Hi All.I would like to get some information from anyone that works in UAE (Dubai/Abu Dhabi). Myself and my wife are considering moving out there. I work in a leading Managing Consultancy, and have several years experience in Strategy, People and Change. Two degrees from leading institutions..1) What's it like to work out there (pay, conditions, packages, lifestyle)?2) How do you approach the leading consulting firms there? Directly, or via recruiters? If so who?3) What's the consulting market like out there?4) Is there an expat community?5) Any useful tips / hints to help us at this fact finding stage?Thanks

The pay is excellent-usually much greater than in UK, plus tax free.Majority of the people are Expats.There are many clubs for many cultures eg British, American, Indian, Chinese etcIt would be wiser applying through agencies or to firms there online.Consulting is a booming here.

Agree with above, lots of opportunity and a nice place to live.Try www.dubaiforums.com or www.expatwomen.com for lifestyle stuff.

Dubai has good consulting opps, but bear in mind any financial benefits will be more than outweighed by the amount of shopping your wife does to get past the boredom of not being able to work, go out (except to shopping malls) alone, exercise or get a decent drink.

You’re getting mixed up with Saudi Arabia. Dubai is more Westernised than many Western cities! Women can work, drive, go out alone without being harassed and do anything they can do in the West. The tax free lifestyle does give the option for them to not work though…

The ''decent drink'' issue is still valid though, when I was there it was predominantly the synthetic american fizzy water that has delusions of adequacy as beer that was available.The only way to get a decent beer was to arrange an invitation onto one of the brit or aussi warships when they visited.

Still mixed up with Saudi Arabia! I live in Dubai and there’s loads of drink, both at hotels and also through off-licenses. I’ve a fridge full of Becks, Heinneken, Jack Daniels and wine all bought for cheaper than UK prices so I can assure you drinking is no problem.

''Becks, Heinneken, Jack Daniels''Yes, I did say decent drink. I remember Dubai very well. Spent some time in Sharjah as well, now that was dry but only half an hour from Dubai.''wine''Acknowledge that it's probably come a little upmarket since the mid 90's but the wine available at the time was good for cleaning car windows with and that was about it.

No point buying the decent stuff, it only gets washed down beside the BBQ! Hope you're enjoying the British winter!

Which consulting companies can we apply in Bubai?

sorry...I mean Dubai =ppp

If consulting is booming, where does one look to find top tier jobs? Also what are the kind of payscales ?