Any help in defining what is realistically required for a young family (garden)- Any ideas re rents etc apprecaited also any further iinsights appreciated- family too young for boarding school as yet

This could be interesting.From what I know, packages tend to be more negotiable than in Europe, and are offered on a monthly salary + 1 month basis rather than expressed as a total gross. You can go for things like assistance with rent (tends to be high in places like Dubai, less so in Abu D etc) unless you are in one of the free zones i.e. not state regulated, and rents are government capped (but landlords get round this by changing tenants so shop around as you reach the end of each tenany term of 1 year), and contributions towards education costs are usually included in a package also. 2 Flights home a year included is standard, so if you can push for more do so.Not an expert on this region, but this is the (small) amount I know currently.

Almost forgot - one other thing (which is a bit controversial): if you are white, European or American apparently locals will offer you more ££ than for the same experience etc if you are not white (that even applies to other Arabs). Something to bear in mind if it applies to you Capser - ask what peers are getting and go in demanding parity.

Thank you - Any further details re expectations always appreciated- Do big 4 etc pay pensions?

You don’t get pensions in the Middle East. Tax free and then you’re on your own. You can expect health cover, education for children of school age, housing allowance (expect to pay £35k up front in one cheque for a family villa in Dubai these days), one or two airline tickets a year for the family (economy), life insurance in some places and that’s it. Do not underestimate the costs of getting set up in the Middle East (deposits for everything, shipping, buying a car etc.) but once you’ve been there a while the returns come. Well, assuming your company keeps your wages up with the 25% real inflation (official figures half that) which even the consultancies don’t.