Moving to Dubai - cost of living etc

Question

We are considering a move to Dubai. My husband will be working there. We have a 2 year old daughter and by the time we move there, also a newborn. He has been approached by a company who are offering him 35,000 dirhams a month, plus medical, utilities, flights home per year, as well as accommodation allowance.

I am wondering if this sounds like a good deal. We are wanting to buy a house in Australia and rent it out while we are away. On this sort of salary, does this sound possible? We would want to live quite comfortably over there, in a nice area. Thanks!

Any insight is appreciated :)

Answer 1

35,000.00 AED = 10,692.20 AUD

Average major expenses for a couple with two children are shown below:

Housing: A villa can cost between 80,000 to 100,000 Dhs and an apartment between 50,000 to 80,000 Dhs per year.

Schooling: High school costs about 40,000 Dhs per year, while primary school costs between 20,000 to 28,000 Dhs per child.

Utilities: flat rate on Internet is Dhs 250 monthly, water and electricity is cheap. Calculate around Dhs 200. In the summer time it will be higher because of the A/C.

Telephone: local calls are free. Mobile, home and internet services are 12,000 Dhs per year.

Insurance: car and household is approximately 3,000 Dhs per year.

The basis health insurance with DOHMS is Dhs 600 monthly.

Local food (produced in UAE) is cheap. Imported food is kind of expensive.

Transportation by cab is cheap but can add up if you have to use it daily and for a long distance. In rush hours some cabs refuse to go to certain areas because of heavy traffic. Some buses exist.

Entertainment: going out for lunch in a local restaurant = Dhs 20 - 30 per person. Going to the movies = Dhs 30 per person

Hope I helped :).

Dhs - Dirhams

Answer 2

Umm Suquiem and Jumierah, Jumierah Islands your looking at 350,000dh+ probably more like 400,000dh. If you want good quality. So check how much they will let you spend for accomodation. This is really important that you check as you may have to chip in.  I am an Australian living here for 18months.  If you want any help just email me.

Answer 3

Are you crazy?  At 27 of course this is a good deal.  You're being offered a tax free salary with free accommodation and health cover.  At the completion of any UAE contract the employer must, by law, gift employees a wad of money (usually at least one month's salary for every year worked - for nothing).  

With extremely affordable child-care (full-time nanny, cook or house keeper) you'll be able to work part-time.  Most packages include yearly return airfares to the country of origin and some offer an education allowance for children.  See if you can negotiate.

There is however no price for happiness - if you're only there for money and not interested in the culture or people - will it be 'worth it'?  

Answer 4

grab the offer

besides u can work too with a little help in the house

Answer 5

Real expensive!

But if an offer like this came up i'd take it for sure.

Answer 6

dubai and all of the emirates is on a great boom and success

massive huge projects and a lot of great work oppurtunities

but the fact is that everything is so inflated in price from housing

to food and cars and all, so, you might as well study the financial

status of the whole project, it might be more profitable to just stay home then to go all the way to dubai and live an expensive life,

you are talking about 10 000$ almost...

you know better