The amount paid for dewa (dubai electricity and water authority) may or may not cover the costs depending on where you live. If at DSO with a large backyard it wont cut it. If in a place with small/no backyard its fine. From HR, average throughout EK accom was AED19700 per year, average throughout DSO was Aed35000 (these figures were at time of EK breaking the contract wrt dewa charges). The reason being that most EK accom has no garden, is in a highrise apartment or if it did have a garden the water for it was covered under the lease. Remember of course before the company made $US1billion profit last year all dewa was covered in your contract.
The FO basic is Aed24100. And it is the reason we all received a 6% pay rise this year, but no increment rise. The FO basic rate was raised to match that of EY, it amounted to a 6% increase, so thats what we all got. The increment rise was stopped to make sure we didn't get a 9% increase. So if you can join by the end of Mar 2011 you will be on the same pay as someone who joined the beginning of April 2008.
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The Don