Job Discussion Forums

[meteacher]

How much accommodation allowance do they give employees? Is it enough to cover accommodation in Abu Dhabi?

[kiefer]

Meteacher,

The better question is how much are decent accommodations in Abu Dhabi these days? If you look long and hard enough, usually through word-of-mouth, you can find a two bedroom that is nice enough on the inside but dreadful on the outside (zero parking, the din of traffic all hours of the day and night, little sunlight, shops on the first two or three floors). That will run you between 65,000 to 80,000 AED per annum, maybe more.

The allowance varies from the absurd and out-of-touch with reality to the humane and reasonable, and it all depends upon the school.

[redsoxman]

Try to find a job that gives you accomodation, rentals change and landlords can get greedy. Most of the better paying places give you accomodation. Don't take a housing allowance. You may find that it's not enough.

[Tom Le Seelleur]

Housing allowances for Abu Dhabi and Dubai can make finding ideal accommodation more difficult. If you find a job in Al Ain, the allowances should provide you with a very comfortable place. If you get cash, you can also bank the surplus. If accommodation is provided you don't receive the balance. The previous posters are correct in saying that you need to be careful about allowances and what you can get or not get.
Tom