Working in the Abu Dhabi

[Anonymous]

It is an amazing place, OP, and you should grab this opportunity with both hands. I miss it every day and I never felt safer as a twentysomething woman. Oh, and I made lots of money.

My senior colleagues with families were very happy. Sample size of seven families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you everyone for the valuable insight while minimizing the snark. If this thread were a yelp review, I’m guessing it’s hovering around 2.5-2.8 stars at best. At this point, this role and location doesn’t seem the right fit for us at this time.

OP you should ask your work to send you there for a week with your family so you can check it out in person

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you everyone for the valuable insight while minimizing the snark. If this thread were a yelp review, I’m guessing it’s hovering around 2.5-2.8 stars at best. At this point, this role and location doesn’t seem the right fit for us at this time.

OP you should ask your work to send you there for a week with your family so you can check it out in person

OP here. The recruiter offered to fly us over as one of the last steps, but I would feel pretty committed at that time. He said lead time to hire is in months because of all the logistics involved and I wouldn’t want to waste anyone’s time to just fly their on their dime. He even asked me to name my price but I’m also doing ok working for myself so I’m not even 100% sure they can blow my socks off. Lastly, it’s not all my sole decision as my wife has reservations about it as well.

For the twenty something single woman - how long were you there and where did you live? Are you Caucasian?

[Anonymous]

OP you haven’t said what your field is, but make sure you don’t end up like these people:
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-spying-raven/
TLDR: former feds lured by high salaries, eventually ended up enabling UAE to spy on activists, journalists including US citizens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you everyone for the valuable insight while minimizing the snark. If this thread were a yelp review, I’m guessing it’s hovering around 2.5-2.8 stars at best. At this point, this role and location doesn’t seem the right fit for us at this time.

Please don't make real decisions based on random internet input - go and visit. We lived there - DH and I both had senior executive positions and our kids were in a wonderful international school. There are cultural differences but I had an awesome job and was never disrespected because I was a woman. The exposure for our kids was life changing - both living there and the travel we were able to do. They had very good friends from all over the world and of all skin tones. To them, the US feels more racist (they were oblivious the strata outside of their school). There is an amazing community there - many smart, educated and interesting people from Europe, Lebanon, Egypt, US, Syria, South Africa, Australia, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, etc. etc. Our lives are richer for all the wonderful people from all walks of life that we got to know during our time there.

I definitely think you should at least visit before you write it off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP you haven’t said what your field is, but make sure you don’t end up like these people:
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-spying-raven/
TLDR: former feds lured by high salaries, eventually ended up enabling UAE to spy on activists, journalists including US citizens.

Thank you very much for that article as it was very eye opening.

[Anonymous]

Never get in a fight with a local, never criticize the government or the local people. Facebook is being monitored. An Australian woman got deported because she posted a picture of a locals car parked wrong and blocking the entrance to her apartment complex. Just Google it.
Your Visa is temporary, you cannot get a permanent visa.
Rent is paid in 6 month increments.
Do not get into debt. You will be arrested if you owe money and try to leave the country
Sketchy behavior by employers, like not getting full salary every month

[Anonymous]

I would never go there, even if you put a million dollars in my pocket.

[Anonymous]

My firm has an AD office with all expats. Here’s a financial snapshot as I understand from them:

- full time live in nanny (high-end) who works 6 days a week - $900 a month
- private driver in staff is $1400 a month
- chef on staff about $1300 a month
- after stipend pays $8000 a year to the British school for two kids (elementary)

This particular colleague has been there 8 years. She considered moving back 5 years ago but had her second kids and couldnt imagine not having the help. They are a rare family as both DH and DW have big jobs. She sometimes feels like she misses out socially because most women are trailing spouses. But she’s found community and loves being able to frequently travel. Also the first $100k is tax free in US under the treaty. That’s huge. She calls living there “life lite”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely go for it! UAE is beautiful and adventurous. It’s open and welcoming to foreigners. Your kids will probably attend a British School or International school. Both good options. I would go in a heartbeat. By the way, their houses are huge and your wife will be able to hire an affordable nanny to help.

+1, my cousin's family had this exact experience living there (w two kids, a daughter & a son). They loved it and had never lived abroad as a family prior (they are Christian)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My firm has an AD office with all expats. Here’s a financial snapshot as I understand from them:

- full time live in nanny (high-end) who works 6 days a week - $900 a month
- private driver in staff is $1400 a month
- chef on staff about $1300 a month
- after stipend pays $8000 a year to the British school for two kids (elementary)

This particular colleague has been there 8 years. She considered moving back 5 years ago but had her second kids and couldnt imagine not having the help. They are a rare family as both DH and DW have big jobs. She sometimes feels like she misses out socially because most women are trailing spouses. But she’s found community and loves being able to frequently travel. Also the first $100k is tax free in US under the treaty. That’s huge. She calls living there “life lite”.

Why does the nanny make so much less than the driver and chef? Being a nanny is just as onerous if not more than being a driver or chef?

[Anonymous]

I haven't been to Abu Dhabi, but have spent significant time in Dubai. Due to my field, I am uncomfortable with the constant feeling of sleeze (and just can't overlook a lot of what happens there, plus the slavery, occasional killing of gays, and often being the only non prostitute woman in a restaurant), so I don't enjoy it personally. Abu Dhabi may be different though- most of my colleagues who travel there instead of Dubai just comment on how hot and boring it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My firm has an AD office with all expats. Here’s a financial snapshot as I understand from them:

- full time live in nanny (high-end) who works 6 days a week - $900 a month
- private driver in staff is $1400 a month
- chef on staff about $1300 a month
- after stipend pays $8000 a year to the British school for two kids (elementary)

This particular colleague has been there 8 years. She considered moving back 5 years ago but had her second kids and couldnt imagine not having the help. They are a rare family as both DH and DW have big jobs. She sometimes feels like she misses out socially because most women are trailing spouses. But she’s found community and loves being able to frequently travel. Also the first $100k is tax free in US under the treaty. That’s huge. She calls living there “life lite”.

You forgot to list the full time maid for under 1,000 a month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My firm has an AD office with all expats. Here’s a financial snapshot as I understand from them:

- full time live in nanny (high-end) who works 6 days a week - $900 a month
- private driver in staff is $1400 a month
- chef on staff about $1300 a month
- after stipend pays $8000 a year to the British school for two kids (elementary)

This particular colleague has been there 8 years. She considered moving back 5 years ago but had her second kids and couldnt imagine not having the help. They are a rare family as both DH and DW have big jobs. She sometimes feels like she misses out socially because most women are trailing spouses. But she’s found community and loves being able to frequently travel. Also the first $100k is tax free in US under the treaty. That’s huge. She calls living there “life lite”.

Why does the nanny make so much less than the driver and chef? Being a nanny is just as onerous if not more than being a driver or chef

Good question. I think it’s the only staff member that lives in the house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My firm has an AD office with all expats. Here’s a financial snapshot as I understand from them:

- full time live in nanny (high-end) who works 6 days a week - $900 a month
- private driver in staff is $1400 a month
- chef on staff about $1300 a month
- after stipend pays $8000 a year to the British school for two kids (elementary)

This particular colleague has been there 8 years. She considered moving back 5 years ago but had her second kids and couldnt imagine not having the help. They are a rare family as both DH and DW have big jobs. She sometimes feels like she misses out socially because most women are trailing spouses. But she’s found community and loves being able to frequently travel. Also the first $100k is tax free in US under the treaty. That’s huge. She calls living there “life lite”.

Why does the nanny make so much less than the driver and chef? Being a nanny is just as onerous if not more than being a driver or chef?

Starting salaries are determined by the country of origin. So if you have a Philippine maid, the Philippine government determines the basic salary.