Did everyone get made redundant?
Discussion
James72911 said:
Hi, ok geek hat on! Firstly, my name is technically wrong! It is actually a '73 model, but built in October '72. It is believed to be the first 911 imported into the UAE. It was found by a friend in Sharjah in 1992 looking very sorry for itself, with a Subaru engine fitted. He sourced a period correct engine from Autofarm in the UK, had it resprayed, did various other bits to it. I bought it 11 years ago, and have done a few more updates to it - new interior (headlining, carpets etc), general maintenance. Mainly just drive it, although getting a bit too hot again now...
What an awesome history..to be one of the first GCC Porsches is spectacular. Hilarious that he found it with a subaru engine!I'm out too - I got made redundant last September - the company lost 60% of its Dubai office in 2017 due to resignations and redundancies. A tough year.
Was a major shock to the system and I wrongly assumed I'd find another role locally - but it seemed roles were few and far between. Ended up being a decision between Riyadh and Adelaide, South Australia. I took the latter and left Dubai in Feb this year with the family.
From reading through this thread it sounds like things have got more challenging and expensive even since I left in Feb!
And to the point on roads - I never thought I'd miss Dubai roads but with terrible surfaces and 60-80kmh speed limits all over the place here with close to zero tolerance to speeding it's a drag getting around, unless you take a trip into the Adelaide Hills.
Was a major shock to the system and I wrongly assumed I'd find another role locally - but it seemed roles were few and far between. Ended up being a decision between Riyadh and Adelaide, South Australia. I took the latter and left Dubai in Feb this year with the family.
From reading through this thread it sounds like things have got more challenging and expensive even since I left in Feb!
And to the point on roads - I never thought I'd miss Dubai roads but with terrible surfaces and 60-80kmh speed limits all over the place here with close to zero tolerance to speeding it's a drag getting around, unless you take a trip into the Adelaide Hills.
TomV8 said:
I'm out too - I got made redundant last September - the company lost 60% of its Dubai office in 2017 due to resignations and redundancies. A tough year.
Was a major shock to the system and I wrongly assumed I'd find another role locally - but it seemed roles were few and far between. Ended up being a decision between Riyadh and Adelaide, South Australia. I took the latter and left Dubai in Feb this year with the family.
From reading through this thread it sounds like things have got more challenging and expensive even since I left in Feb!
And to the point on roads - I never thought I'd miss Dubai roads but with terrible surfaces and 60-80kmh speed limits all over the place here with close to zero tolerance to speeding it's a drag getting around, unless you take a trip into the Adelaide Hills.
Adelaide, although I have not been since 2015 is a great city and it does have decent roads once you are out of town. Hope you are enjoying it there?Was a major shock to the system and I wrongly assumed I'd find another role locally - but it seemed roles were few and far between. Ended up being a decision between Riyadh and Adelaide, South Australia. I took the latter and left Dubai in Feb this year with the family.
From reading through this thread it sounds like things have got more challenging and expensive even since I left in Feb!
And to the point on roads - I never thought I'd miss Dubai roads but with terrible surfaces and 60-80kmh speed limits all over the place here with close to zero tolerance to speeding it's a drag getting around, unless you take a trip into the Adelaide Hills.
It's been a year since I was made redundant. I'm now living and working in Prague, in a different industry (great employer) and enjoying the ridiculously cheap beer.
I keep hearing/reading how things have changed quite a bit over the last 12 months in the UAE (especially cost of living) and that plenty are leaving or planning their exit.
Thought i'd miss the place, but I rarely think about it, other than riding the motorbike in the dunes.
I keep hearing/reading how things have changed quite a bit over the last 12 months in the UAE (especially cost of living) and that plenty are leaving or planning their exit.
Thought i'd miss the place, but I rarely think about it, other than riding the motorbike in the dunes.
I'm still around in Abu Dhabi, but constant senior management reshuffles going on, so don't know how long it will last for me. maybe days maybe another year.
Ive been with my employer for 6 years, but 97% of the people I work with now are all local. Western Expats here are a rare sight!
Ive been with my employer for 6 years, but 97% of the people I work with now are all local. Western Expats here are a rare sight!
I left last September after 24 years, sold my business interests and moved back to UK.
Now retired and looking after my growing classics collection and an ancient house that needs total renovation so life is still busy.
I am visiting right now and must admit I do miss Dubai a bit, particularly the availability of good quality restaurants, so few and far between in rural Somerset.
I will continue to visit 2 or 3 times a year, but have no desire to return on a permanent basis.
Now retired and looking after my growing classics collection and an ancient house that needs total renovation so life is still busy.
I am visiting right now and must admit I do miss Dubai a bit, particularly the availability of good quality restaurants, so few and far between in rural Somerset.
I will continue to visit 2 or 3 times a year, but have no desire to return on a permanent basis.
stuckmojo said:
I left last August - had enough of the specific business I was with - and returned to the UK. Same as Rich, I miss riding the KTM in the desert but that's it. Brought car and bike back to the North East and use them there.
I was in Singapore before Dubai. Hell I miss that place.
Who did you use to transport your car and roughly how much did it cost you please?I was in Singapore before Dubai. Hell I miss that place.
Sunny in Dubai said:
Who did you use to transport your car and roughly how much did it cost you please?
shipmycar. they did the job without much enthusiasm but I got the car in the end. With hindsight, having registered and imported my own motorcycle and put it on the road, I'd go DIY. But the freight and insurance I paid for separately through my employer.
Interesting thread.
I finished a 10 month posting in Bahrain earlier this year - not so many expat posts there these days.
Though cost of living in Bahrain is good value compared to either UK or Singapore
I’d go back to Bahrain for another year or 2 if the right opportunity came up. Quite an easy place to live in - not as exciting as Singapore though.
I finished a 10 month posting in Bahrain earlier this year - not so many expat posts there these days.
Though cost of living in Bahrain is good value compared to either UK or Singapore
I’d go back to Bahrain for another year or 2 if the right opportunity came up. Quite an easy place to live in - not as exciting as Singapore though.
Just got back from a short business trip in Dubai. Last time I was there was April. Bloody hell. It's like the Zombie Apocalypse. Empty roads, empty malls, empty restaurants. 200 dirhams for crossing the road. 50,000 to license a company. Banks don't want to know you. Pretty sad really.
Harris_I said:
Just got back from a short business trip in Dubai. Last time I was there was April. Bloody hell. It's like the Zombie Apocalypse. Empty roads, empty malls, empty restaurants. 200 dirhams for crossing the road. 50,000 to license a company. Banks don't want to know you. Pretty sad really.
I went in May and felt it was much quieter than when I was living there, I'm due to go again shortly, sounds like I'll see yet another differenceK50 DEL said:
Harris_I said:
Just got back from a short business trip in Dubai. Last time I was there was April. Bloody hell. It's like the Zombie Apocalypse. Empty roads, empty malls, empty restaurants. 200 dirhams for crossing the road. 50,000 to license a company. Banks don't want to know you. Pretty sad really.
I went in May and felt it was much quieter than when I was living there, I'm due to go again shortly, sounds like I'll see yet another differenceI’m commuting daily from DIP to DIFC and the traffic is a b
h! Was in Carrefour earlier today doing the weekend shop and the place was packed.
I can't speak to the traffic in that area right now, but I've lived in Dubai between 2001 and 2012. I was travelling there monthly between 2012 and 2017. Over the past 12 months, I've only been back once every 6 months.
In those last 12 months there has been a massive and visible change in the economic environment. It's worse than 2009. Back then, lots of professional expats rode out the recession, economising on entertainment, cars, rents etc. Now they're throwing the towel in, and saying sod this, I'm going home. They're getting screwed on penalties for the most minor offences, bizarrely higher prices for services, extra VAT on top, lower salary and benefits packages, the same bureaucracy I saw when I arrived in 2001, extra red tape from the banks who have a herd mentality when it comes to perceived risk (one rogue rice trader defaults, and credit lines to the entire commodities industry gets shut down overnight), hidden charges, shocking customer service from the usual suspects, etc etc. The UK may not be the land of milk and honey right now, but at least schooling and healthcare is free, the economy is incomparably deeper and when your phone company tries to shaft you, you have a legitimate route to complain and get your money back.
It's just not worth sticking around. I'm on a WhatsApp group of 34 guys in Dubai, all white collar, all in their mid-40s or above, and all with families. 9 of those have relocated back to the UK in the past 12 months and 4 made the move back over a year ago.
In those last 12 months there has been a massive and visible change in the economic environment. It's worse than 2009. Back then, lots of professional expats rode out the recession, economising on entertainment, cars, rents etc. Now they're throwing the towel in, and saying sod this, I'm going home. They're getting screwed on penalties for the most minor offences, bizarrely higher prices for services, extra VAT on top, lower salary and benefits packages, the same bureaucracy I saw when I arrived in 2001, extra red tape from the banks who have a herd mentality when it comes to perceived risk (one rogue rice trader defaults, and credit lines to the entire commodities industry gets shut down overnight), hidden charges, shocking customer service from the usual suspects, etc etc. The UK may not be the land of milk and honey right now, but at least schooling and healthcare is free, the economy is incomparably deeper and when your phone company tries to shaft you, you have a legitimate route to complain and get your money back.
It's just not worth sticking around. I'm on a WhatsApp group of 34 guys in Dubai, all white collar, all in their mid-40s or above, and all with families. 9 of those have relocated back to the UK in the past 12 months and 4 made the move back over a year ago.
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