The 52,000AED quoted is perhaps little low. DXB Tower and Approach are closer to circa 40,000AED/month (+/- depending on experience) not including housing allowance. Housing is either paid annually in a lump sum (Serco) or monthly (DANS) and equates to 210,000AED per year. DANS contracts pay higher annual travel allowances (business class to point of hire rather than Economy for Serco).
Schooling allowance is 60,000 per child for Serco but a little more for DANS. I think it's 2 children with Serco or 3 for DANS. Schooling allowances haven't been increased for many years and are now well below what's needed - especially if you have multiple children. Expect to pay considerably out of your own pocket the older they get.
There are pros and cons that are not number related as to which contract is better, but that's personal choice.
Turnover of staff has increased over the last couple of years for a number of reasons, which I won't go in to, but significantly there are opportunities now in other countries that weren't there before and some have chosen to take them. ATCOs leaving, particularly from Approach, is much higher than average with more to go before the end of the year. But it's not just Dubai that are hurting, there are shortages everywhere. The problem is finding the solutions to retaining and attracting quality ATCOs - and that can only be with better incentives, money being the most effective.
RD