Duty Free Not So Free as of May 1
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Despite your vexations toward me, I wish you all the best going forward.
Last edited by The Outlaw; 24th Apr 2018 at 08:32.
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Gents, Ladies,
Don’t panic, calm down. The reason for the charges is clear. The pay rise and profit share will be so big you won’t be able to spend all your money so they are putting in place a framework to help.👍😉
Don’t panic, calm down. The reason for the charges is clear. The pay rise and profit share will be so big you won’t be able to spend all your money so they are putting in place a framework to help.👍😉
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It's already there.....10% of the value of your purchase (excludes offers/promotions) in the beverage of your choice!
There are a few other Companies springing up that even deliver, all legit. One's near AD border. Just need to have your licence as it's that which keeps you legal. I hardly ever use MMI or A&E anymore.
There are a few other Companies springing up that even deliver, all legit. One's near AD border. Just need to have your licence as it's that which keeps you legal. I hardly ever use MMI or A&E anymore.
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If I read it correctly, you will pay vat, duty, fees (with an 's') on ANYTHING you buy outside uae. Anything means anything even your bottle of water u bought to piss them off! So also your veggies and fruits, or anything else (non booze).
For some it might have little impact but for guys with families who want to keep their families away from the 'cr*p' food quality from Dubai, this is a real hard kick in the b*lls...
And for the first time my misses said she had enough if this policy gets endorsed.
Wow they really wanna hit the ground hard this time. friend of ours who is in building contracting says the residential market is dead and a lot of expats are heading for the exit after this summer.
It ll be very interesting to see how the CC digest this one....
For some it might have little impact but for guys with families who want to keep their families away from the 'cr*p' food quality from Dubai, this is a real hard kick in the b*lls...
And for the first time my misses said she had enough if this policy gets endorsed.
Wow they really wanna hit the ground hard this time. friend of ours who is in building contracting says the residential market is dead and a lot of expats are heading for the exit after this summer.
It ll be very interesting to see how the CC digest this one....
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Originally Posted by 5star
If I read it correctly, you will pay vat, duty, fees (with an 's') on ANYTHING you buy outside uae. Anything means anything even your bottle of water u bought to piss them off! So also your veggies and fruits, or anything else (non booze).
I think it's a way to force us to buy booze from MMI or A&E; they have of course overpriced their stuff massively in the last couple of years and have lost trade. A 'Barracuda Run' every month will ensure I don't spend my money in Dubai...
I don't think food stuffs fall under the taxable category... Guess we'll find out soon enough though!
I think it's a way to force us to buy booze from MMI or A&E; they have of course overpriced their stuff massively in the last couple of years and have lost trade. A 'Barracuda Run' every month will ensure I don't spend my money in Dubai...
I think it's a way to force us to buy booze from MMI or A&E; they have of course overpriced their stuff massively in the last couple of years and have lost trade. A 'Barracuda Run' every month will ensure I don't spend my money in Dubai...
Regarding the rest, most of the items I bring back are generally food, clothing or footwear related, it all looks the same as the rest of my normal suitcase items.
The greedy B’stards won’t get one extra Fil out of me.
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MM,
As much as I agree with that sentiment there will be other "government incentives" coming down the pipe that will ensure that some of those hard earned dirhams will stay in the UAE, that from a pretty reliable source. Of course nothing is in stone until its announced but be prepared for some other forms of taxation either on income or capital gains, probably after 2020.
As much as I agree with that sentiment there will be other "government incentives" coming down the pipe that will ensure that some of those hard earned dirhams will stay in the UAE, that from a pretty reliable source. Of course nothing is in stone until its announced but be prepared for some other forms of taxation either on income or capital gains, probably after 2020.
Outlaw, I completely agree, lots of people forget that once the tax grab starts it never stops, its merely on a slow boil much like the frog in a pot.
There is already plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that the smart money is leaving Dubai and is headed for less regulated ports and its why when asked I've always maintained zero financial interest in Dubai aside from a day to day bank account for living expenses, all the rest vacates offshore at MMO on the same day it enters the bank account in the UAE.
Plenty of people also miss the opportunity to convert DHS into USD at the fixed rate and repatriate the sums via 3rd parties that are available in pretty much every station we operate too.
I've never viewed EK and Dubai inc as anything else than an ATM machine for my enrichment, the over-riding principle here is I'm a contractor that is effectively on a rolling 3 month notice period, all these little cuts are mere inconveniences to me that either require a little more thought or planning which will hasten my escape when the time comes.
I look on with amusement, scorn and some pity at those who invest here who believe that Dubai and EK exists in any form other than to extract as much effort and enterprise without ever giving anything back in terms of culture and civility, it truly is in my view the personification of a place that values style over any form of substance.
Don has it correct when he says most of us had a clue before we joined, I don't regret joining but I'm also certain that it must work for me first without one atom of my being required to care what Dubai Inc and by extension EK thinks.
There is already plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that the smart money is leaving Dubai and is headed for less regulated ports and its why when asked I've always maintained zero financial interest in Dubai aside from a day to day bank account for living expenses, all the rest vacates offshore at MMO on the same day it enters the bank account in the UAE.
Plenty of people also miss the opportunity to convert DHS into USD at the fixed rate and repatriate the sums via 3rd parties that are available in pretty much every station we operate too.
I've never viewed EK and Dubai inc as anything else than an ATM machine for my enrichment, the over-riding principle here is I'm a contractor that is effectively on a rolling 3 month notice period, all these little cuts are mere inconveniences to me that either require a little more thought or planning which will hasten my escape when the time comes.
I look on with amusement, scorn and some pity at those who invest here who believe that Dubai and EK exists in any form other than to extract as much effort and enterprise without ever giving anything back in terms of culture and civility, it truly is in my view the personification of a place that values style over any form of substance.
Don has it correct when he says most of us had a clue before we joined, I don't regret joining but I'm also certain that it must work for me first without one atom of my being required to care what Dubai Inc and by extension EK thinks.
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MM
Whilst agreeing with some of your points, I too find it rather sad that your time spent here is merely facilitating wealth accumulation rather than taking a few of the positives that Dubai can offer.
What you fail to grasp is that without people embracing new opportunities, Dubai would not be what it is today and EK would be a shadow of it's current self. Some of our colleagues have done extremely well financially through property. For those planning on 15 years plus in Dubai, I'd say you'd be foolish NOT to invest here. Ultimately, it's horses for courses and your rather derogatory and condescending comments to those that have bought into Dubai is more telling of your ignorance and unhappiness here than their 'foolishness'. I wonder how much pity THEY must have when they return to their private villas with pools and landscaped gardens after visiting you in Meydan.
Ironically, having left a now defunct Company, I'd have thought your employment here would be more positive than your posts portray. Not for one minute though would I imply the term grateful. I'm sure your professional services here our far more of an advantage to your employer than their employment is to you? Which does then beg the question, why ARE you still here? With absolutely no financial obligations or emotional attachment to Dubai, 'and by extension EK', I'd have thought you'd have left almost as soon as you arrived.
Maybe the thought of not sending morse to our Indian friends on 121.5 keeps you here?
Harry
Whilst agreeing with some of your points, I too find it rather sad that your time spent here is merely facilitating wealth accumulation rather than taking a few of the positives that Dubai can offer.
What you fail to grasp is that without people embracing new opportunities, Dubai would not be what it is today and EK would be a shadow of it's current self. Some of our colleagues have done extremely well financially through property. For those planning on 15 years plus in Dubai, I'd say you'd be foolish NOT to invest here. Ultimately, it's horses for courses and your rather derogatory and condescending comments to those that have bought into Dubai is more telling of your ignorance and unhappiness here than their 'foolishness'. I wonder how much pity THEY must have when they return to their private villas with pools and landscaped gardens after visiting you in Meydan.
Ironically, having left a now defunct Company, I'd have thought your employment here would be more positive than your posts portray. Not for one minute though would I imply the term grateful. I'm sure your professional services here our far more of an advantage to your employer than their employment is to you? Which does then beg the question, why ARE you still here? With absolutely no financial obligations or emotional attachment to Dubai, 'and by extension EK', I'd have thought you'd have left almost as soon as you arrived.
Maybe the thought of not sending morse to our Indian friends on 121.5 keeps you here?
Harry
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Fortunately, I used to be able to embrace the opportunities that Dubai had too offer.
Unfortunately, I now cant afford many of them except as rare treats.
Fortunately, I used to be able to bring back the odd bottle and items from overseas.
Unfortunately, as of 1 May, I will be forced 150% duty/tax/expat tax just in the hope of keeping the local economy afloat. I won't do it.
Fortunately, I do have a choice where to spend my hard earned AED, it won't be here. I will just save the cash and it will hasten my departure.
Unfortunately, it serves to show more and more the poor state of things here and the lengths that people go to, to pump a few extra dirhams into an economy that is sliding slowly back into the desert
Unfortunately, I now cant afford many of them except as rare treats.
Fortunately, I used to be able to bring back the odd bottle and items from overseas.
Unfortunately, as of 1 May, I will be forced 150% duty/tax/expat tax just in the hope of keeping the local economy afloat. I won't do it.
Fortunately, I do have a choice where to spend my hard earned AED, it won't be here. I will just save the cash and it will hasten my departure.
Unfortunately, it serves to show more and more the poor state of things here and the lengths that people go to, to pump a few extra dirhams into an economy that is sliding slowly back into the desert
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I never turn down an olive branch.
Bon voyage.
——
Yes this extra tax is a mess, but while I used to drop into MMI from time to time without actually planning - now I will plan to avoid.
Plenty of options.
Haha Harry, because dear boy in answer to your various barbs, its nothing more than an ATM machine, if pools, or villas etc are a measure of your success or happiness, more power too you, I have neither the intent nor inclination to be involved with any of that and yet amazingly my finances are perfectly healthy and diverse thanks for asking.
I’m still attempting to decipher your comment regarding a previous employer of mine, quite how you can construe an element of irony there is rather baffling given it’s based on thousands of decent hard working people being put to the sword, more a reflection on you than me old chap me thinks.
As to opportunity you are quite correct, I just prefer to use the ATM to fund opportunity elsewhere away from the snake oil salesmen and faux financial experts.
As to our employer and their ongoing decline, that’s their problem to solve, nothing I contribute or do will in any way make a discernible difference.
It’s good to know Harry that despite everything, you still enjoy having your view of all that wood, blocked by those pesky trees.
I’m still attempting to decipher your comment regarding a previous employer of mine, quite how you can construe an element of irony there is rather baffling given it’s based on thousands of decent hard working people being put to the sword, more a reflection on you than me old chap me thinks.
As to opportunity you are quite correct, I just prefer to use the ATM to fund opportunity elsewhere away from the snake oil salesmen and faux financial experts.
As to our employer and their ongoing decline, that’s their problem to solve, nothing I contribute or do will in any way make a discernible difference.
It’s good to know Harry that despite everything, you still enjoy having your view of all that wood, blocked by those pesky trees.
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As for this farce reappearing, at least I now have a use for AED coins. For the amusement factor alone, I would happily buy a bottle of cheap plonk and pay for the duty only in 25 fils coins. That may I add would be the one and only time they would be getting any money from me with this ridiculous process!
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MM
Regardless of your financial goals and views towards EK and Dubai, everyone's circumstances are different. You seem quick to ridicule those that embrace their time here and who have decided to invest, both financially and emotionally. Why? Most of us have different goals and plans to achieve them and I'm sure that was true of your ex colleagues in Monarch. How many of them expected a nice lump sum in retirement and the mortgage paid off? Instead, through no fault of their own, they're scrabbling around for jobs all over the World, most desperate to make up a significant financial shortfall in their retirement plans. The point is, nobody knows exactly how things will turn out until the day we finally hang up our flying boots. We're all professionals which equates to being paid for our services. If you see EK purely as an ATM, fine. But don't knock those that like living here and embrace it as I'm sure their downtime is more rewarding and fulfilling than the prison sentence you view Dubai as.
Pools and landscaped gardens you see as a statement to impress others. Maybe those that bought them, bought them for reasons other than just to impress. Ever thought that it was a means to get away from Emirates control, workmates constant whinging and, with a chilled beer, thank EK for giving them an additional $50,000+ every year to help pay for it. Who cares if it's worth half when they leave, EK paid that half! Save your pity and scorn for those more deserving.
May I also suggest you take another look at your contract. All pilots have an open ended contract until NRA, not 3 months like yours.
Unless you think HR is trying to tell you something?
Harry
Regardless of your financial goals and views towards EK and Dubai, everyone's circumstances are different. You seem quick to ridicule those that embrace their time here and who have decided to invest, both financially and emotionally. Why? Most of us have different goals and plans to achieve them and I'm sure that was true of your ex colleagues in Monarch. How many of them expected a nice lump sum in retirement and the mortgage paid off? Instead, through no fault of their own, they're scrabbling around for jobs all over the World, most desperate to make up a significant financial shortfall in their retirement plans. The point is, nobody knows exactly how things will turn out until the day we finally hang up our flying boots. We're all professionals which equates to being paid for our services. If you see EK purely as an ATM, fine. But don't knock those that like living here and embrace it as I'm sure their downtime is more rewarding and fulfilling than the prison sentence you view Dubai as.
Pools and landscaped gardens you see as a statement to impress others. Maybe those that bought them, bought them for reasons other than just to impress. Ever thought that it was a means to get away from Emirates control, workmates constant whinging and, with a chilled beer, thank EK for giving them an additional $50,000+ every year to help pay for it. Who cares if it's worth half when they leave, EK paid that half! Save your pity and scorn for those more deserving.
May I also suggest you take another look at your contract. All pilots have an open ended contract until NRA, not 3 months like yours.
Unless you think HR is trying to tell you something?
Harry
Once again Harry you've amazed me, as someone said to me privately, "what kind of drugs must he be using?"
I love the nice little segway you've attempted with regards to my old airline colleagues, its as if to say, "oh its not ironic they were all put out of work, its more that they can now realise their different plans and goals a different way" almost as if an airline folding around them was really just a blessing in disguise, even if they didn't plan for it.
As for knocking people investing in Dubai? why not? I'd argue as many others have that the level of regulation, corruption, nepotism and of course the odd decree thrown in for good measure means there will continue to be just as many to lose their shirts as those whom earn a new one, that is merely a statement of fact old boy. I view them as fools, plain and simple, and not because of my opinion of them as individuals but because I view the risk v reward as far more risk for not a lot of extra reward, which leads us nicely to our current situation and topic.
Imagine for a moment that as a new joiner you are as happy as a camper with your new role here in the sandy pit, you complete your TR, your family arrives, life is good. Now imagine suddenly and I'm told, retrospectively, a grade "3" becomes a "2" post your bond being active, subsequently after a few weeks of stress and reviews you are now told you are terminated, but informed that before you go you need to pony up the 200.000DHS bond. Imagine for a second if that is as ALLEGED to me, all true? why would one want to risk ANY financial entanglement, debt, credit card when all of the previous is a possibility?
Harry, wake up, you are never away from EK's grasp, you are just paid a better salary than the BMW/Volvo drivers are, you know it, and I know it, so stop deluding yourself that the nice things you describe can ever be a substitute for respect, common decency and most of all being empowered with a sense of self-worth rather than a sense of exploitation and disengagement.
The duty applied to items will be rigidly applied in EGHQ, as its a captive market, just like you and me, the difference is I don't choose to live in fantasy land nor invest any part of me in it, and I'm smiling :-)
I love the nice little segway you've attempted with regards to my old airline colleagues, its as if to say, "oh its not ironic they were all put out of work, its more that they can now realise their different plans and goals a different way" almost as if an airline folding around them was really just a blessing in disguise, even if they didn't plan for it.
As for knocking people investing in Dubai? why not? I'd argue as many others have that the level of regulation, corruption, nepotism and of course the odd decree thrown in for good measure means there will continue to be just as many to lose their shirts as those whom earn a new one, that is merely a statement of fact old boy. I view them as fools, plain and simple, and not because of my opinion of them as individuals but because I view the risk v reward as far more risk for not a lot of extra reward, which leads us nicely to our current situation and topic.
Imagine for a moment that as a new joiner you are as happy as a camper with your new role here in the sandy pit, you complete your TR, your family arrives, life is good. Now imagine suddenly and I'm told, retrospectively, a grade "3" becomes a "2" post your bond being active, subsequently after a few weeks of stress and reviews you are now told you are terminated, but informed that before you go you need to pony up the 200.000DHS bond. Imagine for a second if that is as ALLEGED to me, all true? why would one want to risk ANY financial entanglement, debt, credit card when all of the previous is a possibility?
Harry, wake up, you are never away from EK's grasp, you are just paid a better salary than the BMW/Volvo drivers are, you know it, and I know it, so stop deluding yourself that the nice things you describe can ever be a substitute for respect, common decency and most of all being empowered with a sense of self-worth rather than a sense of exploitation and disengagement.
The duty applied to items will be rigidly applied in EGHQ, as its a captive market, just like you and me, the difference is I don't choose to live in fantasy land nor invest any part of me in it, and I'm smiling :-)
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MM,
If I hated everything so much around me , the company I work for , the place I live , the air I breathe I think I would be happier driving a taxi elsewhere for much much less money . Yet you stay where you are . For what , for money ? We could all make do with half the pay we receive elsewhere and be happy . But to chose to remain here with so much scorn for everything around you for .... money . That can’t be good . Harry says some stuff I disagree with on a regular basis . I ain’t a fan of the company I work for but I really enjoy living here right now with my family . Beach is cool , friends are good and saving money at the same time . Dubai ain’t perfect , but where is . As far as investing in a place ... property everywhere has snake oil salesmen and uncertainty . How many people lost their homes in the states ? You make it sound like it is unethical to invest in dubai , ethics ? You ever own a BP stock ?
Regardless I hope you get your money and get out to somewhere nice .
If I hated everything so much around me , the company I work for , the place I live , the air I breathe I think I would be happier driving a taxi elsewhere for much much less money . Yet you stay where you are . For what , for money ? We could all make do with half the pay we receive elsewhere and be happy . But to chose to remain here with so much scorn for everything around you for .... money . That can’t be good . Harry says some stuff I disagree with on a regular basis . I ain’t a fan of the company I work for but I really enjoy living here right now with my family . Beach is cool , friends are good and saving money at the same time . Dubai ain’t perfect , but where is . As far as investing in a place ... property everywhere has snake oil salesmen and uncertainty . How many people lost their homes in the states ? You make it sound like it is unethical to invest in dubai , ethics ? You ever own a BP stock ?
Regardless I hope you get your money and get out to somewhere nice .
Thanks thatwasclose, I'm sure it is a nice place :-)
FWIW, I don't recall ever having used the word "hate", I'm merely pointing out a few things as I see them. I too enjoy the beach, the kids are in good schools and she who must be obeyed enjoys it here 9 months out of 12.
Despite what some might think, the vast majority of my EK co-workers are outstanding individuals in my experience, that doesn't however do a lot to redress the imbalance of roster v lifestyle nor does it make me feel any connection to Dubai and EK, it is what it is, but hate is not a word I would choose to describe my personal circumstances.
I suppose in retrospect I'd describe myself as a cynical pragmatist.
FWIW, I don't recall ever having used the word "hate", I'm merely pointing out a few things as I see them. I too enjoy the beach, the kids are in good schools and she who must be obeyed enjoys it here 9 months out of 12.
Despite what some might think, the vast majority of my EK co-workers are outstanding individuals in my experience, that doesn't however do a lot to redress the imbalance of roster v lifestyle nor does it make me feel any connection to Dubai and EK, it is what it is, but hate is not a word I would choose to describe my personal circumstances.
I suppose in retrospect I'd describe myself as a cynical pragmatist.
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