The US Dollar Index is a measure of the USD against a basket of currencies. (EUR, JPY, CHF, CAD, GBP, SEK) It is a reasonably good way to look at the USD. (The Trade Weighted Dollar is probably better from a Global perspective)
The USD Index has dropped from 120 to 75.3 today over the past decade. A devaluation of 38%
In the past year it has dropped from 85 to 75. A devaluation of 12%.
When it drops fastest is when the UAE experiences the greatest inflation. It is the slope of the graph that indicates this.
UAE inflation was at 12.8% (Government Figure) in 2007-2008. Independent analysts had it a lot higher.
The graph of the US Index is steeper now that it was in the 2007-2008 and anyone who goes into the supermarket regularly would have recognised the big surge in prices.
The 8% payrise has not covered the loss in value of the Dirham over the past 12 months. You were better off after the last pay review.
We await news on increases to hourly pay, education allowances, phone allowance, accommodation, overtime, and callout.
Hopefully these will put the total package percentage higher.
Prices are going up. Rentals and Property are starting to rise too. (Aided by a flood of Egyptian, Libyan and Syrian money)
One only has to look at the increase in petrol prices over the past year to see that 8% is a joke. Petrol went up 23% in the last year!