Job Discussion Forums

[LuxorHouse]

I am considering an offer from UAEU. The salary is fine, but they are only offering a 4000AED/month housing allowance. I've been doing a great deal of research and it doesn't appear that 4000 will get much, if anything. I would like to hear from anyone who is at such a low allowance and learn how they have faced this challenge. I was hoping to bring my spouse with and UAEU is aware of that.

[merry_prankster]

I'm assuming you are coming for a faculty position. Most that post on here work at UGRU and it is closing.

4-5000/month sounds about right for Al Ain. UAEU has never had the best allowance for housing, but it should be enough to get you something reasonable. Be warned about the present climate of fear at the university though. The current provost is not well liked and there have been many redundancies, cutbacks etc across all faculties/departments.

[LuxorHouse]

Thank you for your insight. You indicate something "reasonable" could be obtained. Can you elaborate...location, quality, space, etc.?

[Iamherebecause]

HR will find, and they will show you a few places all of which will be within the allowance, and you may have a few days to decide. With all the teachers transferred up country there ought to be a fair bit of housing up for grabs. Don't worry: you should have at least 3 bedrooms plus fairly generous living space.

[LuxorHouse]

For 4000AED/month???

[Iamherebecause]

As I tried to explain, you won't have to find it for yourself. HR tend to deal with landlords who have several properties and they sort out the deals. A couple of years ago there were new staff put into a very nasty block where flats were tiny and cramped, but there many complaints and everyone was moved out.

Expect 5 nights in a hotel and then a move to your accommodation. Expect to see maybe 3 places. Expect some pressure to opt for a place quickly (you have limited time in the hotel) The further you are from the centre the bigger the place you might get. Don't expect a villa - probably a flat although you might be lucky and get a villa.

Which Faculty will you be working for?

[LuxorHouse]

Thank you! Yes, I understand what you've said about HR's involvement. I am just seeing conflicting information on what kind of flat can be had for only 4000AED/month. I am not faculty. It is an administrative position in the Humanities/Social Sciences faculty/college.

[Neutrino Girl]

I've got a place that the university set me up with that I believe costs 4-5,000 a month (they have the agreement with the landlord themselves), and it is a large 3-bedroom flat with 2.5 bathrooms. It's quite spacious, relatively new (5-7 years old I think) and in a nice, quiet area.

[LuxorHouse]

That sounds great! How far from school is it? May I ask what is it called and where is it located? Do you know whether there are any openings? Are appliances provided? Central A/C? Do you have high-speed Internet? You can PM me if you like.

[veiledsentiments]

Luxorhouse... you might want to remove your email address or mask it since sites like this are mined for email addresses.

VS

[LuxorHouse]

Thanks, VS. I thought about that, but I didn't know whether I had PM privileges in case the poster couldn't PM me. I took the email address out.

[veiledsentiments]

...but...but... we just did a PM a couple days ago.

VS

[LuxorHouse]

What I should have said was that I didn't know whether the other poster was able to PM me. Sorry!

[veiledsentiments]

Anyone with more than 5 posts can send PMs here... whether you want them or not.

VS

[LuxorHouse]

Got it, VS! Thanks!!