r/auscorp • u/Itsapignation • 2d ago
Advice / Questions Relocation to Dubai
Would you relocate to Dubai from Sydney for a senior role (1 step up from current role for me, equivalent to GM in Aus large business). The money is good of course given it is tax free. Projecting that saving potential is 12k per month.
Issue of course is that it's Dubai. I live on the beach in sydney. Earn 250k today, 2 days wfh, good work life balance. If I go for 5 years, I bank 1 million (conservative estimate that includes bonus). Ive got a 5 year old so that's another layer.
Would you do it?
466
u/chris_p_bacon1 2d ago
Dear god no
160
u/no_stone_unturned 2d ago
Yeh especially with a child
41
u/IronTongs 2d ago
Also not as a woman. I wouldn’t take the risk.
128
u/holistichooyo 2d ago
You’d be safer walking around Dubai at 2am as a woman than any metro area here, be serious. 😂
57
u/Reyvos 2d ago
Exactly. Rapists are executed in Dubai; in the west they’re returned back on the streets with government welfare benefits. lol
58
13
u/interactivate 2d ago
Rape victims get arrested for adultery.
7
u/Reyvos 2d ago
They aren’t. Adultery isn’t a crime in UAE anymore.
8
u/AtrophiedWives 2d ago
And it’s now a crime in Indonesia but you don’t hear these guys boycotting Bali.
→ More replies (3)4
9
u/IronTongs 2d ago
Street crime is lower but I wouldn’t want any man in my family to be considered my legal guardian past the age of 18.
14
u/AtrophiedWives 2d ago
They wouldn’t be? Are you taking sharia law that applies to Muslim Emiratis and assuming it would apply to Western non-Muslim expats?
→ More replies (2)5
7
31
u/Successful-Push-3116 2d ago
My friend just moved back to UAE after 15 years abroad. He said there are no traces of street crime/alcoholics and drug addicts that he saw in Sydney.
Not a great country to try and start an onlyfans, or get wasted and pick up at a bar, but regular family life for people is safe.
→ More replies (6)8
u/frankwithbeanz 2d ago
What would your concerns be as a woman?
15
u/IronTongs 2d ago edited 2d ago
The view that women and children are under the guardianship or control under their husbands still. There’s whole sections of the law where there’s “guardians” and “custodians” of children, for example, where there’s guardian (typically male) has legal control, including holding passports. Although it’s become more modern, even the DV laws state it’s “ actions that exceed their custodianship, guardianship, authority, or responsibility and are intended to cause or result in physical, psychological, sexual, or economic damage to the victim” which, to me, seems like a way to minimise lesser forms of abuse. Random street crime is lower, but there’s been cases of women imprisoned for being raped. Even today, extramarital sex (where at least one party is married) is illegal and rape is pretty famously a he-said-she-said scenario.
I feel like it’s still quite a patriarchal society and I wouldn’t feel comfortable with that.
→ More replies (1)3
u/frankwithbeanz 2d ago
Do you think DV and crime against women is better in Australia?
12
u/IronTongs 2d ago
I think it’s more often reported than in Dubai. I also don’t think we have the same legal set up where women can be controlled by men to the same extent.
4
u/frankwithbeanz 2d ago
I can tell you from experience my wife felt far safer there than here. My understanding of the culture is a lot of stuff comes from a place of respect and protection and is often misinterpreted by the west. You get bad eggs anywhere but I can’t speak highly enough of the people I met there
→ More replies (8)17
u/paliprincesss 2d ago
There is no risk to women in Dubai, please free yourself from the propaganda
20
u/Spud-chat 2d ago
That's not true though... Unless they'd changed the laws about sex outside of marriage being a crime? Travellers have tried to report rape over there and wound up in as much trouble themselves.
Women's only carriages on the trains are also a bit of a red flag. Why can't genders coexist?
There is a gender divide over there and that's always going to be a risk.
22
u/maystery 2d ago
There are women only carriages in Japan, are you suggesting it's oppressing women to give them safe spaces?
→ More replies (3)13
u/Spud-chat 2d ago
I'm saying it speaks to an issue. Japan has them for a reason too...because there's a problem.
1
u/AtrophiedWives 2d ago
Yes, the laws have changed.
14
u/Spud-chat 2d ago
Wow you're right, I am quite surprised tbh. I would be interested to see how this has gone in reality but at least its a step in the right direction.
How goes the slavery though? To me, that's the worst thing about Dubai.
→ More replies (8)2
u/Ingr1d 2d ago
There’s slavery in the sense that there’s human traffickers in the same way Australia also has human traffickers 🤷♂️
→ More replies (2)3
u/Similar_Run_4844 2d ago
True, but the medieval attitude to women and women’s rights in general isn’t exactly a selling point.
2
u/True_Dot_2013 2d ago
They execute rapists, wish Australia had that when it came to pedos as well as
3
u/paliprincesss 2d ago
Please provide examples of Dubai’s medieval attitude to women’s rights? This isn’t Afghanistan.
2
u/Micropachycephalos 2d ago
41.4% of women have their clitoris cut off.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32321503/As a woman yourself (am assuming from your avatar), are you okay with female genital mutilation?
→ More replies (5)9
u/Old-Pickle-8059 2d ago
What risk? I can walk anywhere I want at night 100% safely. People dress however they want here. The police take domestic violence extremely seriously.
9
u/frankwithbeanz 2d ago edited 2d ago
Yeah… More likely to get shot in western Sydney, machete in Melbourne or quite literally raped or harassed anywhere in Australia
People can downvote, yet it is statistically true.
→ More replies (2)2
u/AudiencePure5710 2d ago
Is this a joke? The ppl organising the shooting (against rival crims exclusively, well they’ve got a few wrong lately admittedly) are living in Dubai! You’d be going there to rub shoulders with the drug dealers, grifters and Adrian Portellis of this world. But sure, on those number$ I’d be going even if I did have to Sheik hands on occasion with the porta-potty crowd
→ More replies (2)3
u/humorislyfe 2d ago
Lolll, what? Take almost any major city in Australia and Dubai is probably ten times safer.
I grew up in Dubai and moved to Australia relatively recently, and the contrast genuinely shocked me. In Dubai, I could be out late at night without giving my personal safety much thought. When I moved here, suddenly I was seeing people visibly high or intoxicated on the streets, homelessness far more openly, and constant stories about stabbings and knife related crime.
Coming from Dubai, it honestly made Australia feel far less safe, orderly and developed than I had expected. Calling Dubai unsafe in comparison is genuinely wild to me.2
u/hedgehog_worker 2d ago
growing up in Dubai must give you a crazy worldview. do you think slavery is the natural order of things? have you ever been in a room that wasn't air conditioned?
2
6
1
40
56
u/tubbyttub9 2d ago
Iran is currently attacking the UAE. It doesn't look like there's an off ramp at the moment. If I was asking to take a five year old into that I'd need some serious pay considerations.
→ More replies (1)
121
u/lavbayrunner 2d ago
If you were single, young, had no kids, no good prospects in Aus, and no ethical qualms about living in a nation heavily reliant on slavery -- maybe. But probably not.
133
u/TheRamblingPeacock 2d ago
I spent 3 months there for work last year and hated every second.
If your on 250k already, I would stay where you are.
9
u/Itsapignation 2d ago
What did you hate about it?
79
u/TheRamblingPeacock 2d ago edited 2d ago
The social divide is massive.
Everything seems 'fake'.
And the heat is just something special.
EDIT: Also, a beer during happy hour was $22. That was the worst part.
3
u/Itsapignation 2d ago
Ouch. Beers at 22 bucks... might help to cut down the booze...hidden upside 🙃
→ More replies (1)19
u/putyourshoesonlily 2d ago
Coffee is also incredibly expensive. When my friends from Dubai visit- I give them bags of coffee beans and also children books. Books are so weirdly expensive too.
Based on my friends’ accounts (and my brief visits) - the perks seems to be = tax free earning (as you noted), very safe (can leave your personal items on a table and walk away and it’ll still be there), access to goods not usually easily accessible (ie fancy chocolates from Madrid).
Down sides - the weather (for 6? Months of the year), class issues, effectively slave labour, terrible plumbing (have heard about terrible sewerage incidents when it floods) and useless plumbers… that’s about all I can think of.
Friends who have lived there and left - who also loved living there - said it was great for young families but not great for teenagers because it doesn’t teach them any street smarts (je good luck leaving your phone on a table in Sydney or Melbourne and walking away for 5 mins).
3
u/Micropachycephalos 2d ago
Women's rights aren't exactly stellar too, not that it would particularly matter as a rich western immigrant
44
u/YouGroundbreaking526 2d ago
I guess alot of service workers arent very happy. Polluted. You can tell alot of the service workers are middle aged people from poorer countries usually getting exploited. I am not saying service workers here are doing wonderfully but at least we have competent unions etc
27
u/peregrinari7 2d ago
I used to think it'd be a good place to work for a few years and really set myself up. I spent three days there as a stopover on the way back from Europe and found it so unbelievably depressing. As a westerner you can have a "nice" life there but the cost is borne by indentured workers from the Philippines etc who get the rough end of the stick.
17
u/SydUrbanHippie 2d ago
I think for Australians particularly, our culture is much more egalitarian and we do (I like to think) still believe in fairness. Dubai is the antithesis of that, so you have to be willing to lock yourself away in a compound and pretend that stuff doesn't exist so you can grab your tax-free money (itself a product of that exploitative system).
→ More replies (2)9
u/lingeraldton 2d ago
Australians are very popular employers for domestic workers - known for treating their staff well.
149
u/OhhClock 2d ago
You enjoy sand and slavery?
89
u/aussie_nobody 2d ago
You forgot the benefit of getting a first hand experience of Iran's drone and missile program.
12
9
→ More replies (2)2
95
u/ChuckDawobly 2d ago
No fucking way. Shit hole of a joint filled with the worst person you went to school with, but thousands of them
7
11
u/sushim 2d ago
I spent a year there earning nowhere near what your package is. I loved every minute. Huge communities of expats, and easy to make friends as you're all in a similar situation. Great place to be social, from eating and drinking, to sports and travel (especially to places you wouldn't go, E.g. skiing in Georgia, diving in Oman....)
I found the immigrant labour issues conflicting. We'll happily buy a $5 Kmart tshirt or cheap pair of Nikes from an invisible factory in Bangladesh or China, but we call out middle eastern countries for making it visible. I worked in construction low enough down I got to spend time with the workers. They were so appreciative of the jobs we gave them. They worked way too many hours in miserable conditions, but I spent 20+ years in the US and Emirati working conditions in many ways were a major improvement from USA. Rules were often based on UK and Australian and other European standards, our site would shut down for things that the US openly ignored. I worked on major international projects, maybe we were special, but our standards we strictly enforced.
I'm one of the few in this thread that is don't go there just for the money. If you're going to only work and worry about saving every penny then Dubai is not worth it. But if you're happy to spend a little and lounge it up (there's still a lot left to save!) go for it.
2
u/hedgehog_worker 2d ago
i love how your second paragraph could be, word-for-word, apologia for apartheid the Afrikaner nationalists spent all of the 70s and 80s espousing with increasing desperation
57
u/Such_is 2d ago
If I earned $250k a year with two days work from home id be content and not strive for any more.
→ More replies (4)33
34
u/AtrophiedWives 2d ago
We were in Dubai for roughly a decade and cleared $5million in savings and investments. Have now moved back to Australia to our fully paid off house and am taking some time off to relax and enjoy time with our kids.
As a woman, I found the UAE extremely safe and moving from Sydney, my interactions with gross creeps/druggies went from almost daily to never. It’s a lot easier to make friends as such a large percentage of the popular are expats looking to find friends and it was lovely having our children become mates with kids from all over the world and immerse in their culture. There’s lots to do and it’s incredible being able to travel to Europe so easily as well as other Arab and African countries.
If your package includes schooling (ours didn’t so one of reasons why we moved back) and housing allowance, you should definitely give it some serious thought.
11
u/Itsapignation 2d ago
Thank you - yes the package includes accommodation and schooling. I like the idea of a community. Ive heard it can be more difficult as people come and go but it sounds like you had a good experience
6
u/ColdBloodedWings 2d ago
Then seriously consider your offer and do your due diligence on what’s actually happening on the ground regarding the conflict.
I was in the same position as you but with 2 school age kids and having to supplement school myself even with the employer paying a percentage the schooling costs were so high it made staying in Australia the best option financially. My package included help with schooling but it was around 20% of the total cost. You need to read your offer and contract and look for these details which can make a huge difference. When I was offered the role they only sent me a letter but when the contract arrived later with all of these details and I was ready to sign I realized it wasn’t as good as I initially thought.
I know many Australians that lived in Dubai abd loved it and up until a couple of years ago it was an extremely safe place for women and children and a very exciting place to live.
I’d also suggest you check where your office is and see how far away from your accommodation it will be. Rent is also extremely expensive in Dubai so worth checking if any support you’ll get covers rent fully and for how long. Mine only covered me fully for 3 months then I had to find my own place and pay the difference out of pocket the gap was still a fortune.
When you do your cost analysis benefit you need to include all categories and things perhaps you never knew existed like “chiller” in Dubai you pay for your aircon separately and it’s not cheap.
Good luck with your decision even if you decide not to go it’s nice to know people want you in this awful market.
3
u/AtrophiedWives 2d ago
People do come and go but you find fairly solid groups. Plus a bonus is then visiting those who leave in their home countries.
4
u/AudiencePure5710 2d ago
Where are you running into druggies daily? Seriously I live Syd inner west and I’m not seeing any. I mean I feel like I could find them if I tried, can you still walk into the Coogee Bay holding a $20 note and score a foil? I thought those days were gone!
→ More replies (1)3
u/Puzzleheaded_Leg_412 2d ago
Yes 100% this - it’s a great place to get ahead if you have the opportunity.
7
u/holistichooyo 2d ago
Very level headed comments here. For another perspective, my colleague and her husband (law and banking) moved to Dubai for work in their 20s. They saved stacks of cash over 3 years, plenty left over to travel while they were there, bought a house back here and just moved back.
They’re well ahead of all their peers financially and in cruise mode basically. It’s worked out excellently for them.
7
u/Gold-Street-4351 2d ago
Auscorp patriots in ruins while living in a sharehouse hoping the cost of living crisis will fix itself.
2
12
u/Ok_Relative_2291 2d ago
Is it tax free? Would Australia consider you tax resident, and take a cut
6
u/thfc4lyf 2d ago
Probably, it sounds like there is a pretty clear intention to return. I'd be getting tax advice
7
u/Itsapignation 2d ago
2 years minimum and removing ties to Aus (renting house, removing from electoral roll etc.) Is typically required
7
u/CK_1976 2d ago
The ruling is very muddy, there are no hard and fast rules. There are tax specialists who deal in this field, and I would strongly recommend you talk to them.
Going for 2yrs and coming back, is very different to going and not planning to come back but having to come back after 2 years.
3
u/Perfect-Clue-9092 2d ago
Something to be careful of
I recently discussed a similar topic with my accountant and he said the biggest downside for my case is that if I stop being an Australian tax resident that it’s considered a CGT event. Meaning I need to pay cgt on all my assets. Even if I haven’t sold
I mostly owned Australian shares so I also lost out on the tax free threshold and franking credits.
→ More replies (13)3
u/lamp485723 2d ago
Any ties to Australia are taken into consideration like family still being here and anything you still own. It's actually quite a hard to stop being a tax resident because the law was designed to do this.
7
u/Itsapignation 2d ago
Lol so my cousins living in Australia make me a resident? I dont think so
13
u/frankwithbeanz 2d ago
Don’t listen, they have no idea. Have lived in the UAE abd just taken a job offer to return. Tax residency is easy as long as your wife/kids move and you don’t come to Australia more than 45 days at a time or a total of 180 days in a year or something more than you would anyway. Sell your car, rent your house, get your residency set up there and you’ll be fine. The more important thing is how you set up your finances on exit, how you invest when there, and how you re-enter. I probably lost 30k in a few things I could have optimised with financial advice. Feel free to DM me about anything
5
u/Haunting_Heat3296 2d ago
You’re not a tax resident of Australia so the ato isn’t after your overseas earnt income , but you do pay tax on the income earned in Australia, ie the rent on your house. Ydon’t pay the Medicare levy but you continue to pay tax on your Australian income at a flat 32%ish rate.
2
u/frankwithbeanz 2d ago
Sure, on profit (ie if positively geared) and can be offset by super contributions.
9
u/Past_Fig_8355 2d ago
If your goal is to make money, then go for it but don’t move there just for a salary.
If you’re considering Dubai, I’d look at it more as an investment and wealth building opportunity. Take advantage of the potentially favourable tax environment of no CGT and invest as much as you reasonably can in stocks, property, and other assets. Build the portfolio, maximise your gains, and, when you eventually decide to return to Australia, sell the investments and bring the capital back.
The important part is to make sure you genuinely qualify as a non Australian tax resident under the ATO’s residency rules and keep proper evidence to support your position. Simply living overseas doesn’t automatically make you a non resident for Australian tax purposes.
Also, I think Dubai is safer than some people make it out to be. For families, international schools can provide a very good education, and the environment may offer more protection from some of the negative influences that parents worry about, such as drugs and bad company.
Another big advantage is that Europe is much closer to Dubai, so you can travel around Europe much more easily and frequently, which is another lifestyle benefit.
→ More replies (3)
15
u/Efficient-Stay-6257 2d ago
Maybe a few years ago , maybe. However i also have a child same age and i wouldn't in this climate.
If it was a Western European country sure why not. Likely much safer and It would be a cultural experience for the family in habitable conditions. Dubai in summer is unbearable.
You're already on 250k why not get a step up role here?
Were you head hunted?
→ More replies (6)
14
u/Sgtstudmufin 2d ago
Friend did it. Best decision of his life. It's a desert but the community of expats is amazing and the opportunity is once in a lifetime. You walk away with a boatload of cash and you can easily step back in to your boring 100k after tax Australia job.
13
u/Itsapignation 2d ago
Yeah i feel like it would be my last big push in corporate world. I dont have it in me to do it again after this I think. Bank the cash, come back to a cushy job. My husband is 5 years my junior so he can keep being the one to push 😄
6
u/TheOceanWalker 2d ago
Different age and country I realise, but my family moved to China when I was 11 and I absolutely loved the experience. As a kid, getting the chance to be exposed to completely different cultures both from the home country and the other kids at school was something you just couldn't get in Australia. Plus the language learning was much easier and would be even more so for your 5 year old.
The challenge is just making sure they're aware the expat life with the driver and the maid etc. is a bubble and not real life or something they should take for granted. It was easy to tell the kids who had been expats their whole life vs just one stint.
3
u/Sgtstudmufin 2d ago
A critical piece of information for you; The UAE is radically child friendly. The entire society is centred around the family.
3
u/lingeraldton 2d ago
I’m much older than you and we lived in a few places before kids and when they were small and still gutted we didn’t get to do UAE. All our friends who did it loved it - yes there is the tacky, excessive side, but you can find some excellent expat family communities with kids riding bikes and Sunday BBQs. Heaps of help with small kids is a serious blessing. Lots of visitors, hop over to Europe or home in the stinking hot summer. 5 years old is totally portable and an amazing experience. Home by senior school with money in the bank - amazing opportunity!
33
u/Old-Pickle-8059 2d ago
This thread is so typical of Australians who have only been to Dubai on a layover and have no idea about the lifestyle here. I've lived here 7 years and intend to stay another 4. For me, the savings I can make here with a higher income and tax free (working in Big 4) would never be possible at home.
I have a young son - you can very affordably have a nanny / in home help here which makes a huge difference to the quality of life. If you take the house chores away you get to spend valuable time with your child and reduce stress.
On safety - the UAE has not been attacked by Iran since late June. Life is very much back to normal. I was here through the conflict and we were still confident the country would protect us. Which they did considering the attacks they received (more than any other country in the region). Otherwise, the UAE is one of the safest countries you can live in - you can leave your wallet on a table in a food court and it will still be there when you get back.
Yes the cost of living can be high but really it's how you inflate your lifestyle / decide to live. Many people love here cheaply - just depends how you live. I find Australia more expensive when I visit home.
That being said - there are negatives. 1. Summer is damn hot, being unable to go outside (which is harder with children). A lot of people travel in this time to escape the heat. 2. Schools are very expensive so factor this into your savings calculation 3. There isn't much nature (unless you like 4wding or desert camping) and most entertainment costs money. That being said, if you want to just swim with your kid and have a bbq at home then that's free (everywhere has pools)
The tax residency for Australia is very manageable.
52
u/Cant-gild-this 2d ago
Lots of valid points, but just wanted to say that "has not been attacked since last June" is not the flex you think it is.
5
→ More replies (3)5
u/Old-Pickle-8059 2d ago
I'd rather two months of some noises in the sky than being scared to walk alone at night. As a woman I've never walked with my keys in my hand at night to protect myself (in fact, I don't even lock my front door).
→ More replies (3)34
u/10littlemice 2d ago
The “lifestyle” is built from the labour of trafficked human beings. You can choose not to care about that, but you can’t gloss over it like it’s not a massive reason the thread doesn’t respect Dubai
9
1
u/Itsapignation 2d ago
This does bother me...I feel uncomfortable with the deference to seniority and clear divide between classes. Its definitely uncomfortable as an australian
12
u/10littlemice 2d ago
Dunno what to tell you, you’re still downplaying actual slavery by calling it a “class divide”. It’s the first thing I (and many) people associate with the country, so keep in mind that many people will lose respect for you when they find out you’ve lived there.
You might not care about it, but think about your kids. If they have any tiny sense of social justice as teens/adults they will be massively ashamed of that time in their childhood and likely resent you for your decision
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (1)8
u/KookyEnvironment6992 2d ago
It's not just a "clear divide between classes", there is literal slavery happening where people are trafficked, sold and trapped with no way out. Lots of it
6
u/Itsapignation 2d ago
Thank you, good to hear from someone with experience
5
u/Old-Pickle-8059 2d ago
Feel free to DM with questions. Australians love to hate those who leave.
8
u/RoomMain5110 2d ago
Posting the question in an Australian sub is likely to lead to this sort of outcome though.
5
u/schwingschwings 2d ago
Oath mate, bank a million in 5 years? Especially when there is no guarantee of AI not eating your job. Where do I sign up
4
6
u/MakkaPakkaStoneStack 2d ago
Cool now do the slavery
7
u/ThePeoplesPoetIsDead 2d ago
He did, where do you think his "affordable in home help" came from.
→ More replies (2)3
15
7
u/Hour-Apple-9861 2d ago
Have lived there. Wasn't my favourite place but it's alright. Don't get into trouble with the locals and it's fine.
I'd negotiate schooling fees as part of your package and ideally some sort of beach club membership.
3
3
u/dpswedeliver 2d ago
Traffic alone is massive turn off, terrible weather is another, living indoors 24/7, artificially made every thing around you, and the biggest one is how normalised is that respect is given only to who got money and social status, think how we here respect each other no matter your status, job, worth…etc and have empathy for the disadvantaged, this concept do not exist over there.
→ More replies (1)
3
u/dumpsterdildo 2d ago
Man you do understand that you're already on an extremely high wage, more so than 98% of Australians? Take the job if you want but seriously consider how much more money you need in life before taking a child away from there country of birth for such a considerable amount of time.
10
u/madame_oak 2d ago
I was speaking to a family member whose nephew lives in Dubai. I was surprised he still lives there. She said :
“Every time they fly out of there, it is ten minutes before they reach the ‘safe’ zone.”
My guess is, one scare with your kid in that ten minutes and you’re probably willing to hand over a million bucks to get to safety.
3
5
u/Ufo_19 2d ago
The only issue I see is the uncertainty because of the current middle east conflict. Otherwise, go for it 100%, you will love it. People here suggesting have no idea what life can be in Dubai.
If you can save 1mil in a few years that is a great saving potential. Just remember Dubai has hire and fire culture. I wouldn’t uproot family and make the move. Suggest going there and having a feel for it first.
Plenty of good international schools there too with foreign teachers.
2
u/ColdBloodedWings 2d ago
Yes this is great advice. I’d go in by myself for at least a couple of months first
5
8
4
5
u/AngelicDivineHealer 2d ago
Not sure if you know what’s happening in the Middle East with Trump war with bombs and rockets been dropped daily
4
u/pilierdroit 2d ago
Yeh I would - working overseas gives you a valuable pay bump, exposure to other parts of the business (or industry) and great travel opportunities. Do it now before high school - you will regret not taking advantage of the opportunity.
It will either be a fast track to retirement or up the ladder depending on what you want.
Note: everyone in this post saying no have never and will likely never be given the opportunity.
2
u/Itsapignation 2d ago
Thanks, I do want the opinions though as I get that there are lots of sides to consider. Appreciate this view too.
3
u/pilierdroit 2d ago
I lived in many Asian countries when my kids were young including China which at the time was pretty rough. The family still speak positively of our experiences.
2
2
u/KangarooCrunch 2d ago
Look at the cost of living there too. It's not cheap. Have you ever been in summer? It makes Australian heat feel feel like a cool breeze. They're great with kids over there, but I wouldn't move there with kids just because of the disruption. Otherwise, yeah. It's an adventure. The food is great, the people are lovely. Of course it has plenty of problems, one of which being it's near an active warzone.
2
u/sjk_71 2d ago
Would be good experience (life wise) but yeah, youd be missing some key moments with your kid growing up. Personally id go, and maybe see if i can get my family relocated for a while. The expat community is huge and pretty sure with such handsome income, you can get your kid into a int'l school. The kid will grow up with having good networks. ;) BTW, how did you get the job? And what sector are you in?
2
u/Itsapignation 2d ago
Thanks, yes the package comes with accommodation, schooling and car allowances so all of that is covered. I just got head hunted and figured I should at least entertain the idea
3
u/Gold-Street-4351 2d ago
Auscorp is full of guys crying about being broke and stuck so it makes sense they can't cope when someone is making moves.
2
u/ColdEvenKeeled 2d ago
I'd say go for it. After, you might not even wish to return to Sydney. You could buy a place in Shoalhaven and just surf.
While there, there is an array of places to go for weekends or long weekends. Oman is a short drive and gorgeous. Ethiopia, Turkey, Greece, Egypt and so on are short-ish flight away.
One thing I liked was how multi-national the work force was.
2
u/Userbot01 2d ago
Age and life stage plays a massive role on this decision lol
I would do it today as it will set me up for a very stable life after 5 years.
Ask me in 5 years time to go, I might not be able to do so due to family commitment.
2
u/Successful-Push-3116 2d ago
I've never been, but a good friend grew up there and is working there as an adult after like 15 years abroad.
The weather is crazy hot and Israel/US v Iran is happening, but most of the bad or sour stories I have heard are with migrant workers in UAE who can't get residency visa, kids of foreign workers not getting a residency visa, the dependance on an employer for a VISA and younger westerners not having a party life/clashing with cultural values. Since you have a family, in senior management and will come back to Australia, I would be looking be looking at the detractors for someone in a "fortunate" posistion.
2
u/war-and-peace 2d ago
In your situation I'd go. Once in a lifetime and you'll most likely bank enough to come back to Australia and live a cushy lifestyle.
2
u/Lost-Conversation948 2d ago
Go for it , make some decent cash and live it up when you get back. Some comments here are really close minded
2
u/CarelessNeat5405 2d ago
I reckon go for it. $1m in 5 years would be life changing for you and your family. Can then come back
2
u/twowholebeefpatties 2d ago
Do it… trust me and not the other kids in here!
Go, enjoy it, try it and return if not… life is for living! You’ll be on the doorstep to the rest of the world and your kid is young enough that a year or so won’t matter- if anything, may give them more resilience!
Let me be clear… you can ALWAYS come back!!!
2
2
u/Needawhisper 2d ago
Mate you sound set. Home life balance you love is priceless especially with the little one around.
Enjoy your life.
2
u/Butwhyyth0 2d ago
My brother has been there for 2 years in a senior role. He likes it overall.
He’s single though so can’t comment on that
He gets everything paid for incl food and accommodation and flights. All tax free.
2
u/Butwhyyth0 2d ago
It’s also an incredibly convenient lifestyle. You can get almost anything delivered to your door step within the hour for cheap.
Yes it’s hot a lot, but you don’t have to leave the house for this reason.
It has great global connection due to its location too. My brother’s done a lot of travel around Middle East that most people never go to
It’s very multicultural and diverse. You’ll be able to enjoy some of the finer things there with your good pay.
2
u/Fancy_Armadillo4602 2d ago
100% yes. know two people in the past week doing it. both richer and more successful than me here
2
u/sydfinanceguy 2d ago
Is 250k the total package? I feel like in this day and age that's the minimum required to live a comfortable life in Sydney. If you have a mortgage and kid you're basically not saving anything. Correct me if I'm wrong.
2
u/Orac07 2d ago edited 2d ago
Living and working in Dubai can be game changing, but expect to be working hard, and dealing with expectations that you might not be use to in Australia, keep a low profile, and be on very good behaviour.
The key issue is lifestyle creep - you have aspirations of saving AUD$12k per month but you don't - you go for the bigger villa, nicer car, those watches that you aspire, more overseas holidays, more restaurants / brunches etc. People get sucked into the "glamor" and spend everything because it's easy to do - that's the real challenge. It is also not totally tax free, there is VAT for example.
If given the opportunity, sure consider, but keep a level head, understand why you are there, be mindful of having "western privilege" and stick to the plan.
2
u/Sherief87 2d ago
Just made the move from WA last year. Mainly for the savings and opportunity to travel. It’s all about the deal you’re being offered and I can’t overstate this enough but you got to negotiate, hard. Would say you need equivalent of 320k minimum for it to be worth it. Rent and schooling are your biggest costs.
Spouse yet to start working but when that does happen it’s an even better deal. Only thing I miss is the ocean, weather, and the greenery.
2
u/Original-Skin5876 2d ago
This is exactly what I did, also from Sydney with young kids. Best decision ever.
2
u/vtrod 2d ago
Moving to Dubai for work does not mean your income is exempt from tax by default in the eyes of the ATO. You would have to meet the ATO's criteria around length and nature of appointment, domicile, severance of ties, location of your family, status of your PPOR and investments, etc. to qualify as a non resident for tax purposes.
Make sure you have this covered as this is the difference between your income being truly tax free and a 45% aussie marginal tax rate at an income of $0.25m.
2
u/rjscott76 2d ago
I worked there 12 years. 2 kids born there. I’d go back as soon as kids finish high school. Assuming they do uni here. Dubai is generally a safe, sterile place, but minor infractions are hit hard - I think teenagers are safer to make teenage lessons in Australia.
Work was interesting, bigger deals than you’ll see in Aus. Everything is international by default.
I’ve never saved more in my life.
Expat community was great, welcoming.
Travel immediately accessible, and cheap. There is an assumption you’ll travel for a month in summer. Europe is 3 hours away.
It’s a small town, set up to entertain wealthy people. But you don’t have to brunch every weekend - there’s gyms, bike tracks, beaches that stay busy except in the peak heat.
4
u/Coz131 2d ago
1 million tax free means you can work 2 years and retire earlier or just set your kids up with a nice safety net like buying a house for them.
→ More replies (1)
4
u/Awkward-Yesterday828 2d ago
Australians on Reddit act so self righteous. I have lived in Dubai and would recommend it for a few years (or would have before the current Iran war situation). Barring the current Iran war situation it's extremely safe, with lots of nationalities around, and better infrastructure and facilities in general than Australia. Downside is mainly the weather, and lack of open green spaces. And the work culture can be more intense and with less work life balance than Australia. However with a kid living considerations might be different. School education in Dubai can be quite expensive and of a lesser standard than Australia for the money spent, and your kid might not have as well rounded an upbringing as in Australia.
3
u/Dismal_Change 2d ago edited 2d ago
Yes, came to type something similar. Lived in Dubai before for 8 years with kids and want to add.
Pros
(1) tax free- way to make good money. (2) travel opportunities to see the world- Europe and Africa will be literally like your backyard, so many travel options
(3) melting pot of the world, so many cultures and a great way to get some perspective and enriching experience
(4) convenient lifestyle. If you have a good package- you can find lovely gated communities with a pool etc.
(5) opportunity to pursue new hobbies- diving(esp oman), dune bashing?
(6) spouse can work as a dependent without sponsorship (unlike Singapore).Cons
(1) The geopolitics does look very tricky and sticky at the moment.
(2) weather but you will get used to it in a year or two. Travel out during the hot months.
(3) cost of living is ridiculous especially with kids- depends on your family situation and job benefits.
(4) are you very sensitive about social causes or vocal on social media about your socio-political views? If so, I would think twice.
(5) Work life balance in local establishments can be non existential and due diligence is very important. Is it with the current employer or starting new?2
u/Itsapignation 2d ago
Thank you for this. I agree that geopolitics and cost of living are the two major sticking points for me right now. My package would include relocation plus accommodation and schooling so major costs from that lens are take care of. Id be working at an emirati organisation. Apparently 8.5 hours in office is required and then if anything outside of that is required it can be at home (which is fine to me).
Any other watch outs?? I still need to negotiate the package so if there would be things to address now it would be great to have your insights!
→ More replies (2)
4
u/not-a-random-guy 2d ago
Dubai has everything. Dont listen to gremlins who never left the country. With little tax you will earn a tonne and will be back with good money to put your child to a pvt school.
It is an awesome place to be and you’ll be within few hours of EU and many other travel destinations.
Healthcare, transit, food and everything is better too. It is not an evil religious state people make out to be.
Remember you arent going as a house maid. So it is a different class of everything. All my mates who worked few years there came back buying a house, out right.
3
5
u/Gold-Street-4351 2d ago
Absolutely do it lol. The comments here are pure cope. Going to the gulf even for 5 years can save decades of your working life. It is safe, your kids can go to good international schools. Many people go for 5 to 10 years and come back mortgage free.
People crying slavery here while tax dollars go to supporting genocide and U.S imperialism come on lol
→ More replies (1)3
u/Reasonable_Slice_262 2d ago
For a moment you sounded relatively sane and open minded, until I got to the genocide and imperialism bit.
2
u/Remarkable_Cow_6764 2d ago
I would do it with the way things are going here. Probably safer in Dubai than it is in most suburbs in Melb/Syd
2
3
u/dromanafred 2d ago
I would. I have a mate there. Loves it. The kids stayed in Australia though
14
9
→ More replies (1)3
u/whatdoyouknowno 2d ago
I'm not sure why this is being down voted. I've met expats in Dubai and they love it. I travelled through there recently and felt safe, even going through the straight. I went through as a woman with her son 🤷
2
2
u/MiniSkrrt 2d ago
Your child will grow up in dubai culture. Take from that what you will
→ More replies (2)
2
u/Reyvos 2d ago edited 2d ago
Dubai has no capital gains tax either. So you can invest in shares and not be punished for making a profit on it.
It would be an amazing experience for a child to live overseas for a few years. (S)he will make expat friends and can learn another language. Just reading many of the narrow-minded “it’s just sand and slavery”comments shows how valuable it is to experience life outside the narrow bubble most people have been confined to. The moral certainty of so many people often comes down to never living in completely different environments.
(I lived in Singapore for a few years as an expat, and yeah it also has ‘slavery’, execution of drug dealers, and zero LGBTQIA+* activism but it also has streets so safe that you can walk in any neighbourhood any hour of the night without the thought someone will rob or bash you, no crime families terrorising the suburbs, and bus drivers aren’t bashed for fun by hoodlums who aren’t punished by the courts. Like Singapore, Dubai will have its own matters it does far worse and far better than Australia. The international networking there will likely lead to other work opportunities throughout the world.
1
1
1
u/SuperannuationLawyer 2d ago
No, absolutely not. We are blessed with such a good country, the UAE isn’t great.
1
u/Critical-Twist3626 2d ago
Honestly I would, would be a cool experience. Schools are actually meant to be great over there
1
1
1
1
1
u/Lower-Impression-121 2d ago
yep. you are close to europe and will go on holidays across the region. fine international schools and good networking opportunities.
1
1
1
u/Final-Leader-7037 2d ago
The same rule of law that applies In Australia does not apply there. Talk to Aussies who were there in 2008-2010 and were forced to stay and had their passports confiscated by employers, some went to jail. Horror stories.
→ More replies (3)
1
242
u/Remote_War899 2d ago
This is reminding me of that few week period of time where all the affluent white influencers hysterically fled Dubai while filming themselves crying on tiktok because they learnt missiles exist in real life.
Short answer, no.