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Husband working in Jeddah while we stay in Dubai

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2264

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 28 February 2016 - 17:10

Well our family lived in Saudi for a few years when my brother and I were small. It was great then, but when we got a bit older, we moved back to the UK and our father stayed working there and he came home every couple of months. I'd say Saudi is good for small children, but for older ones and especially girls, I wouldn't say it's a great society to bring them up in - too many restrictions. Plus sorry to say, but with all the unrest in the region, the UAE is far safer than Saudi right now.

87

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 February 2016 - 15:51

Lol! Perth too hot, I know that feeling, spent yesterday down beach and think I've got sunstroke! Can't believe we moan about Perth heat when we have experienced Dubai heat when it has reached nearly 50! All great points, bottom line is DH will have to adjust to travelling either often for Dubai or long haul for UK/Oz. we have our citizenship now so no issues there. Thought of UK depresses me, kids have grown up mainly here and Dubai and thrive on outdoor lifestyle. Can't imagine their weekends in winter being TV due to rain for 6 months of year (west coast Scotland) They will adjust, as usual. All we want it to put down some foundations but nature of DH work has always been boom and bust (construction) I want a crystal ball ? We are doing something similar. Returned from Oz and decided Scotland is lovely. So moved from down south in England to Scotland! Then coming here thinking everything should be fine. Afraid it isn’t. My husband is also in construction with lots of cuts (over 400). In fact every week, there were cuts. We shrug our shoulders as its only two of us. Kids have grown up. We have been here nine months. If anything happens, it happens. :lol:

29

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 February 2016 - 08:43

1. All go to Jeddah and hope girls settle and see their high school days out there. Pros: You are all together. [u'>Cons; Everything else. Have not heard anything great about living in Saudi. [/u'> 2. We go to Dubai and hubby works 11 day fortnight with 3 days off in Dubai and see high school out there. 3. We stay in Australia where we have a life but only see dad every 3 months for 1 week. 4. Return to UK where at least I have family and settle down to UK education system and still only see dad every 3 months.[u'> Better to stay in Australia then go to the UK,[/u'> I would recommend Dubai versus staying in Australia. At least your husband will have a greater presence in your children's life. You can always move back to Australia (or the UK) if it does not work out. However, not sure if the company would appreciate you asking for the Dubai option later on if you decided to stay in Australia for now. ValGal throwing out her 3 cents...

4

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 February 2016 - 23:21

Helloo FairyDust has made a very good point. The following is just my opinion. Pros in Dubai It’s nearer to UK to see family and for the whole family when it comes to Christmas etc. Health care through company. Cons Small percentage of children’s education paid for or none at all. Pros in Jeddah All of you are together. Cons Wear an abaya over your clothes?(I haven’t been there only my husband). Pros in UK Free education unless you want to send your kids to private schools. You are near your family. Free health care. Costs of food cheaper than Dubai or Australia. Cons Bad weather due to climate change. Again, the distance. You and family won’t see their Dad three months in a row but not as far away as Oz. Pros in Australia Free education? Great climate. The children still continue with their school/university life (assuming you have permanent residency). Subsidised health care. Cons The distance again. My husband and I left Australia three years ago. He was paid a very good salary in a permanent job but after a year, he decided that it was too hot for us in Perth. So here we are, just as hot, huh!!! Good luck with your decision. Not an easy one. Lol! Perth too hot, I know that feeling, spent yesterday down beach and think I've got sunstroke! Can't believe we moan about Perth heat when we have experienced Dubai heat when it has reached nearly 50! All great points, bottom line is DH will have to adjust to travelling either often for Dubai or long haul for UK/Oz. we have our citizenship now so no issues there. Thought of UK depresses me, kids have grown up mainly here and Dubai and thrive on outdoor lifestyle. Can't imagine their weekends in winter being TV due to rain for 6 months of year (west coast Scotland) They will adjust, as usual. All we want it to put down some foundations but nature of DH work has always been boom and bust (construction) I want a crystal ball ?

87

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 February 2016 - 20:13

Helloo FairyDust has made a very good point. The following is just my opinion. Pros in Dubai It’s nearer to UK to see family and for the whole family when it comes to Christmas etc. Health care through company. Cons Small percentage of children’s education paid for or none at all. Pros in Jeddah All of you are together. Cons Wear an abaya over your clothes?(I haven’t been there only my husband). Pros in UK Free education unless you want to send your kids to private schools. You are near your family. Free health care. Costs of food cheaper than Dubai or Australia. Cons Bad weather due to climate change. Again, the distance. You and family won’t see their Dad three months in a row but not as far away as Oz. Pros in Australia Free education? Great climate. The children still continue with their school/university life (assuming you have permanent residency). Subsidised health care. Cons The distance again. My husband and I left Australia three years ago. He was paid a very good salary in a permanent job but after a year, he decided that it was too hot for us in Perth. So here we are, just as hot, huh!!! Good luck with your decision. Not an easy one.

767

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 27 February 2016 - 18:27

Dubai! It's close to Saudi and you can live a normal life. My husband works in Saudi every now and then and has been offered positions there and said he would never bring his family there, mind you most of the Saudis don't even want to live there. The other options feels to distant to keep your family together.... Not unusual here with husbands working away in countries like Saudi and coming home in the weekends.

4

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 February 2016 - 17:55

Company would sponsor us for Dubai and also KSAfor hubby. We used to live in Dubai so are familiar with regulations etc. The Uni aspect is a worry too. It'll come round soon enough I know. Thanks for replies ladies, much appreciated.

152

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 February 2016 - 15:36

It may seem a long time away at the moment but you might also want to consider where your girls want to go to university. It is only 5 years away for your eldest and if you want to be considered as a UK student with a government student tuition loan, you will need to have been in the UK for the 3 years prior to starting uni. This would put your daughter in Yr11 (UK system) which is not a good time to move, so you would be looking at her starting school in Yr10 (14 going on 15 yrs old). This could be next September for you depending on when she is 14.

2264

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 27 February 2016 - 14:03

Well the first obvious question with the Dubai option is, how would you get visas? You couldn't stay here, rent somewhere and put your girls into school with out being sponsored by someone.

331

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 27 February 2016 - 14:03

For the Dubai option, has the company indicated that they would support that with a Dubai residence visa to allow the family to stay here? Will school fees be covered here? If not I don't think that it would be viable.

4

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 February 2016 - 12:26

Thank you for the reply. There doesn't seem to be an easy answer. I'm not particularly attached to UK but at least have family there. I would miss oz so much but again the flight here for hubby would be a killer and only for 1 week. Need to think of the schooling first and foremost.

13

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 February 2016 - 12:03

Been there. Done that. We have done Jeddah, when my kids (all boys) were small. Would not personally do it with teenagers, even more so if I had girls but even with my teenage boys. However, it is not completely horrendous, and it does keep you all together. You know your kids, I can't tell you how they will cope. When they were younger we did the commute to Jeddah thing. Ok for you but hard on hubby because longish flights, 3 hours or so each way, but also with very long passport and customs each time. We have agreed we would only do it again if we were going to have to choose between that and eating! We managed for 2 years but it took its toll physically on hubby. It is a bit of a rat run trip with all the coughing and spluttering on the aircraft you often get and lots of people doing it. Again, depends on how much he is prepared to put up with. For you and kids it is a more comfortable and palatable option. The U.K. option we have also tried, for about 8 months, when the kids were in primary school. All the problems of the Dubai option, with longer flights and miserable weather! How attached are you to uk? Me, not so much, my family all come here to visit because of the weather and lifestyle. Good luck with your decision, there are benefits and drawbacks for all and only you can choose!

4

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 February 2016 - 11:00

Hi, I am new to this group. husband has job offer for great position in Jeddah, we can either go with him or he can go single status. We are currently in Australia but from UK. 2 girls 13,11 and 6 yr old boy. Decisions to be made are 1. All go to Jeddah and hope girls settle and see their high school days out there. 2. We go to Dubai and hubby works 11 day fortnight with 3 days off in Dubai and see high school out there. 3. We stay in Australia where we have a life but only see dad every 3 months for 1 week. 4. Return to UK where at least I have family and settle down to UK education system and still only see dad every 3 months. I know this is a decision that only I can make but I do appreciate other people's opinions if they have been through something similar. Employment has forced us into this situation as Australia heads for a recession! Any insight would be grateful

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