From that article:

Of course, official figures may not agree. Inflation and cost of living data tends to vary a lot in Dubai because the population itself varies so much: it’s hard to pin down one “average” consumer, given the wide range of cultures, incomes and lifestyles in the city. Moreover, UAE Nationals benefit from subsidised or free healthcare, education, utilities and housing, so an official “inflation” rate of --% may be true for Nationals, but wholly inaccurate for the remaining 85 per cent of the population....

Very true.

Here is the proof! Not Rumours...
 

Just click on the other links of this nice resumé of articles in the local newspaper the Gulf News. It covers Commodities, Education, Rent and Properties, Transportation, and more articles. In my opinion the rising cost of living is more like 20% inflation . If you are planning to come and live in Dubai you should read all these articles carefully which by the way are not from a rumour network.

http://archive.gulfnews.com/indepth/costofliving/

Enjoy :ok:

We aint seen nothing yet. MUCH more to come.....

http://www.gulf-news.com/nation/General/10189616.html

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles.../10167150.html

The UAE has become too expensive to sustain the expat life. Most of my friends in other professions have either received a large payrise or are leaving.

EKpilot, schismatic

Absolutely true, like you said, not from rumors, FACTS.

When people not living here see guys calling a 6% or 9% pay rise a joke, do a little research and you will understand.

That's just ONE of the negative aspects of life here. Most things (Money, rosters, vacations, days off....etc etc) have been constantly deteriorating, explaining people's frustration.

This just in:

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/51143...vy-users?ln=en

Increases in utility costs for high users- but does not apply to UAE Nationals.:hmm:

Obviously does not affect people in company accommodation (yet!) but gives you an idea of the way things are going in Dubai- although in fairness this is the first increase since 1998.

Someone do something...HELP!
 

A utility bill increase would add to soaring inflation in Dubai, which already has the highest cost of living in the United Arab Emirates. Inflation in the UAE hit a 19-year high of 9.3% in 2006.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/51143...on-heavy-users

2006 inflation figures:rolleyes: You want 2007? Well 12% and you want 2008? Probably the same as the future increase... watch and see!

My guess? 30% DEWA increase.

Last Year's Inflation accelerated to 10.1% - Reuters
 

Schismatic - 9.2% inflation last year is conservative. Already being revised upwards:

Annual money supply growth in the UAE, an indicator of future inflation, jumped 33.8% at the end of September, central bank data showed on Monday.

M3, the broadest measure of money circulating in the economy, was 623.4 billion dirhams ($169.8 billion) on September 30, compared with 466.08 billion dirhams a year earlier, data obtained by newswire Reuters showed.

Inflation may have accelerated to 10.1% last year, according to a Reuters survey of economists. (Reuters)

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/51151...nflation-surge

10.1 % My a$$!

DUBAI (Reuters)

The price of basic foods in the United Arab Emirates surged 36 percent over the last year, in part because the dollar-pegged dirham declined, making some imports more expensive, the local Gulf news reported on Thursday.

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/02/14/45623.html

Keeping the accurate info
 

Guys thanks for backing what you say with facts, then it's much harder for some to try to discredit what is being said here on PP. One big problem with the published figures of inflation is how they are calculated. "disconnected" and ''BigGeordie" mentioned it already in previous posts. Here again an example in yesterday's local newspaper the gulf news where the utility increases are not applied to the inflation figures because they don't affect the Emiratis. They have so many discounts on all aspects of living here compare to expats.

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles.../10190474.html

That's the reality
 

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/salar...on-to-quid-job

Just not worth living here anymore. The boat has passed... a few years back! Now coming in the middle east today is for those who always get somewhere to late. You know what I mean. I'm looking for the next good thing. It is out there for sure... and it's not here that i know 100%

Keep Discovering :ok:

right on the head buddy
 

Well you hit the nail right on the head buddy, all the costs of gen life have been raised in the past 12 months and your salary will not follow this trend. housing, education, spinneys to name but a few. I am no longer in the UAE but in the far east where life goes on at a slower pace and much cheaper. Many adverts in flight.
Just one thing guys, if you do bail out from there, make sure of your provident payout or refund is taken care off the day you submit the resignation. Information passed to me was it would take three weeks to obtain, 5 months later I am stil waiting.
All you wanabees, thinking of the UAE, ONLY if you are desperate take it

are you for real
 

Tell me again you are still waiting for your prov. fund???
Did you do a runner, or did you not pay your bank loan? Did you give the proper notice?

Euro, Aussie, Kiwi and Loonie hitting record highs against the dirham and dollar. Even the battered pound is reclaiming its levels.

EK salaries dropped a little more today and further cost of living increases guaranteed in future months.

The Dirham will not be devalued any time soon as the labour is so cheap!

Enjoy the paycut - There is a lot more pain to come....

Well the US dollar has just hit all time low against the Euro. Sigh even if inflation stops in Dubai, we are all taking a pay cut. Is there on end to these depressing drops. Futhermore no signs of the government going to peg the dirham to another currency. :ugh:This is how i feel

Rampstalker
 

Have you been waiting 5 months for your prov. fund?
Or are you just on a very cruel windup?
Please respond!!!!

50% price hikes since january 2008 (Dhs):

EPC membership : 100 now 150 /person/month.
Cleaning service : 25 now 35 / hour.
Gulf News :2 now 3 / issue.

Do you want me to continue ??? The list is long...

This price rally is really getting insane. :yuk:
it will be very interesting to see what happens in april with our pay(-rise?)...

Yet another day of paycuts!

No they will not de-peg or revalue. The only pressure is inflation and that is purely a political pressure in most countries. Here it is not, as the locals can always have a pay rise or some allieviation. What do the ex-pats do? Hardly likely to be a political pressure here.

So no revaluation. They are making too much money out of us all!

Enjoy the paycut... Enjoy the inflation.....

This years salary review? Less than the salary devaluation over the past year that is certain. All wrapped up in some flowery language to say how lucky we all are...:yuk:

no s...t
 

thats about the time. No I did not do a runner from the sandpit. Three months notice as required by both employer and employee.
I am not the only one in this situation, can give you emails for other unfortunate persons that found themselves in the same situation. I will not print names in this forum but can email

Rampstalker
 

Please do!
This could make a huge difference to lots of leaving dates!
We are already being sk****d by changing T&C without having to worry about this!

And another paycut...

Anyone who cannot see that employment at EK simply results in a declining earning power is delusional....