Job Discussion Forums

[nicki254]

Hi all, I've found some interesting info on this website and I was hoping that I can get some questions answered.

I would like to know if 10k+, with housing provided, tickets home for whole family, health insurance for family and free schooling is a good package? Can a family of four survive comfortably on that?

Also, can I bring my domestic helper with me from another country? Does anyone happen to know what the procedure for that is?

Lastly, we have a dog and would like her to come with us.... any advice on that?

Thanks,
Nicki

[Tom Le Seelleur]

Nicki
We live in Al Ain and the salary you have + the benefits is OK to live on. You could save a few 000 a month once you get settled. Make sure the schooling is fully covered otherwise this can eat into your salary. Getting a domestic helper is quite possible so I suggest you contact your embassy for details. Same with the dog. Be aware that dogs are not much liked here. How many kids do you have? Which school have you chosen to send them to? Mine are at AAESS.
Tom

[nicki254]

Thanks for the reply and the info.

Yup we want the kids to go to AAESS.

While I have you on here.... one more question

How much are cars (4x4) big enough for 1 booster seat and 2 car seats (7 seater?).... we're fine with 2nd hand.

Thanks!

[Tom Le Seelleur]

Nicki
Anywhere from 20,000 dhs and up. The closer to the summer (when people leave) the better the deals.
Tom

[Iamherebecause]

AAESS is oversubscribed, especially the primary school, so get the children's names on the list a.s.a.p and be prepared to look at other schools. I know people who have started off with children in 2 different schools for a year until they could get them all into AAESS.

AAESS is also going through a period of flux, to put it politely, but is probably still the best option. And they are planning to open more classes in both primary and secondary school. At least they try not to compromise on class size - if a class is full, it's full.

[adorabilly]

Hi Nick.

I'm not sure about where to look for cars in al ain online. but you could try to look at www.dubizzle.com and see what cars are selling for in dubai.

I got my land rover second hand from dubizzle for 10,000 durham and it runs beautifully... but like with buying any used car, buyer beware.

[veiledsentiments]

I would be very careful of used cars right now because of the many cars damaged in the cyclone in Oman. Best to buy from another western expat if you can. I would rent until I found something that I could trust.

VS

[nicki254]

Thanks everyone for all that great info! We will be heading out in around june/july so maybe we will catch those exoats leaving in the summer and get us a good deal.

Thanks for the tips on AAESS too I will look into it.

Any other info about Al Ain that anyone wants to offer up would be great too

Cheers!

[Iamherebecause]

Have you found the yahoo group, alainexpats at yahoo something something? Sorry can't remember the link. One of the better sites with info about Al Ain is in French - so if you speak French, try to find Ici Al Ain. There's also quite a bit of info on the UAEU web-site if you follow the links about employment, though some of it is rather out of date.

June-July is not a great time to arrive though. University term ends early June, HCT a little later, and the international schools also all close sometime in June. Most expats try to head out. It's hot! But at least nowhere near as humid as Dubai etc.

[veiledsentiments]