If you are single, with no kids, and are frugal like you say, you still need to switch those numbers around. Dubai is a really expensive city, especially for food and drinks. Don't forget you don't get free travel here except 1 ticket a year to an EK destination (this is known as your annual leave ticket) There are also all sorts of little hidden fees like the tolls on the roads, UAE ID card fees, and pricey costs to transfer money home just to name a few. I would say you will spend $50-60 a year and save $20-30, and thats if you are frugal with your money. If you have kids, well, you are going to stuggle to save. Dubai has a way of taking your money at every turn. You can save a bunch more money here than you ever could at a regional, but not near as much as you might think. Throw in all the other stuff such as fatigue, working like a slave (90 hours here is way way more difficult than 90 hours at a regional with the time changes and general environment here) frustration of daily life, and your general lack of rights here, and I would say you're better to touch it out and wait for the majors to pick up hiring in the next couple years. Just my 2 cents.