Hi from Dubai

[ALXDXB]

I found your forum in our recent search for more information. My Wife and I have lived in Dubai for 15 years, and are thinking about what is next. We holiday in Thailand three times a year, so we think it is the place for us, not so sure on how to do it, so I will have lots of questions!!!!!! I can also reciprocate if anyone wants any info on Dubai!!!!!

[GLCQuantum]

Welcome Ask away... 99% of any questions you have will be able to be answered by the forum members.

I have a few of questions for you on Dubai....

1. How has the cost of living gone up over the last 15 years?

2. Is the arrogance displayed by the rich also dislpayed by the poor?

3. What did you do ther and how did you find working in Dubai?

4. Why do you want to leave?

5. Do you see a lot of Harley Davisons amongst the Dubai people?

[ALXDXB]

Welcome Ask away... 99% of any questions you have will be able to be answered by the forum members.

Thanks for the welcome, some of my thoughts below

I have a few of questions for you on Dubai....

1. How has the cost of living gone up over the last 15 years?

Yes, rents went up massively by over 150% between 2000 and 2008, they have since come down and continue to drop by about 50%. Property prices themselves have fallen by unto 70%. Basics have stayed pretty much the same, fuel has doubled to 5GBP per gallon (I know still cheaper than water ) eating out has always been expensive a decent meal for two with wine would be equivalent of THB 6500. Three bedroom villa, spanish style is around 175,000 THB per month with pool. Water and electricity with tax (new thing) would be around THB 50,000 per month. Everything went up with the property boom, but has come crashing over the past few years, most commentators believe that we have nearly reached the bottom, but I'm not sure, in my line of work, legal ( for my sins), I'm handling many real estate cases for refunds, broken contracts, fraud etc, as well as just commercial debt collection and foreclosure work. I think there is still some more to come.

2. Is the arrogance displayed by the rich also dislpayed by the poor?

I'm not sure if I would call it arrogance, rather than them just not knowing any different, I agree seeing the Arabs on holiday in Thailand, you would think they were from a different planet!!!! Everyone here is stuck in their ways, which leads them to believe they are invincible, this unfortunately carries itself over when they travel, I believe this is to a relative degree seen throughout the socio-economic spread of Dubai.

3. What did you do ther and how did you find working in Dubai?

As mentioned I work in law, I never finished my articles in the UK, so I'm not a solicitor. I have only practiced in Dubai, but I have a team of four, with 2 Emirati lawyers who do the representation in court, I basically do all of the corporate work, contracts, joint ventures, property transactions, litigation. I don't do family law. I will continue to service my Dubai and International clients when I move to Thailand as well. I love working in Dubai, I was recruited by a multinational to come to Dubai and then stayed, yes it has its own rules and regulations, but as long as you remember its their bat and their ball (same as for Thailand I imagine) then you will have no problems, yes, the authorities have got stricter recently especially after Dubai was branded the Ibiza of the Middle East, our Friday brunches have become infamous world wide!!!!!

4. Why do you want to leave?

I want to leave permanently in around 10 years. in the meantime I want to buy a house in Thailand and slowly but surely turn it into a home, renting it out monthly to Dubai residents for holidays, keeping 3 months a year for ourselves in the first instance. I want to move to have my own home, albeit leasehold if necessary, my wife is English. I want to fish, I want to blog, photography, I want to start writing ebooks and keep my hand in with a few jobs in Dubai, I may turn my hand to a bit of consultancy in Thailand as well, once I have a company setup. I think the underlying thought is that we will get better value for money compared to Dubai, and I think the Mai Pen Rai attitude will serve me better. I may sound like an old man, I'm only 38 and that is what I want.

5. Do you see a lot of Harley Davisons amongst the Dubai people?

Funnily enough we do, there are two chapters, one in Dubai and one in Abu Dhabi, one of my clients is in the Brethren. Attached is a photo I took at YAS F1 last year.

[GLCQuantum]

Thanks for the well written reply ALXDXB

Look forward to seeing you posting a bit on this forum. I'll do my best with any questions, but as I said... you'll usually be able to find someone on here who knows the answer to just about any Thailand/Hua Hin related questions you may have.

[Super Joe]

Hi ALXDXB,

Welcome to the forum, as GQ said ask away with any questions, loads of people willing to help with advice. The 'search' engine at the top right is worth using to get a feel for the forum, you'll also probably find answers to a lot of your questions already there, or at least part answers that prompt more specific info for your own personal circumstances, that's how I found it when I joined anyway.


SJ