Is a 15K Dirham Salary Enough to Live Comfortably in Dubai Without Accommodation?

I got selected in one of the IT companies in Dubai. They are offering me 15K dirhams without accommodation. I just want to know whether this package is good or not. I am single. What will be the rent for one furnished room in Dubai?

Please reply ASAP because I have to update them tomorrow.

Regards,
Ghouseuddin

Hi,

It's an average salary, provided you find yourself an accommodation on a sharing basis, with at least 5 people, and spend only on food and not on any other items much. I have never been to Dubai, but the information provided is based on a market survey I conducted myself about two months back.

Thank you,
Octavious

Dear dude,

Please note that accommodation in Dubai is very costly. A 1 BHK will cost you around 6 to 8K AED. If you are taking a furnished flat, it will cost you around 10 to 12K AED. If you opt for sharing, it will cost you around 1K AED.

My suggestion is that you consider taking a flat in Sharjah or near Sharjah, as it will cost you around 3 to 4K AED. After that, you can purchase second-hand furniture, which is very affordable as people often leave their old furniture behind. After all, you are going there to save money, aren't you?

15K is a good amount. You can save around 10K if you spend wisely.

Take care.

All the best.

Hi,

I assume the 15K you mentioned is per month. If that's the case, it's a good salary. Nowadays, many companies offer this package to managers.

You can easily find good accommodation, like a single bedroom without sharing, for Dhs 4500 in a good location. The rest of the money you can utilize as you wish.

Thank you,
Liz

Dear,

I am in DXB, and it all depends on what is the position, breakup, and other benefits. Moreover, to start with AED 15K is not a bad start. Mr. Anil has given the right suggestions. All the best.

Tushar

Hi, I live in Dubai and agree with the others that Dh 15k per month is a good start. Make sure you read your contract i.e., whether it is a limited contract or unlimited contract, in which case visa change will be treated differently. However, all said, you can save at least 8K to 10K even if you take a 1-bedroom hall kitchen in a good location and building.

Regards,
Laksh

Dhs. 15K is a decent salary in Dubai. But if you are drawing half of this in India, then staying back home is better. Today you are single so it is okay, but when you start your family Dhs. 15K will be like peanuts in Dubai.

So think over and take the plunge. All the best to you.

What Jamila said is true. If you are drawing half the money (in fact, I would say 35%), you are better off in India. Further, there is no career scope in Dubai (because they don't have the concept). Moreover, depending on the company, either bootlicking or backstabbing would help you grow. Very unethical, mostly. Keeping up with the word is nonexistent.

I would personally suggest NOT working in Dubai if you are pretty settled in India. If you are unable to get yourself a job in India, then you can think about it after reading all the comments.

I came to Dubai aspiring for a 'career' and interaction with a lot of people from everywhere in the world, but trust me, I am ready to get listed as absconding, and I am planning to leave for India the 1st week of December.

Summary: DO NOT come to Dubai. The top brass is always European. The designation 'Manager' is never given to Indians/other Asians.

PS: Anyone who contradicts my belief, please correct me.

Also note that traveling in Dubai is a pain because it is hot all the time. The 'winter' is pleasant in relative terms, but if you are from Bangalore or Pune, it is pretty hot too. Cars are affordable (paying 2K AED installments), but getting a driving license is a pain in the true sense. People end up not getting a license despite trying for 6-8 months.

Additionally, the market here is primitive. There are no HR practices. Ironically, my HR colleagues here did not know what an 'HR manual' is. Whatever is said and done is by word or either by the Government of Dubai (GoD) or the 'Management'. Management refers to all the individuals who have climbed up the ladder in the company, either by bootlicking or backstabbing. I am not sure if this is how things are in non-native owned lines of businesses, but it definitely holds true for all the 'Al-XYZ' groups here.

"What Jamila said is true. If you are earning half the money (in fact, I would say 35%), you are better off in India. Furthermore, there is no career scope in Dubai (because they don't have the concept). Depending on the company, either bootlicking or backstabbing would help you progress. It is very unethical, mostly. Keeping up to one's word is nonexistent.

I would personally suggest NOT working in Dubai if you are well-settled in India. If you are unable to secure a job in India, then you can consider Dubai after reading all the comments. I came to Dubai aspiring for a 'career' and interaction with people from all over the world, but believe me, I am prepared to leave abruptly and I am planning to return to India in the first week of December.

In summary, DO NOT come to Dubai. The top brass is always European, and the designation 'Manager' is never given to Indians or other Asians.

PS: Anyone who disagrees with my opinion, please feel free to correct me.

Hi,

The standard of living in Dubai is rising day by day. So, if you have a good job and are paid well, my suggestion is please don't come to Dubai. Alternatively, come on a visit visa, see the place, and then decide.

Vinita

The amount is good to start with. You may take this opportunity if you are going to join a professional organization where you find career growth. If you would like to come abroad it's suitable. Thereafter, you may get better when you will be here.

Regards,
Khalid
HR Consultant

Hi,

15K is really good for starters and for a single person. Although the rent is extremely high in Dubai, e.g., 55K - 70K per annum for a studio and if lucky, one bedroom.

Rgds, B

Hey,

Nice one. Dubai is a place where you will find someone living for 900 DHS and 9 million. Life is possible with any given amount. For you, with God's grace, I believe you have a good salary cap. You could go for a sharing accommodation, which once in Dubai you would be able to find out easily with the help of your colleagues or through papers (if you don't want to depend on anyone).

Dubai is tempting, and bachelor life could take its toll, leaving you with no penny in your pocket by month-end. I suggest you find accommodation somewhere in Sharjah, but again, if your working places are somewhere in Jebel Ali, a clean 2-hour journey to and fro to be expected due to the immense traffic.

I suggest you don't leave the offer; all the other things that are mentioned are to be seen as hurdles, but the challenge is to get a job that's worth it. All the best to you and welcome to the most happening place in the Middle East.

Regards, Jain

Hello everyone,

Ghouseuddin, 15k Dhm is a good amount, but here are some facts:

1. If you will be living there alone, single accommodation is very expensive, whether you share with others or not. 4-6k Dhm vanishes in only rental.

2. There is no long-term chance for your family to settle in Dubai. Houses with 2 beds are very expensive. (My sister and her husband used to live in Dubai. He is earning 20k, and after every three months, one month's salary goes toward the rent of the apartment.)

3. If you live in Sharjah to reduce costs, you have to face huge traffic jams. Sometimes it takes 1:45 hours to reach Dubai from Sharjah.

4. Transportation in Dubai is very expensive.

5. Savings will be on the better side if you are earning half of this 15k Dhm in India. The cost of living in Dubai is very high.

Ghouseuddin, my sincere suggestion to you: if you are earning half of 15k Dhm in India or maybe 35% of it, please stay in your motherland. It doesn't benefit you to live without your loved ones.

Try some other options.

Wish you the best of luck. You have to make a decision.

Regards,

Pooja

I think that is good enough for starting. They might be giving overtime, so first, you settle there, and everything will be done in the right way. You must go. Best of luck.

Sorry, I have no idea, but from the opinions of our fellow HR professionals, it seems pretty reliable to stay in Dubai at a 15K salary.

Regards,
Nivi

It should suffice provided you share accommodation. Dubai is expensive but 15,000 AED is OK. Will the company provide medical insurance? Annual ticket to the point of origin? Transportation to work and back? 25 days paid annual leave with a 5-day work week?

The UAE Law is very clear on these issues.

P.V. Quinn

Hi, I have been reading the views you have received about this job offer for coming to the UAE. I would strongly recommend that before you accept any offer, please cross-check a hundred times on the company and do a background check. Please do not get swayed by the money part. Life is not that easy out here. Also, sharing accommodation on a basis can be quite a pain. Many of our colleagues are coming back to India for better jobs and posts. So, I would advise you to give this a deep thought and then make a decision. Fayeg

First of all, congratulations on your job! As we all know, getting a job is very difficult in Dubai, especially with a good package. It's been good, and you are lucky to get such a package. Today, you got 15k; tomorrow may be even more. Don't leave this job. Time may just pass, and you can gain UAE experience. With this experience, you can negotiate in the market for a higher salary. Take care. Bye.

Dear Ghous,

Please let us know about your decision.

Regards,
Khalid Hasan
HR Consultant
Abu Dhabi

Hi, I do agree with all HR practitioners have said about Dubai. Come and visit before accepting employment on a visa. If you are a qualified MBA with experience in the UAE, there are openings for 20-25k per month. If you are looking for long-term prospects and are currently single, you can make a move. There are always pros and cons in any city, including Dubai. Hard-core HR practices are very rare to find, except in a few multinationals.

Dear existing members from Dubai/UAE, why don't we all create a forum to discuss things, keep in touch, and help each other with our day-to-day issues? I am available at 050-2233419.

Ilyas

Hi,

Dude, I have been to Dubai. Don't worry, it's a good package to start with. I was there for 5 years, so don't stress about fake suggestions, okay? Go ahead, and all the very best. Take care.

Dear Friend,

I was in the Middle East for quite some time, and I have traveled to almost all the prime locations. I would suggest you negotiate your salary to 20k per month, as your rent would be 8-9k per month, and traveling and other expenses would reach another 6k. The balance would be your savings. It depends on your spending style and, of course, savings. Hence, the best option would be to go for 20k per month.

I hope you don't mind this question of mine; IT in Dubai sounds just as mediocre to me as the IT vertical is booming in India. I am surprised you are looking for a relocation. Anyways, this was just my thought. Kindly do good research about the company/work profile and sundry issues. Once it's convincing to you, then go ahead and pick up the offer.

Good Luck,
Harish

It's a good offer, but you need to search for shared accommodation or studio flats. It's better to search for the same in Sharjah. There are new places developed in Dubai, which are somewhat far away from the main city areas. These are inexpensive places, and one could find good accommodation at a very low cost.

Just inquire about the transport. Generally, companies provide free transportation, but still, the bus service is very good in Dubai, but taxis are costly. The traffic in Dubai is the worst in the world, so you need to be prepared to be in traffic for around 2 to 3 hours daily at least.

Your other cost will be food; vegetarians like me faced a lot of problems, but I was still able to find purely vegetarian restaurants. You should set aside at least 600-800 Dh for food only. Telephone will be another significant expense which comes to almost the same as the food bill. In short, set aside around 3000-5000 Dh for rent, 600-800 Dh for food, and 600-800 Dh for the telephone. The rest is your savings.

I would suggest negotiating with them on the yearly vacation ticket to India.

Do let me know if you want more help.

Regards,

Meghal

Hi all,

Thank you all for the very useful information and Mr. Ghouseudihn for his question. I receive an in-hand salary of INR 25k in an Indian MNC and am looking for a job in the UAE. After reading the comments of experienced individuals like you all, I will ensure that I choose a "non-Al XYZ" company.

Sspillai

Well said vndixit. I fully agree with what you have described about the general work environment in Dubai. If I am not wrong, I think similar conditions exist in almost all of the GCC countries.