Query: Working in UAE->Dubai

[dwhyte85]

Has anyone had any experience in the middle east?

 

Is this OK:

• 8500 Dhs basic salary // £1493.00
  
• 3500 Dhs towards housing on-top of above // £615.00
  
• Car, laptop, mobile (150 mins local + 150 mins intl + 10gb data)
  

 

Also another 1000dhs when hit MCSE and another for CCNA.

 

Does this sound 'doable'? My only debts are £65.00 a month for a credit card, well will be end of the month.

[ravens]

What's the job title if I can ask please?

Generally, the salary should be a lot higher than that if you are working for a largeish or reputable company. The trouble with Dubai is that you will be sponsored by your employer to have a work permit to work there. If for whatever reason, this does not work out, they can revoke it and you will not be able to work anywhere until you get another sponser. Also Dubai is quite expensive to rent. I can only think of two places where you could rent without having to top up the allowance and both are some distance from the centre of the city. They do have a decent bus service and the new monorail has eased the journey a little. If you have to use a car, be prepared for gridlock in the morning and evening and also some very scary driving.

Lastly, you will be paid tax free but if you are a UK citizen, you may have to pay tax on your earnings should you bring them here.

Saying that Dubai is an exciting place to work if you enjoy a fast paced, clubbing type of life otherwise it isnt as shiney as people think unless you are earning mega bucks.

[dwhyte85]

It's an IT Consultant but really nothing more than a field engineer.

 

Contract states they pay my way back and if they dont like me i get 2 weeks salary and cant work for any competitor for a year, they pay my accomodation or provide £650.00ish a month - having checked on Dubizzle this isn't that bad and can get a fairly nice place for that but they pay in cheques not monthly.

 

I've been told the gridlock was a bit better from Sharjah to Dubai as they did some road works. Having been on hospital duties for the last 5 years with my Mum who recently passed on.. the plan is to live a little more and see some new things, as well as people. I could always put a bit of the salary towards accomodation - have been told 600dhs is more than enough to live on food and washing up liquids and things like that so potential savings is good.

 

Thanks for the reply :-)

Edited July 26, 2010 by dwhyte85

[ravens]

As I said, it is something new and can be quite exciting but that does not come cheap. Most landlords will accept post dated cheques and you can haggle a little over the rent. You can usually tell the landlords who are desperate as they will advertise as accepting more than 6 cheques in one year. Sharjah is much cheaper to rent in but it is pretty strict, pretty quiet and not as glittzy as Dubai. Try and get something in Dubai if you can. The cheapest places are International City and Discovery Gardens but I think you can get apartments in Dubai Marina now which would be my recommendation. If you are driving about, just be prepared for the way people drive in Dubai, it is aggressive to say the least. Also, you will be stuck in traffic at sometime during the day if you are a field engineer so be prepared for that.

Saying that, it is a fantastic adventure with the added bonus of an easier and cheaper flights to the far east and asia for even more discovering.

I wish you all the best there.

[Haptic]

I couldn't agree more Ravens- I thought the Portuguese and Italians were crazy drivers till I saw the UAE; certainly made for some interesting journeys! I didn't think the traffic was that bad (no worse than say Birmingham at rush hour) but was only there for a week so could be a lot I didn't see.

 

From speaking with some of the staff at the school, they're accommodation was in the region of £20k per year and was expected to be paid upfront, watch yourself though on the postdated cheques- if any bounced for whatever reason your classed as in debt and therefore won’t be allowed out of country and locked down.

 

Was a very interesting place though and good luck to you if you do head out there.

 

Mark

[john]

I don't know if Vikpaw posted his video on here that I saw he did on youtube this morning as he works out in the middle east so is probably a good guy to chat to as well, he's not in Dubai but Jeddah but I know he has a good life and seems to have a nice car and enjoy petrol at silly low prices.

 

Anyway his video:

[dwhyte85]

The school has just shafted me, or I have with my lack of understand with my contract. Next time I'll read and digest my contract not just sign because I need a job...

[jamesb]

How so? Depending on the issue, there may be some way around.

[dwhyte85]

I signed 3 months notice, not 1. I assumed it was 1 from previous jobs... at the time was desperate to work and just signed it, checked the holiday entitlement but assumed 1 month. I can understand why they're fixed on the 3 months because it'd mean I left before new term and before the decision makers are back for a new appointment. I've contacted the company who were to employ me in Dubai, they might be happy to do it but they're going to let me know.

 

School have made it very clear i'll be here until EO October. To make matters worse, if Dubai wont employ me i'll be jobless in 3 months - let that be a lesson to read your contract thoroughly, not skim it like me and end up trapped

Edited July 30, 2010 by dwhyte85

[jamesb]

I signed 3 months notice, not 1. I assumed it was 1 from previous jobs... at the time was desperate to work and just signed it, checked the holiday entitlement but assumed 1 month. I can understand because it'd mean I left before new term and before the decision makers are back for a new appointment. I've contacted the company who were to employ me in Dubai, they might be happy to do it but they're going to let me know.

 

School have made it very clear i'll be here until EO October.

 

I don't know whether it's any help, but this might be of use to you - Varying the notice period | Business Link

 

How long have you worked for the school? If you read the contract carefully you may have some get-outs or escapes. You may also be able to discuss with them and arrange that you'll work out a shorter notice, alongside a new candidate brought in to replace you, in order to complete a handover period.

 

Unfortunately if your contract states a longer period than the statutory notice period, it's the contract that takes effect.

 

You may also want to consider this - Breach of contract : Directgov - Employment

 

It's not a good thing to breach your contract, but if it's going to cost you a job otherwise and the school are being unreasonable about you varying your notice period it may be something to look at. You will also probably want to consider whether the school has breached your contract if you do decide to go down that rather drastic route, as it might be another way to get out.

[dwhyte85]

I can't breach contract, I would like to use the school as a reference having worked over a year here. Unfortunately, it is in my contract and I'm obviously pretty dim for not checking my notice.

 

The varying notice period bit, some of it applies to if the company have dismissed you, it's the other way round - i've handed notice in.

 

Fingers crossed they'll say that they'll wait until Nov, ever so slightly annoyed at myself and the school for such an unrealistic notice period for a network manager, even if i was just leaving... i couldnt apply for a job for 2 months :-/

[teejay]

I would not recommend this, but we had one teacher who got a job in UAE, didn't tell the school he was leaving until the end of the day before he was flying out. Not really much they can do apart from withhold any unpaid wages, bit difficult to sue you if you're in the UAE.

[dwhyte85]

I would love to do that, but I don't want threatening letters being sent to my Dad - they can be pretty nasty, especially as the LA will be the driving force behind the letters and recouping any costs they deem necessary.

 

Plus, I really would like to use the school as a reference, other than a few niggles (and this) the school has been good to me.

[jamesb]

I would love to do that, but I don't want threatening letters being sent to my Dad - they can be pretty nasty, especially as the LA will be the driving force behind the letters and recouping any costs they deem necessary.

 

Plus, I really would like to use the school as a reference, other than a few niggles (and this) the school has been good to me.

 

Who did you actually discuss your notice period with? It may still be worth asking if you can negotiate some sort of agreement. Three months is a very long time (a quarter of your employment so far by the sound of it) and surely it would be better for them to bring someone else in and carry out a handover rather than wait until the last minute and just bring someone in to replace you?

 

Maybe you could even negotiate so that you'll do a week's handover for free if they'll let you leave earlier.

[RabbieBurns]

If I cant sort out a permanent visa here, or get sponsored or married or such.. I think Id quite fancy working in the Middle East.. Holiday'd in Dubai a couple of summers ago and quite liked the fact I could beach it in 40C sea and then snowboard in the evening..

[somabc]

If that is per month then it is probably too low (IMHO) as the cost of living is REALLY high in terms of food and housing. All food is imported and hence expensive. A third of the population earns over £6,000 a month and you will be competing with them to find a flat.

 

By purchasing power equivalent that salary is around £12,000 in the UK. Oh yeah if you lose your job in Dubai you will have to leave.

 

Dubai cost of living

Edited August 1, 2010 by somabc

[dwhyte85]

If that is per month then it is probably too low (IMHO) as the cost of living is REALLY high in terms of food and housing. All food is imported and hence expensive. A third of the population earns over £6,000 a month and you will be competing with them to find a flat.

 

By purchasing power equivalent that salary is around £12,000 in the UK. Oh yeah if you lose your job in Dubai you will have to leave.

 

Dubai cost of living

 

 

 

I've read from people who've gone over, I know the risks involved but basically doing an IT Technician role isn't too difficult so job security isn't a worry for me, although things do happen (they support fortune 500 companies), I use a a site called cr*p-free.com which i've used as a basis which is pretty good for near estimates. Either way, it looks kind of not happening either way - but the job was to find accommodation, not me

Edited August 1, 2010 by dwhyte85

[somabc]

I've read from people who've gone over, I know the risks involved but basically doing an IT Technician role isn't too difficult so job security isn't a worry for me, although things do happen (they support fortune 500 companies), I use a a site called cr*p-free.com which i've used as a basis which is pretty good for near estimates. Either way, it looks kind of not happening either way - but the job was to find accommodation, not me

 

If the job is finding you accommodation they will put you in shared accommodation and charge you the Housing Allowance for it.

 

I don't want to be too negative I have friends from Dubai and friends who are moving there and they love it. If you go over ready to drop everything and come back if there are problems then it could be a really good experience. As long as you are clear on a few things.

 

1) Everything is run by and for the Emirate's. It is not like the west. The rule of law is not to protect you. There are no Human Rights. If you are ever in any conflict with a local you will lose. Guaranteed.

 

2) Personal Freedoms are not what they are in the west. Eg. Sex before marriage is illegal, Homosexuality is illegal, Drinking alcohol in public and being drunk is illegal.

 

3) There is an endemic class system (racism). The non-western immigrants are treated extremely poorly.

 

The dark side of Dubai - Johann Hari, Commentators - The Independent

b3ta.com qotw

Edited August 1, 2010 by somabc

[dwhyte85]

b3ta link is particularly scary.

 

In terms of 'dropping and going', I have one debt and this would be a good opportunity for me to do something new. That said I don't want to be shafted!

 

They're hinting they'll wait for me, by then I'm debt free and with some savings. I'm obviously petrified I'm going to have a terrible experience like the b3ta one. I'm not homosexual, I do have a girlfriend but not married so that might pose an issue if she was to come over - TBH, trying to escape her (only kidding, or am i?).

 

My accommodation isn't going to be too dire, it'll be a studio - I would paste the contract but it's not allowed I don't suppose - I'm responsible for DEWA. It's one of those where as long as i've got savings to get back to the UK, I'll be OK - I'm quite happy to up and go home, a screw you guys I'm coming home type scenario as I'm well aware they might do the same to me.

 

I could give a long sob story with my Mums' situation prior to her death and the last 5 years but, I really would like to travel a bit -but I understand the risks aside. I know about drinking being limited to hotels, being drunk can provoke a beating (heard that first hand) - negatives aside, as long as i'm not living in International City - I'll give it a whirl.

 

Thank you for a level headed post with references. I have effectively 3 months to decide what to do because of my notice period, at the moment I am really excited but reality is slowly sinking in... it may not be all it cracks up to be

[ravens]

There are good and bad sides to Dubai. There is a lot to do but as somabc said dont expect to be treated as an equal to an Emirati. As long as you can deal with their brashness and arrogance with humour, you should be fine. Have they chosen your apartment or will they chose it for you? I would say you should do find one yourself or else you could end up in the Moroccan part of IC near the sewage works. I know people who work out in Dubai that love it but I know those that hate it too so it really depends on you, if you feel for other people easily, you will struggle, a blinkered apporach seems to work for me when I'm out there. As I have said in my earlier reply, it can be an adventure, but have a backup plan if it doesnt work out. Lastly, try and retain your passport, dont give it to your employer as it might be a little harder to get back should you tell them to stuff their job. Edited August 3, 2010 by ravens