A well balanced article. I worked there for four y...

2008-08-31T14:47:00.000-04:00

A well balanced article. I worked there for four years in construction up until last year and whilst the money is good I must say that it really doesn't last that long if you wish to maintain any sort of lifestyle in this home away from home.
Yes you can buy a (badly built) house and drive a nice 4 x 4, play golf on some excellent courses and go off roading in the desert surrounding Dubai or in the hills to the North and the East of the Emirate, and dine out in 5 star hotels (there is only one 7 star and it is awfully tacky, overrated and overpriced) every night if you wish but before you know it there's not a lot left to show for your efforts. Its hard not to spend too because there really isn't a great deal to apart from spend money on materialistic objects that temporarily alleviate the boredom. Staying in and watching tv is an option if you like persistent re-runs of old american soap operas / comedies. Satellite tv is however a must despite it being rubbish and - you guessed it - expensive.
The harsh climate in the summer (50 degrees celcius with 85% humidity is not uncommon in July and August) which, seems to be eating into spring and autumn as each year passes is also a depressant as if you are into outdoor pursuits like walking, golf, the beach, football, tennis et al you will be in for a very hot, sticky and miserable ride. I lived in a beach front apartment in the desirable Jumeirah area of Dubai and there was nothing worse than looking out of the window at the beach knowing that for half the year its too damn hot to go and enjoy it.
The multi cultural society can also test the patience of a saint and yes while you can employ a car washer, a cleaner, a child minder, a garden boy, a dog walker and the like you'll soon be using the phrase 'if you want something doing properly then do it yourself'. Notwithstanding all of this, certainly if you are in the construction industry it works wonders to your cv and the learning curve and opportunity for exposure is never ending. If you want to try it out then do so but really try to keep your wallet firmly shut otherwise you will end up there forever and broke. Treat yourself to a posh meal or a big night out once in a while like you would at home but just remember you are not at home - the police take a very dim view on drunken ex-pats and you could end up in jail. If you are offered drugs or go looking for them it is 100% likely you WILL end up in jail. For a minimum of 4 years.
Oh this might as well get a mention - there are an abundance of certian ladies from all corners of the globe that appear in bars alone, and you might meet one seeking company by way of signs of heightened affection towards you. She won't be the resident DJ but she will have you scratching by the end of the night and it will cost you too, tax or no tax. It is illegal there but rife. There are also a lot of double standards in Dubai and the UAE - it may annoy you at times but respect the locals (sometimes hard)and always take the stance that they are right - even if they are wrong. Confrontation with intent to face up to, argue or simply open balanced debate is dismissed in favour of calling the police every time. And you will lose every time.
Friends are made easily but remember this is a very transient place so you may find that the group of friends you establish over a period of time soon move on to pastures new or back home. Once this happens it may be the biggest sign you will ever have to leave. It is hard starting all over again and making new friends once you have an established circle of friends that are no longer there. Maybe not for you but that is what I found though.
A lot of people do adopt the 'two-bob billionaire' status and are to be avoided at all costs as they are invariably rude, two faced and shallow. They will say the most yet know the least. They are easy to spot as they will be in the pub before you talking shop (or sh*t) very loudly on their mobiles in between trying to impress bystanders with their monthly sales figures, new car (usually on finance) or something else equally boring.
Still tempted? Good. Plan to go for a year - your Arabic employment contract (which supercedes everything) lasts for 12 months as a minimum but is sometimes open ended as mine was. Your residence visa lasts for three years but you can cancel it at any time. If you still like it after a year, as I did then do another. Repeat until bored or something better comes along.
Whilst some UAE work experience is good, not many employers will look twice at someone who has overstayed their UAE welcome as their mindset and skill levels becomes too atoned to the UAE. Don't stay less than a year though as the tax man will hit you for everything you have earned, and, if you have frittered everything you have earned whilst there, then its not much fun paying out money you no longer have. If this paints a dim view of the place well I apologise but its all true and lets face it there are hundreds of websites you can visit to learn about the 'glittering metropolis' that is Dubai. I just thought I would provide an insight into actually living there for a relatively long time by Dubai standards! I do hope this is of some use to those thinking about going there - I would recommend go there on holiday first - you will love it. At the end of it on the plane home though, just ask yourself the question - could you live there? I did and as I say I managed 4 years before the above mentioned quirkyness of the place made me decide to seek pastures new.

When comparing salaries to Dubais exchange rates g...

2008-08-17T00:42:00.000-04:00

When comparing salaries to Dubais exchange rates give misleading salary comparisons because they do not reflect salary purchasing power differences. Exchange rates are volatile as they are based on short-term factors and are subject to substantial distortions from speculative movements and government interventions. Salary Purchasing Power Parity (SPPP) is the rate of salary purchasing power given the relative cost of the same basket of goods at the exchange rate versus one US Dollar. SPPP conversions allow cross-country comparisons of salary levels free of salary survey market and exchange rate distortions. For more go to www.xpatulator.com

Thanks. I used a similar approach when deciding to...

2008-08-13T09:23:00.000-04:00

Thanks. I used a similar approach when deciding to move to the US a few years ago. My wife was from here so that made things a lot easier. Still moving to a new country is a big challenge and like you said leave the family home and take an exploration trip. It is definetly worth seeing the place you are going to potentially work/live in person.

For me Dubai or somewhere in Asia is going to be an option in a few years hopefully.

That was a good article. I think anyone who has a ...

2008-08-12T12:35:00.000-04:00

That was a good article. I think anyone who has a chance to work overseas for a few years (or more,) and earn more money, should take that opportunity. Nothing looks better on a resume.
PS: Leave the family at home. Flights leave everyday for Dubai; utilize short visits, that will save a lot of headaches.
Then again there are those who just can't live without their spouse or kids...sigh.

Comments on Saving to Inve$t: Working and Living in Dubai - Is all that glitters...

A well balanced article. I worked there for four y...

When comparing salaries to Dubais exchange rates g...

Thanks. I used a similar approach when deciding to...

That was a good article. I think anyone who has a ...