Print this page
Email this to a friend
Discuss this article (2 Comments)
Mobile
-
Head of Advisory
Industry: Finance
Location: Dubai, UAE -
Compensation and benefits manager
Industry: Finance
Location: Dubai, UAE
Expats bear brunt of housing inflation
by Claire Ferris-Lay on Tuesday, 24 June 2008
HIGH PRICE: Expatriates in Abu Dhabi pay a higher proportion of their incomes on housing than nationals, study has found. (Getty Images)
Expatriates in Abu Dhabi are bearing the brunt of higher rental costs with new government data revealing they pay a higher proportion of their incomes on housing than nationals.
Emiratis spend just 28 percent of their income on housing while expats spend 41 percent on rent and utilities, UAE daily The National reported on Tuesday.
The housing expenditure survey by the Abu Dhabi Department of Planning and Economy revealed income earned by Emiratis accounted for 51 percent of Abu Dhabi’s total earnings of $14.5 billion, even though Emiratis made up only 22 percent of the emirate’s workforce, the newspaper said.
advertisement
TOP IN MIDDLE EAST PERSONAL FINANCE
TOP MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS STORIES
ALSO IN MIDDLE EAST PERSONAL FINANCE
LATEST MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS NEWS
USER COMMENTS (2 COMMENTS)
Emiratis pay less
Posted by Hombil, Muscat, Oman on 25 June 2008 at 15:48 UAE time
Atleast in Oman we do not have this disparity and the locals/expats get equal benefits. This is thanks to the magnanimity of the Oman ruler, Sultan Qaboos Bin Said. We expats are very lucky in Oman, which for many is the first "home away from home".
Posted by Hombil, Muscat, Oman on 25 June 2008 at 15:48 UAE time
Atleast in Oman we do not have this disparity and the locals/expats get equal benefits. This is thanks to the magnanimity of the Oman ruler, Sultan Qaboos Bin Said. We expats are very lucky in Oman, which for many is the first "home away from home".
Emiratis pay less
Posted by matthewwuillemin on 25 June 2008 at 13:58 UAE time
Well it is not hard to pay less when you don't pay for water or sewerage, and only a third that expats pay for electricity costs ( well at least that is the case in DXB) I understand it is their country but if you tried to introduce a tiered payment system based on nationality in the real world you would be laughed out of town.
As far as contributions to GDP or other income, given that locals have to hold 51% of most businesses etc except in free zones ( which cost a fortune to set up anyway) it is no wonder that the statistics show they contribute more. Other anomalies - such as local government workers getting 70% pay increases while expats might be lucky to get a CPI increase... then once again the proportion of income spent on living for locals is reduced. Not to mention subsidised housing itself. Reporting of these anomalies does nothing to help fix them -just highlights the disparity.
Posted by matthewwuillemin on 25 June 2008 at 13:58 UAE time
Well it is not hard to pay less when you don't pay for water or sewerage, and only a third that expats pay for electricity costs ( well at least that is the case in DXB) I understand it is their country but if you tried to introduce a tiered payment system based on nationality in the real world you would be laughed out of town.
As far as contributions to GDP or other income, given that locals have to hold 51% of most businesses etc except in free zones ( which cost a fortune to set up anyway) it is no wonder that the statistics show they contribute more. Other anomalies - such as local government workers getting 70% pay increases while expats might be lucky to get a CPI increase... then once again the proportion of income spent on living for locals is reduced. Not to mention subsidised housing itself. Reporting of these anomalies does nothing to help fix them -just highlights the disparity.
CLICK HERE TO POST A COMMENT
RELATED STORIES
Department of Planning & Economy (DPE) - Abu Dhabi
| 3 stories- Steel prices rocket 91% in H1
17 Aug '08 | News - Building material costs continue to climb
16 Aug '08 | News - Cost of basic goods surges 12.5% in one month
10 Aug '08 | News
