Leaving Ireland Behind

goz83

So it's been a year in the pipeline and I didn't think it was going to happen, but this morning I got the call. We are leaving Ireland for good. I got a job offer to work in the United Arab Emirates. It's a permanent position with a well established company and I will be earning a stupidly high salary (well in excess of $250k and that's without bonuses and extras. As part of the contract, we get to choose a home and the title goes to us after a 3 month probationary period.

There are a couple of down-sides.

The move happens in August, so not much time to get home affairs in order. We also have to choose a property inside a compound....which is normal over there I am told. However, the compounds are like 6 star resorts and the worst choice of property is a very very large 5 bed house with an outdoor AND indoor pool.

I have the option to keep my Irish property, but I would prefer to sell it on and have a fresh start. The family are delighted and a little sad....but a massive perk is that our families get free flights from Dublin and there is an annual allotment for friends too. They only include parents, siblings and their kids. Everyone else (including grandparents) are considered friends.

It's an amazing opportunity and I am looking forward to the move. I start on a 5 day week, 45 hours...but this drops to 30 hours or less after the first 6 months as long as minimum productivity targets are met.

I have only ever worked abroad for a very short time and that was in the UK. Interested in hearing from others with similar experience....basically a permanent move to a completely different culture.

For Forks Sake

Is this Aonghus von Bismarks new account?

Sonics2k

This might be the most obvious humble-brag I have ever seen.

Sin City

Thinly veiled Im doing better than you thread

For Forks Sake

Sonics2k wrote: »

This might be the most obvious humble-brag I have ever seen.

Nothing even remotely humble about it

The Backwards Man

Which Emirate are you going to?

They have different laws, for example, Dubai don't allow kids to watch the Flintstones, but Abu Dhabi do.

AlphabetCards

For Forks Sake wrote: »

Is this Aonghus von Bismarks new account?

The lengths people go through to lead a fake life is genuinely sad.

KevinCavan

What job is it? Are the summers as good over there?;-)

Pelvis

Great move if you're a man, not so much for the ladies or the gays.

Bob Harris

You say there are a couple of downsides but you fail to list any OP.

Borderfox

goz83 wrote: »

down-sides.

6 star resorts and the worst choice of property is a very very large 5 bed house with an outdoor AND indoor pool.

keep my Irish property,
free flights from Dublin and there is an annual allotment for friends too. They only include parents, siblings and their kids. Everyone else (including grandparents) are considered friends.

5 day week, 45 hours...
drops to 30 hours or less after the first 6 months as long as minimum productivity targets are met.

Yeah down sides :rolleyes:

Omackeral

For Forks Sake wrote: »

Is this Aonghus von Bismarks new account?

Aonghus Von Permabear

pickarooney

Best of luck, OP, hope it all works out well for you.

Zebra3

Been in the UAE in August.

The heat is just vile.

Five years, save a load of cash, and move on is what most people manage. You're likely only leaving Ireland behind if you have somewhere else planned after.

goz83

goz83 wrote: »

I got a job offer to work in the United Arab Emirates. It's a permanent position with a well established company and I will be earning a stupidly high salary (well in excess of $250k and that's without bonuses and extras. As part of the contract, we get to choose a home and the title goes to us after a 3 month probationary period.

There are a couple of down-sides.

The move happens in August, so not much time to get home affairs in order. We also have to choose a property inside a compound....which is normal over there I am told. However, the compounds are like 6 star resorts and the worst choice of property is a very very large 5 bed house with an outdoor AND indoor pool.

I have the option to keep my Irish property, but I would prefer to sell it on and have a fresh start. The family are delighted and a little sad....but a massive perk is that our families get free flights from Dublin and there is an annual allotment for friends too. They only include parents, siblings and their kids. Everyone else (including grandparents) are considered friends.

It's an amazing opportunity and I am looking forward to the move. I start on a 5 day week, 45 hours...but this drops to 30 hours or less after the first 6 months as long as minimum productivity targets are met.

I have only ever worked abroad for a very short time and that was in the UK. Interested in hearing from others with similar experience....basically a permanent move to a completely different culture.

That would depress me, personally. Not just the heat, the whole misogyny and sexual repression of the place - even if it's supposedly more enlightened than the superstar troglodytes of Saudi Arabia. There's no such thing as a free lunch - ever. Never forget that. If I had to do it, I'd be saving every cent so that I could come home/move somewhere else and live mortgage free. Or put it into a business. Then it would be worth it but that goal would sustain me. I'm not quite sure it would sustain the women and girls in my life. Life is too short, and your healthy days shorter still, to live in a compound in that ridiculous heat and medieval worldview. Best of luck.

Mr. CooL ICE

Pelvis wrote: »

Great move if you're a man, not so much for the ladies or the gays.

Depends. Not exactly an emirate, but a colleague of mine lived in Qatar. His wife's job was the reason they moved. As a result, he wasn't allowed work and was a stay at home dad for a few years.

Were you the poster who was looking at doing a PLC engineering course months ago? If so please tell us how you got this job as it sounds incredible! Best of luck with it sounds amazing.

lawred2

goz83 wrote: »

So it's been a year in the pipeline and I didn't think it was going to happen, but this morning I got the call. We are leaving Ireland for good. I got a job offer to work in the United Arab Emirates. It's a permanent position with a well established company and I will be earning a stupidly high salary (well in excess of $250k and that's without bonuses and extras. As part of the contract, we get to choose a home and the title goes to us after a 3 month probationary period.

There are a couple of down-sides.

The move happens in August, so not much time to get home affairs in order. We also have to choose a property inside a compound....which is normal over there I am told. However, the compounds are like 6 star resorts and the worst choice of property is a very very large 5 bed house with an outdoor AND indoor pool.

I have the option to keep my Irish property, but I would prefer to sell it on and have a fresh start. The family are delighted and a little sad....but a massive perk is that our families get free flights from Dublin and there is an annual allotment for friends too. They only include parents, siblings and their kids. Everyone else (including grandparents) are considered friends.

It's an amazing opportunity and I am looking forward to the move. I start on a 5 day week, 45 hours...but this drops to 30 hours or less after the first 6 months as long as minimum productivity targets are met.

I have only ever worked abroad for a very short time and that was in the UK. Interested in hearing from others with similar experience....basically a permanent move to a completely different culture.

and?

Graces7

pickarooney wrote: »

Best of luck, OP, hope it all works out well for you.

Adding my sincere good wishes, OP . A great step forward and a huge challenge also. Well done.

Padraig Mor

Haven't worked in UAE myself but family / friends have. From what I hear from them, it's definitely not for everyone anyway! Never heard of anyone going over there with the intention of staying long term either - always a short - medium term thing to make a rake of cash. Oh, and I wouldn't be expecting 30 hour weeks either.....

Graces7

lawred2 wrote: »

and?

And it is great to hear of someone getting and taking a chance when offered.

_Brian

How do you know it’s for good ??

People leave “for good” all the time and are back in a few years. I’m old enough to have seen it plenty of times.

Stop thinking about for good and go and enjoy it for however long it lasts, if you stay forever I surely won’t miss you and if you come back I’ll not object either. Remember, outside your own head nobody really cares if you come back or not and are only very briefly interested so don’t go on too much.

iamwhoiam

Personally I would rather live in my small semi d with my family around me and friends to meet . Being in a compound in stiffling heat would drain the life out of me . But to each his own

Doctors room ghost

would be too hot for me for working.each to their own.good luck with it

Hector Savage

OP what kind of work do you do out of interest ?

biko

It wouldn't be for me, but enjoy it OP.

goz83

Deleted User wrote: »

Were you the poster who was looking at doing a PLC engineering course months ago? If so please tell us how you got this job as it sounds incredible! Best of luck with it sounds amazing.

Yeah, I completed that course and did quite well. The job offer has come from someone I worked with in a different field and who does the same thing. He mentioned it over a year ago and I did an interview and never expected anything to come of it.

I will have options to move to other countries, but the first 2 years I have to work there if I want to keep the higher salary and benefits. Apparently they are very accommodating and consider family a priority (hence the free family flights). France is a future option, as is Canada.

Witchie

Any jobs for a content writer?

Best of luck OP. Leaving Ireland is one of the best things I ever did. I don't even miss it anymore.

iamwhoiam

goz83 wrote: »

Yeah, I completed that course and did quite well. The job offer has come from someone I worked with in a different field and who does the same thing. He mentioned it over a year ago and I did an interview and never expected anything to come of it.

I will have options to move to other countries, but the first 2 years I have to work there if I want to keep the higher salary and benefits. Apparently they are very accommodating and consider family a priority (hence the free family flights). France is a future option, as is Canada.

Just as a matter of interest why did you feel the need to post your salary and bonuses on boards to strangers ?

off.the.walls

if thats 250 UAE its only like 55k in euros

Outlaw Pete

Mate of mine did the same after an offer of a job for stupid money. Within a few years he was a millionaire. Then one day they arrested him and stuck him in a he'll out there, ten to a cell. A few others with similar jobs from the UK had the same fate. They claimed they all were guilty of trying to defraud the Government when they posted dating cheques, apparently. Think they're all out now but it took years. Irish government were no help. British government were no better. Mate says his head is still a mess as he thought he'd never get out.

Anyway, might not happen you, best of luck

ArchXStanton

AlphabetCards wrote: »

The lengths people go through to lead a fake life is genuinely sad.

He was the Charlie Zelenoff of boards..

goz83

iamwhoiam wrote: »

Just as a matter of interest why did you feel the need to post your salary and bonuses on boards to strangers ?

I didn’t post much detail...only what I thought I needed to get relevant experiences from people who have done the same. I’m just excited I suppose as I have never earned anything close to that, it’s a bit of a shock. Knowing what people have done with their money would be good to know. I do know that we aren’t coming back. I’m sure I will return for a visit some day.....well, I might.

AlphabetCards

Like, it's not hard to make something interesting of yourself IRL, why waste time posting about a fake life on boards?

goz83

off.the.walls wrote: »

if thats 250 UAE its only like 55k in euros

It’s USD

Outlaw Pete wrote: »

Mate of mine did the same after an offer of a job for stupid money. Within a few years he was a millionaire. Then one day they arrested him and stuck him in a he'll out there, ten to a cell. A few others with similar jobs from the UK had the same fate. They claimed they all were guilty of trying to defraud the Government when they posted dating cheques, apparently. Think they're all out now but it took years. Irish government were no help. British government were no better. Mate says his head is still a mess as he thought he'd never get out.

Anyway, might not happen you, best of luck

No, it’s a very well known and established company. I’ve checked everything out as I first thought it was a joke, then a scam, but it’s all above board.

Outlaw Pete

Witchie wrote: »

Best of luck OP. Leaving Ireland is one of the best things I ever did. I don't even miss it anymore.

Yeah, well, we don't miss you either!!!! :mad:

goz83

goz83 wrote: »

Yeah, I completed that course and did quite well. The job offer has come from someone I worked with in a different field and who does the same thing. He mentioned it over a year ago and I did an interview and never expected anything to come of it.

I will have options to move to other countries, but the first 2 years I have to work there if I want to keep the higher salary and benefits. Apparently they are very accommodating and consider family a priority (hence the free family flights). France is a future option, as is Canada.

That is an opportunity of a lifetime! I am excited for you it is such a cool opportunity. Enjoy it all and keep us updated!

_Brian

Outlaw Pete wrote: »

Yeah, well, we don't miss you either!!!! :mad:

He misses Ireland so little he remains active on an Irish only chat group, rather than getting into the new life. Sure !

iamwhoiam

goz83 wrote: »

I didn’t post much detail...only what I thought I needed to get relevant experiences from people who have done the same. I’m just excited I suppose as I have never earned anything close to that, it’s a bit of a shock. Knowing what people have done with their money would be good to know. I do know that we aren’t coming back. I’m sure I will return for a visit some day.....well, I might.

You posted a lot of details actually . It seems odd to me to feel the need to piost all that on a public open forum to strangers .

dudara

Good luck goz83. Hope it works out well for you & yours.

pconn062

I think OP has confused boards for Facebook? Surely you meant to post this for your family and friends? I mean, there's not even a discussion point or question in the OP?

goz83

iamwhoiam wrote: »

You posted a lot of details actually . It seems odd to me to feel the need to piost all that on a public open forum to strangers .

It’s not odd to me. But thanks for your interest. If you’ve anything useful to contribute, by all means, post away.

pconn062 wrote: »

I think OP has confused boards for Facebook? Surely you meant to post this for your family and friends? I mean, there's not even a discussion point or question in the OP?

Look at the last sentence of the OP for the discussion point. You may have missed it in your haste to post something intended to be funny

MagicIRL

What's the job, OP?

Programming? Oil stuff? Engineering?

What was the course you did?

I'd love to educate myself to make a potential $250,000 per year. How did you do it?

pconn062

goz83 wrote: »

Look at the last sentence of the OP for the discussion point. You may have missed it in your haste to post something intended to be funny

Sorry I fell asleep somewhere around the part to do with the compound. :pac:

Best of luck with it though, no amount of money would get me to move to a compound in the Middle East in August, but I hope it goes well for you.

MarkY91

Pelvis wrote: »

Great move if you're a man, not so much for the ladies or the gays.

Western women in UAE are having the time of their lives. Check out anyone living there on ig. They'll leave you being depressed and hating your life.

nullzero

OP, without wanting to sound disrespectful, I really don't give a flying fvck about your wonderful opportunity and bags of cash, you sound unbearable and it will be a fantastic day for Ireland when you leave and we have one less pretentious bore in this country.

topper75

kuntboy

Dont worry, when the Irish government inevitably go broke again and bring in the wealth tax they'll take most of that cash for themselves to then buy the next election by throwing money at do-nothing public sector workers. By then all offshore loopholes etc will be closed.

$250k tax free x 5yrs= $1.25m minus 70% Future Irish wealth tax= 375k minus high UAE rents (say 150k) + food + drink etc= maybe $50k left.

You can use that $50k to get a deposit on a house then.

jimgoose

What about the bajillionaire fella's nymphomaniac daughter??

iamwhoiam

goz83 wrote: »

It’s not odd to me. But thanks for your interest. If you’ve anything useful to contribute, by all means, post away.



Look at the last sentence of the OP for the discussion point. You may have missed it in your haste to post something intended to be funny

I read the OP and what I read is showing off . Plain and simple