Moving to Dubai - Advice

[marc]

Hi,

I'm 19 from London and have accepted a job in Dubai starting 1st April +,

Just wondering if you can help me figure out all the stuff I need to get settled in.

Visa - my company will sponsor me and sort out my visa, on my next visit do I need a normal 30 day visit and extend it to 60 days while my application goes through?

Accomadation - please can you tell me how much studios and 1 beds go for anywhere around Sheik Z Road, or just anywhere in Dubai, i have a budget of around Dhs 2,000 - 3,000 per month? - Or is it easier to buy a place?

Car - I will need a car and I have Dhs 700 - 800 a month to buy 1 and pay in installments, is this a good budget and also is it easy to do, I have no credit history as I have never had an overdraft let alone a credit card!

Look forward to your help.

Thanks, Marc.

[Elphaba]

AED 2-3,000 per month is nowhere near enough to cover rent. No chance of buying anything with that either - not that you are old enough anyway.

Have you checked that your total package is enough to live on? If you let GA & I know the numbers we can tell you.

Bear in mind that the age of majority in the UAE is 21. This means that it is also illegal to drink below 21 and I'm not even sure if you'll be able to rent on your own.

I am worried about what you have said so far. Please come back to me.

[marc]

Hi,

Thank you for your reply, my company would not have offered me a job if they knew it would be this hard??

Drinking is not important to me but of course accommodation is!

Please come back to me asap.

Thanks,

Marc

[Elphaba]

Originally Posted by marc

Hi,

Thank you for your reply, my company would not have offered me a job if they knew it would be this hard??

Drinking is not important to me but of course accommodation is!

Please come back to me asap.

Thanks,

Marc

Oh dear. You have a LOT to learn about companies in Dubai.

Have you actually researched the cost of living? Have you had a look at what you could rent and for how much?

In most areas, a one bedroom apartment will START at over AED 90,000 per annum and that is all payable in advance. You could possible share a place with someone, although technically subletting is illegal.

If a company says you will manage with AED 3,000 a month for rent they are lying to you. Makes me wonder about the rest of your salary package. You should have at least one return flight a year and full medical insurance paid for.

What will your salary/total package be?

[marc]

Hi, thanks for your post. I'm worried about what you have been saying here.
I have done some research into studio flats and I can get one for 45000aed pa furnished in International City. What is that like. I do get return flights after a years employment and medical insurance immediately. I also get a food and car allowance so in total its 96,000 aed pa without commission. I am going to work for a big company and it is property development so although the basic is low to start with I will earn very good commission. I am in this business here and the commission is 30 times more in Dubai. I will never be able to save anything in the UK to get my own property and as far as I am concerned I have nothing to loose. As my parents have said I have always got a roof over my head and if I don't try I will never know. I would like to be able to manage on my basic as much as possible and I will have emergency back up funds. My sister maybe coming out as well and she is 24yr so if she does then I will share with her. I am absolutely sure that I want to come out its an opportunity I don't want to let go so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Are there any websites I can look at for sharing.

[marc]

Hi again, sorry I forgot to mention that the company will pay the year's rent for me and I will pay them back out of my salary. They have been very helpful so far and I am waiting for them to get back to me on some points. Being a property company (a big one they own loads of property) I'm can't believe they would say I can get somewhere on my salary when its totally out of my reach?

[alli]

Mark,
It took me months of research and asking myself hard questions before my partner and I realised we could afford to go to Dubai. There is ALOT to pay upfront, but if your company is helping with that, then no worries.

To put it in perspective (cos it seems you haven't done this yet)

96,000 dhs per year = 13,000 pounds per year is your wage which includes food and car allowance. (i'm not including commission because it's a variable which you shouldn't rely on to be consistent)

You say a studio apt in International City is 45,000 dhs,
which equals approx 6000 pounds per year.

Divide that down monthly, and you're paying 500 pounds a month for a studio apartment.

On top of which you have living expenses-
what about furniture? power? water? entertainment?

It just seems to me you have to sit down and actually work out a really comprehensive budget and think long and hard about this. It's a really big decision which shouldn't be taken lightly, especially if financially it may not put you in front.

Not trying to dissuade you from going, but yeah, it just seems like you accepted the job without really knowing what you are getting into.

[Geordie Armani]

In dirhams ...

you will earn 8000 dhs a month. You will need to spend at least 4000 dhs a month on accomodation. 800 dhs will not get you a car. You have no experience in the Middle East with regards to property etc? Do you know all the legal side of thing? the rent committee rulings? you don't know Dubai at all. I cannot encourage you to leave the UK and make a life here, it is NOT going to work. Commission- if you believe that you are dafter than I thought, it never materialises.

[marc]

What is the legal side of things?

[Elphaba]

I believe that GA is referring to the property market. Legal issues in Dubai are not the same as in the UK.

What is the exact job that you have been offered?

International City is a bit out of the way & not considered a desirable place to live. It often smells very bad over that way too.

I think 19 is too young to move to Dubai. You will not be taken seriously by many people and will have problems renting cars etc due to your age.


I strongly recommend that you put this idea on the back burner for a couple of years.