SaSless
You are quite right some ME operators are behind the 8 ball when it comes to dollars. 50 k is not near enough to go without Ham sammys and beer for a year. Some companys in the US pay that as a retainer before you even fly and get your hourly rate. The great line of tax free income is just that- a great line, it is only tax free at source of income if you have Mum and the rugrats back home and therefore meet residence status in your home country you pay your tax there. And even if you are single and go to Saudi for a year then return home in most countrys you havent been away long enough and the tax man will still want his cut.
Everywhere you go in this part of the world there are is still tax
Tax for service charges in resturants -municipality charges etc- they still get you.
Cost of living is high too so even in country those bucks go no where, go to the supermarket for a weekly shop and stand back! it anit cheap.
Still other things make up for the low pay and cost of living such as -- umm arrr arrr umm I will think about and get back to you