Originally Posted by
Fuzuma
Gents/Ladies,
Please excuse me if this has already been covered, or is an ignorant question. Why would one choose to remain in company accommodation for years, worrying about being moved around as the company feels fit, putting in your own "improvements" at your expense, only to have to remove these improvements when moving. Why would one not take the allowance offered and put it towards your own property in DXB, that way at least you're not living in fear of being uprooted, are using your own cash to improve your own home, and have something to show in an investment for the years spent in DXB?
At the risk of upsetting most people:
Why not invest in a property of your own? Because you have to put a deposit of your own money into a property in a 3rd world country in the most unstable region on earth. The quality is terrible and the materials worth nothing. The price of the property is pure speculation not true value.... Sure, you could double your money as happened in the early part of the century - but you could also lose everything - the bubble has burst and the huge risks outweigh the benefits these days... Most guys don't have spare cash for high-risk ventures unfortunately...
If renting, a family villa will set you back more than your allowance and you also have bills on top plus the threat of eviction still exists.
It's a double-edged sword I'm afraid. You stick with company accommodation and get shafted, or you risk your own hard-earned savings in a false economy.
Personally I would stick with the company accommodation and send as much cash home as possible. Good luck whatever you choose.