Aviation jobs advertised in the UK for U.A.E.

[Ron McC]

Hi All,

A well known internet aviation job website is advertising jobs on military aircraft in the Emirates. I worked there from 1994 - 97 and the 3 airbases used were Al-Dhaffra, Al-Ain and the one 40 kms from Dubai. Now I realise that in the intervening years lots have changed. So, whats the prices now of accommodation in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai. Al Ain was always the cheapest, Dubai the most expensive and Abu Dhabi in the middle. However, I'm up in northern Saudi and we have heard stories up here that some expats live in Dubai and drive to Abu Dhabi to work, how true is this?? Any truth that accommodation is cheaper in Dubai than Abu Dhabi. How times have changed if it is.

Have also heard that buraucracy is rampant, even worse than Saudi from all accounts.

How easy is it now to get a drivers license? work permit etc,

All info greatly appreciated.

Ron McC. TVR's BOF 246T & L627 YAY

[Gentleman Geoff]

Ron McC said:

we have heard stories up here that some expats live in Dubai and drive to Abu Dhabi to work, how true is this??

Very. Lots of people do exactly this.

Ron McC said:

Any truth that accommodation is cheaper in Dubai than Abu Dhabi.

I believe so. They have less capacity in Abu Dhabi so the rents have been forced up. Loads of empty property in Dubai, though.

Ron McC said:

Have also heard that buraucracy is rampant

Ron McC said:

How easy is it now to get a drivers license?

Fairly easy. A quick form, your UK licence, letter from your employer and a photo. Your company will also sort out the work permit etc.

Good luck!

[yorky500]

I do the daily commute between DXB and AUH, plus the other circa 20,000 cars that do it as well.

Yes, rentals in DXB are far cheaper than AUH, but prices are starting to come down somewhat in AUH. Utlilities I think are more expensive in DXB than AUH though!

Getting your DL is not an issue I believe (been a long time), if you have a UK DL, its a simple swap over (with all the paperwork, eye test and fees involved)

[shirt]

you can see the locations most easily here, just click on 'order of battle'.

http://www.scramble.nl/ae.htm

is the the UAEAF you'll be working for? if so then abu dhabi seems the most likely location.

if it's for a mil contractor going into iraq/afghanistan then i'd imagine you'll be based in the northern emirates and live in dubai. can't recall the name of the base, but it's north of dubai airport. all the foreign transport guys are based there.

[Hitch78]

There is also the Al Minhad airbase, sort of behind the Outlet Mall on the Al Ain road 40 clicks outside Dubai.

[dxbtiger]

Yeah the DL part is probably the easiest part of the move over if you have a British one and are not blind.

I also know plenty of people that work in AD but commute from JLT and Marine, how they do that drive everyday is beyond me, would drive me up the wall but they all manage it

[Hitch78]

I do the Dubs - AD drive regularly. Once or twice a week is fine, three of four less so. I suppose that if you did it daily you'd have reason enough to think it was worth it which might make it a little easier.

[Ron McC]

shirt said:

you can see the locations most easily here, just click on 'order of battle'.

http://www.scramble.nl/ae.htm

is the the UAEAF you'll be working for? if so then abu dhabi seems the most likely location.

if it's for a mil contractor going into iraq/afghanistan then i'd imagine you'll be based in the northern emirates and live in dubai. can't recall the name of the base, but it's north of dubai airport. all the foreign transport guys are based there.

Hi Shirt,

Going by the advert on the agency website it's working for the UAEAF on a direct contract. I worked for Airworks in Abu Dhabi, then all the Hawk aircraft moved to Al Ain (I bailed out before that),then a further split where some Hawk's stayed in Al Ain and some were moved to Al Minnad near Dubai. Have seen some of the e-mails sent to guys who have already applied and it looks like the the old GAMCO contract. Think GAMCO had a fire in their hangar a few years back. If it is the same type of contract then it would be Abu Dhabi International Airport working in one of the hangar's there.

However, as there has been very little concrete info dished out by the UK recruitment agency, no-one is sure where the maintenace work will be carried out. The agency is trawling the planet for aircraft techs and aircraft techs are trawling the planet for info, whether it's where they will be based (if it comes off) prices of accommodation, gas, leckytrickery, beer etc.

Having been in the UAE before and now currently in Saudi, I can't see me exporting my wee TVR M Turbo pride and joy as the driving standards were the pits.

Cheers matey.

[shirt]

i reckon the weather would kill the TVR before other road users got chance!

i'm not mil or aviation, but know a couple of guys who rotate in and out with the RAF. i'm afraid i can't help with knowing who does what and where for the UAE.

[dxbtiger]

Is the Tiv right hand drive? Pretty sure that would knock any plans to bring it here on the head anyway

[shirt]

pre 1980. if the sharjah classic car club like the cut of your jib, you could get that registered.

[Ron McC]

Thanks for all the replies, hopefully those who have applied to the agency will have some definate solid info by the end of next week.

Just amazed that the UAE has changed so much since 1997, Abu Dhabi more expensive than Dubai............unbelievable.

Off back to the UK tonight, so I'll check this forum when I get back on the 20th Oct as I've no internet in the UK, to see if there are any more replies and if anyone in the Emirates has heard of a company needing Brits to sort out some very well abused sorry looking aircraft.

M turbo a right hooker so probably impossible to import it into the Emirates. However, taking it for it's MoT on Friday so a blast around Morayshire will be the order of the weekend.

Thanks once again,

Ron McC