Truth about working for Emirates.
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Doctor's waiting room
Posts: 769
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Like with many things in life, you find different points of view among a group of people. To anyone thinking of coming, Dubai is what you make it. The happier guys along with their family members that are here are the ones that have embraced Dubai and have called it home. You have got to make that fundamental 'mind shift' for you to be happy here or else you will end up commuting or will want to leave, regardless of who you work for out here. There is a lot of bureaucracy and 'job creation' in this part of the world and getting things done can sometimes be painfully slow and frustrating but I have a far better quality of life here than I had back in the UK.
One thing that has given me an element of concern is if you buy property and you loose your medical then what would you do then? If you can stay gainfully employed on the ground then that is a bonus but if not and you had to leave, then you are at the mercy of the bank allowing you to leave the UAE and settling the outstanding mortgage from wherever you ended up moving to? I have heard the latter happen on one occasion to one lucky chap but I would consider that the exception rather then the rule? Especially considering how uneasy they are with cancelling your visa with outstanding debt, still to pay in the country.
One thing that has given me an element of concern is if you buy property and you loose your medical then what would you do then? If you can stay gainfully employed on the ground then that is a bonus but if not and you had to leave, then you are at the mercy of the bank allowing you to leave the UAE and settling the outstanding mortgage from wherever you ended up moving to? I have heard the latter happen on one occasion to one lucky chap but I would consider that the exception rather then the rule? Especially considering how uneasy they are with cancelling your visa with outstanding debt, still to pay in the country.
Last edited by Emma Royds; 20th Sep 2012 at 21:42.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Uh... Where was I?
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sitting, I have become a fan of yours.
I have been thinking about the gold thing. I have only small savings, the first time I have such thing as savings, actually. They are too small to buy a property in my homeland, I don't want to invest in any financial product because, like you, I don't trust the system at all. Problem is that since I started thinking about gold it has risen like a 40%... And now it seems like it is too late...
What options do I have? Where can I place my savings? I feel unease when my only link with my savings is a website.
I also thought about buying property here (that is, taking the risk of a mortgage). I was looking at that option, not to speculate but to live in the place, and hope that in 10 years I will be pocketing my housing allowance and living in my own place. In the timeline, there would be a few years of great exposure, but less every year, Right? And in about 15 years I would have saved money even if the house sinks in the desert, because I would have payed the same amount if I had just rented all those years. If the house, however, remains there, I can use it or sell it and that would be my saving, for my retirement, or university of my children or whatever.
But I can't leave in DXB anymore. I am moving to AUH. I don't know if property in AUH is a good idea. I mean, would the house be sellable or rentable after 15 years?
I have been thinking about the gold thing. I have only small savings, the first time I have such thing as savings, actually. They are too small to buy a property in my homeland, I don't want to invest in any financial product because, like you, I don't trust the system at all. Problem is that since I started thinking about gold it has risen like a 40%... And now it seems like it is too late...
What options do I have? Where can I place my savings? I feel unease when my only link with my savings is a website.
I also thought about buying property here (that is, taking the risk of a mortgage). I was looking at that option, not to speculate but to live in the place, and hope that in 10 years I will be pocketing my housing allowance and living in my own place. In the timeline, there would be a few years of great exposure, but less every year, Right? And in about 15 years I would have saved money even if the house sinks in the desert, because I would have payed the same amount if I had just rented all those years. If the house, however, remains there, I can use it or sell it and that would be my saving, for my retirement, or university of my children or whatever.
But I can't leave in DXB anymore. I am moving to AUH. I don't know if property in AUH is a good idea. I mean, would the house be sellable or rentable after 15 years?
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Uh... Where was I?
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jungle Driver
This is an internet forum where people writes, but it is not mandatory to read all the posts. I recommend you to read them not in full but one sentence here, another there, and then quickly pass to another post until you find one that interests you. Then you read only those that are relevant to you. Then you will save a lot of time.
This is an internet forum where people writes, but it is not mandatory to read all the posts. I recommend you to read them not in full but one sentence here, another there, and then quickly pass to another post until you find one that interests you. Then you read only those that are relevant to you. Then you will save a lot of time.
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Here
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sittingidly, I agree with most of what you say, however, I would argue that the ME uprisings are not homegrown but are probably the result of western backed terrorists, LIFG and MEK for example, stirring up hate and propaganda in order for the empire builders, we know who they are, to lay claim to the spoils in the violent aftermath.
http://landdestroyer.********.co.uk/...ls-guilty.html
http://landdestroyer.********.co.uk/...ls-guilty.html
Last edited by Threethirty; 23rd Sep 2012 at 18:09.
Join Date: Aug 1998
Location: the ridge where the west commences
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Sitting idly, I have become a fan of yours"
Perhaps simultaneously the funniest and most pathetic thing I have ever read on 'prune.
Reference Matthew 15:14.
Reference Matthew 15:14.
Good evening Microburst2002, thank you for the splendid advice. Have been windering for some time now on how to use Forums such as PPrune. Inshallah it will be easier from now on.....
Join Date: Apr 1999
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There's a whole load of interesting financial and political insights on this thread and I don't want to be a spoil-sport but I am also interested in what the original poster was asking about.
Stuff like pay, salary, benefits etc is all info that can be gleaned from elsewhere but what is harder to put one's finger on is 'Is EK and Dubai for me.' I know that it's a highly subjective and personal question and no single person can give you the answer, all you can do is gather as much information from as many like-minded people as possible and make your own better informed decision.
What concerns me is leaving a stable 'known quantity' job for the unknown, possibly burning bridges in the process. None of us know for sure what the job market will be like in 10-15 years time but it seems as though Europe has had it's day and China and India will be the places of future expansion - not particularly comforting to those who would be comforted with the knowledge that there will be bolt-hole close to home...
So does Dubai have an expiry date? Is it fine for the first few years, but becomes a challenge after 10? How many people currently working there see themselves staying until retirement? How many would jump at the chance of a left-seat job in a stable airline in Europe?
Any insights into these questions would be very interesting. I guess it's aimed at those who have families with them out there. Do those families get sent away to avoid the summer heat, and those that don't - how do the wife and kids cope with the summer holiday blast furnace - enough stuff for them to do? Having done a little research the school situation seems to be a big headache - I must have called 10-15 schools, only 1 gave me ANY hope of finding a place for my kids.
Thanks in advance for the info everyone, much appreciated.
Stuff like pay, salary, benefits etc is all info that can be gleaned from elsewhere but what is harder to put one's finger on is 'Is EK and Dubai for me.' I know that it's a highly subjective and personal question and no single person can give you the answer, all you can do is gather as much information from as many like-minded people as possible and make your own better informed decision.
What concerns me is leaving a stable 'known quantity' job for the unknown, possibly burning bridges in the process. None of us know for sure what the job market will be like in 10-15 years time but it seems as though Europe has had it's day and China and India will be the places of future expansion - not particularly comforting to those who would be comforted with the knowledge that there will be bolt-hole close to home...
So does Dubai have an expiry date? Is it fine for the first few years, but becomes a challenge after 10? How many people currently working there see themselves staying until retirement? How many would jump at the chance of a left-seat job in a stable airline in Europe?
Any insights into these questions would be very interesting. I guess it's aimed at those who have families with them out there. Do those families get sent away to avoid the summer heat, and those that don't - how do the wife and kids cope with the summer holiday blast furnace - enough stuff for them to do? Having done a little research the school situation seems to be a big headache - I must have called 10-15 schools, only 1 gave me ANY hope of finding a place for my kids.
Thanks in advance for the info everyone, much appreciated.
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Europe
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.....
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Earth
Posts: 683
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Come to EK with two buckets....advice given to me.
One for money, the other for all the C R A P that you face at times.
When either one fills up, it's time to leave.
This is my 3rd year, the family bail in June and arrive back late August, we don't do the "buy toys or Friday brunch" thing, we have friends away from EK.
I go to work, do my thing and come home, I am a submarine.
As far as the job goes, the 777 offers lots of variety, some fatiguing trips but my standing bid takes me to a couple of spots on our network that I like but most don't, all in all we, as a family, are happy.
One for money, the other for all the C R A P that you face at times.
When either one fills up, it's time to leave.
This is my 3rd year, the family bail in June and arrive back late August, we don't do the "buy toys or Friday brunch" thing, we have friends away from EK.
I go to work, do my thing and come home, I am a submarine.
As far as the job goes, the 777 offers lots of variety, some fatiguing trips but my standing bid takes me to a couple of spots on our network that I like but most don't, all in all we, as a family, are happy.
Last edited by falconeasydriver; 25th Sep 2012 at 13:53. Reason: Poor punctuation
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Gulf playing Golf
Posts: 1,141
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I did this for a pay cheque before I came here. I am still doing it for a pay cheque. Only this one is better than the one back home. Nothing wrong with that. The romanticism about being a pilot does last the 25 years I have been in the business. Maybe it does for you!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: RSA
Posts: 287
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PayscaleI notice you are " in the gulf playing golf." As a matter
of interest what does a round cost at a decent course and does your emirates
card make it affordable, to play a round say 2-3 per month?
of interest what does a round cost at a decent course and does your emirates
card make it affordable, to play a round say 2-3 per month?
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Earth
Age: 36
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Are there married couples (pilot + cc) in EK? In my previous airline it's possible to have what we call "married roster" or have the same days off. That would make life a lot better away from our homeland, but since most airlines in Brazil don't give their crew this benefit, I started to think it might not be very usual in other countries as well. Is that possible at EK?
For us here, married roster means having ALL flights, days off, reserve, vacations, etc together, which is not possible only if both are flight deck crewmembers, and you don't even have to be married.
Thanks in advance.
For us here, married roster means having ALL flights, days off, reserve, vacations, etc together, which is not possible only if both are flight deck crewmembers, and you don't even have to be married.
Thanks in advance.
Yes there are married couples ( Pilot +CC, CC+CC and at least one pilot+pilot couple) but there is NO accomodation for this in the bidding system, so they just have to do the best they can with bidding.
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: out there somewhere...
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Putt for dough
Yes...with your EPC card there are quite a a few clubs with discounts. Along with the discount coupon book you will no doubt be told about, it adds up to you being able to afford several rounds per month...
FORE!
LC
FORE!
LC