John Kushiner left a comment wondering how far 100 dirhams will go in Dubai. Things like restaurants and food are much cheaper here than in Ireland. ‘Sin’ goods like alcohol and pork seem to have taxes added on, while most other things are tax free. There are also no income taxes here.
Money goes much further here than at home – taxis are extremely cheap, clean and usually have friendly drivers. Though if they know you are new to the city they will drive the longest way possible to your destination, though I guess the same goes for most cities. A bottle of water will set you back about 20 cents, which is a great deal cheaper than Ireland. One would think water in Ireland would be cheaper than in a desert kingdom, perhaps the economist readers can enlighten me on that one?
I took a picture of a price list at the Lebanese bakery I was at last night (quite drunk I was too). This was a fast food place so it is pretty cheap, but some of the higher class restaurants are still reasonable, in many of the 4/5 star hotels a nice meal would set you back about 50 – 70 dirhams, which is alot cheaper than Ireland.
Girish,
Sorry for the late reply.
For clarification, The part time you referred to in the artical is only meant for people/employees who can not work for long hours and would like to work short time (part time) and that MUST be for the same employer only. it is not however applicable for regular employee who needs to work more hours at weekends for different employer.
If you get employey by a company in the UAE that means the company will sponsor you and you must work for that company only (the company will issue a visa on your passport showing your name and the employer name)and it is illegal to work for other companies as part time.
I hope that gives you a clear idea.
Cheers
Traveller
Girish,
Sorry for the late reply.
For clarification, The part time you referred to in the artical is only meant for people/employees who can not work for long hours and would like to work short time (part time) and that MUST be for the same employer only. it is not however applicable for regular employee who needs to work more hours at weekends for different employer.
If you get employed by a company in the UAE that means the company will sponsor you and you must work for that company only (the company will issue a visa on your passport showing your name and the employer name)and it is illegal to work for other companies as part time.
I hope that gives you a clear idea.
Cheers
Traveller
Hi Traveller,
I’m currently working as a software developer (c#, .net) in UK with a total of about 6 years experience in the field. I’m considering moving to Dubai. What kind of salary can I expect as a software developer with 6 years experience. Also, is there a lot of demand for software developers in Dubai?
Thanks a lot for your time.
Farhan
Hi Traveller,
I believe you are one of the most reliable person who can answer questions regarding cost f living in Dubai, many others on the net were more interested to offer services rather than helping.
I have jusr received an offer with a pckage that includes housing and car, visa and health as well. The salary minus all those are at a range of 10k AED.
From what I read in your others answers it is no recommended amount for a single person to move if would like to maintain reasonable European lifestyle.
What would then be the right amount to negotiate for if the employer really need resources and a person with 4 years working experience could possible ask for high range?
Hi Traveller,
Thanks for your reply.
Ok, I guess that makes sense. I’m in Sharjah right now, work place is in Dubai. Commuting is 40 mins everyday to Dubai, since the traffic is not much during early hours. During the evening takes a little while more.
Any advice for me now that I’m here, what to spend on and what not to?
Hi traveller
I got a job offer in ETA Ascon group in Abu Dhabi. I am single and have been 11000 dhs per month including all. After six months it will be increased to 12000 dhs. How much can i save per month? Can i take the offer? Please assist me
Farhan, sorry for my late reply. I was travelling on business trips.
you should be looking for a salary of at least 25,000 Dirhams a month if you are single.
if you are married you should be looking for at least 35000 Dirhams a month.
there are many software developers here on very cheap salaries but you get what a better package if you are from Europe.
Cheers
Traveller
MoveDK
Sorry for my late reply.
sure you should be looking for a higher salary. do not be deluded by the offer of other benifits like rent and cars as many companies will offer shared accomodation (4 or more in one room) yes in one room.
I would recommend a salary for at least 20000 + other benifits or a final salary of 25000 and you choose the area where you would like to rent.
Cheers
Traveller
Girish
it is up to you mate what you would like to spend your money on.
I suggest you only spend what you need and save as much as you can.
Cheers
Traveller
Kiran
I strongly advise you NOT to accept less than 20000 Dirhams in AbuDhabi. Trust me it is very expensive in the UAE.
Good luck in negotiating a better offer.
Cheers
Traveller
Dear all
General info to all of you.
I know you might get an offer for a job iun the UAE that the salary seems very attractive when you compare it to what you would earn in your country. HOWEVER, I must say that the UAE is very expensive country and the rent is a major loss when you come to save.
Do Not compare the salary here to whatever you earn in your country because you will be paying for many things here even for driving your car on specific roads.
Food can be pricy in some areas/shopping malls.
as a non UAE national you must register you children (if you have any) in private schools and that is very very very expensive.
Rent – don’t tell me about this as it is mad when you think I pay twice for my appartment here in Dubai as I pay half the rent back home in London in the UK. (this is of course depending on the area).
singles who are offered accomodation for free in the UAE – my first advice is that you MUST ask your employer if it is shared accomodation and how many people you are going to be living with in ONE room. try to get this in writing. I am saying this because most of employers who offer free accomodation get you a bed in one room that is shared by other 5 or even greater number of other people in the same room.
Good luck
Traveller
Thanks very much traveller. will negotiate with the employer.
Hi Traveller,
Right on!! Just spending on my food, phone and transport which is amounting to something which I hadn’t expected, so no saving for me for atleast 6 months :)
I am having a job offer in Dubai with around 4500 AED per month.The accomodation is provided by the company in Sharjah and the company is located in Dubai Internet City.The employer is saying to increase the salary by 500-1000 AED in six months or so.What exactly is the expanse on food day vise if one eats from reasonably genuine restaraunt and not 4-5 star hotels.I am already working in gurgaon in an MNC.I eat non-veg on casual basis.Please suggest whether i should take this offer or not.
Really excellent website. Learned a few things that I didn’t even know.
Keep up the good work! :-)
Hi Karun.
Please look at previuos posts above and you will see all the answers to similar questions.
in short, AED 4500 is not a good salary and you will be expecting to share accomodation with a few individuals in one room.
Cheers
Traveller
Dear Traveller,
I heard that nowadays the rent cost decrease dramatically due to the global crisis,so please I would like to know the effect of the crisis on the prices in Dubai, (accomodation,Petrol,food,Entertainment,…)
Thanks…
Dear Traveller,
Presently I am working in Oil and Gas Company in India as a CA. I have an offer from Sharjah for an all inclusive salary of USD 70,000 PA. I am married and have one child.
Please suggest.
dear traveller
You are a terrific resource !!!
my office is in Jumeriah lake towers and i have have a 75,000 AED annual Home rent allowance. ( given by my employer)
can i get a good 2 bhk apartment anywhere close by ???
pls let me know the areas i should look at . Also whats the procedure for getting an apartment on rent in dubai ?
pls do guide
Thanks & regards
Ganesh
Mindo,
Hi
Thanks for your question.
I would say the rent has indeed decreases about 20%. However, everything else appear to be the same.
cheers
Traveller
sumit mittal
Hi
Thanks for your message.
US$70000 is a reasonable salary but not enough if you really want to live in a very nice accomodation in a nice area and also if you would like to get your child in a private school. However, I am not sure (as you have not explained) if this salary includes accomiodation allownece, car, schools etc but if the employer pays you extra then it is worth it.
Cheers
Traveller
I suggest you
Ganesh
Hi
Thanks for your comments.
you can get 2 bedrooms apartments around your office. you need to be looking in the following areas: Al Barsha, Um Suqeem, Marina, Discovery Gardens. you can also look in the JLT area. of course there are many other areas.
I must warn you that although the rent in Dubai has dropped a bit but you will find it very hard to get 2 bed aparment for less than AED100K.
the procedure is simple. you need to look on this website and chose Dubai as the city and narrow your search accordingly. call the tel no. of the estate agents and they will ask you to go to their office to sign the yearly contract – you will need to ask them what documents they require from you.
the website is http://www.gnads4u.com you will also be able to look for cars here too.
Good luck
Traveller
Ganesh,
I though I should clarify more………….
I meant – I must warn you that although the rent in Dubai has dropped a bit but you will find it very hard to get 2 bed aparment for less than AED100K in the areas near JLT. but you will be able to get a 2 beds apartment in other areas but it will be far from your work and will not be of a good standard.
I hope that helps.
Cheers
Traveller
Hi Traveller,
Could you please tell me if I would be able to rent a studio in Dubai not in El Sharjah with AED 50,000 per year after the fall prices due to the global crisis,
Thanks
Hi again,
I have a question that is a little different in nature. I have secured a job already and I am quite satisfied with the package, but my company has now submitted my papers in for a work permit and I don’t have a degree. I however, have a lot of experience in the respective field and a few Diplomas and Certificates in various other fields.
Is the UAE government very strict in giving work permits, especially to workers without a formal education?
Thanks for your help!
Dear Afreen
This is not such…..
If you have got the offer, then everything should be ok now…..
Work permit should be a mere formality now…..
Hey i think we have interacted earlier…… right???
All the best….see you sen in Dubai soon
Hi Mindo
Thanks for your question
you will be pleased to know that the rens has dropped average 30%.
in some areas you will be able to rent a studio for as low as AED35,000 a year. look in the Gulf News online and you will see many studios advertised there.
for AED50,000 you should be able to get fairly good area.
Good luck.
Traveller
I would like to go to UAE on seeking some clerical job what do you suggest?
Hey Vickey,
Thank you so much for the reassurance, I was really stressed out about the Work Visa.
Yes, we have interacted a few weeks priorly and I found you as helpful then as you are now. You have no idea how grateful I am to have someone iron out the difficulties in the whole process of coming to Dubai. Thank you once more.
Take care!
Dear Afreen
Also just make sure that you get your educational certificates ( your highest diploma/other relavant certificates) attested by the UAE embassy in your home country. My guess is tat u would be from India / Pakistan….well your name suggests that……
Take care and see you in Dubai…..
Hi Vickey,
Yes, I got my Certificate attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here. I think that is the procedure and not through the UAE Embassy here?
No, I am neither from India nor from Pakistan, but from East Africa. Don’t go by names, they can be deceptive!
You take care too…
Hi Traveller,
I get a job in the internet city, my monthly salary will be 15000aed. I will be looking for a studio around, do u have an idea of the cost of housing in this vicinity; also is this sallary ok for living in dubai.
Hi Magy
Thanks for yourt message
the cheapest Studio will be in International City or Discovery Gardens areas. but you have to use a car to get to anf from work.
your salary is very less if you want a very good living standard but it should be OK if you do not spend very much. it really depends on you and how you want to live.
Cheers
Traveller
Hi Magy
after you come to Dubai look in the Gulf News property section and you will see many ads for Studios. http://www.gnads4u.com/
Good luck
Traveller
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hi Traveller,
M plannin to study in BITS Dubai….(undergraduate programme)..
could u plz assist me with normal expenses excludin accomodation s i’ll be stayin in hostel……..nd what do u think abt BITS Dubai..?
Please pprise me withe deatils of average cost of 01 bed room rented accomodation.Wat is the rest cost of living and kids education!!!!!
Hi Traveller,
I am offered a job in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in one German enterprise selling garage doors (Hormann) with a sallary of 12500AED NET monthly.
From the firm say that they will cover my travel expenses but not the accomodation (the person with who I am corresponding and who will be my boss said that we could find a one room studio for an about 1000AED monthly, I know this guy for an about 5 years so i can trust him)
My first question is should i go knowing the fact that i have a 10 year experience in this business and my other question is weather it is good or not for my wife to come with me. She has a great experience in hotel managment (over 10 years as manager in big hotels in our home country – Bulgaria) but she hasn’t been searching for job. Will she find any easy?
Could you tell me exact numbers for the living costs in Dubai (like food, traveling, life costs etc.)
Thank You in advance
Sory Traveller i have a little spelling mistake in the previous post the rent for the studio is not 1000AED but 5000AED monthly
Thanks again
Gaurav
unfortunately, I am the wrong person to ask about Education in Dubai as I have no idea.
cost of living I would say avarage for a student is 3000 Dirhams a month excluding accommodation, however this really depends on the individual and how you live. some people have cars, drink alcohol, go out a lot which means you will spend more than 10,000 dirhams a month but if you dont do any of that then 3000 or less is just about right.
Cheers
Traveller
Arjun
if you are talking about Dubai that means you will be looking to spend 50,000 to 120,000 Dirhams a year for a one bedroom apartment but this really depends on the area.
if you are married with one child then schools again will depend on which school, school fees would be about 12,000 dirhams a year for the cheap school and 50,000 for a good school,
you should be looking at spending about 4000 to 10000 a month for living but this could be double depending on how you live.
Cheers
Traveller
Ivo,
Thanks for the details question.
my honest answer to you is that the salary is not very good for someone with 10 years experience. and also if you have your wife with you then you will expect to spend more aas Dubai is not cheap. if your wife can work and earn a salary similar to yours then that would be very good but it is not easy for her to get work. the situation in Dubai is changing and is getting abit hard for employees.
food and drinks, going out, having cars for you and your wife which is a must because your wife will not be able to walk 10 meters in the summer if she does not have a car – all of that will cost you about 4000-7000 a month + the accommodation cost. but again, if she can work then it would help alot.
I hope that helps.
Cheers
Traveller
yes
I am planning to move to Dubai with family. I have a 7 yr old kid. I would like to know is it compulsory in school to study Arabic for foreign students. How do expat family cope with this issue.
Also I would like to know rent around airport locality.
Thanks.
Dear Traveller,
I am in the process of being offered a job in Dubai. I am married and my wife may not work once we move from India. Considering that I would be the only person working, would like to understand the cost of living in Dubai. We like to lead a comfortable lifestyle hence our expenses might be a little higher than normal. Would like to know the costs for the following:
- 2 BHK apartment near Dubai Internet City
- Household expenses (cable, internet, telephone, grocries etc)
- Approx cost of a new car – like a Toyota Camry (assuming I pay a monthly EMI)
- Petrol (assume frequent travel since my job requires that)
- Maid if I can get one to do cleaning
- Health Insurance required if any for hospitilization etc
I am not sure if there is anything else required, but what could be a descent salary to save around 6-7K AED per month
Thanks for your help.
Arun
you can get schools that only teach in English. Arabic is not required.
Cheers
Traveller
Vinod
the short answer for you is that, if you want to live a good life style and have everything you mentioned you should be having a salary of between 30,000 and 40,000 dirhams a month.
I hope that helps
Cheers
Traveller
I’m into insurance sector and have total of 3 years experience. what salary can i expect provided my salary in india is 45,000Rs net monthly(excluding tax cuts)..can you suggest the amount i should bargain for?
Recently I got a job in Dubai with a package of 11500 AED ,with this i need to search an accomodation too.I am having 4 years of experience in Telecom side and iam an engineering graduate.Please somebody suggest me about the cost of living over there and my main motto is to save the money . So please somebody suggest me on this and I am from South India
DEAR ALL
I HAD GOT THE JOB OFFER FROM A GGOD COMPANY IN ABU DHABI 14000 UAD PER MONTH. COMPANY WILL PROVED ME STUDIO TYPE APPERTMENT WITH 4500 UAD LESS FROM MY SALERY. CHILDERN EDUCATION COMPANY WILL GIVE MY 12000 PER CHILD /YEAR. IT THAT GOOD PLAESE ADVICE I HAD 48HRS TO DECIDED
rao_v
my advice to you is that your salary is very low.
you will really struggle a lot if you accept the offer. There are people who accept less than 14000 but trust me most of them are struggling and some of them regret accepting low salary because this country is very expensive.
only petrol and cigarettes are a little bit cheap.
Cheers
Traveller