Probably missing a point here, but does the €14,000 have an accommodation allowance added on? Or what about health care. If they're not included then you're not going to save much...

Car Insurance
 

I have had some joy with UAE based comparison sites.

They are not in the same league as Europe/UK yet but I have been able to get a cheaper deal each year.

Yes, there is a extra for house rental and health insurance for both of us, on top of the 14thousand....

Then it's ok. It's about what I get and I manage to save a fair bit.

Remember when you listen to a lot of people over here, "a fool and their money are soon parted". A lot of people over here can't control their spending urges, much like the rest of the planet. But over here things can get very expensive, very fast...

From todays National Newspaper.

The real cost of living in the UAE bearing in mind Ek only gave us a 3% increase on salaries, which wasn't as it was our increment that we were entitled to.




Dubai residents are feeling the effects of rising prices.

Dubai’s consumer price index rose 4.6 per cent annually last month, the highest since 2009, amid a surge in housing and utility costs.

The Dubai Statistics Center said the consumer price index increased 0.6 per cent month-on-month. Meanwhile, housing and utility costs, which make up about 44 per cent of consumer expenses, soared 7.8 per cent year-on-year and 0.7 per cent from April, the agency said.

The cost of food and beverages, which make up 11 per cent of the price index basket, increased 1.6 per cent from May 2014 while gaining 3 per cent from the previous month.

There is some hope however, economists say, that the UAE may have already gone through the worst of the price rises this year, as retailers typically raise prices ahead of Ramadan.

“Domestic inflation in Dubai is mainly driven by rising rents,” said Alp Eke, a senior economist at National Bank of Abu Dhabi. “With lower oil prices, foreign-origin inflation is expected to decline. The most recent housing sales and rental data indicates that rents are declining as well.”

“In my opinion, after the artificial price increase during Ramadan, inflation will be in a declining trend,” he said. “The downtrend, which is expected in the next few months, can be attributed to the appreciation of the US dollar against other currencies, the decline in oil prices and softening of property sales prices. Similarly, with lower global food costs, the contribution of food to foreign inflation will be lower.”

Dubai joins Abu Dhabi in reporting higher inflation. The capital registered a five-year high in price increases in April, but in May CPI inflation rose just 0.2 per cent from the previous month, suggesting to economists a steadying in rental prices.

Year-on-year, the Abu Dhabi inflation figure for last month was more or less unchanged at 5.2 per cent.

Housing rents in Abu Dhabi alone rose by 12 per cent last year and another 2 per cent in the first quarter of this year despite the crude oil retreat since last June, according to data from the property broker CBRE.

The rise in school fees is also causing frustration among residents.

Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority said last week that fees at Dubai’s 117 private schools could be raised by between 2.9 and 5. per cent.

Fees are among the highest in the region. A study last year showed that fees for top British-curriculum schools in Dubai were up to US$23,100 a year, the highest in the GCC.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi are also the most expensive cities in the Middle East for expatriates, according to the most recent survey by the cost of living experts Mercer.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the 33rd and 23rd most-expensive cities in the world, respectively, in large part because of a steep rise in rents for expatriates.

Abu Dhabi has moved up 35 places from last year’s Cost of Living survey by Mercer. The cost of living in Dubai has also risen – the city was 67th last year.

Economists estimate that the inflation figure is between three and six months behind current developments in the property market.

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Most of us are in company accom so rent and utilities are covered by EK. Those who aren't, moved out voluntarily. So, with those two taken out of the equation, where does that leave inflation?

The cost of food and beverages, which make up 11 per cent of the price index basket, increased 1.6 per cent from May 2014 while gaining 3 per cent from the previous month.

Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority said last week that fees at Dubai’s 117 private schools could be raised by between 2.9 and 5. per cent.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi are also the most expensive cities in the Middle East for expatriates, according to the most recent survey by the cost of living experts Mercer.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the 33rd and 23rd most-expensive cities in the world, respectively, in large part because of a steep rise in rents for expatriates.

Abu Dhabi has moved up 35 places from last year’s Cost of Living survey by Mercer. The cost of living in Dubai has also risen – the city was 67th last year.

Enough said.

Guess what boys and girls it is about to get even more expensive to live in the dust bowl.
Article from Bayut recently, this along with a ZERO% pay increase this year just puts further nails into the coffin/ Sh*t bucket whatever your personal preference is.
Enjoy


VAT laws to be introduced in Q3, 2015Friday, July 03, 2015VAT laws to be introduced in Q3, 2015 The United Arab Emirates is seeking to augment state revenues and in order to do so, it is trying to complete the drafting of laws introducing corporate tax along with value-added tax in the third quarter of this year.

Ministry of Finance Under-Secretary Younis Haji Al Khouri said, “The draft of the corporate tax law and the value-added tax law has been discussed with the local and federal governments.”

He added that drafting was expected to be finished within the third quarter of the current year. However, it has been reported that the authorities are still evaluating the social and economic impact of the laws.

Al Khouri declined to comment on the precise date from when the new regulations were expected to take effect. He also refused to comment on the proposed tax rates.

The introduction of corporate tax and VAT in the UAE could prove to be a major shift in policy, and politically sensitive.

In the past that VAT was unlikely to be introduced before other countries adopted it, as the competitiveness of the UAE was in danger of being hurt and there could have been a surge in smuggling across borders.

Per a ministry report, the UAE cabinet has already approved versions of the two draft bills.