Cost of Starting a new life in Dubai with the EK package in 2010
Initial / annual set up costs
Car - 10% deposit based on an average cost of Dhs 140,000 4x4 = Dhs 14,000
Furniture - Approx throughout the 1st year (assuming you already have some furniture) = Dhs 10,000
Garden - assuming you get a dead or sand garden = Dhs 4,000 (ranges from 2,000 - 16,000 depending on size)
Car insurance, approx for 1st timer in the UAE, 1st year = Dhs 5,000
Satellite TV, Internet, Gas setup, bottled water & other setup charges= Dhs 500
Kids extra curricular activity deposits/registrations for two activities (swimming, soccer ..etc) = Dhs 600
RTA registration for your car = Dhs 350
Rental car until you get your wheels = Dhs 4,500 (3 weeks @ Dhs 1500/week)
Pre paid SIM card registration x 2 = Dhs 330 (add Dhs 2000 deposit for post paid SIM cards)
Salik (toll) tag registration = Dhs 100
Maid Visa = Dhs 5080
School & PE Uniform for two kids = Dhs 1400
Total = 45960
Recurring monthly costs
Grocery - Dhs 4000
Petrol (assuming school run from the furtherst EK accomodation; DSO & Al Waha) - Dhs 450
School fees top up for two kids - Average Dhs 600 (based on Dhs 200 for non profit schools or 1000 for schools run for profit)
School bus for two kids - Dhs 700
Car loan - Dhs 1,800
2 Extra curricular activities for 2 kids - Dhs 550 (swimming Dhs 600 per term, football 450 per term, 3 terms a year)
Phone bill to call home - Dhs 750 (this is very conservative if you don't have Skype)
Internet - Dhs 250 (1 mbps line, unlimited)
Satellite or cable (one tier above the basic) - Dhs 350
Mobile phone charges for two - Dhs 150
Travel - Avergage of 8 ID90 Y class staff tickets per year (4 to the Europe & 4 to Far East) - Dhs 360
Gardener - Dhs 250
Maid - Dhs 1000 (averaged from Sri Lankan & Filipino)
Personal loan repayment (assuming you took a personal loan to pay for the set up cost of Dhs 45960 @ 5% over three years) = 1420
Total = Dhs 12,630 or USD 3450
Nursery fees for ONE child (not covered) - Dhs 1500 (Dhs 6000 per term)
Total for family with kids under school age = 14,130 or USD 3860
Remember that the figures are on the conservative side
Maid costs can replace cost of part time cleaners @ Dhs 30/hour for 4 hours a visit twice a week.
That is over half your salary and we have not considered the items below.
The following are not included and will increase your costs significantly:
A meal out with the wife and kids - Dhs 200 average for a family restaurant
A meal with the wife and a bottle of wine - Dhs 350
Movies - Dhs 120 per visit for 4 @ Dhs 30 per ticket
The odd coffee at Costa
Liqour license - Dhs 160
Liqour purchases - Beer x 24 cans Dhs 150-240, Wines Dhs 30-100 per bottle before 30% tax
Pharmacy medicine
Pressents for Christmas and birthdays
Birthday parties - Dhs 1000 - 3000 for 12 kids depending on extravagance
Christmas, Easter, Halloween and other festive expenses
Clothes
Concerts
Dubai Tennis Championship
Rugby 7's
Dubai World Cup
Overseas trip expenses (excluding staff travel tickets)
DEWA utility cap
E-Gate Card (immigration e-card)
UAE ID card Dhs 100 per year
Inflation of 10% per year based groceries only.