| The Middle East is flourishing. Middle Eastern | | | | difference between living costs and earnings. If |
| countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi | | | | earning $60,000 annually in each, someone in the |
| Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman are | | | | US is paying $15,000 in tax, while someone in the |
| becoming the home of more businesses with | | | | UAE is paying absolutely nothing. If provided, |
| many people going to these areas to work from | | | | accommodation can also be nothing while in the |
| Europe and the United States. | | | | US is an estimated $10,000 per year. Transport |
| The main reasons why people who can are | | | | and utility costs are also more in the US meaning |
| choosing to work in the Middle East is the | | | | the total spent on these factors is just $2,100 in |
| opportunity to earn tax free income. Many go to | | | | the UAE, but $31,400 in the United States, which |
| this area on a temporary basis to earn before | | | | means employees only have just over half of |
| moving back home a few years later. Many | | | | their earning left. This means you end up $29,300 |
| companies offer free accommodation which | | | | better off every year in the UAE as people are |
| means expenses are significantly less than at | | | | able to save the majority of their income. Even if |
| home. It is not just businesses who want | | | | someone spends another $10,000 a year, they |
| Western workers, but schools and other service | | | | still end up $60,000 better off after three years if |
| based industries, such as hospitals. | | | | working in the UAE compared to the US. |
| Salaries are sometimes lower, but can be equal to | | | | Other benefits of living and working in the Middle |
| Europe. As there is no tax the take-home pay is | | | | East are that there is usually six week annual |
| significantly more than in Europe. If we take the | | | | holiday, medical needs are often paid for by |
| UK as an example, those earning over £37,000 | | | | companies, and many get paid a yearly service |
| a year pay 40 per cent tax, while those earning | | | | award, which is effectively a yearly bonus. |
| over £150,000 pay 50 per cent. If someone is | | | | There are of course some negatives. It is often |
| earning the same in the UAE or Kuwait, for | | | | not possible to take your family, which is difficult |
| example, but tax free then in reality they are | | | | for many, and the culture is very different to the |
| keeping much more. Even if earning a little less | | | | West. This is why many work in the Middle East |
| than in Europe the money employees keep at the | | | | for a few years to save a significant amount of |
| end of the month will be higher. | | | | tax free income and then return home with this |
| If we take average figures for the US and | | | | money left over. |
| compare then to the UAE, we can really see the | | | | |