Job Discussion Forums

[GulfProf]

This is my first time posting on Dave's. I've been living in Kuwait for over two years now and am looking into jobs in other Gulf countries. (By the way, I totally agree with the upshot of the posts on "Kuwait vs. the UAE." Kuwait is a pretty awful place to live, everything taken into consideration!)

I have a job interview coming up with Zayed University and have been doing a lot of reading about the rising cost of housing in the Emirates. I know that this issue has been treated in several previous posts but from what I read the situation is constantly changing and I'd like to have a current snapshot as I'm making my decision about whether to take a job offer or not.

In Kuwait I pay 285 KD per month for a very nice little three-bedroom apartment. It's on the small side and has no luxury amenities like pool on the roof. I'm a simple person and don't need all that.

If I were to be offered a job with Zayed, I would ask for the Abu Dhabi campus but of course there's no guarantee that they'd give it to me. If my only choice were Dubai or no job, I'd probably still take it because it would be between Dubai and Kuwait!!!

So, if you experienced UAE teachers could help me out, I would be very appreciative. How much should I realistically expect to pay for a nice modest one- or two-bedroom apartment near ZU in each of these cities?

GulfProf

[herenow]

If you are offered a job at Zayed University, your housing is part of the package, at least for now. You don't pay anything. Suitable housing is found for you depending on your family size and the rent is paid for by the university. You will have to pay utilities though.

[GulfProf]

I just finished reading the HR page of ZU and I see now that this is the case. That seems like very good news considering what appears to be the escalating cost of housing in the Emirates. So, even if I were to be offered a job in the more expensive Dubai, I'd not have to worry about housing.

I'm single and, according to the the HR website, would therefore be given a two-bedroom apartment. Does anyone know what these apartments are like? I'm would assume that they would not be on the luxury end of the spectrum but can I assume that they will be clean and nice?

[veiledsentiments]

Hey Gulfprof,

Fancy meeting you here.

The situation with employers like HCT and ZU is that they have an inventory of flats and new staff are assigned to what is empty. The vast majority will be perfectly acceptable... but... it is still a bit of a crapshoot. Suddenly they may decide to demolish the building right next to your bedroom window and as you know, construction work hours are very flexible. So, there is a chance of getting one of the undesirable places the first year, but normally you can move the next year. (The key is to make sure that the housing department is treated with kid gloves. )

Also since as your name suggests, you are a prof rather than a lowly TEFL teacher, you 'might' be higher on the 'list.' One suggestion is to be the first of the new hires to arrive.

VS

[GulfProf]

Good advice!! Since I would be arriving from Kuwait I can leave as soon as spring courses are over! I wonder if the housing office would be put off if I were to arrive on June 15 to inspect the zones around each of the apartment houses they have? Which one looks the most likely to be torn down next? Well, if they plan building projects in the UAE like they do in Kuwait, no one will know until 3am one morning when the first jackhammer breaks ground....

I think you're onto my indentity, VS... Let's keep it mum... I want to be able to contribute to any Kuwait discussions incognito before I leave!

GP

[veiledsentiments]

No fear GP... mum's the word...

If you get an offer, then you can discuss arrival with them. You don't want to get there before the year's departures leave. They may not know what the inventory will be yet... renewals of leases and such.

VS