Expert Info

Posted by
on 9 Jun 2012
I have been offered an elementary teaching position (2 years experience) in Abu Dhabi and want to know if this contract seems reasonable. Total salary is AED 10250 per month the base salary is AED 6150 Total Allowance is 4100. Accommodation 1 bedroom is included (except for water and electric). Does anyone have an opinion or suggestion on this contract?
Anonymous (not verified) on 11 Jun 2012 - 09:05
Check what is the apartment that's included and where is it and who are you sharing it with, how far is it from work and how will you get from A to B. What is the "allowance" for if the apartment is provided? You will need between $50 and $100 per week for groceries. Buses are 25cents/trip. Taxis around $5-10 for a trip in the town. Rent a small car will cost you $500/month on a 12 month rental. Elec / water will be $30 to 50 / month I guess for a single apartment. I would think that most US citizens here would be earning rather more than that, (Dhs20+) especially as you may have to pay tax on it but it's a liveable amount. You may be able to supplement it with private tutoring but there's no guarantee (and, technically, working for yourself is illegal here). Hope that helps. You can text me on _971 50 612 6995 if you have any more questions. Kieran
Anonymous (not verified) on 11 Jun 2012 - 13:00
Hi there, the cost of living in Abu Dhabi is pretty steep and I would say on the surface this doesn't seem like a pretty lucrative salary. Nevertheless, your ability to have a good life in the emirate and to save any money all depends on your own lifestyle and what you consider important to have a good life.

As Kieran above indicated, accommodation and transport are going to be two big costs, so a lot depends on whether these expenses are provided by your school or whether you are going to be paying for these out of your own pocket. As accommodation is taken care of, this will go a long way to stretching your salary for other living expenses. Also, make sure that your company provides private medical insurance, as it's a legal requirement in Abu Dhabi for companies to do this. 

I'd suggest having a look at our Cost of Living in Abu Dhabi page to see what you can expect to pay for the basics there, and if you're still in a position to negotiate your contract, check out our Expat Contract Negotiation article for some great tips on securing the best expat contract you can.

Good luck with your decision!