Moving to the Middle East
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Living in Dubai
On some posts I have seen, it says that in Dubai (with EK) a family with several kids can "just" get by, much less save any money. What is it about living in Dubai that one can barely scrape by on $70-80K USD a year when housing is provided?
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Where Dubai was once a quite nice place to live, an attitude that can only be described as unbridled greed has overtaken the place. The cost of living is enormously high, and if you have two children at school, you won't have much left over each month from an FO's wage, even if you're careful with your money.
I know for a fact that quite a few Indians on what would be called middle incomes have sent their families home and moved into bachelor accommodation. There are even stories (obviously, not confirmed), that some are now living in their cars and renting ten minutes of shower time daily in compatriates' flats, as they simply can't afford a shared flat any more.
I thought these stories were urban myths, but a week or two ago, I went out to the airport to pick my wife up from a flight. The flight was a bit late, so I parked near the cargo village - (the cops move you on if you park anywhere near the terminal) - to wait for her to call me as she got her bag. In the car park where I parked, there were at least four men sleeping in their cars immediately around the spot I had parked in.
I know for a fact that quite a few Indians on what would be called middle incomes have sent their families home and moved into bachelor accommodation. There are even stories (obviously, not confirmed), that some are now living in their cars and renting ten minutes of shower time daily in compatriates' flats, as they simply can't afford a shared flat any more.
I thought these stories were urban myths, but a week or two ago, I went out to the airport to pick my wife up from a flight. The flight was a bit late, so I parked near the cargo village - (the cops move you on if you park anywhere near the terminal) - to wait for her to call me as she got her bag. In the car park where I parked, there were at least four men sleeping in their cars immediately around the spot I had parked in.
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 0
From: "como todo buen piloto... mujeriego y borracho"
I hate to say it, but FlyingCroc summed up perfectly my impressions of Egypt, which I also visited as a tourist. Although I am widely travelled and home is an underdeveloped "third world" country, it left such a bad taste in my mouth that I am not even sure I would return as a tourist again, much less live there. Near the end, I didn't even want to talk to anybody anymore. A constant fight all the way. It really brings out the ugliness in a person. I have a few Egyptian friends, but Cairo is a hard-core experience.
MTOW, thanks for the general info. If you feel up to it, could you give more details.
