We spent over 10 years at the EK gig. It was fine but the job definitely has a shelf life. Dubai just wears you down after awhile. The initial three years are fine, though you won't save nearly as much money as you hoped. The next three you start making more money (or in the good old days of 3 years to command you did) and you cruise a bit....more slack in the budget for trips abroad to make life more palatable. The last years, for us, were a grind. Schedules worse, chronic fatigue, sick kids all the time, spiralling education and food costs. Summers as a family apart. Staying in Dubai for the length of the hot season is suicidal for your wife and absolute shyte for your kids. They will see the inside of the villa, the inside of the neighbor's villa, the inside of the car and the inside of the mall. Mind-numbing and soul destroying after awhile. It all comes down to the morning when you look in the mirror and realize that you are doing all this for a pay cheque and nothing else.....