Looking to move to UAE, need recruitment consultant contact
Discussion
Ok, so here goes the story!
Husband and wife, lived in the middle east in late teens, currently british citizens with over 10yrs of work experience in the UK.
I am a business/process analyst with a commerce degree. Cima new registrant, looking to take up Prince 2 soon.
Wife is an analyst/hub controller in downstream operations with a major Oil company and restructuring and downstream budgeting project experience.Commerce degree with PG diploma in international business.
We are researching the idea of moving to the UAE for a while. Need to make contact with fellow PHers in Dubai or Abu Dhabi who can assess our profiles and give us an honest view on whether our idea is workable based on current economic climate, vacancies and remuneration.
Thanks
Bobby
Husband and wife, lived in the middle east in late teens, currently british citizens with over 10yrs of work experience in the UK.
I am a business/process analyst with a commerce degree. Cima new registrant, looking to take up Prince 2 soon.
Wife is an analyst/hub controller in downstream operations with a major Oil company and restructuring and downstream budgeting project experience.Commerce degree with PG diploma in international business.
We are researching the idea of moving to the UAE for a while. Need to make contact with fellow PHers in Dubai or Abu Dhabi who can assess our profiles and give us an honest view on whether our idea is workable based on current economic climate, vacancies and remuneration.
Thanks
Bobby
Hiya Bobby,
Certain industries are picking up again here but the days of companies writing you a blank cheque to get you out here are no more....as far as I'm aware! Don't get me wrong, salaries are rather attractive here, but living expenses are higher.
I've recently been made redundant and am trying to set something up myself, but trying to get a straight answer out of anybody is proving difficult at the moment.
fire away with any questions you may have.
cheers.
Certain industries are picking up again here but the days of companies writing you a blank cheque to get you out here are no more....as far as I'm aware! Don't get me wrong, salaries are rather attractive here, but living expenses are higher.
I've recently been made redundant and am trying to set something up myself, but trying to get a straight answer out of anybody is proving difficult at the moment.
fire away with any questions you may have.
cheers.
Being of Indian origin and having lived there with my family during the 70s-mid 90s...I am perfectly aware of the 'modus operandi'!!! Excuses, procedures and 'the boss is pissed off' is probably one of the most common practices of delay and inefficiency round there...atleast it was back in the day!!!
My idea is to move there for 10-15yrs max. buy a nice house here in the uk mortgage free and then comeback to blighty!
If kids are in the plans, then a very good basic education is possible there compared to the state schools here.
Coming back as a family to a mortgage free home and very well educated kids who can adapt and run with the school system here in their teens, complimented with good jobs back here for both us .....that is the end result that we envisage.
So the question is...
2-3 bed flat in a modern construction = ???
TV, internet, mobile, utilities = ???
Car hire/typical finance payment = ???? (lets say 2 used cars or new in the usual 4 door saloon 335i, a4-3.0, C350, IS300, boxster/cayman, SUV)
Socialising like london- decent restaurants and a few drinks or a piss up with mates round the pub once a week = ???
IS there anything else I need to base my calculations on for a basic budget for a good lifestyle? This is what I would use to negotiate any payrates to sort out a decent savings plan. Makes it easier when 2 people are working and one of them has oil industry experience and has a potential for higher pay.
Anyway, that is the plan so far...looking forward to your tips and if anyone is in recruitment, any help with a profile assessment or marketing will be highly appreciated.
Thanks
Bobby
My idea is to move there for 10-15yrs max. buy a nice house here in the uk mortgage free and then comeback to blighty!
If kids are in the plans, then a very good basic education is possible there compared to the state schools here.
Coming back as a family to a mortgage free home and very well educated kids who can adapt and run with the school system here in their teens, complimented with good jobs back here for both us .....that is the end result that we envisage.
So the question is...
2-3 bed flat in a modern construction = ???
TV, internet, mobile, utilities = ???
Car hire/typical finance payment = ???? (lets say 2 used cars or new in the usual 4 door saloon 335i, a4-3.0, C350, IS300, boxster/cayman, SUV)
Socialising like london- decent restaurants and a few drinks or a piss up with mates round the pub once a week = ???
IS there anything else I need to base my calculations on for a basic budget for a good lifestyle? This is what I would use to negotiate any payrates to sort out a decent savings plan. Makes it easier when 2 people are working and one of them has oil industry experience and has a potential for higher pay.
Anyway, that is the plan so far...looking forward to your tips and if anyone is in recruitment, any help with a profile assessment or marketing will be highly appreciated.
Thanks
Bobby
Kids would skew the whole equation completely, from what I understand the schools, whilst being good (I went to DESS (primary) and Dubai College (up to end of GCSE)) are horrifically expensive.
My landline, Internet and TV - 600 ish AED a month
Utilities - Unsure, landlord pays mine, this is not normal, you will also pay 5% of rent as a housing fee with this (tax!)
Car Hire - Min 2,000 AED a month, finance interest rates are around 5% I think. personal loans higher that car finance, tough to get car finance on anything older than 5 years I believe. Insurance done as a % of the car's value, anywhere between 3-5%
Socilising - Yes like London I guess, around 6 quid a pint, food isn't that bad, add a bottle of vino in with the meal and it mounts up quick, alcohol is the killer.
Edit that rent amount will vary hugely, depends where you end up living 2-3 bed 90k - 140k depends entirely on development and location.
bobbylondonuk said:
2-3 bed flat in a modern construction = ???
TV, internet, mobile, utilities = ???
Car hire/typical finance payment = ???? (lets say 2 used cars or new in the usual 4 door saloon 335i, a4-3.0, C350, IS300, boxster/cayman, SUV)
Socialising like london- decent restaurants and a few drinks or a piss up with mates round the pub once a week = ???
Flat - circa 130,000 AED (guesstimate)TV, internet, mobile, utilities = ???
Car hire/typical finance payment = ???? (lets say 2 used cars or new in the usual 4 door saloon 335i, a4-3.0, C350, IS300, boxster/cayman, SUV)
Socialising like london- decent restaurants and a few drinks or a piss up with mates round the pub once a week = ???
My landline, Internet and TV - 600 ish AED a month
Utilities - Unsure, landlord pays mine, this is not normal, you will also pay 5% of rent as a housing fee with this (tax!)
Car Hire - Min 2,000 AED a month, finance interest rates are around 5% I think. personal loans higher that car finance, tough to get car finance on anything older than 5 years I believe. Insurance done as a % of the car's value, anywhere between 3-5%
Socilising - Yes like London I guess, around 6 quid a pint, food isn't that bad, add a bottle of vino in with the meal and it mounts up quick, alcohol is the killer.
Edit that rent amount will vary hugely, depends where you end up living 2-3 bed 90k - 140k depends entirely on development and location.
i am probably the lowest paid expat on the forum and i live in the marina, own two cars, cook maybe once a month and am quite partial to my good friend heineken. i still managed to save a 5 figure sum this year.
with 2 expat packages and a sense of perspective, i'd imagine saving one entire wage + bonus/allowances is perfectly possible.
EDITED after reading tiger's post:
accom. varies hugely. you can get a 3 bed villa with pool for 85k in mirdif. you'll do well to get a 2 bed flat in the marina for the same. however married living allowance seems to start at 120k for junior positions. i know a worrying amnount of people who's living allowance is more than my total package!
with 2 expat packages and a sense of perspective, i'd imagine saving one entire wage + bonus/allowances is perfectly possible.
EDITED after reading tiger's post:
accom. varies hugely. you can get a 3 bed villa with pool for 85k in mirdif. you'll do well to get a 2 bed flat in the marina for the same. however married living allowance seems to start at 120k for junior positions. i know a worrying amnount of people who's living allowance is more than my total package!
Edited by shirt on Wednesday 4th April 08:51
too hard to say, how long's a piece of string?
wait til there's a package on offer and ask what it gets you. as already mentioned, blank cheque days are long gone. seems to be now that you'll get your UK salary as a basic [maybe a bit more, maybe a bit less, but its tax free rememeber] then same again in allowances. wher i work, you get more housing allowance and automatically get a car allowance simply because you're married, then flights home, healthcare, free schooling etc.
living costs for 2 people are marginally more than they are for one. only difference being washing, hot water and food [IMHO]. coupled up in good jobs here really is a financial dream.
wait til there's a package on offer and ask what it gets you. as already mentioned, blank cheque days are long gone. seems to be now that you'll get your UK salary as a basic [maybe a bit more, maybe a bit less, but its tax free rememeber] then same again in allowances. wher i work, you get more housing allowance and automatically get a car allowance simply because you're married, then flights home, healthcare, free schooling etc.
living costs for 2 people are marginally more than they are for one. only difference being washing, hot water and food [IMHO]. coupled up in good jobs here really is a financial dream.
Don't forget to add flights and holidays into your budget. This place can get to you and having a regular release is a key part of making it work longer term. Flights aren't getting any cheaper and it is often cheaper to fly through the UAE than from it!
We came out for a couple of years three years ago and I've got to the point where my views on when we'll leave are "when there's a compelling reason to do so". I have an occasional concern that going back after 15 years (as per your plan) might be a massive culture shock but given the state of the UK going back now would be so f
k it!
We came out for a couple of years three years ago and I've got to the point where my views on when we'll leave are "when there's a compelling reason to do so". I have an occasional concern that going back after 15 years (as per your plan) might be a massive culture shock but given the state of the UK going back now would be so f
k it! Packages are disappearing, no one in my company gets a package(housing car etc), you get a wage and that's it and more and more companies are following.
Also the western expat jobs are slowly disappearing, being replaced by people from the east with lower pay expectations.
Wages now days seem simliar to UK (but without the tax), however, rents have dropped, but food costs etc has increased massively over the 2.5 years I have been here.
Also the western expat jobs are slowly disappearing, being replaced by people from the east with lower pay expectations.
Wages now days seem simliar to UK (but without the tax), however, rents have dropped, but food costs etc has increased massively over the 2.5 years I have been here.
he he...the 10-15 yr plan is from SWMBO!!! I know fully well that once you settle there with a UK income level..life is quite good out there and frequent visits back to UK will only cement the idea of sticking around longer!
My parents used to work in kuwait and I have many family members around the GCC...all in the same boat of 'we will be leaving soon'. All of them just keep staying on.
The fact that you dont pay 32-42% taxes is in itself an effective payrise! The potential of working or starting a business in a growing market that is liberal for a ME country is a huge plus when compared with the redtape and crap socialist governance in the UK. People are so hooked on freebies from the state...10-15 yrs minimum before things begin to turn around is my calculation.
So I think my monthly budget of 12-14k AED should be ok??? for a couple to live a comfortable lifestyle of work, once a week luxury night out with a couple of decent cars. (track days here I come!)
Now the hard part...building contacts for jobs. Havent used the 'wasta' word in 15yrs+!!!! I would have thought the system has changed to wasta for interview but no job if you arent worth it. Is it still the same as the old days?
Any contacts welcome! If all goes to plan...I will be at a PH night out in DXB in 6 months!
My parents used to work in kuwait and I have many family members around the GCC...all in the same boat of 'we will be leaving soon'. All of them just keep staying on.
The fact that you dont pay 32-42% taxes is in itself an effective payrise! The potential of working or starting a business in a growing market that is liberal for a ME country is a huge plus when compared with the redtape and crap socialist governance in the UK. People are so hooked on freebies from the state...10-15 yrs minimum before things begin to turn around is my calculation.
So I think my monthly budget of 12-14k AED should be ok??? for a couple to live a comfortable lifestyle of work, once a week luxury night out with a couple of decent cars. (track days here I come!)
Now the hard part...building contacts for jobs. Havent used the 'wasta' word in 15yrs+!!!! I would have thought the system has changed to wasta for interview but no job if you arent worth it. Is it still the same as the old days?
Any contacts welcome! If all goes to plan...I will be at a PH night out in DXB in 6 months!
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