EK Accommodation Allowance

[Macarto]

Is EK Accommodation allowance still offered on the table or is housing not provided and allowances not an option?

How much of Accomodation allowance is offered and is it possible to stay in the city with that allowance

[GillEx737]

Accommodation allowance is still available and housing can still be provided as far as I'm aware? Rent prices aren't too bad in Dubai at the moment so staying in the city no issue - depending on what you're looking for! Cost of living otherwise is going up though.

[felixthecat]

When you join you choose to live in or take the live out allowance. If you decide to live in you then cannot change your mind and take the live out allowance.

Rent is cheaper than it was, but still expensive. Depends on where you want to live and to what standard.

[sandsthrudahrglass]

live out allowance not available for current employees unless you purchase a property, however it is available to new joiners regardless of if they rent or buy

[Craggenmore]

If you live in company accommodation and they suddenly cancel your company accommodation (3 months notice for me...) then you will also be offered the live out allowance.

[Macarto]

Thank you all. Any places to recommend to stay in Dubai, would like a compromise between living near the city and the airport.

[GillEx737]

Thank you all. Any places to recommend to stay in Dubai, would like a compromise between living near the city and the airport.

Depends what you're looking for - family places, close to schools?

[Macarto]

Depends what you're looking for - family places, close to schools?

Single, close to the city with amenities nearby. Near to the airport

[GillEx737]

Well you're never really too far from either but as a single guy - maybe downtown/business bay area/WTC area? If that's too 'inner city' try looking at silicon oasis/healthcare city.

[Jet II]

Downtown is the place to be for a single guy - DSO is the 'burbs..

[Macarto]

Downtown is the place to be for a single guy - DSO is the 'burbs..

Is Dubai Marina called downtown? Is there a specific name for the place downtown?

[Joker11]

Thank you all. Any places to recommend to stay in Dubai, would like a compromise between living near the city and the airport.

Mirdif is a good option. If you don't mind the noise of the planes.

[Jet II]

Is Dubai Marina called downtown? Is there a specific name for the place downtown?

The Marina used to be the place to live (I was there :ok:) but I think it now has been overtaken by Downtown - that is the area around the Burj Khalifa and the Old Town. I know a few single guys who moved out of the Marina to Downtown simply because it is nearer the airport and the traffic is better, the Marina can get gridlocked. Just watch that you dont get too close to the fountains as the music every 30 minutes can start to get annoying.

[nolimitholdem]

Unless you live in an all-expat area you're gonna get blasted by "music" five times a day anyway. If you're really lucky, like one of my former colleagues before they were forcibly moved to Meydan, maybe from three or four directions at once. :cool:

[smokin aces]

hi guys what would you recommend for someone shifting with family,looking for something close to good schools and airport.....Thanks

[Odins Raven]

Is Dubai Marina called downtown? Is there a specific name for the place downtown?

Downtown has always been Deira in my book. Some very reasonable rental rates there I would assume. And grocery shopping much cheaper, try your hand at haggling over a bag of rice straight off a Dhow from Bandar Abbas - you’ll save a significant amount of Dirhams compared to Waitrose.

[Dubaian]

Macarto not sure what you are looking for by way of 'amenities'. Most apartment blocks rented by expats (other than those from the 3rd world) will have a gym and a pool. Downtown, as others have said, is around the Burg. Handy for the Metro and Fibber McGees and McGettigans (Irish style 'pubs'). Dubai Mall has all the shops you could ever need incl Waitrose + ice rink, multi-screen cinemas etc.

Business Bay is more or less next door to Downtown and a little bit quieter but might suit. No major shopping malls but a few choice watering holes. Try the Eloquent Elephant in the Taj Hotel.

The Marina is quite a bit further from DXB ( but closer to the 'new' airport if that matters. ) Not the best spot for car owners because of traffic and the tower blocks are too close together for my comfort - given how often they've become towering infernos. Close to Mall of the Emirates for shopping, cinemas and skiing (indoors in the big fridge)

Hope you find somewhere that suits you

[Townie]

No mortgage details required to be given to EK.

Obviously, whether the allowance will cover your loan or not depends on the amount borrowed, but for a modest place you should find it sufficient.

Home Matters is a mortgage advisor that many have used, and their website has an online calculator (lot's of other calculators out there will work fine). Count on about 5% interest, and there are no fixed rates for the full term like you may be used to at home. The repayment will be fixed for budgetary purposes, but the rate at which it pays of the principal can vary.

25% down required, and mortgage cannot extend beyond your 65th birthday.

Under the present freeze, Accommodation Department may want to see a Title Deed in your name prior to releasing the money. Think the allowance is still available to new joiners, so be wary of "checking-in" to permanent accommodation if you're thinking of using some of their money in the interim. EK will release you an advance of up to 6 months. Suppose it's fine if you're buying ready for occupancy place, but if you buy off plan it may be frustrating. Property completion and handover dates here are notoriously optimistic. Even if you drive by and see it sitting there complete, there's no guarantee it is ready or will be ready imminently.

[felixthecat]

25% down required,



The 25% is the minimum, however,you will find with all the various fee's etc that you will have to pay that you will need to budget in the region of 35% of the property value

[AERO75]

I doubt purchasing a property here, is a good deal at the moment. Even if you put your allowance in, which the company pays for you, it is still tough to take a profit back home years later. Reasons for this: oversupply, community fees, Eibor increase, future tax maybe, .........

Dont forget buying a property, will also not increase your flexibility, in case you wanna leave.

[Yorkshire_Pudding]

I doubt purchasing a property here, is a good deal at the moment. Even if you put your allowance in, which the company pays for you, it is still tough to take a profit back home years later. Reasons for this: oversupply, community fees, Eibor increase, future tax maybe, .........

Dont forget buying a property, will also not increase your flexibility, in case you wanna leave.

I believe HSBC and Emirates NBD offer mortgage products that don't require you to remain resident in the UAE, allowing you to keep and rent out the property should you decide to leave. I think you can maintain a UAE resident visa without employment here if the property value is in excess of 1M dhs?

I agree, you won't have much change left from the allowance (FO) each month after mortgage, life insurance, community fees, municipality tax, dewa, repairs (AC repairs in particular), and so on, unless you buy a small apartment. And this assumes you had the large deposit required in cash. But for me at the time, buying was the only way to enjoy living in Dubai and make it feel like home.