Did everyone get made redundant?
Discussion
DubaiJohn said:
Still here too - just - made redundant in Feb and on gardening leave now. Hoping to stay but let’s see what the future brings.
Seems a tough environment at the moment!
Sorry to hear! It is a tough environment but you will be surprised what a bit of networking can result in. Good luck! Seems a tough environment at the moment!
Whilst I haven’t lived in Dubai or UAE I’ve been coming regularly for nearly 10 years. In the last year or two I’ve been here a week out of every 6-8. I have a business there and sales have been declining but nothing drastic until the last 6 months. 1st quarter 2017 to 2018 is a 30% drop.
Business is selling specialist sportsturf maintenance products and soil/tissue/water/pest analysis.
We had a full Time sales guy who also ran the office and despatch who we have had to reassign elsewhere in the company (UK).
I have a meeting next month for short-medium term planning and my feeling is to ride this out with reduced costs and expenditure. What are other people’s feelings as to there being a ‘realignment’ and things getting better or is this long term?
All opinions gratefully received.
Business is selling specialist sportsturf maintenance products and soil/tissue/water/pest analysis.
We had a full Time sales guy who also ran the office and despatch who we have had to reassign elsewhere in the company (UK).
I have a meeting next month for short-medium term planning and my feeling is to ride this out with reduced costs and expenditure. What are other people’s feelings as to there being a ‘realignment’ and things getting better or is this long term?
All opinions gratefully received.
My view: even if the oil price ever recovers it won’t mean any other reversals. The authorities have been through a very hard but useful awakening since the price plummeted. The new discipline is here to stay. One immediate consequence is the death of the old expat dream (highly paid long-term jobs for mediocrities). A new one may take its place but merit will now be required and policed.
Obviously the oil price is the over arching financial indicator. Knock on effects of that are the price of hotel rooms, food and beverage etc
Our main customers are golf courses and there has never really been any joined up thinking with Emirates airline, hotels and golf courses. Now things are even worse because there’s even less of a reason for the UAE to be a golfing destination due to the ridiculous prices for enjoying a few beers after a round of golf and later on in the hotels too.
There needs to be less high end courses as well. Strangely enough one of the courses that is fairing better is The Track 9 holes at Meydan.
Our main customers are golf courses and there has never really been any joined up thinking with Emirates airline, hotels and golf courses. Now things are even worse because there’s even less of a reason for the UAE to be a golfing destination due to the ridiculous prices for enjoying a few beers after a round of golf and later on in the hotels too.
There needs to be less high end courses as well. Strangely enough one of the courses that is fairing better is The Track 9 holes at Meydan.
Paracetamol said:
Sorry to hear! It is a tough environment but you will be surprised what a bit of networking can result in. Good luck!
Hopefully getting something sorted in the next coupleOf weeks. After nearly 15 years here getting the chop was a bit of an eye opener. Also nicely surprised at how employee friendly the redundancy process is here.
Worst thing about it was having to sell the McLaren. Now tooling about in a 250k km Pajero pending a new job!
In August I changed jobs and stopped coming out every month. I came back 8 months later with the family on Easter holiday and flip me, everyone's leaving. I've counted 5 or 6 people heading back to the UK in my own social circle.
The odd thing is prices went up massively. And that wasn't just because of VAT. Plus there seem to be stealth taxes everywhere.
The odd thing is prices went up massively. And that wasn't just because of VAT. Plus there seem to be stealth taxes everywhere.
Housing has continued to trend downwards but the cost of everything has risen. Most noticeable is eating out due to additional tourist taxes. I do find that one most grating as a resident who loves his food.
Shame about the mclaren john, and the redundancy obviously! Wasn’t it switchgear you were in before? ABB seem to have a lot of jobs going recently.
Shame about the mclaren john, and the redundancy obviously! Wasn’t it switchgear you were in before? ABB seem to have a lot of jobs going recently.
Harris_I said:
In August I changed jobs and stopped coming out every month. I came back 8 months later with the family on Easter holiday and flip me, everyone's leaving. I've counted 5 or 6 people heading back to the UK in my own social circle.
The odd thing is prices went up massively. And that wasn't just because of VAT. Plus there seem to be stealth taxes everywhere.
The strategy is to make up for lost revenue by increasing profits on those items that can still be sold...ie A Range Rover is now 650k AED. Before it was 550k. 1 car is yielding the same profit as 2...The odd thing is prices went up massively. And that wasn't just because of VAT. Plus there seem to be stealth taxes everywhere.
Had noticed this forum had gone very quiet. Used to check every few days but now every few weeks. Think it may be due to so many FB groups, in part.
Other than everything getting really expensive, especially food shopping, I’ve noticed less performance car bargains. Maybe everyone has realised they can be exported!
Planning a few track days next season if anyone still does them?
Other than everything getting really expensive, especially food shopping, I’ve noticed less performance car bargains. Maybe everyone has realised they can be exported!
Planning a few track days next season if anyone still does them?
Another one who is still here! 14 years next week...
Agree with most of the comments above - expat packages cut, lots of stealth taxes, prices of things keep rising... not sure I have seen much of the drop in house rentals yet, but surely its got to come. Also the Facebook forums taking over.
BUT, having said all that, where would I rather be? not sure I want to go back to the UK, plenty of its own issues, and there is still lots to enjoy here.
Try and keep looking for the positives!
Agree with most of the comments above - expat packages cut, lots of stealth taxes, prices of things keep rising... not sure I have seen much of the drop in house rentals yet, but surely its got to come. Also the Facebook forums taking over.
BUT, having said all that, where would I rather be? not sure I want to go back to the UK, plenty of its own issues, and there is still lots to enjoy here.
Try and keep looking for the positives!
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