quite simple, if you have been in the same company a lot of years, and you suddenly have the opportunity to try something else without any loss off seniority, you go.
Salary is not important, its the chance to try something completly different, to learn who the the arabs are, the warm climate etc.
And at no cost for me, I resume my normal job when I am done here.
Since my last mail, things has changed a little. It appears now, that the contract after all will be a valid paper.