The cost of Living in Dubai

[Proper_Property]

The only information you have managed to convey clearly in your (ill-written) posts is that you sir, are a racist and a bigot. Which to your credit you did without even trying. Good day to you Mr Anglo-Saxon High and Mighty (BSc/BA) x2

[zorawar]

Hi,

I save 2500 $ and have a national role in the largest entertainment company.I have an offer from a multinational IT hardware company paying 25K + medical for self and free tkts per two years.

I agreed since I did not know the acco costs. I have a 3 months Visa plus tkts reportedly all new hires have to undergo 3 months probation hence 3 months Visa.Now I doubt....

I feel the company did not give the right package which should have been about 30K+free 2bed acco+medical for self n family+ free schooling for my two kids minus probation.

Can I renegotiate at this stage ?What are the practices abt probation? Wouldn,t my current role+savings be better than Dubai.

Seek your inputs to take it further at this late stage.

Pl advice.

zorawar

[Roshan]

Originally Posted by zorawar

Hi,

I save 2500 $ and have a national role in the largest entertainment company.I have an offer from a multinational IT hardware company paying 25K + medical for self and free tkts per two years.

I agreed since I did not know the acco costs. I have a 3 months Visa plus tkts reportedly all new hires have to undergo 3 months probation hence 3 months Visa.Now I doubt....

I feel the company did not give the right package which should have been about 30K+free 2bed acco+medical for self n family+ free schooling for my two kids minus probation.

Can I renegotiate at this stage ?What are the practices abt probation? Wouldn,t my current role+savings be better than Dubai.

Seek your inputs to take it further at this late stage.

Pl advice.

zorawar

By accepting the appointment, you have just lost the power of negotiating. You would could have gained that extra mileage while negotiating the contract.

Renegotiating at this stage is difficult as the jump you are asking is big. A 2 bdr would cost you nothing less than Dhs 120,000 + expenses + 2 childrens education, you might not be left with much.

Conclusion : You could either regret the job at this stage if you are better back home - OR - try and make your future employer understand that you are exopecting more.

Regards

Roshan

[iced]

Originally Posted by zorawar

Hi,

I save 2500 $ and have a national role in the largest entertainment company.I have an offer from a multinational IT hardware company paying 25K + medical for self and free tkts per two years.

I agreed since I did not know the acco costs. I have a 3 months Visa plus tkts reportedly all new hires have to undergo 3 months probation hence 3 months Visa.Now I doubt....

I feel the company did not give the right package which should have been about 30K+free 2bed acco+medical for self n family+ free schooling for my two kids minus probation.

Can I renegotiate at this stage ?What are the practices abt probation? Wouldn,t my current role+savings be better than Dubai.

Seek your inputs to take it further at this late stage.

Pl advice.

zorawar

you should stick to your old post if you save $2500. There is no way you can save that much on your new salary and expect to pay10k per month in accomodation for a 2 bed

[floatdriver]

Greetings to the forum,

Just read most of it and think I have my head around a realistic view of what I would need to expect to be comparitive.

Sounds like COL is roughly 1.5 - 2 x that of Canada, so to remain on par with an $8,000.00 CAD/month salary, I'd need to ask a salary of 40,000 - 50,000 AED/month?

I have living allowance here as well so expected salary would be in addition to living provided.

Does this make any sense? I too am looking at a pilot position.

Thanks,

Floatdriver

[Bilal Usman]

Dear Brothers,

I am 28 Year Old Business Man from Pakistan, With business in Pak.
I have a Earing of Approx 12000 AED/Month Here in Pakistan. I have saving`s of two 1 bedroom apartment each in Dubai IC which will be completed n mid of next year ( G+10 ) building but till date 5 built so i assume. Hope will Getting 70000/AED rent per anum ( 5800 AED/Montx2= 11600 AED) so 24000 AED accumalitve.
But now its only 14000/AED.Per Month

I have a Home Here in Pak which i will sell and can buy a Studio or 1 Bedroom in Dubai, so accomodation is not a problem ( will live in my own apt, no rentals), i myself will be coming and going to dubai, but i want my family to live in dubai, as you know the current situtaion in Pakistan, we are not safe here, but cant close business in pakistan as qualification is under graduate ( not completed BBA) so dunt know what job i get and dont know what business to do in dubai. Will get a resident Visa on behalf of property ill bought, most probably.

Can u please let me know on this scnario, what will be the living cost

3 Children Skooling?
Monthly Grocery Expense?
Electricity Etc.,

Please Help Me and Let me Know

By way of an update...to those of you whom it helps:

Over the last week, I have met with many of my clients in Dubai, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ajman and Abu Dhabi. Their comments and mood is one of - "we have plenty of people to choose from so we can afford to take a hard line on negotiation of packages . We do not need to be held over a barrel on salaries and packages."
The economic issues at present in the news is making record numbers look to the Middle East for security of income and career. They have more people looking to relocate to the Middle East than they can offer roles to.

I fear if you try and negotiate hard you wont get far. The perception of UAE as a place to earn well and save etc is fast dissipating. Its a playground for those who are on high salaries , usually dont have children... or they are very small... and dont mind the aggresive discrimantory attitudes that exist here.

A few real examples :

I have just relocated 4 people ( 2 from london, 2 from Miami ) to Abu Dhabi - Salaries from 38,000 to 45,000AED per month - they are all struggling to find 1 and 2 bed accomodation, like many other i know.

Typical 1 bed apartments are far from the city, and cost more than double what they were paying where they came from. There are no flats avaialble in AD - prices are sky rocketing.

Dubai is now cheaper in accomodation - 1 beds in Bur Dubai are still around 120,000 - 130,000 - IC is around 65-70,000. Deira (if you can find one), is around 70-80,000. MArina is around 160,000-200,000. Old Town/Burj Dubai is around 180,000-200,000. 2 beds in Deira - 110,000 - 140,000, in Marina around 200,000 upwards.

So you can see..... massive rising costs of accomodation is eliminating the ability to live within your means...

Schooling - the biggest headache after accomodation cost - if you can get a space in your preferred school - very expensive and also prices will be going up again ....the older the child the more expensive it is. 3 kids between say 5 and 15 will eat up at least half your salary.

And I know some took offense at my previous comments... but please remember if you are an Indian, Pakistani or other South Asian or Asian passport holder you are treated as a third class citizen regardless of profession and position. All expats whom i work with notice and comment on this. From employer's attitude to worker rights - you will be discriminated against. I recently got in some trouble with a parking attendant who was issuing a ticket. As soon as i showed my bristish pasport, his whole attitude changed and i didnt get the parking ticket.

Do you know that you will have to retake your driving test as your license is not valid? And it costs a fortune and takes a long time...An example is when I went to get my diving license from the office in dubai - as a british passport holder I walked out with my UAE driving license in about 40 mins. My cousin who went with me, has a pakistani passport and he had to wait in the queue with all other passport holders, it took him 6 hours to get seen, and then he was tld his licence is not valid and it will cost him thousands in lessons and tests.

I do not mean this in a nasty or 'bigoted' way - it is the truth and the reality. I am in Dubai for 2 weeks and leave on Monday coming to return to the UK - There is growing discontent that is apparent in the guest populations - read it for yourself ,
check out
Gulf News, Khaleej Times, The National - all are available online.

Anyway enough ...

Advice - work in Sharjah, live in Ajman...or live in Al Ain and commute to Abu Dhabi.
Or just stay at home.... if you are econimcally sound in your career...the middle east is not the golden egg it used to be.
Or go to Oman, Kuwait or Saudi !
ps. clothing furniture, food, groceries etc are relatively cheap ( compared to UK, US, Canada, Aus etc )

best
CM

[way2vik]

Hi,

Recently I got offer from one company as Lead Software Engg. I dont know what is the cost of living as on date in Dubai. I'll move with my family. i.e. wife and 2 yr old son. Could any body help me to explain Living cost in Dubai.
The points mainly are,

House
Kid education
Hospitalisation
Food
Alcohole
Internet
Tourism
Other Utilities like Electricity, Water, Cloth washing

Please let me know ASAP.

Thanks in Advance.

[happyfeetmumbo]

Hi Chessmaster,

Do you have any recruiting contacts in the Finance / Accounting world ? What would a Financial Analyst be expected to be paid in Dubai and are there any jobs in that field ? Thanks much.

Happy

[goli]

Hi,

I am from India, and will be graduating soon. For a computer engineer which do you say should be preferred

1. AED 10k pm + company accommodation, in Dubai
OR
2. INR 55k pm, after tax, in India

Thanks a lot in advance.