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Sri Lankans in United Arab Emirates

Questions, timelines and warnings from people going to United Arab Emirates or already living there.

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Jobs & work

Dubai offer at AED 9,000 all-in, is that enough to actually save?

Offer is AED 9,000 total, which they described as "salary plus allowances" with no separate housing. I am single, no dependants, and the plan is to send money home every month. Everyone tells me Dubai is tax free as if that settles it, but I cannot find honest numbers for what is left after rent. If you are on something close to this, roughly what do you actually keep at the end of the month?

DI@dinesh_r
Help

Can I switch employers inside the first year on a UAE work permit?

Asking anonymously because my current employer would not be happy to see this. I have been here seven months. Another company wants to hire me. My employer is telling me there is a ban if I leave before two years and that they will not give a NOC. My understanding is that the rules changed and the automatic labour ban is gone, but I cannot tell what still applies to a limited contract. Has anyone actually moved companies inside the first year recently?

–Anonymous
Experience

Attestation of a Sri Lankan degree for the UAE, step by step

Did this last month. The order matters and doing it out of order costs you a full round trip. 1. University confirms the certificate is genuine 2. Ministry of Higher Education in Colombo 3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colombo 4. UAE Embassy in Colombo 5. Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE after you arrive Allow three weeks if you are doing it yourself and everything goes right. Agents in Colombo will do the whole chain for a fee; I paid for steps 2 to 4 and it was worth it purely for the queueing. One warning: get the attestation on the original certificate, not a photocopy, and check the spelling of your name against your passport at every stage. A mismatch means starting again.

RU@ruwan_b
Housing & living

Sharjah vs Dubai Marina, a commute reality check

Sharjah saves you roughly half the rent. It costs you two to three hours a day. I did Al Nahda to Media City for a year. Leaving at 06:40 got me in by 07:50. Leaving at 07:10 got me in at 09:15. The difference between those two departure times is the whole argument. If you are on a tight salary it is still the right call, but budget for the Salik tolls and fuel, and understand you are buying rent savings with your evenings. I moved to a shared place in Al Barsha after a year and I would not go back.

SA@sanduni_f