Colo,

In addition to what Don said, I would take a trip to spinneys market here in Dubai and do a pretend shop for a weeks worth of groceries for your family. Add the total and multiply by 4.3 to get your monthly expenditure. You will find that after the high cost of groceries, going out to eat, paying school fees, medical fees, etc....that you will probably be losing money from your savings...not adding to it.

Although, you could be losing less than you are now if you don't have a job but if you accept EK's offer, you are then stuck here with a bond for 5 years while something better may open up that can accommodate your family situation better.

Regards.
TC

Colo

Please check your mp

The best of luck for you

Regards
nosegears

Re schools, it baffles my why they show Uptown Mirdif. Yes I've heard good things about that school, but the pricing is ridiculous. If I were residing in Meydan, the first 2 schools I would seriously consider would be JESS Jumeirah or DESS. Both convenient to Meydan, both cheaper than Uptown and both with a more desirable reputation than Uptown. Lets make this clear before Uptown parents pounce on me, I am not knocking Uptown, but ask most people in Dubai what school they'd choose out of the 3 and most, without a doubt, would say JESS or DESS. There is also Safa school which is close to Meydan, heard good things about that one too.

Considering you have a 4th child, his/her schooling alone is enough to seriously hinder your savings on an FO package, not to mention medical. Should (god forbid) the 4th child need hospitalisation for something serious, then that could empty your bank account.

I don't like to be a scaremonger, but having a 4th child here, under no coverage from the company would make me seriously consider all my options.

All the best.

JESS Jumeriah and Arabian Ranches are both excellent schools, but I can only imagine how long it would take to get 4 children into the same school. The waiting list can be very long for those schools (3 years in our case), and depending upon year level, you may have some of the children at one school and some at the other. It would be best to get them on the waiting list, but actively pursue another school for initial startup here.

Thank you guys for all your inputs

Feeling scared now!

However for all my family my premium insurance is not that bad. 158 USD per month. Much better than back home

But the school... That is an issue! Will check the ones CHILLIN recommend

Once again thanks for your help.

The other option I have is Air Japan. (Commuting contract) should be calling me soon.

Regards

Colo, the premium might look ok for medical. But what coverage does that give the fourth chid? Not the same as the other three is it? Is it enough? When the eldest becomes too old for medical cover, and you have only three in the scheme, the fourth child is still considered as an extra, for the extra cost and lesser coverage.


When you, your wife and three eldest kids get ALTs, you will be forking out for a firm ticket for child number four. Hope your not needing to travel too far. They aint cheap. When the fourth child becomes too old for ELTs (24) or ALTs (19) as appropriate, the fourth child will then become eligible for tickets.


Good luck with schools, but the other ones aren't that much cheaper.


Think long hard and be honest with the decision making on this. Once the skill test is complete, you have 5yrs to do or a bond to repay.


Good luck,


the don

Thanks Don

Will do the homework

Actually faced exactly the same situation in QR in regards to the 4th child.

Back home in Panama I have to pay for EVERYONE and for EVERYTHING!

So lets see...

The clue is in the words....back home....

Just my opinion of course, but I think you'd be better off at Air Japan. It's a good commuting contract. You can get 14 consecutive days off per month. Live wherever you want and you usually start your command upgrade at the end of your first 5 year contract. That's probably faster than EK will be these days. Wherever you choose to live will likely be significantly cheaper than Dubai.

Hiring link for Air Japan?

4 - no way!
 

With 4 kids at EK?
No way.

Having second thoughts now...

The Air Japan contract is through Rishworth (Amanda Barrett)

Ekwistleblower,
Like your mortgage maths., but then, you should've perhaps taken some time to explain the fee structure, especially for the benefit of the new joiners. You say it's based on 1mil. deposit. How many people do you think can afford 1 mil. deposit on a current package, even if you are in the left seat? Perhaps if you're debt free and no kids or they're grown ups? Not to mention that 1 mil. will have to go: 30% towards mortgage (that is fine, I suppose, even though a bit rich for most countries standards), 4% - land department and 2% to the agent. Staggering 36% - just to get started. Then, you have to add further for DEWA expat.: charge/tax, whatever it is these days, maintenance and community fees (very steep for some areas and on the rise across Dubai).
A lot of guys in the right seat say that their budgets are very tight these days.

Try the neighboring airline, they pay for 4 kids...

Woops,

Few of the other ex-pats in Dubai throw over $4,000 away each month to stay in the company's free cell, sorry house! Goodness 50k, that is more than the average salary in the US and UK.

I know just one thing, without getting into the market and accessing the extra cash I have zero chance of retiring well. With it I might! The fees you describe are valid but don't add up to anywhere near what you say.

But I won't convince you so won't bother. Enjoy Meydan, life without parole!

Whistle - We are stuck my friend between rocks and hard places!!
The main reason I and many others did not buy a place apart from not having 1 mill+ spare is simple. Should the market take a correction and I mean a big one, you may be left in negative equity on your property and your provident fund WILL be raided when you leave. I know how much I can leave here with should things go bad but many in your situation do not. I'm not saying you did a bad thing especially if you bought in better times but buying now with thousands of villas and apartments coming on line seems to be not such a smart decision especially for a new joiner.
I agree that Meydan is a total joke and just not fit for purpose but this is what the company have forced upon us. This decision will bite the company in the ass, as the word is well and truly out on just how bad things out there are. I was shown a letter form accommodation outlining the 2500 dirham charge for having a number 2 upstairs!!! Unbelievable, just unbelievable....mind you I do find myself saying that very frequently recently!

Thanks Rock

I am aware of that in AUH however for some reason never been called there for interview. Of course that is a better option in my situation.

And in regards to housing I have to stick with Meydan. No choice!

Actually I am thinking too much... Still need to hear back from EK

Cheers guys

I'm hearing that those in 4 bed accom in DIC have been given notice to move after Christmas.

Can anyone confirm? If so, bad news and blows a hole in the theory that other grades (non FD) and FD not normally entitled would fill phase 1.

4 bedroom DIC eviction letter is a fact...

Yes, it's true. 4 bedroom villas at DIC and being offered Jebel Ali, or Meydan accommodation. Have to move by June of next year.