You know what...
 

Gentlemen

It happened... the vision disappeared together with many other things ...what is going to be left other than a group of good and hardworking people who will continue to get squeezed up to the maximum with no increase in T&C at all?The golden age is over but at least the" visionaire "is no longer viewing.Long time to recover but you have a chance to get better.It has been an honour to be part of your team.
Good luck everybody....Dixi out!
Dixi

It's not just Emirates it's the entire region and all the businesses in it. The gold old days of high oil prices, simple businesses, and a feeling of being out here on a bit of an adventure is gone.

The region is becoming 'economically developed' and with that comes modern societies with high costs to maintain, meaning higher fees for everything, taxes (new and increases) cities with high costs of living that squeeze people left, right and center.

The old wise Sheikhs have been replaced with young tycoons who want expansion and the latest in business thinking, meaning hiring men that will think quick and cut costs at every corner. Making money but disregarding all other 'externalities' (human, environmental or otherwise). I find that even the quality of the labourers and helpers is decreasing, where once the men and women that came over here were simple but honest and eager to learn today we find a bunch of punks with attitude.

Welcome to the new Middle East.

What a great, short breakdown.

Thx, you nailed it.

As I said to a colleague of mine, we are 10 years too late!!!

Keep an eye on each other and help out when you can.
 

Earlier this month a friend I haven't seen in almost a year came over for dinner with his relatively new family.

He came to EK five years ago, single and lived the life of a young man with some coin in his pocket.
He married the girl of his dreams and had their first child just a year later.
They now have a second child on the way.

The young man now looks much older and a lot more stressed.
His paycheck has not kept up with the bills from his new obligations as a family man.
He took me aside and described how overwhelmed he is, his prospects for promotion (command and a larger paycheck) look further away.

I can now see that we have several hundred pilots just like my friend.
They are becoming disillusioned or more to the point they can now start to see the reality.

Paychecks are staying the same but expenses are increasing either through a change in personal life (marriage, kids) or through inflation.

As a pilot group we are in trouble, keep an eye on each other and help out when you can.

Yah, most of my friends are gone or leaving and I'll be doing the same very soon. No regrets but time to go.

The force is strong with you, Mos.

DS

To live lavishly anywhere costs a LOT of money. Unless, that is, you want to live in some dodgy third World pit surrounded by homeless beggars or muggers. Dubai has never really been a cheap city to live in and some costs, particularly housing related, can be expensive. There again, try living in London for a few years or buy a box apartment in NYC. Sydney? Singapore? Tokyo? Dubai's cheap as chips relative to those and many others.

Perthbound

Any person starting a new life as a family man will find the transition difficult, regardless of where they live. "The young man now looks much older and a lot more stressed". Welcome to fatherhood!

Unfortunately, there are a number of our colleagues, and their impressionable wives, who arrive into Dubai and expect to join the glitz and glamour they see so many others enjoying. Many get suckered into living a lifestyle they 'think' they should be living, often far removed from what they would realistically live back home. The new fancy 4x4's, the brunches at $150 a pop, maids, fancy holidays and latest gadgets and computers for kids and adults alike. What they often don't realise is that apart from a fortunate few, many who live this life are debt ridden. Loans, no savings, no assets and often minimum payments on credit cards each month. It's a fantasy life lived in toy town with little or no consideration for future planning until it's too late.

Yes, our salaries are not being raised appropriately and yes, the good times are very much different compared to say 15 years ago. But Dubai is not the city it was 15 years ago and people need to realise that. If you can't accept the place for what it is, that costs will continue to rise and that living within your means is essential, then don't leave your current job to come here. There are many things that can still be done for relatively little outlay, even in summer. You just need to know where to look. Fuel is still cheap, as are essentials such as milk, flour, rice, eggs etc and local products good value. If people insist on buying imported yogurt and Wagyu beef from Spinneys each week, expect the bill to be big. It's not rocket science.

Ultimately, it will come down to supply and demand. If people really do think they can be living a better lifestyle elsewhere on less money, they'll leave. When enough do, then the T&C's will improve along with the salary.

Until then, the Company and Dubai will continue to push for it's pound of flesh!

Harry

I sympathise with those who choose to start a family here, it is very expensive.
However, starting a family is a choice. To follow the modern mantra trotted out by the liberal MSM and other influences, that a family is a "right", is the path to real hardship, unless one has made the appropriate preparations.
In Dubai there is LOT of keeping up with "the Joneses". The new 4x4, the Clubs, the Brunches, etc etc, appear to be ESSENTIAL for many.
Then when the rugrats arrive the staggeringly eye watering costs of nannies, maids, preschools, play groups,etc etc.
I believe the UAE is one if not THE most expensive place to raise a child.
Sadly there are more than a few who have found that out too late.

Starting a family anywhere is expensive and stressful, not just DXB. Harry is exactly right in his post. Blaming the company for someone looking older, a bit more tired and more worried is showing naivity by the poster - evidently, they have never considered the effects of ageing, marriage and children. Such frivolous but frequent complaints mean that the genuine issues, problems that can be fixed, are lost in a sea of noise and make managers think all complaints are trivial.

Aluminum Shuffler - we can blame the tired, run down, aged look on the 90 plus hour months of constant day/night changes, bad rostering and overwork.

Just my two pence worth; why oh why are so many young couples rushing into having children so soon after marriage? Can no one get to know each other anymore? Especially given the expat lifestyle, no immediate family for support and the flying job with all the excruciating hours you guys work. I'm not trying to attack people's life choices, however, I do feel that people need to think realistically about raising a family here and the expenses and stresses that will come with that.

Seems just like living and working in the rest of the world. Maybe some had false hopes? :(

If being in Dubai is just like living and working in the rest of the world (and it is certainly heading that way fast) then what is the point in coming here? If you aren't making more money and/or having a better lifestyle you might as well stay in your home country. Unless you like 45 degree summers and sand....

Well said! :ok::ok::ok::ok::ok::ok:

Probably because they met on social media! Jokes aside, this is becoming common culture around the world. Everyone wants to live like the rich kid next door, regardless whether they just arrived here or not. Building up decent wealth before rewarding oneself just doesn't happen anymore.

I once flew with a single FO who's car is worth more than a studio apartment! I'll bet he's one of those 'heavily invested' here in Dubai residents.

Some people just need to vent on PPRUNE because they have no life! I recommend playing golf!

I'd rather be on the toon on a friday night to anywhere in the world!

Ha'way bonny lad.

It's the "I want it now" culture of modern youth. It's the same explanation as to why personal debt is so high while so many young people are driving around in flashy cars or buy the latest phone every six months.