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Dubai salaries - how long is a piece of string?

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482

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 11:49

I would have thought the whole idea of coming to Dubai to work apart from the experience would be to live in a tax free enviroment and to SAVE money I am very sorry but I defy anyone to save a good amount of money with a family here on 19k For one you would not want to compromise your living conditions against your current ones and you would I assume want a better life ?? well franky you re not going to do that on 19k !!! JMHO I know many many people whose living conditions have been greatly improved on salaries less than 19K. surely it depends on "where" you are coming from, and "where" you are going to. Everyone is different. Totally agree. Not to mention, where you choose to live, what car you drive, which school you send your kids too, how often you go out for brunch or night out, how often and where do you go for your holiday, etc.

27

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 11:47

Salary of 19 000 AED per month is much better than average salary in Europe, even in Western Europe average salaries aren't more than 2k or 3k euro per month and AED 19 000 is about 4k and tax free. Housing could take around 50-60k a year in 2 bedroom apartment so 5k per month. There is still 14 000 dhs left each month for groceries, DEWA, car etc. Most people in Dubai earn way beyond that amount of money.

140

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 11:33

I would have thought the whole idea of coming to Dubai to work apart from the experience would be to live in a tax free enviroment and to SAVE money I am very sorry but I defy anyone to save a good amount of money with a family here on 19k For one you would not want to compromise your living conditions against your current ones and you would I assume want a better life ?? well franky you re not going to do that on 19k !!! JMHO I know many many people whose living conditions have been greatly improved on salaries less than 19K. surely it depends on "where" you are coming from, and "where" you are going to. Everyone is different.

455

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 11:24

I think my horizons must be broad enough lol as I wouldn t be here if we werent saving a shed load of money for sure !

3901

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 11:15

I would have thought the whole idea of coming to Dubai to work apart from the experience would be to live in a tax free enviroment and to SAVE money I am very sorry but I defy anyone to save a good amount of money with a family here on 19k For one you would not want to compromise your living conditions against your current ones and you would I assume want a better life ?? well franky you re not going to do that on 19k !!! JMHO we're here because my husband's company sent him here lol but now that we are here our intentions are to broaden our horizons. enjoy an alternative lifestyle and hopefully give our children a rewarding experience...if we can save a few bob along the way then so much the better but that's not the only reason we're here...

Anonymous (not verified)

0

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 11:09

I would have thought the whole idea of coming to Dubai to work apart from the experience would be to live in a tax free enviroment and to SAVE money I am very sorry but I defy anyone to save a good amount of money with a family here on 19k For one you would not want to compromise your living conditions against your current ones and you would I assume want a better life ?? well franky you re not going to do that on 19k !!! JMHO

310

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 11:09

Everyone has completely forgotten to mention to the OP that your salary and benefits are largely dependent on the colour of your skin. If you on the darker side you don't get much whereas if you on the lighter side you get all the below benefits +++. And I always thought it is based on your passport. True to some extent but when they see your skin + passport then they have the :\: look. I talk from personal experience where many people base assumptions on your origins based on how you look.

3901

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EW MASTER

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 11:08

Everyone has completely forgotten to mention to the OP that your salary and benefits are largely dependent on the colour of your skin. If you on the darker side you don't get much whereas if you on the lighter side you get all the below benefits +++. how can you tell skin colour from the written word ??? Names are associated with cultures/race etc... yes, but none of us have put our full names on here.......

482

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 11:06

Everyone has completely forgotten to mention to the OP that your salary and benefits are largely dependent on the colour of your skin. If you on the darker side you don't get much whereas if you on the lighter side you get all the below benefits +++. And I always thought it is based on your passport.

310

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 11:02

Everyone has completely forgotten to mention to the OP that your salary and benefits are largely dependent on the colour of your skin. If you on the darker side you don't get much whereas if you on the lighter side you get all the below benefits +++. how can you tell skin colour from the written word ??? I am just stating a fact.

AdviceSeeker13702

1100

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 11:00

Everyone has completely forgotten to mention to the OP that your salary and benefits are largely dependent on the colour of your skin. If you on the darker side you don't get much whereas if you on the lighter side you get all the below benefits +++. how can you tell skin colour from the written word ??? Names are associated with cultures/race etc...

3901

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 10:57

Everyone has completely forgotten to mention to the OP that your salary and benefits are largely dependent on the colour of your skin. If you on the darker side you don't get much whereas if you on the lighter side you get all the below benefits +++. how can you tell skin colour from the written word ???

310

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 10:55

Everyone has completely forgotten to mention to the OP that your salary and benefits are largely dependent on the colour of your skin. If you on the darker side you don't get much whereas if you on the lighter side you get all the below benefits +++.

3901

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 10:50

Twice half its length !! (how long's a pice of string lol) We're very lucky to have an excellent deal - housing allowance, furniture allowance, car, fuel, half utilities, school fees, Health insurance, annual flight home. If all of those are paid then i reckon you could live on what they're offering but you need to get the allowances confirmed in writing. Also, even though your children are young at the moment you need to find out how much help you will get with school fees when they arise. After the rent it's the biggest expense...

3901

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 10:41

i think there are as many different packages as there are EW members !!

940

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 21:36

Our rent ( 5,000 dhs) a month comes out of my salary ( 20,000). Weekly shopping 800 dhs, SEWA dhs 800 winter and 1500 summer. telephone, internet, BB...800 dhs a month. Balance for petrol, entertainemenr, bits and pieces....Most month I am left with dhs 2000 in my account. We can do this as we no longer have school fees to pay..been there and it was very painful as we had to pay ourselves for 3 kids.

4747

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 21:29

Thanks shaks & Appletiser ... I think this proves exactly what I said about the "how long is a piece of string?" question. It totally depends on how extravagantly you live. My mum lives in Dubai - works for the education department and earns about 18k / month, plus a housing allowance of I think about 8k or 10k/month .... and she says that she's managing to save loads. Saying that though, I do recognise that she's single & doesn't have things like education fees etc to pay for. So I've been trying to work out salaries according to that, as that's the only salary I have known until now. Its different when you re single a family is very expensive here ! yes abu dhabi is apparently still the 6th most expensive place on earth to live!

1579

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 21:29

I agree with you Appletiser. We live on my salary ( 20,000 all in package plus flights and health ) and save DH's Kids have graduated and are working one lives at home. We do go out once a week and holidays every Summer. So 19,000 dhs plus accomodation and education should be fine You can live on 19k per month if you accomodation is paid as Shaks says but it is unlikely you will be saving anything.

455

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 21:29

Thanks shaks & Appletiser ... I think this proves exactly what I said about the "how long is a piece of string?" question. It totally depends on how extravagantly you live. My mum lives in Dubai - works for the education department and earns about 18k / month, plus a housing allowance of I think about 8k or 10k/month .... and she says that she's managing to save loads. Saying that though, I do recognise that she's single & doesn't have things like education fees etc to pay for. So I've been trying to work out salaries according to that, as that's the only salary I have known until now. Its different when you re single a family is very expensive here !

308

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 21:28

We are a family of three and live a very nice life thankyouverymuch on exactly the salary you mention. Difference being we pay our own housing and the only 'benefit' we get is healthcare and flights. I too am very surprised by the amount of money thrown around in this place, by singles and families alike. I'm not sure who couldnt like on 5k a week with everything else paid for!! Interesting thread, and im sure you will get may opinions from people who live very different lives from each other :-)

4747

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 21:27

DH has just landed a new job, with villa at AR and school fees, utility bills and entertainment allowance, plus car & petrol. Tickets twice a year (vacation has to be split into 2). Salary about double what you quoted, and we are hoping to save some. Entertainment allowance? I want one! what industry? the only people that i knew years ago to get that were the brit embassy. It is an Oil Company then if its an oil company they usually are the better payers.

940

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 21:26

We live in a villa but ................in Sharjah. This allows us to save on my accomodation allowance. I do most of my shopping at home in the Summer..and we manage to save DH's salary. We do enjoy our life here. We tend to entertain at home if we do not go out on Friday evening.

Slummy Mummy37121

36

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 21:22

Thanks shaks & Appletiser ... I think this proves exactly what I said about the "how long is a piece of string?" question. It totally depends on how extravagantly you live. My mum lives in Dubai - works for the education department and earns about 18k / month, plus a housing allowance of I think about 8k or 10k/month .... and she says that she's managing to save loads. Saying that though, I do recognise that she's single & doesn't have things like education fees etc to pay for. So I've been trying to work out salaries according to that, as that's the only salary I have known until now.

3220

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 21:21

I agree with you Appletiser. We live on my salary ( 20,000 all in package plus flights and health ) and save DH's Kids have graduated and are working one lives at home. We do go out once a week and holidays every Summer. So 19,000 dhs plus accomodation and education should be fine My husband doesnt get education and our housing allowance is pathetic but we are okay. We just live in an apartment that is not too expensive. We manage to save 60% of his salary every month too. We dont wear designer stuff and drive a regular mid-range car. To be honest Im quite surprised that people throw so much money around.....

Sticky Wicket36659

1511

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 21:21

Yes we have 2 kids ... one is 3 and the other is 1 year old. Gosh this really is quite a wake up call. Thought you had 4 sorry! Ok ditch the education allowance unless you are going to be here 5 years, which no one knows if they will or not.

Slummy Mummy37121

36

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 21:19

Yes we have 2 kids ... one is 3 and the other is 1 year old. Gosh this really is quite a wake up call.

940

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 21:19

I agree with you Appletiser. We live on my salary ( 20,000 all in package plus flights and health ) and save DH's Kids have graduated and are working one lives at home. We do go out once a week and holidays every Summer. So 19,000 dhs plus accomodation and education should be fine

277

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 21:14

Sticky Wicket, I think she only has 2 kids, aged 1 and 3. But still I cant think 19k cash in hand if everything else is paid for would be enough to support a family, thats 5k a week and my single friends could not even do that!

Sticky Wicket36659

1511

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 21:14

I think 19k per month+housing is fine. If education is also covered then even better....but I see Im in the minority here. If there is no housinggiven then defnitely no. 4 kids Appletiser, education is a must.

3220

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 21:13

I think 19k per month+housing is fine. If education is also covered then even better....but I see Im in the minority here. If there is no housinggiven then defnitely no.

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