Taking the plunge

[BassMan_720]

Hi folks

It was two weeks ago that I received the phone call: "Will you come and work in Dubai if we pay you loads of money".

I've never been one for radical change. Since I got married, I've only ever moved house once, from Liverpool to SE England, and that was a forced relocation with work. So, Dubai was never first on my mind for the next career move.

Three short telephone interviews later and a pay negotiation that resulted in an offer higher than my starting point; it looks as though I'm moving my family, lock stock and barrel to Dubai. What have I done!!!

I don’t know whether to hug the guy, who put my name forward, or hit him. I'm totally unsure if I have a good deal or not. I am looking to earn about twice my UK salary (before tax), but the average rent costs have taken the shine off the offer somewhat. I still have the option to refuse the job.

This is a big upheaval for me. I feel like I am throwing away everything that I have worked for in my whole working life. We will be renting out our house in the UK (wrong time to sell and any rental income will more than cover my small mortgage) and renting in Dubai (wrong time to buy - by my ill informed logic). So, I'll have a foothold back in the UK if needed. However, I'll be disposing of my prized possessions, including three classic motorcycles, a classic car and irreplaceable music equipment, which will hurt me very much. I suppose that I could bring the bikes and the music equipment across but I assume that this will cost a fortune (not had time to do the research yet).

My wife and youngest daughter (7) are very keen to move but my eldest daughter (11) is resistant (an understatement).

So, after the long drivel above, the big question: of those of you that have been through the trauma of moving to Dubai, was it worth it in the long run? What are the biggest benefits of living in Dubai compared to UK and what do you miss?


Steve

[Ogri750]

I have only been here 4 months, 3 of those on my own, the family only recently joining me.

My daughters are a couple of years older than yours ( 9 & 13), and luckily they were both pretty upbeat about the move.

So far, I have to say it is all good. Especially the bank balance both here and back in the UK (renting our house too). My wife and kids seem to have settled well, my wife has got a job, the kids got their school uniforms today, so all in all, pretty calm.

I think for us, money aside, we will all enjoy the great diversity of cultures in the UAE. As much as people will say that Britain is a multi-cultural society, it is not when compared to somewhere like Dubai.

Time will tell whether this was the right move for us, but fingers crossed it carries on as it is at the moment

[qwert97]

Originally Posted by Ogri750

I have only been here 4 months, 3 of those on my own, the family only recently joining me.

My daughters are a couple of years older than yours ( 9 & 13), and luckily they were both pretty upbeat about the move.

So far, I have to say it is all good. Especially the bank balance both here and back in the UK (renting our house too). My wife and kids seem to have settled well, my wife has got a job, the kids got their school uniforms today, so all in all, pretty calm.

I think for us, money aside, we will all enjoy the great diversity of cultures in the UAE. As much as people will say that Britain is a multi-cultural society, it is not when compared to somewhere like Dubai.

Time will tell whether this was the right move for us, but fingers crossed it carries on as it is at the moment

Hi Ogri

You posting was a greater comfort to me. I have two daughters who are 12 and 14 and are a bit skeptical about the move. I will be arriving in the last week of August or 1st week of Sept. Emirates International School does not start until 7th Sept so my drop dead date to leave Canada is the 3rd Sept. The Company is still working on the Visa

[Maz25]

Originally Posted by Ogri750

I have only been here 4 months, 3 of those on my own, the family only recently joining me.

My daughters are a couple of years older than yours ( 9 & 13), and luckily they were both pretty upbeat about the move.

So far, I have to say it is all good. Especially the bank balance both here and back in the UK (renting our house too). My wife and kids seem to have settled well, my wife has got a job, the kids got their school uniforms today, so all in all, pretty calm.

I think for us, money aside, we will all enjoy the great diversity of cultures in the UAE. As much as people will say that Britain is a multi-cultural society, it is not when compared to somewhere like Dubai.

Time will tell whether this was the right move for us, but fingers crossed it carries on as it is at the moment

I'm glad to hear that things are going great for you. I can only hope that the same happens to me and all those looking to move to Dubai. Mind you, I do not have any children so it will undoubtedly be easier for me to just up and leave!

[Pasanada]

Hey Ogri!

Good news about *S* getting a new job; I hope she will be happy.

Good to hear the girls are settling in too, I do recall you saying one of them had her reservations but having met them both when they had just moved over, I had no doubts that they would have problems adjusting to their new lives in Dubai.

Will email you soon, it's been a little hectic here in Blighty and I'm off to our villa in Spain in a few weeks time!

Love to you all. xx

[BassMan_720]

Thanks all for this advice. It has helped set my mind at ease. All is looking good for the move.

Ogri750: with a monica and avitar like yours, I guess you are a bit of a biker. Are you intending to do any biking in Dubai? What is your experience so far? By what I'm told, it's a pretty dangerous pass-time out there. I'm considering bringing my bikes over with me (nothing fancy, all older stuff that is worth more to me than what I'd get if I sold them). I may need to start a thread about registering UK bikes in Dubai.

Steve

[Ogri750]

Steve,

yes mate. Love my bikes. Sold the Gixxer 750 before coming over here.

Not sure I would ride a bike on the road over here. Far too hot for leathers, and the standard of driving is, in all honesty, extremely poor.

If I get a bike here, will probably be a super moto. Ride it to the dunes, thrash it there, then get home again.

It's a shame the drivers are not good, as the slip roads on and off the main roads are so inviting for some knee down action.........and let's face it, no worries about warming the tyres here