Dubai job offer ... worth relocating?

[Aargh!]

How much is is? Pm me again if you want

Any idea on availability and price of 1 bedders in the gardens.

This is in the same area but only 3 bedder, the one I'm in is 5.
http://www.dubizzle.com/property-for-rent/short-term/2008/7/20/spacious-3-bedroom-villa/

Near IBN Battuta mall there are apartment buildings and a guy from work lives there and the studio is 90,000/yr. A one bedder is 120k plus. 2 bedder 150k plus. Check out dubizzle for avail. Not much in the villa department. Rents are skyrocketing at the moment so be warned, in a few months expect to pay 20k more!

 

[Aargh!]

I have to get back to work but I'll be back later to answer questions! Cheers

 

[pepperoni]

This is in the same area but only 3 bedder, the one I'm in is 5.
http://www.dubizzle.com/property-for-rent/short-term/2008/7/20/spacious-3-bedroom-villa/

Near IBN Battuta mall there are apartment buildings and a guy from work lives there and the studio is 90,000/yr. A one bedder is 120k plus. 2 bedder 150k plus. Check out dubizzle for avail. Not much in the villa department. Rents are skyrocketing at the moment so be warned, in a few months expect to pay 20k more!

Thats cheap no ... incl maid service ... could halve short term one for less than a 1 bedder?

Is it quiet there?

Anyway Ill definitely keep in touch by PM if I take the plunge.

 

[Aargh!]

Thats cheap no ... incl maid service ... could halve short term one for less than a 1 bedder?

Is it quiet there?

Anyway Ill definitely keep in touch by PM if I take the plunge.

Not so cheap in my book, 5,500/wk so 285,000/yr, $AUS 1,600/week or $AUS 83,000 for one years rent.

It's quiet alright but is a construction zone by day. Have double glazing which is good. 24 hour security who are very friendly and have to sit on a plastic chair out in the heat all day!

It's nice having free rent and a maid

 

[pepperoni]

Not so cheap in my book, 5,500/wk so 285,000/yr, $AUS 1,600/week or $AUS 83,000 for one years rent.

It's quiet alright but is a construction zone by day. Have double glazing which is good. 24 hour security who are very friendly and have to sit on a plastic chair out in the heat all day!

It's nice having free rent and a maid

140 000 a year split between 2 - not much more than a 1 bedder?

Are you driving? Whats traffic like in and out of there in peak hour?

Is there anywhere to live closer to the border with AD yet?

Alot of Q's sorry but its tough to get the info.

Anyway I may be flying there on 2 Aug to be shown around by the co.

 

[Aargh!]

140 000 a year split between 2 - not much more than a 1 bedder?

Are you driving? Whats traffic like in and out of there in peak hour?

Is there anywhere to live closer to the border with AD yet?

Alot of Q's sorry but its tough to get the info.

Anyway I may be flying there on 2 Aug to be shown around by the co.

Yeah sorry it's ok if you're sharing.

Yes I'm driving but I virtually live next to work so I have no hassles. Traffic isn't so bad in this area but in peak its no different to a city in Aus. You cant buy a car till you have your visa but you can hire one straight away with your aussie license. I have a Chev Optra, similar to a corolla, a step off the bottom rung and it's 2,300 dh a month.

AD is Abu Dhabi? Not that I'm aware of. I know people who commute between Abu Dhabi and here, an hour drive @ 140 km/h. Fuel is so cheap so no worries there.

 

[kitehigh]

Hi pepperoni,

Some good advise already being given, I will add my own 2 cents as well as I lived there for 2 years also.

Its great if you can come over and check it out before you decide, but remember its only once you start living here that you will feel the full frustrations of numerous annoyances.
As mentioned before the traffic and driving is really bad, so bad in fact that I knew I had to leave when I found myself chasing after particular irate drivers and wanting to pummel them into dust. And I have always been quite a patient and considerate driver. That changes with time spent there, as you become more like them.

Dealing with the bureaucracy is very frustrating and you can waste a lot of time and achieve very little. All part of the joy of living in the ME.

Also look at what you want to achieve with your time in Dubai. I saw a lot of expats living it up and not really saving a lot of their money.

In regards to tax, you will be regarded as a non-resident by the ATO , and its no problem sending your money directly back to Oz. Only the income (if any)
earned in Oz will be subject to tax. I used to send money back every month using Thomas Cook as the exchange rate is better than what the banks offer.

In regards to your missus, the UAE doesn't recognize de facto relationships so it might pay to duck down to the registration office and do the legals before bringing her over. Also much easier for her to get a visa if she is your wife, otherwise she will have to find a job that will sponsor her. Another option which a lot of people do is leave the country every 60 days and fly back in and get another 60 day tourist visa on arrival. Although this will become a drag after awhile.

I met plenty of great expats living there, an still stay in touch and catch up with some on a regular basics.

It all depends on what you like, I didn't like the place particular much, and I also think the Advertising people have done a great job marketing the place. Because everyone who hasn't lived in Dubai tends to think its a fantastic place, but I found the truth for me much different. I would take living in Oz any day of the week over living in Dubai if the dollars are similar.

Having said all that its a great eye opener and I always encourage people to get out and see the world, as it give you much more appreciation for what you have back in Australia.

In summary lots of patiences needed to stay sane in Dubai, and yeh be careful on the road and try to keep your cool as there is one rule for locals and another for everyone else, and if you piss of the wrong person it could be a painful experience. The most common punishment seems to be Jail, lashes and getting deported if serious enough or pissed of the wrong person.

Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

[korrupt_1]

Not so cheap in my book, 5,500/wk so 285,000/yr, $AUS 1,600/week or $AUS 83,000 for one years rent.

the mind boggles with these figures you guys are putting out... i'm just shaking my head and have absolutely no idea about the kind of money being thrown around... i guess you guys worked hard for it so you deserve it...

 

[pepperoni]

Hi pepperoni,

Some good advise already being given, I will add my own 2 cents as well as I lived there for 2 years also.

Its great if you can come over and check it out before you decide, but remember its only once you start living here that you will feel the full frustrations of numerous annoyances.
As mentioned before the traffic and driving is really bad, so bad in fact that I knew I had to leave when I found myself chasing after particular irate drivers and wanting to pummel them into dust. And I have always been quite a patient and considerate driver. That changes with time spent there, as you become more like them.

Dealing with the bureaucracy is very frustrating and you can waste a lot of time and achieve very little. All part of the joy of living in the ME.

Also look at what you want to achieve with your time in Dubai. I saw a lot of expats living it up and not really saving a lot of their money.

In regards to tax, you will be regarded as a non-resident by the ATO , and its no problem sending your money directly back to Oz. Only the income (if any)
earned in Oz will be subject to tax. I used to send money back every month using Thomas Cook as the exchange rate is better than what the banks offer.

In regards to your missus, the UAE doesn't recognize de facto relationships so it might pay to duck down to the registration office and do the legals before bringing her over. Also much easier for her to get a visa if she is your wife, otherwise she will have to find a job that will sponsor her. Another option which a lot of people do is leave the country every 60 days and fly back in and get another 60 day tourist visa on arrival. Although this will become a drag after awhile.

I met plenty of great expats living there, an still stay in touch and catch up with some on a regular basics.

It all depends on what you like, I didn't like the place particular much, and I also think the Advertising people have done a great job marketing the place. Because everyone who hasn't lived in Dubai tends to think its a fantastic place, but I found the truth for me much different. I would take living in Oz any day of the week over living in Dubai if the dollars are similar.

Having said all that its a great eye opener and I always encourage people to get out and see the world, as it give you much more appreciation for what you have back in Australia.

In summary lots of patiences needed to stay sane in Dubai, and yeh be careful on the road and try to keep your cool as there is one rule for locals and another for everyone else, and if you piss of the wrong person it could be a painful experience. The most common punishment seems to be Jail, lashes and getting deported if serious enough or pissed of the wrong person.

Good luck with what ever you decide.

Cheers kite .... great post and summary. Confirms what Ive heard and read to date and if I go Ill go knowing the above, and the heat and dust, will drive me spare.

If I go Ill live in a shoebox and save every cent I can.

Last 5 years in aus I have saved every cent but paid over 600k in tax and feel like Ive gone nowhere and the tax man is killing it! It is making me jaded but from what I hear and see we still live in the best country in the world. What is most obvious is that we run like a well oiled machine and have great critical mass.

PS that thomas cook tip is absolute gold if I can get them to send to a singapore account.

 

[kitehigh]

Last 5 years in aus I have saved every cent but paid over 600k in tax and feel like Ive gone nowhere and the tax man is killing it!

Sounds like you really needs some good tax advise.

It is making me jaded but from what I hear and see we still live in the best country in the world. What is most obvious is that we run like a well oiled machine and have great critical mass.

Yeh Oz is a great country, I am hoping to move back there sometime in the next couple of years. Although I love the food and variety of fruits here in Brazil. The cost of living is a lot cheaper compared to Oz also but the high level of crime is a big negative though.

PS that thomas cook tip is absolute gold if I can get them to send to a singapore account.

I am almost 100% sure you won't have any problem sending money to a Singapore account. Oh yeh another tip with Thomas Cook is when you turn up with your wad of cash each month, go up to the service desk first and tell them how much you want to transfer and that you want a better offer to what they have posted on the wall. They will always give you a better rate. Also open up an account with them first, they give you a little card and it makes the whole process a lot quicker as they have your bank details stored in the system under your user ID. You also can have multiple bank accounts, I think up to 5 was the number, but it may have changed by now.

 

[theasxgorilla]

From the reports of dust everywhere, 2nd rate citizenry, traffic, rents, beurocracy, 11% inflation, perverts, hookers, general chaos etc etc Im starting to think aus is just about perfect and paying tax in aus is a good deal!

From what you wrote in your initial post I wasn't left with the impression that you were going to be moving for the lifestyle.

 

[pepperoni]

Sounds like you really needs some good tax advise.



Yeh Oz is a great country, I am hoping to move back there sometime in the next couple of years. Although I love the food and variety of fruits here in Brazil. The cost of living is a lot cheaper compared to Oz also but the high level of crime is a big negative though.



I am almost 100% sure you won't have any problem sending money to a Singapore account. Oh yeh another tip with Thomas Cook is when you turn up with your wad of cash each month, go up to the service desk first and tell them how much you want to transfer and that you want a better offer to what they have posted on the wall. They will always give you a better rate. Also open up an account with them first, they give you a little card and it makes the whole process a lot quicker as they have your bank details stored in the system under your user ID. You also can have multiple bank accounts, I think up to 5 was the number, but it may have changed by now.

I got the advice - make less money, break the tax laws or go to dubai!

Brazil has other plusses like a great climate and ... scenery.

The tips on thomas cook are just gold. First Ive hear of it. Ive heard banks give poor exchange rates and charge a fee for transfers.

CBA have given me the help with the offshore account - will check with HSBC who also have branches in UAE if I go.

 

[kitehigh]

I had a bank account with HSBC, they were fine, but I never used them to transfer money overseas as they rob you blind like all the banks do.

Brazil does have great scenery.. my girlfriend is a brasileria.

 

[Spanning Tree]

Well done on the job. I've only just graduated from uni and will be starting a job that pays eight times less, so it's really quite surprising how incomes can differ.

From what I've read UAE is booming. The world's tallest skyscraper will be in Dubai. In fact with high oil prices, annual GDP growth in most Middle Eastern countries have been 40 to 50 per cent, so you will really be going where all the action is.