Expatriate Forums in Abu Dhabi (UAE)

USPilot · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 5:13 am Post subject: Moving to Abu Dhabi next week.

Moving over from the US. Just a few questions before I take the "leap"

First of all wondering about housing, my company is offering me 90,000 Dirhams per year for housing cost, is this going to be enough? How hard is it to find something in this price range.

Second of all I am going to be paid 31,195 per month. Is it reasonable to think that I can live decently on this salary? I am having a hard time finding any information on the "cost" of living here.

Any answers or advice would be helpful, I am very excited to come and work here.

888 · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 10:26 am Post subject:

Answer to all your questions is NO.

USPilot · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 5:50 pm Post subject:

Any explanation? What should I ask for?

I should have specified. I am single and coming over alone. Is this really a bad pay or are you just giving me a hard time. Should have added in that I am a pilot and the days that I am working I will be receiving 350 AED per day for 'expenses"

888 · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 12:54 pm Post subject:

Hmmm...ok - it's ok then.

Not giving you a hard time. Any salary less than mine is not good a salary in my opinion Smile

But actually, you will get by and lead a luxurious life with that salary package.

HT · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 10:15 pm Post subject:

30000 is a good salary, you'd easily life off that as everything here is cheap cheap, EXCEPT for accommodation.

Three things wrong with accommodation,
firstly many places charge 1 year in advance,
secondly 90000 will probably get you a 1 bedroom apartment,
thirdly availability is very very very limited

I'd probably trade in some basic salary and ask for a higher accommodation allowance. Somewhere around 150,000 plus also factor in annual rent increase of 7%, and if you change your lease, you could find that rent might go up by around 20%pa in abu dhabi due to the shortage in accommodation.

SG12 · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 11:11 pm Post subject:

Hi 888

I have read a few of your posts and you definately know Abu Dhabi, out of curiosity what field do you work in and how much experience do you have? You seem like your on a great wicket so just geeting a feel for when i go back to AUH.

Thanks