobs.

The UK expats here will be better to advise you on the tax-free status (how long you have to be out of the country in any one year, etc.)

Good luck.

You will need to be out of the UK for 1 whole tax year which is April to April. So if you came out in say Oct 2008 and went home to the UK in Oct 2009 this is not a full tax year and the UK will hit you for tax when you come back.

You need to inform the tax office that you are intending to be out of the country so they can adjust your tax records. I can't remember the name of the form might be a "P85" form. Once you submit this you will get a rebate on any tax that you have paid for outside of your date of leaving the UK.

I think the salary is probably a bit low (if this is all inclusive - i.e you won't get any more for accomodation, transport etc.).

45000 is about 27000AED per month - this is not a huge salary for western project managers out here by any means, I'm no specialist in your field but I would think 30000 per month minimum and probably 35000 could be realistic.

XP is correct about the tax, so it would be good if you could get out of the UK before april.

I'd ask for annual 45000GBP, plus 80000AED accomodation and 20000 car. This gets you near 35000aed per month.

I agree.

35K AED per month is around 58K UK £ per year. You might think that this is a jump from 45K a year which you are currently on but don't forget Dubai is expensive! You need to justify the move.

Thanks guys...thats given me plenty to think about...sounds like I have a bit of negotiating to do!

Becky1 wrote:Also, if I work in Dubai for a couple of yrs and then return to the UK will I have to pay tax on my Dubai earnings to the UK government on re-entry to the country?

Generally no if you're away more than one tax year but there are exceptions. Check with the tax department or tax accountant/lawyer. Here's a summary of tax in Dubai.

I have been offered a relationship management role paying AED 38k per month (inclusive) for a large bank. Is this considered a good/bad salary as I am currently earning GBP 50k which works out to be AED 30k equiv per month.

Should I be asking for more?

Any help appreciated. Apologies to auhtor of this post for hijacking!

keepitreal wrote:I have been offered a relationship management role paying AED 38k per month (inclusive) for a large bank. Is this considered a good/bad salary as I am currently earning GBP 50k which works out to be AED 30k equiv per month.

Should I be asking for more?

Any help appreciated. Apologies to auhtor of this post for hijacking!

Your biggest expense will be housing. It is ridicouslous - No matte what they tell you. Unless you are young and don't mind living with 6 strangers.

If you have your own place at your current salary - stay put.

By the way, Dubai will get real old after about 3 months (you would have eaten at every restaurant, walked all the malls and been to all the bars, and gone to the beach)...

keepitreal wrote:I have been offered a relationship management role paying AED 38k per month (inclusive) for a large bank. Is this considered a good/bad salary as I am currently earning GBP 50k which works out to be AED 30k equiv per month.

Should I be asking for more?

Any help appreciated. Apologies to auhtor of this post for hijacking!

Your biggest expense will be housing. It is ridicouslous - No matte what they tell you. Unless you are young and don't mind living with 6 strangers.

If you have your own place at your current salary - stay put.

By the way, Dubai will get real old after about 3 months (you would have eaten at every restaurant, walked all the malls and been to all the bars, and gone to the beach)...