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Buddha

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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 December 2016 - 00:37
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553
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 December 2016 - 00:35
NO!!!rent will be at least 4 or 5 k a month. Primary schools are upwards of 3k a month. You then have bills and transport. 13k If they pay housing and possibly schooling would be ok. Insurance for ur daughter will be more money out of your budget.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 09 November 2016 - 21:44
Try Al Nasr ice rink - behind the American hospital. Much cheaper than Dubai mall. Also has a great outdoor swimming pool with slides and is very cheap.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 01 October 2016 - 16:51
Also Ductac library in MOE is an annual subscription then you borrow books for free
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EW GURU
Latest post on 01 October 2016 - 16:50
Feline friends have a stall once a month at festival city. They also sell from Arabian ranches. Prob will tell you when on their Facebook or webpage. There is a secondhand book area in a cafe on first floor in Sunset mall. Also House of Prose in Garden centre on Szr and also in a mall on Jumeirah road . There you buy the book second hand and they will buy back from you.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 27 September 2016 - 14:33
I would suggest you go for DESS and rent in Mirdif...there are school buses to both DESS and DESC form Mirdif...it is also easy to pick up taxis in Mirdiff and also from DESS if required - Metro is also walkable from DESS although doesn't go to Mirdiff. Lots of DESS kids live in Mirdiff so you may be able to sort lifts for after school activities or alternatively don't do after school stuff but plenty going on in Mirdif. Changed days that places are available at DESS - they used to be like hen's teeth, Careem are good but expensive and I think you can only get max of one car seat with Careem. They also won't take kids without an adult till a certain age...think maybe 11 but can't remember. To hire a driver, I believe you need to sponsor one full time..I think costs are around AED3k a month plus the costs of sponsoring and visa etc. It is difficult with kids and not driving in Dubai. Is passing your test something you could look at doing before you arrive.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 26 September 2016 - 23:54
Def negotiate for medical cover as it isn't cheap. Also, negotiate to have school fees paid particularly as school fees tend to rise every year and also there is a big hike in fees when moving from primary to secondary school. You can get a work permit after you arrive. Just be warned that if you are on your husbands visa and apply for work then they will generally offer you local hire rates rather then international. Generally it is best to find the school place first then look for accommodation.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 26 September 2016 - 22:55
I personally prefer the non profit schools as do a lot of my friends but I also have some friends whose kids did not do as well as non profit schools" DESS is fab - very sporty which is great if your kids are very sporty. If you could get kids into DESS/DESC you could potentially use school buses ( not cheap though) and not all areas are serviced by school buses ie at the minute I don't think Motor City or Ranches have buses to DESS but they do to DESC. Not easy to obtain places so best contact them soon and enquire. Things may have changed at JESS Arabian ranches but previously it was impossible to get places without a company debenture. This may have changed but I still think difficult to find places. I am not quite sure of the new location of Jebel Ali but def not walkable from Ranches. If you could get all your kids into DBS and find a villa close by in the Springs then this might be your best option but again it isn't easy to get school places. Personally, if I were in your situation I would find school places first THEN find a place to live and I would also consider paying for and hiring a driver if you aren't going to be driving. I can't remember how many kids you said you had but it isn't going to be easy juggling them all in taxis and school runs. Good luck,
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 September 2016 - 21:22
You will have to be careful as your eldest may NOT get home status which could mean paying overseas fees but more importantly means may not be eligible for a student loan. People do get round it and some universities are tougher than others on status. If you have a house in UK this helps, also keep all boarding passes to show that you regularly return to UK. Ensure you point out to universities that your husband was on a temporary transfer etc.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 September 2016 - 21:18
It used to be free to get covered on spouse visa but about two years it changed so that you both needed to get a visa. The staff in MMI etc can answer all your questions. I ended up getting mine as well as my DH because one it meant that we were totally legit and 2. The freebies you get with each application were actually worth more than the cost of my application.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 September 2016 - 19:34
Ps Springs 2 is walkable to DBS but not always easy to get school places
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 September 2016 - 19:23
I think it is called ranches primary. Only issue might be your housing allowance as I think villas are large and therefore probably expensive. You may be correct re DBSJP - I don't actually know where it is. DBS is in Springs and depending where you got a villa it MAY be walkable albeit very sweaty. You can take driving lessons in Dubai. Your other alternative may be to sponsor a driver. Most after school activities not in schools require driving. Just ensure with school buses that they DO service the area that you live in, ie school my kids went to ran buses but not to my compound. Also, I don't know age of your kids but some won't let the very young kids use school buses
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 September 2016 - 10:44
There is a new primary school in the new part of Arabian ranches so perhaps if you got a villa there the kids could walk or cycle. It is only a primary school so you will have issues for secondary. I was a bit of a nutter re running etc the entire time in Dubai but in summer, even for me it is pretty much too hot to walk more than a few hundred metres to and fro school. DBS is in Springs and there are one or two areas of springs where the villas are almost within cycling distance. The schools you suggest tend to be middle of nowhere and will almost certainly require car or taxis or buses. School buses may be a solution but if kids want to do after school clubs then you might have issues. To be honest, if I were you I would book myself on a week long intensive driving course in UK and attempt to get tour licence. I lived in other countries without a car and got by but I would not like being in Dubai with kids and no car. Taxis are plentiful and cheap but again depending where you live and where you want to go it isn't always easy to get them.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 03 September 2016 - 01:58
I got my transcripts done as well but did not pay any extra. I just stated in the letter that the transcripts were part of the degree. Some places will try to charge you for both but you should only pay per degree which includes the transcripts.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 26 August 2016 - 14:23
Very sad re Balance Cafe...my favourite eating place in Dubai!!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 24 August 2016 - 19:25
If you have to pay four sets of school fees and rent then AED50k a month won't leave you very much. Say AED70 a year for older kids and AED40 for younger kids..that is 220 a year ie close to 20 a month and will increase every year with rises and next one going secondary and then GCSE costs etc. Rent and DEWA likely to be close to another AED 20k. You then have cost of a maid and school buses. you could find a lot of your salary is being used for practical stuff rather than savings. Factor in flights as well..A lot of companies may not pay for six. I would def say the min your husband needs to be looking at is AED50 per month OR less if fees and housing paid.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 24 August 2016 - 19:18
Exiles or hurricanes have rugby clubs..you pay annually. It is prob around AED2k per year as no doubt has increased since I lived there. Training is then free. Other activities range from AED60 to AED100 upwards. Secondary school fees can be almost double those of primary and A levels even more. If your kids are taking GCSE's they will need to pay for every GCSE that they sit...this can also be very costly. Please be aware that school fees and rents tend to increase every year, sometimes by up to 10%. Salaries tend not to rise. If you are both planning to work you will require a maid for when school finishes and your kids will prob need to bus to school. Again, cost of bus etc can be quite high. Electricity and water bills tend to be higher than UK...the bigger the villa the more they will rise. You also pay 5% of your annual housing rent as a housing fee..this is included in your electricity and water bill which is called your DEWA. Mobile phone contracts are way higher than UK. JESS, DESC etc all have school rugby, basketball, netball, swim teams etc. These schools can be tough to gain places at...they are non profit and often over subscribed. Unless you shop locally and buy local,produce and use several,supermarkets then food can be very expensive. Best if your husband can find a package which pays housing and school fees although these sorts of packages are harder to come by these days and often only cover two kids.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 August 2016 - 00:51
Must agree with Gorobattie..I don't think it is normal that all blokes like to look at naked women... Some might do but def not all men...
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EW GURU
Latest post on 19 August 2016 - 23:58
We had less than that and were paying 120k a year school fees BUT our rent was only 100k. We saved nothing. I suggest you maybe look at living in say Motor City and save money on rent Or if you look at Layan or Remraan you can find 2 or 3 bed apartments for under 120k. We had a ground floor three bed in Layan with a small garden..communal pool, gym and supermarket and play area. Think they are going for anything between 110 and 130k at minute. Package is def workable but I def think best looking for cheaper accommodation. This will also reduce your housing fee which is 5% of your annual rent. Utilities will also be cheaper in an apartment ie our utilities aND housing fee around 700 AED a month whereas in a villa can be upwards of 2k a month. If you aren't working then it may work just to pay for cleaning for say three hrs a week rather then hire and sponsor a maid. In two years time or so you will need to consider how you will pay school fees...currently anything from 40k a year upwards...
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 July 2016 - 00:29
Same price at the airport as elsewhere in Dubai as you have to buy either via Du or Etisalat...
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EW GURU
Latest post on 12 July 2016 - 22:25
You only have a choice of Du or etisalat in Dubai. I think the SIM card is around AED50 and then you pay to top it up. I mainly use mine for Data package and put AED100 on for data and AED20 for texts and calls. I don't know why but my data package runs out way way quicker than it does in UK even though I use it in exactly the same manner. Other friends say the same. If you are buying your SIM card anywhere except the airport you will need to show your passport.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 12 July 2016 - 22:21
Just a word of warning re health insurance. I am not sure whether your husbands company will be able to take out insurance which will cover you when already pregnant. It may be that his company will require to foot the entire bill for the delivery etc. I was in this position over a decade ago and my husbands company paid the entire bill but both myself and my daughter needed ongoing treatment after the delivery which insurance didn't cover and his company were reluctant to pay. Probably worth getting in writing from them what they are prepared to cover.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 01 July 2016 - 14:35
The three bed apartments have a Maids room but those apartments don't come available very often. You need to call and get on the wait list. There are agency fees but I can't remember how much
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EW GURU
Latest post on 30 June 2016 - 00:12
Our 3 bed apartment is around AED700 a month which includes the 5% tax ( annually 5% of the years rent)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 28 June 2016 - 01:50
Have it sent to whatever hotel they will be staying in in Abu Dhabi.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 27 June 2016 - 00:58
Layan is great..good pool, gym. We have a Choitrams . Maintenance good and easy access onto highways.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 19 May 2016 - 20:38
Also another important factor is that as babies and small children we eat when hungry....we don't eat as infants becos of other factors such as boredom, social conditioning ie set meal times, rewards etc. If we could maintain this only eating when hungry that we have as children then much of later life obesity, diabetes etc wouldn't happen. Let her serve herself at mealtimes...if she doesn't eat then ignore fact she hasn't eaten. Keep some sliced apple or carrot or cucumber sticks in the fridge...let her know she can ask for those. Good luck.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 19 May 2016 - 20:08
That age of child is an age where appetite can drop off. As adults we forget how tiny their stomachs are and it doesn't take much to fill them up. Avoid making an issue of eating otherwise kids start to use as a means of getting attention. I used to find best way of getting mine to eat was sitting together as a family...putting food in dishes in centre of table and helping ourselves...if they saw us helping then they wanted some. If I just put on plate then often untouched. Let them eat...kids very very rarely starve..they will eat when hungry. ( avoid giving too much milk as many just fill up on milk) Get her to help you cook..mine are better when they had helped make dinner.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 19 May 2016 - 19:54
Last comment i would NOT agree with. Yes, you won't really save BUT you will manage if careful and if it lets your husband finish his studies with a view to later having two incomes then I don't see it as a problem. Will be a great experience, go in with an open mind as you seem to be. I lived three years in Dubai with around same income for daily living..we had a ball...kids learned loads including how to be more open minded and tolerant. Yes, they did get frustrated at how many of their friends had loads more money but we still had a good time. PS salary isn't as bad as a poster suggests. For a teaching job with not many years experience it is around average. The more years experience you have in teaching out here the bigger your salary.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 19 May 2016 - 19:52
Last comment i would NOT agree with. Yes, you won't really save BUT you will manage if careful and if it lets your husband finish his studies with a view to later having two incomes then I don't see it as a problem. Will be a great experience, go in with an open mind as you seem to be. I lived three years in Dubai with around same income for daily living..we had a ball...kids learned loads including how to be more open minded and tolerant. Yes, they did get frustrated at how many of their friends had loads more money but we still had a good time.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 May 2016 - 18:30
Sometimes you don't have a choice..where we lived only Du was available.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 May 2016 - 14:13
If you are in an apartment then utilities ie DEWA will prob be less than 1k a month. It is the extras that add up...nappies, formulae milk, clothes ( unless you wait and shop in uk every year) If you plan to return home every summer you may need to factor in hire car costs and accommodation costs. You can eat out very cheaply if you are careful where you eat, avoid buying drinks apart from water and use the entertainer App. ( don't think I have ever eaten in a place where. I can't use the entertainer). On the other hand, you will prob find colleagues going for brunches at AED400 or 500 a head some weekends. At end of contract you will also get an end of contact bonus which I guess is kind of in lieu of pension. Most medical insurances don't cover dental treatment etc so all things to factor in. Uncapped internet shouldn't be as much as 1k but mobile phones are expensive to run compared to uk and for some reason I use way more data every month in UAE than I do in uk altohugh I use my phone in the same manner. If you take the car to work every day then that will leave your husband stuck at home with the baby...taxis are cheap but car seats etc for kids are an issue. You may unless you can get a lift or taxi to work find you need two cars. A basic car from companies like dollar used to be 1601 a month but are now around 1800 ( speeding tickets need to be avoided as can be costly). Bear in mind this a very basic model ..I drove one for three years but found it way more stressful than driving a bigger family saloon which would be around 2600 a month. I found I got "bullied" even more in the cheaper, basic model and had to drive even more defensively as limited acceleration. Indoor play areas can be costly so u need to think about what you will do with your child in the very hot weather. There are things available but you need to research and look for things. It is def do-able but you will find yourself living a different style of life from a lot of others that you will meet. Set up costs can be a slight issue..even converting to a UAE driving licence is costly. Alcohol licence is AED200 each. Just ensure you have a bit of cash for emergencies and as someone said you need to think about furnishing your apartment..will school give an allowance or pay to ship items over.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 May 2016 - 19:58
DESC is a great schools.facilities are good. Education is good..majority of kids flourish there.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 May 2016 - 19:57
Ps if your daughter plans to stay for A levels then these fees tend to be even more expensive. You also need to pay per GCSE or A level entered..this can all add up. I can't remember exact cost as all re different..think PE is most expensive but I seem to remember approx AED500 per GCSE.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 May 2016 - 19:55
We were on less but with two kids both at secondary and really struggled. One kid would have been doable but not leaving a lot. Secondary school fees are pretty much from 70k upwards. Other issue is that they have a tendency to increase every year so you need leeway in tour budget. Ditto re housing..we were lucky and only paying 78k in 2012 but now paying over 100k. It depends how cheaply you are prepared to rent and which schools you are lookng at..make sure there is scope in your budget for rents and school fees to rise..
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EW GURU
Latest post on 08 May 2016 - 23:46
You only have to be back in uk for 90 days..you don't need to be working. Also, if you have young children that rule can be waived. My friend returned from Australia and went straight to UK citing about to have nervous breakdown etc...her benefits commenced virtually immediately...not that I am recommending that BUT if you are desperate it is an option. Other issue, if you can support yourself for three months then benefits will kick in till such time as you find employment. Once you find employment you will get tax credits taking you up to a reasonable monthly income. It is do-able...
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EW GURU
Latest post on 03 May 2016 - 12:58
Sarahlou123 I had been told same as you by several lawyers. My ex point blank refused to agree to divorce...lawyers kept saying I had to wait five years if he would not agree. Talking to a lawyer in jan, she was horrified I had been told this and said that although only separated a year officially ( altohugh ex was still pretending we were together) I could file immediately under grounds of unreasonable behaviour...I filed..he ignored all correspondence...he then got served with papers which he still ignored. She took it to court...I had to write a short paper saying why behaviour on marriage had been unreasonable...didn't hsve to say much, lack of communication, unwilling to discuss issues, even fact he refused to divorce. Decree nisi was issued...he now refusing to agree a financial split so courts will decide ( will be worse for him but his problem) and then decree absolut will be issued. I am just very frustrated that I listened to all those other lawyers..
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EW GURU
Latest post on 02 May 2016 - 17:21
You do NOT need to live apart for five years. I have only officially been apart for a year. My ex is refusing to divorce but my solicitor reckons it will be done by Dec....I am actioning this on grounds of unreasonable behaviour.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 April 2016 - 13:41
Yep...the minimart. It doesn't sell much. Think I gave kids carte Blanche to buy sweets etc as just wanted to spend the AED50 to get free parking.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 April 2016 - 10:33
Has to be outlets on the beach side only which I discovered after eating on the other side. What. I did do was go into the little grocery store and spend AED50 and they stamped my ticket. Just before this car park ie the cinema car park there is a Green car park which is AED30 for all day parking.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 April 2016 - 18:46
The people who are struggling are the ones who don't get school fees paid because those are going up massively every year ie in 2012 I was paying 96k for both my kids. If we had stayed last summer, I would have been paying 148k this year. Also our rent went from 78k to over 100k in three years. If people aren't getting rent and school fees paid by the company then it is them who are struggling. You should be fine as long as both are covered. Good luck..
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EW GURU
Latest post on 04 April 2016 - 20:46
Love Layan. YOu won't get a three bed townhouse for price you want but cpuld get a three bed apartment although there is a wait list for them. If you go on Dubai Properties you will see the prices listed. Pool great, gym ok, Choitrams good. Access in and out very easy. Can walk to the new Ranches restaurants etc in cooler months. Repairs done quickly and efficiently.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 31 March 2016 - 21:06
More and more companies seem to be looking for singles as then school fees don't come into it and cheapish to rent a one bed apartment.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 31 March 2016 - 20:11
Layan and Remraan have apartments but apartment we paid 78k for in 2012 is now going for between 110 and 120k. I think Remraan are cheaper. Both are further out of Dubai but access most places is quick. Other areas may be much closer but gridlock more. As rent and school fees need to be paid upfront ( rent will either be 1,2,3 or occasionally 4 checks paid over a year) you should ask company whether they will be advancing salary to cover these initial costs..you also have agent fees for renting.. Also, will they pay to ship furniture etc out?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 31 March 2016 - 18:06
I rented a car for 1700 a month ..this was cheapest smallest car available and was on a long term agreement. I went back on holiday for a week and paid 900 for a week with same car so this was on a special deal. Until you get your residency card you can't get a UAE licence which means you can only drive a rental car. Immediately you get residency you MUST transfer your UK licence to a UAE one..from memory this is AED400 each plus a charge for a mandatory eye test which must be done in UK. All housing incurs an additional 5% of your annual rental cost...this is added to your DEWA which is your water and electricity bill. Ie if you rent for 80k a year you will pay an additional 4k a year split over 12 months ie approx an extra AED333 a month. The biggest issue is that rents tend to go up annually as do school costs...I comes don't tend to rise. When we came out, we knew it wpuld be tight ( although had a few k a month more than you to play with after school fees etc) Our problem was that within three years rent had increased almost 20% and school fees almost doubled. Once your youngest starts FS1 you need to allow for that. Apartments in silicon oasis are fine but you will almost def need to run two cars....often those apartments only give one car parking space. Shopping locally and buying local produce I spent AED800 a week but this was no treats or food court meals out. Mobile phone contracts are way more expensive than UK which is something else to bear in mind. I hate to sound negative....I am normally the first to come on here and say it is doable financially when others say it isn't but I would be worried unless you get housing or schooling included. Other costs I had to factor in were hiring a car when back in uk on holiday and also accommodation as I rented my house out. Jumeirah is nice but you are looking at close to a min of 200k to live there... Cheaper areas are Remraam, Layan ( although the two bed "villas" are tiny!!)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 30 March 2016 - 20:02
also it is not mandatory to pay flights..i checked it out as we didnt get flights. you also need to check what your insurance covers and whether it is direct billing or you pay and claim back bear in mind that rent generally has to be paid in a couple of checks for the year. You may get lucky and be able to pay four checks a year but that is generally the best you can do.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 30 March 2016 - 20:00
it will be very tough. my husband was on about 8k a month more and we struggled. our rent was 7k a month but for same place woild now be over 10k a month. primary school fees average at least 3.5k a month and secondary almost double. (we had one at primary and one at secondary but then both moved to secondary)hiring the most basic car is close to 2k a month. Finding work as a spouse isnt easy..u often will only be offered local hire work which pays very badly. Childcare is another issue if u r working as is transport for ur child to school. sponsoring and paying a maid also adds up and this may be your only option for childcare if you are working. parttime jobs are very difficult to find and often poorly paid. If i were in same situation again i would try to negotiate for less salary but to have housing and school fees paid. Both housing and school fees have a tendency to rise every year.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 March 2016 - 18:25
Mirdiff would be good for DESS arabian ranches, mud on, Remraam, Layan for JAPS but further to hubby work
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 March 2016 - 15:49
Dr Julianne Reuter
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 March 2016 - 15:48
Only have experience of DESC which I thought was great. I chose it because I wanted a non profit school rather than a profit school. Afraid I can't help re accommodation but I know lots of DESC kids live in DSO, Mirdif or Arabian Ranches. Travel time from most places to DESC is not more than 30 mins