Moving Abroad

Princess_Jane

Not sure if this is the best place, but the Travel section seems to be all holidays.

My fella has been offered a dream job in Dubai, so we're leaving the country in four weeks.

Between us we're trying to sort everything out before we go, from notifying our banks to applying for international driving licences.

Has anyone else moved abroad before and do you have any hints and tips as to what needs sorting out before you go?

We rent a flat, don't have any kids and a small amount of credit card debt between us.

I don't have a job lined up yet, but his wage is enough to start with and I'm applying like mad for everything in my industry, which seems to be a growth area out there.

His company has arranged flights and visas, so it's more the UK-based stuff we're sorting out.

lady1964

Utility bills, pay off the credit cards if possible, do you have your own furniture? If not then it's just personal stuff you need to sort out for either taking with you or storing somewhere, if you have your own furniture, think about selling or free cycling.

Setting up. Skype account if you haven't already done so, deciding what to do with your mail, forwarding on if that's possible or having someone send it on so a redirection to Royal Mail.

Investigate what is likely to be more expensive to buy in Dubai & stock up here. We lived in Beijing for a while & deodorant, face wipes & shampoo was very expensive or not not so I stocked up & took it with me.

Look into local ex pat groups for the social side of things, there's one called Inter Nations I used, mainly for business people but useful for me as a trailing spouse too.

Above all, read up & understand the local laws & customs, I'm assuming you're not married so be very careful about being affectionate with each other in public places & dress according to the areas you go to - I lived in Dubai for nearly 4 years many moons ago so unless things have changed, some laws they are pretty strict on, although it's westernised in many respects.

Princess_Jane

Thanks for all that!

Can't afford to pay off the credit cards just yet, sadly. And we don't have any furniture. Generation Rent.

But the good news is, we're getting married before we go. One of the reasons we can't afford to pay off our cards.

Thought I understand that still prevents public smooching, it means we can live together.

Good point re toiletries - I've stocked up on Boots curl creme already!

Gigervamp

What about ending the tenancy in your current place?

burnsguitarman

The postal system in Dubai is non existent. Our Son lives out there. His post has to be sent to his works PO box number, and can be very unreliable. Make sure you take all your documents and certificates that you may need for job applications, visa's etc.
It cost a fortune to have our sons couriered out to him. This time of year (as virtually all the rest of the year) it is unbearably hot, so take sun protection to get you through the first few weeks.
Congratulations on your marriage by the way and enjoy your new life.

PasturesNew

Princess_Jane wrote: »

...a small amount of credit card debt between us.
..

I'd just say "watch out re debt in those sort of countries .... debt's not allowed and if you get into debt you'll be slung into a hellhole of a prison."

So, my tip would be: make sure you understand local laws and STICK to them

Princess_Jane

Gigervamp wrote: »

What about ending the tenancy in your current place?

Giving a notice this week - only needs a month.

Ta!

Princess_Jane

PasturesNew wrote: »

I'd just say "watch out re debt in those sort of countries .... debt's not allowed and if you get into debt you'll be slung into a hellhole of a prison."

So, my tip would be: make sure you understand local laws and STICK to them

I understand bouncing cheques is a big deal, but the credit cards are registered to a UK address (my parents, where I live now), so they shouldn't affect our life over there.

maman

Princess_Jane wrote: »

I understand bouncing cheques is a big deal, but the credit cards are registered to a UK address (my parents, where I live now), so they shouldn't affect our life over there.

I'd enlist your parents help in sorting out any outstanding bills on your behalf when you leave. Get the Royal Mail to redirect your post to your parents home and ask them to pay any bills that come through and then you can reimburse them by bank transfer or whatever they'd prefer. Obviously sort out as much as you can before you go but you don't want any debts incurred inadvertently.


Any car tax/insurance or any other insurances you can reclaim unused months?

Savvy_Sue

One of my sons is abroad so he has told me to open any post which comes here for him, and tell him what it is. If it's important, I scan it and email it to him. If it's not, I just heap it up for his return, or put it out for recycling.

There is a Living Abroad thread on over 50s, I don't know that anyone's in or has been in Dubai but they are a friendly lot, and we don't ask for proof of age before you post.

PenguinJim

If you have bank accounts in the UK, you may want to keep them open, as you won't be able to open new ones from abroad. Unless you're severing every UK contact, keeping a bank account or two active (with Online Banking) can be very useful.

You can maintain an ISA from abroad, but once you are no longer a UK resident you cannot start a new one.

If you're going to be doing international bank transfers, do not use banks, as they are slow, offer poor-to-average rates, and also charge draconian fees. Use a currency exchange company like UKForex.

Dubai is hot. I don't know if that's been stressed to you or not. But you may well find that you go from the air-conditioned plane through an air-conditioned airport into an air-conditioned car to an air-conditioned garage in your residence. Still, carry an empty plastic bottle with you onto the plane to fill with drinking water from a fountain at the airport on the other side. (Hey, we're MSEs - we don't pay for bottled water!)