re: Living in Dubai?

So much bs in this thread. I have stayed there for months at a time several times although I would not say lived there. Dubia is what you make of it like anyplace else. I would not want to raise a family there but for a young couple it could be a blast if you let it. There is alcohol in Dubai, most resteraunts sell beer and almost all hotels have bars in them. You can purchase in bulk with a liscense which is easy to get. If you like take a 30 min ride to Ajman and buy whatever you want. Dubai takes traffic congestion to a whole new level so if you drive be prepared. The amount of shopping options is unbelievable, from the old bazar feel of the blue suik in Sharja to some of the most extravagant malls in existance. Your wife will not be bothered there, the place is overrun with100# blondes, no offense but she probably wont even get a second look. Most bars are so overstaffed with prostitutes you have to push them away, after a bit you will learn where to go and not go depending on what you like. I have walked the streets there at all hours of day and night and never feared any problems. There is a culture difference so if you are close minded you will hate it. If you have a specific question feel free to ask, some others or I may be able to answer.

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Most single American women in Dubai are prostitutes. Don't let her hang around single women unless you don't mind her taking some prince dick.

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I know a girl that lives there right now.

Dubai is not a bad place at all. You have plenty of western convenience and plenty of worldly culture. With that said, you still need to be careful. The decency laws can be strict. Yes, you can drink, but get skunk drunk and do something stupid, and it will not be as easy as it is in the States to remedy.

I have always enjoyed time in Dubai.

Steal one of those abandoned sports cars at the airport

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Anyone ever done this?

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I'm your huckleberry

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so I'm hoping it wouldn't be too much of a culture shock for her

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if anyone has culture shock when moving here they won't be happy living anywhere.

"SO" as in ya'll aren't married? If yes, then know it's illegal to live together unless you're married. However, I know 4 different sets of people who lived together before marriage and they said as long as you don't have some neon sign above your door saying living in sin then you're okay. Which goes for a lot of things here actually.

As far as her being blonde she'll just be another whitey blonde expat
(<----)
living here. She won't be out of the norm or anything. I got tons of crap when we lived in Egypt, but not so much as a second glance here. Well, maybe from a laborer guy who hasn't seen his family in 3 years, but I figure he's also just staring at my family as a whole. Either way, it's harmless.


eta- there is also a lot of totally incorrect in this threat too.

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There are a couple of widely held misconceptions about taxation that you need to research. In short, your earnings abroad are subject to local taxes as well as US taxation. Anyone who tells you the earnings are "tax free" is full of shite. You may pay significantly less than if you resided stateside but you are expected to pay. Also be aware that in order to be a bona fide expat you have to spend 330 days (this figure may have changed) abroad.

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Eh, depends on how your company has written the contract. I've worked for a couple of companies and as an expat it can potentially be 100% tax free depending on how their accounting handles your foreign taxes.

Almost all companies will cover the foreign taxes as an Expat so you're not taxed twice. You would only be taxed the hypothetical US taxes had you lived in the US and made the same amount (minus the first $95K if you stay outside the US for any 330 day period).

However, I did work for one company that the way they had it structured, you could apply the foreign taxes that they paid on your behalf to your US taxes. Since almost every single foreign country will have higher taxes than the US (surprise surprise), with the 1-to-1 tax embargo countries have with the US the taxes the company paid on my behalf were applied to my US taxes and completely negated my US tax burden.

It was awesome.

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Trust me, I am a pilot and I own a jet,

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Hey, wanna be friends?

whoa now, this fair weather friend swoops in all the sudden and how he gets rides on jet skis? UNCOOL




cause, I like jet skis.

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Also be aware that in order to be a bona fide expat you have to spend 330 days (this figure may have changed) abroad.

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That's 1 of 3 options

Option 2) Out of the US for a consecutive 6 months
Option 3) You have residency in a foreign country where you pay income tax

If you hit 1/3 your first ~$92,500 is tax free. Then you can start writing off tons of stuff like your car and housing. You really do end up making much more.

ETA: For the OP, I lived in Kuwait for 1.5 years and hated it. We would jump down to Dubai to go party though so it made living over there somewhat bearable. Now I live in Kurdistan (northern Iraq) and love it. It's crazy what a little bit of green scenery and a cold beer can do to change your perspective of a place.

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FootballNostradamus

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is your SO going to work when she's here?