Due to the variation in salaries between the countries and even between employers, no exact indication of a salary can be offered. Based on age, experience, qualifications, scarcity of skills and even your country of origin, might play a role in the salary offered. But salaries in these countries are of the highest in the world. When taken into account that your employer pays for your accommodation, air tickets, transport, and medical and the fact that no income tax is payable, you would expect a salary much higher that what you could earn in your country of origin or in any other country in the world.

Although salaries are normally negotiated in US$, you would almost all possibility to be paid in the currency of the respective country. Unlike with many currencies, the currencies of almost all the Arabian countries (including Saudi Arabia and the UAE), are fixed to the dollar and would not depreciate in value when compared to the US$. This actually means that when the Rand becomes “weaker”, you earn more money.

Of course the hard earned Money could be sent home by electronic transfer, either through a bank or a transfer agency. It actually takes two working days to have the money transferred into your home account. Transfer costs depends on the facility utilized, banks are virtually more costly than sub-standard transfer agencies.

When compared to most countries the cost of living is not that much higher in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia. While earning a modest salary, you must be able to save the largest portion of salary. The candidate should remember that employer pays for everything, all you have to spend for food and clothing. It is when you visit some tourist places that it could be expensive experience.