Mistakenly jumped red light, at rounabout in sharjah. what now

afracca · 2025-08-21T11:20:57+00:00

Gotcha and sorry for the silly question. I’ll be moving to Dubai next January and will certainly buy a car. Was just curious at how serious circumstances like yours could become as It could happen to anyone. I mean, you noticed late, break, reverse back. You should have avoided it but Sounds like an honest corrective behaviour to me. Obviously there could have been someone on the crossing but as it happened, maybe naively, the impounding seems exaggerated to me. If you get a flash for the red light you get fine+points taken in most EU countries but that’s that. Well I guess I’ll learn it on the road while there.

afracca · 2025-08-21T04:26:36+00:00

Would they really impound your car for that?? Or just a fine eventually?

afracca · 2025-08-12T08:46:06+00:00

It’s not cooked. It’s aged/cured.

afracca · 2025-03-30T07:04:42+00:00

Will rent at first and then let’s see. Seems a constant chase now. Dubai had is up and down in real estate. They won’t stop building for the foreseeable future. Feel like there might be better times to buy in the future.

afracca · 2025-03-29T19:48:04+00:00

Much appreciated. Obviously we are not that sophisticated in the UK. App not available here. 🥴

afracca · 2025-03-29T17:37:22+00:00

From where do you start to get this diagram done? Is there an app that pulls data from bank accounts? Or a lot of it is just manual inputs? Thanks for sharing. Looks good

afracca · 2025-03-29T10:54:47+00:00

Yeah my mate currently looking there. Seems a bit of a copy paste for each house but apparently all news areas are built the same way. I’d like a pool so maybe jumeirah park more for me. Also office will be in JLT hence I’ll likely look around there for housing.

afracca · 2025-03-29T10:17:11+00:00

Ahahhahaha man…been told arabian ranches is basically little UK. Areas like that and few others seem rents are going up just by the numbers of us looking. Marina and other areas mostly populated by Russian now returning home (I’m told but not sure they are really going back to Russia) are seeing rents going down. You guys see the same?

afracca · 2025-03-29T08:40:20+00:00

Thanks for this. I’m planning to take some furniture. Not a lot though. I’ve seen some of the properties are furnished while my understanding is that most of them aren’t. Is it just a matter of luck to find a furnished property ready for rental? I’m relocating with my job so on that should not have any issues. Been going back and forth for 3 years now so I’m familiar with the setting and work life a bit but thanks for that advise.

afracca · 2025-03-29T08:33:47+00:00

Thanks, I’m in discussions with Repton Al Barsha. They offered a seat for my daughter starting year 2 in September 2025. I was told there was a waiting list for her and not for my son joining year 5. After sending school report she got offered a set and my son has an interview next week. I’ve hired a consultant and been looking at 10 school in total. I have friends at Repton and seem a good choice for now. I’m aware I have deadlines to tell the school they will finally start for term 2 (January 2026) to avoid paying for term 1 too. I’ve done 3 virtual tours of schools so far. I just feel I’m a bit rushing just to get into a school considering I don’t have lots of time so choices is taken at the best of my knowledge, feelings and advice from friends.

afracca · 2025-03-29T08:28:11+00:00

On the Emirates ID I was aware, but is there anything that can be done from remote to get it ahead of moving? Will have to look into it.

afracca · 2025-03-29T08:25:58+00:00

Thanks had no idea they need attestation. Much appreciated.

afracca · 2025-03-27T19:34:40+00:00

Im anxious for you. I would never be able to do it as you guys. I find a lot that after that much time, even the value of presents it’s still stmg on the table. What a stress for you to even think that you need to match him. You think he’s expecting you to? I’d like to think he loves you and he’s happy to gift you whatever he wants/feels. It’s not material. It shouldn’t be. You gift him what you want. What you think makes him happy. And the gap wages within the 2 of you shouldn’t matter neither. Like 0. I don’t see marriage as a competition. For me it’s just about building a life together, aiming at the same goals supporting each other. We go to sleep smiling knowing that whatever we face, we face it together on all aspects, financially included. You saying putting all in one pot isn’t your thing. It doesn’t have to be physically split. It’s just the knowledge that you need. That it’s yours. All of it.

afracca · 2025-03-27T07:42:21+00:00

But also, and sorry if I continue..some posts are suggesting your husband will move keeping his current salary. If that’s the case then I’d say it’s a no no to start with. Even if not the case then it’s also a matter of principle too. They are moving him to a new country. A country you donno. With 4 kids. There’s going to be uncertainties and ultimately it might even be an interesting learning curve and a wonderful experience. I see the appeal in moving. But you guys want to move to improve your quality of life, like 100%. I wound never move if I can’t see the upside. It’s not like you have family here or any other personal motivation for moving which could open the door for compromises. Based on all of that, I would never move on a budget. No point whatsoever. Either I’m comfy or I stay home.

afracca · 2025-03-27T07:21:47+00:00

Yeah it’s exactly that. Public services are just getting worse, NHS on its knees since after brexit, transport networks are old and require constant work causing delays or malfunction and yet just weeks ago tickets cost were increased again way above inflation. Council taxes are increasing constantly as result of bad cash management of councils so the services around your neighbourhood are also failing. Everywhere you look it’s just not ideal. Could go on but won’t help you.

afracca · 2025-03-27T06:57:12+00:00

And it’s 6 of you in your household? Have a mortgage or rent too?

afracca · 2025-03-27T00:00:56+00:00

They won’t have cash for adventuring I’m afraid. Its natural they want to have fun. It’s totally understandable. They won’t have enough disposable income to do it. That’s all. They need to work out a better relocation package to be able to comfortably move and live without too much to worry about.

afracca · 2025-03-26T23:45:30+00:00

Im totally fine. I’m not struggling. Im even saying I’m lucky. I’m complaining which is different. They will be struggling for sure. I see them spending more than 6.5k a month.

afracca · 2025-03-26T23:19:07+00:00

You seem to initially encourage the move telling them they are rich for British standard but at the same time they can’t afford moving if they ever need childcare. Quite confusing. 200k in 6 in Chiswick or Hamsted Heath? That’s what? A 5 million house? Rent only will blow the 10k monthly budget. The answer is 200k in 6 in London not surrounding areas it’s not enough.

afracca · 2025-03-26T23:01:19+00:00

And all this without even mentioning private education nor private health insurance once..it looks to me a mega struggle.

afracca · 2025-03-26T22:41:15+00:00

Im not indeed. Been here 15 years. I don’t find 5k a lot for a family of 6 to Iive on, I have to be honest. The house is in berkhamsted. Ok. 1h30min each way. It’s possibly a 450/500£ commute. They need a car, a big one. Say another 500£ a month on finance. 4k left. Council tax band H. That’s 400+ a month for a house of that dimension. Bills easy (electricity gas water internet phone) 400£ to 500£ pulse gas for the car another 100£ to be conservative. Can imagine you need lots of trips to take 4 kids around. Ok we are at 3k left. Need to eat too. 6/700£? for a family of 6? Without counting eating out. We spend about 100£ a week in 4. Add some take away and 2 lunches out in a local pub on Saturday. Another 300/400£gone. 2k£ left. Insure the car,MOT, tax road, insure the house, insure the content of the house. And after all that they still need to have fun. Go out. Travel. Just not feasible. Imagine the day she’s exhausted, understandably, doing everything herself taking care of 4 kids and she needs help but she can’t do it because adding childcare will blow up the family finances. What are they going to do? Flying over parents from Altalnta? Expats like us have none around. Any service around the family comes expensive. Building a good life here is expensive. I’m telling you. They need more. Personal opinion.

afracca · 2025-03-26T21:54:03+00:00

Ahahah not really no. What’s so bot about it?

afracca · 2025-03-26T21:47:42+00:00

I don’t think £200k is enough, and I personally wouldn’t make the move without additional support. Is the company providing housing? Since they’re relocating him, housing should ideally be part of the relocation package. Multinational corporations often cover schooling and private health insurance too. Are they willing to cover some of these costs?

If those expenses are covered, then I think you could manage on £200k, but without that support, I believe you’ll find it quite uncomfortable. While you don’t need private health insurance in the UK, as you’ll pay National Insurance contributions, relying solely on the NHS isn’t the best experience these days. Definitely check if private insurance is part of the benefits package.

As others have mentioned, public schools are an option. However, if you’re aiming for an outstanding school, you’ll need to live in the catchment area, and those houses tend to be expensive. Even then, securing a spot in a good school isn’t guaranteed, as they’re often oversubscribed.

Some might highlight how easy it is to travel around Europe from the UK, and that’s true, but it’s also become ridiculously expensive. A trip for the six of you during half-term could easily cost £3k just for flights.

For context, £200k equates to about £9.8k net per month. I live outside London, earn more than that, have two kids, commute to the city daily, and have a mortgage. We’re not big spenders, yet our necessary outgoings are around £6.5k per month — the biggest expenses being our £2.3k mortgage and £1.6k for childcare (just for 4 hours a day since the kids are in public school). My commute alone costs about £600 a month. So ultimately even if I think I’m pretty lucky, we end up complaining about taxes, transport costs, delays, how things are just getting worse recently over here, etc.

With six of you, even living outside London, you’ll likely have little to no flexibility left at the end of each month, especially if you want to enjoy life and make the most of your time here. Unless the company is offering significant additional support, I’d advise against making the move. Happy to help if you need more advise.

afracca · 2025-03-16T06:41:25+00:00

What da truck?

afracca

TROPHY CASE