Hi Susanne,
Here's some info I posted on another website:
"Cost of living
Whether Dubai's cost of living is expensive or not depends on where you come from. What do things cost in your home country, what are your living standard expectations? I think taxis are very cheap, Brits think they're incredibly cheap, Indians think they're expensive.
People from some countries will share accommodation or rooms, even beds, people from other cultures won't.
The big expense is rent, which is rocketing higher. School fees, water, electricity, internet, schooling are also expensive as is alcohol and clubbing. Private health insurance is a sensible purchase - cost is about the same as Australia, others may think it's cheap or expensive depending on their home country. Food, petrol, cars, clothing, are all cheap.
Examples: rent will vary enormously depending on the location, quality, views, facilities. From Gulf News, figures for 3rd Quarter 06:
Apartments:
1 bedroom Dh48,000/Dh95,000
2 bedroom Dh60,000/Dh130,000
3 bedroom Dh78,000/Dh200,000
Villas Dh140,000 upwards.
(Check out for classsified ads. for Dubai & the other Emirates).
School fees according to Gulf News:
Indian curriculum Dh2,750-Dh9,000 pa
British Dh28,000-Dh42,000
Australian Dh22,000-28,000
American about Dh47,000
Books, bus, uniform etc are extra.
For electricity/water for a two bedroom apartment budget an average of Dh500/month. For internet Dh149 - Dh349/month. Pay TV Dh150 upwards."
Your passport is irrelevant, anyone can work here as long as they can find a job. The big point though is tthat you say "partner" rather than 'husband'. Here's another bit from my info:
"it is illegal for an unmarried couple to live together in Dubai. Having said that, many couples do and they have no problem. However, you need to be sensible about it; for example don't attract the attention of the authorities by having noisy late-night parties that cause the neighbours to call the police!
The second thing is much more difficult. To live in the UAE you must have a Residence Visa. To get a Residence Visa you must have a sponsor - for example, your boyfriend's employer will be his sponsor. But your boyfriend will not be able to sponsor you. Only legally married people can sponsor their spouse, and the paperwork to prove you're married is daunting.
To live here you have to get around this problem, for example by finding a job yourself so that the employer will be your sponsor. Or maybe, just maybe, and it's a very long shot, your boyfriend's employer would be willing to sponsor you. Or of course, you could get married which would solve all the problem."
If you want to talk more you can e-mail me direct at dubaiseabee@hotmail.com
