vickster: re medicals
congrats on getting ek.
not sure about medical costs(differ from doctor to doctor) but I have mentioned before about the audiogram. I know you can now get this done at the opticians. My daughter got hers done at our local one, but i know Specsavers do them. When my daughter had hers done they were free, so hopefully they still are,and this might save you a little. She also had to pay for her chest xray as our GP was not very helpful and wouldn't say on the form that she'd had a chest infection so needed an xray! She hadn't had an infection, but that's beside the point,he he. if he'd said it, she could have had it done on the NHS. I think that cost us £60.
I hope this is of some help? Good luck with the medicals, I know they can seem like a lot of money and take forever, but once the're done it wont be long till your in Dubai.
Wishing you all the best for your future career with Ek,
mother hen.