Leaving Ireland Behind

goz83 · 05-07-2018 12:01PM #1

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 · 05-07-2018 12:02PM

Is this Aonghus von Bismarks new account?

Sonics2k · 05-07-2018 12:04PM

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

For Forks Sake · 05-07-2018 12:05PM

Sonics2k wrote: »

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

Nothing even remotely humble about it

Sin City · 05-07-2018 12:05PM

Thinly veiled Im doing better than you thread

The Backwards Man · 05-07-2018 12:08PM

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 · 05-07-2018 12:08PM

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 · 05-07-2018 12:09PM

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

Pelvis · 05-07-2018 12:09PM

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

Bob Harris · 05-07-2018 12:11PM

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

Borderfox · 05-07-2018 12:12PM

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:

05-07-2018 12:12PM

For Forks Sake wrote: »

Is this Aonghus von Bismarks new account?

Aonghus Von Permabear

pickarooney · 05-07-2018 12:14PM

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

Zebra3 · 05-07-2018 12:15PM

Been in the UAE in August.

The heat is just vile.

05-07-2018 12:19PM

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.

05-07-2018 12:19PM

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 · 05-07-2018 12:49PM

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.

05-07-2018 01:08PM

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 · 05-07-2018 01:10PM

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 · 05-07-2018 01:15PM

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 · 05-07-2018 01:16PM

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 · 05-07-2018 01:16PM

lawred2 wrote: »

and?

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

_Brian · 05-07-2018 01:17PM

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 · 05-07-2018 01:20PM

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 · 05-07-2018 01:22PM

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

Hector Savage · 05-07-2018 01:46PM

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

biko · 05-07-2018 01:47PM

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

goz83 · 05-07-2018 01:48PM

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 · 05-07-2018 01:52PM

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 · 05-07-2018 01:53PM

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 · 05-07-2018 01:57PM

if thats 250 UAE its only like 55k in euros

Leaving Ireland Behind

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