Advice - possible relocation to middle east

rh1

rh1

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So subsequent to the interview, I ask for information, they sent this:

Hi RH1, thank you for your time today.

As discussed please find below:
- GCC packages come as follows: basic salary, housing allowance and transportation allowance.
- We provide relocation packages.
- We provide insurance coverage to you, your wife and kids.
- We provide schooling allowance.
- We provide an annual bonus.

In terms of salary package only, the ranges are OR 1,855 - Or 1,970 which makes around USD 4,800 to USD 5,200 (excluding other benefits).
Click to expand...

I ask for detailed breakdown in the interview, obviously they did not give this.

Opportunity is in Oman.

Just for comparison, I asked for ZAR1.5million excluding Bonus.

So any advice welcome.
 
Ensure the culture will be a fit for you. Remember your wife and if you have one of a certain age - daughter - will need to dress certain ways in public. Not trying to put you off but you need to be prepared to adapt. Its also going to be hot as hell, but they have extremely good infrastructure.
 
Best would be to look at various yt videos etc. of people who live there and decide if it's a place you can call home for the rest of your life. Quite a few results if you yt 'living in oman'.
 
neoprema said:
Ensure the culture will be a fit for you. Remember your wife and if you have one of a certain age - daughter - will need to dress certain ways in public. Not trying to put you off but you need to be prepared to adapt. Its also going to be hot as hell, but they have extremely good infrastructure.
Click to expand...
i agree with this, it is a culture shock if you not prepared, but speaking to S Africans living in the ME, alot of them love it, the heat is miserable though, but the safety and other factors make up for it...

if i'm given the opportunity i would probably move..
 
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salary is good, Id take it, but remember, you can NEVER become a Citizen,
being a NON Arab White person, your one step up from a Bangladeshi/ Indian Worker and treated as such,

also their laws can be strict, Crime is punished quite severely, Athiesim is illegal,
but generally if you work there for a few years, earn well and then go somewhere else where you can become a citizen,
maybe a good deal.
 
I once spoke to someone that relocated to the Middle East some time ago, but returned after about 10 years. He said one of the most important things to know is, "Their country, their rules." Learn their rules properly, no "Oops, I did not know rule xyz." will be tolerated. I think he was in Qatar, but I may be mistaken. In any case, he said that they were extremely strict on adherence to rules and laws.
 
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Hmmm. Not sure is that salary will cut it. Oman is pricey AF.
It depends on how much and what the bonus amount is. But that won’t get you far.
 
Are you married with kids (how many)?
 
I cant give you ME advice, but I can give you some advice on starting a life out of SA.

1. Keep your SA bank account alive for a while. You have ZAR 1 m discretionary to spend PA. This helps when you start out and have no local bank account.
2. The culture is a shock in any new country, embrace the culture if you want to stay.
3. If you are planning to stay in your new host country, sell all your stuff in SA. Its a magnet that will attract you back to SA. And each time you come back to SA, the shock of the decay will hit hard.
4. There will be other SA folks where you are going. We are all over the world. Find them, and they will bring some comfort.
5. Whenever you feel homesick, read the SA news. It is a constant reminder for why you left.
6. Avoid the urge to convert from $ to ZAR. It will drive you insane.
7. Visit the country first before you move, if you can. Its easier to go to some familiarity.
8. Relocation is expensive both financially and mentally - be prepared for this.
9. You are guest in another country - South Africans tend to be quite arrogant - and I say this not to upset anyone, its just how we are. You will need to change.
10. When the day comes, and it will, when you get homesick - go back to number 5.

Good luck. Wishing you all the best!!
 
Jet-Fighter7700 said:
salary is good, Id take it, but remember, you can NEVER become a Citizen,
being a NON Arab White person, your one step up from a Bangladeshi/ Indian Worker and treated as such,

also their laws can be strict, Crime is punished quite severely, Athiesim is illegal,
but generally if you work there for a few years, earn well and then go somewhere else where you can become a citizen,
maybe a good deal.
Click to expand...
I am coloured, but when I was in Turkey, the Turks thought I was Arab. So there is that.
 
I wouldn't move to a place like that for R1m p.a. It would have to be at least twice my salary to make up for all the BS rules you'll have to deal with. And $5,000 isn't much, you're better off staying here...
 
OP pretty much only has to pay for food.

Rest is savings.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
I wouldn't move to a place like that for R1m p.a. It would have to be at least twice my salary to make up for all the BS rules you'll have to deal with. And $5,000 isn't much, you're better off staying here...
Click to expand...
OP pretty much only has to pay for food.

Rest is savings.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
I wouldn't move to a place like that for R1m p.a. It would have to be at least twice my salary to make up for all the BS rules you'll have to deal with. And $5,000 isn't much, you're better off staying here...
Click to expand...
My industry contracted big time, the opportunities few and far between.
 
Look for any Oman Expat groups on FB and ask for advice there? I often see these type of questions on the Expat groups where I am.
 
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