A ‘living in Dubai’ question
Discussion
COVID has been a pain, but handled very well compared to the s
t show back home from what I've seen.
Costs will depend massively on your circumstances and how you choose to live. If you have kids, you will need to factor in schooling and a plethora of after-school activities which all cost. If you eat out or order in, its going to add up if you go high-end, and similarly if you do all your shopping at Spinneys, (Waitrose) it will be materially more than say Carrefour.
That said, I live in an expensive area comparatively, but I would be paying several times more for the same space to be 20 minutes from my office in London. A lot of people who have lived here a while complain about taxes slowly creeping in, (e.g. salik - the tolls on the highway), but that happens at home as well and you get a double whammy there with income tax, VAT etc.
As a general rule of thumb, if you have an expensive lifestyle at home and want to do the same, its expensive here. If anyone comes here with the expectation of being able to play with the high rollers, they will run out of money very quickly. If any company offers what is essentially a commission only sales role, don't do it.
t show back home from what I've seen. Costs will depend massively on your circumstances and how you choose to live. If you have kids, you will need to factor in schooling and a plethora of after-school activities which all cost. If you eat out or order in, its going to add up if you go high-end, and similarly if you do all your shopping at Spinneys, (Waitrose) it will be materially more than say Carrefour.
That said, I live in an expensive area comparatively, but I would be paying several times more for the same space to be 20 minutes from my office in London. A lot of people who have lived here a while complain about taxes slowly creeping in, (e.g. salik - the tolls on the highway), but that happens at home as well and you get a double whammy there with income tax, VAT etc.
As a general rule of thumb, if you have an expensive lifestyle at home and want to do the same, its expensive here. If anyone comes here with the expectation of being able to play with the high rollers, they will run out of money very quickly. If any company offers what is essentially a commission only sales role, don't do it.
JiggyJaggy said:
Anyone with an update to how they are finding it living in Dubai? What's it like these days?
So if a LTD company contractor with multiple clients moves to Dubai but keeps his UK clients I presume UK taxes will still be payable and applicable?
To avoid UK taxes I guess the clients must be Dubai based and paying from a UAE account in to a UAE account? If paid in to a UK account its taxable? Right?
To avoid UK taxes I guess the clients must be Dubai based and paying from a UAE account in to a UAE account? If paid in to a UK account its taxable? Right?
Nope, rents have risen if anything.
Jobs market has settled down post covid dump, economy generally healthy, load of legal reforms went through just before Xmas making expat living generally easier (recognizing unmarried couples etc).
Multitude of small personal stealth taxes and formalized business ones.
Massive amount of work next door (ksa) if you can land any of it as a supplier.
Jobs market has settled down post covid dump, economy generally healthy, load of legal reforms went through just before Xmas making expat living generally easier (recognizing unmarried couples etc).
Multitude of small personal stealth taxes and formalized business ones.
Massive amount of work next door (ksa) if you can land any of it as a supplier.
coanda said:
Thanks for the update
When you say small personal stealth taxes, are these worked in to costs or things you have to be aware of and pay up in time or get fined?
I suppose if it's your first time there, then this is still much better than the current UK situation?
There’s little you can be fined for and what there is is rather obvious. Even car registration has a 30day grace period if you go over 12mths and beyond that the fine is only 100dhs a month. When you say small personal stealth taxes, are these worked in to costs or things you have to be aware of and pay up in time or get fined?
I suppose if it's your first time there, then this is still much better than the current UK situation?
So on the former, examples include:
Employment visas now run for 2 years not 3. Renewals are around £1k (employer cost)
Mandatory govt provided unemployment insurance (employee cost and of questionable value)
9% corporation tax coming this June
Salik (road toll system) has been floated on the stock market (as has the national electricity co) to expand it. Fuel price already has an escalator, goes up sharply, people moan, comes down a little, then rises again.
Inflation was 5.2% last year, 3.6% already ytd. I haven’t had a pay rise in that time.
I’d say the strategy for decent earnings is to have a career plan and don’t stay with an employer too long if salaries stagnate. I’ve learned this to my detriment having gone through several ‘reorgs’ with the same firm. I’m considering a golden visa (10yr validity, essentially becoming a free agent) with additional plans to address this.
Edited by shirt on Wednesday 8th March 18:06
shirt said:
coanda said:
Thanks for the update
When you say small personal stealth taxes, are these worked in to costs or things you have to be aware of and pay up in time or get fined?
I suppose if it's your first time there, then this is still much better than the current UK situation?
There’s little you can be fined for and what there is is rather obvious. Even car registration has a 30day grace period if you go over 12mths and beyond that the fine is only 100dhs a month. When you say small personal stealth taxes, are these worked in to costs or things you have to be aware of and pay up in time or get fined?
I suppose if it's your first time there, then this is still much better than the current UK situation?
So on the former, examples include:
Employment visas now run for 2 years not 3. Renewals are around £1k (employer cost)
Mandatory govt provided unemployment insurance (employee cost and of questionable value)
9% corporation tax coming this June
Salik (road toll system) has been floated on the stock market (as has the national electricity co) to expand it. Fuel price already has an escalator, goes up sharply, people moan, comes down a little, then rises again.
Inflation was 5.2% last year, 3.6% already ytd. I haven’t had a pay rise in that time.
I’d say the strategy for decent earnings is to have a career plan and don’t stay with an employer too long if salaries stagnate. I’ve learned this to my detriment having gone through several ‘reorgs’ with the same firm. I’m considering a golden visa (10yr validity, essentially becoming a free agent) with additional plans to address this.
Edited by shirt on Wednesday 8th March 18:06
I will, hopefully, be working somewhere between Abu Dhabi and Dubai in an area that seems to have a good collection of companies that I could work with, so if it's not so hard to swap jobs with visas etc that's not too bad. Idea for me is to go get debt free, save up some money to buy a house in the UK and see where I am in 2-3 years - won't get paid mega bucks but it is a good multiplier over what I earn here. With what I will be doing I don't imagine I will have too much time to go out and party much, and I'll need a car immediately so that's something to navigate through, but I see some links here and elsewhere for online car buying sites.
If I don't get this role, I intend to keep on trying or maybe look at KSA.
Rents in certain areas have gone absolutely bonkers. In some places more than doubled. They've pretty much increased across the board but if you are getting accom thrown in with role won't affect you.
It's driving people further out of the city. Where we are in Damac Hills 2 has become maxed out v quickly so they decided to scrap the golf course and build more villas. Same thing at Damac Hills, they've basically built on the car park, driveway and any other scrap of land they can as property market is hot right now.
Second hand car prices have gone up a lot as they have everywhere.
It's driving people further out of the city. Where we are in Damac Hills 2 has become maxed out v quickly so they decided to scrap the golf course and build more villas. Same thing at Damac Hills, they've basically built on the car park, driveway and any other scrap of land they can as property market is hot right now.
Second hand car prices have gone up a lot as they have everywhere.
i was thinking about damac hills 2 but turned around at security when i went to see them purely due to the time it took me to get there. if my new contract ever comes through [looking shaky, our MD got binned this week so i'm looking forward to our next bi-monthly 're-organisation'] i'll prob end up in emaar south. just can't stomach rents anywhere with decent deliveroo and uber coverage!
how old are you and what industry? the only places between the 2 cities are the 2 port free zones.
partying is overrated btw, much better to spend your money on cars and bikes!
coanda said:
Thanks again for the info. It's good to know all this stuff that I just take for granted in the UK.
I will, hopefully, be working somewhere between Abu Dhabi and Dubai in an area that seems to have a good collection of companies that I could work with, so if it's not so hard to swap jobs with visas etc that's not too bad. Idea for me is to go get debt free, save up some money to buy a house in the UK and see where I am in 2-3 years - won't get paid mega bucks but it is a good multiplier over what I earn here. With what I will be doing I don't imagine I will have too much time to go out and party much, and I'll need a car immediately so that's something to navigate through, but I see some links here and elsewhere for online car buying sites.
If I don't get this role, I intend to keep on trying or maybe look at KSA.
most of us on here came out with a 3 year plan. i'm just about to enter year 13 of mine. Similar outlook to yours initially but got too comfy. The end of a relationship and recovery from it [financially and mentally] has me thinking the same way again lol.I will, hopefully, be working somewhere between Abu Dhabi and Dubai in an area that seems to have a good collection of companies that I could work with, so if it's not so hard to swap jobs with visas etc that's not too bad. Idea for me is to go get debt free, save up some money to buy a house in the UK and see where I am in 2-3 years - won't get paid mega bucks but it is a good multiplier over what I earn here. With what I will be doing I don't imagine I will have too much time to go out and party much, and I'll need a car immediately so that's something to navigate through, but I see some links here and elsewhere for online car buying sites.
If I don't get this role, I intend to keep on trying or maybe look at KSA.
how old are you and what industry? the only places between the 2 cities are the 2 port free zones.
partying is overrated btw, much better to spend your money on cars and bikes!
shirt said:
most of us on here came out with a 3 year plan. i'm just about to enter year 13 of mine. Similar outlook to yours initially but got too comfy. The end of a relationship and recovery from it [financially and mentally] has me thinking the same way again lol.
how old are you and what industry? the only places between the 2 cities are the 2 port free zones.
partying is overrated btw, much better to spend your money on cars and bikes!
We were already pretty far out at The Villa. Yes it is far but I work mostly from home and the kids school is 20-25mins away. School runs can be 30 mins each way even if 5km away if you have to navigate umm suqiem or hessa st in the mornings. The rent reduction was definitely worthwhile. how old are you and what industry? the only places between the 2 cities are the 2 port free zones.
partying is overrated btw, much better to spend your money on cars and bikes!
Myself, wife and the 2 girls are in the process of relocating (Girls are 2 1/2 and 19 months)
I have an interview and meeting with another company so flying out with the family in a couple of weeks for them, going to stay 10 days I think the wife has booked (She owns her own Travel Agency which is handy).
The wife wants to check out a couple of schools and locations for living - She likes DAMAC hills, Arabian ranches etc prices seem to vary but that's for the next stage.
I'm currently a General Manager for an Engineering Supply company and I was Business Development Manager for 10 years previous - I have also been put in touch with 2 different oil and gas companies (Scottish Owners) who are also going to try and give me a helping hand which is great.
We are in no rush so just taking our time for me to find the right role.
We've experience the brutal heat and rain the middle east has to offer and it has not put us off at all.
I have an interview and meeting with another company so flying out with the family in a couple of weeks for them, going to stay 10 days I think the wife has booked (She owns her own Travel Agency which is handy).
The wife wants to check out a couple of schools and locations for living - She likes DAMAC hills, Arabian ranches etc prices seem to vary but that's for the next stage.
I'm currently a General Manager for an Engineering Supply company and I was Business Development Manager for 10 years previous - I have also been put in touch with 2 different oil and gas companies (Scottish Owners) who are also going to try and give me a helping hand which is great.
We are in no rush so just taking our time for me to find the right role.
We've experience the brutal heat and rain the middle east has to offer and it has not put us off at all.
Edited by TheHighlander on Friday 31st March 13:42
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