Is moving to Abu Dhabi worth it?
I'm currently living in Canada and considering a move to Abu Dhabi for work.
The offer is roughly around 32k AED/month tax-free with family benefits (medical, visa support, flights, etc.). My wife and I would be relocating together.
For context, our current household take-home income in Canada is roughly 12k CAD/month. I’m 30 and my wife is in her late 20s. We don’t have kids yet.
From a financial perspective, the offer sounds attractive because of the tax-free salary, but I’m trying to understand whether the move is worth it overall in terms of:
\- Career growth / resume value
\- Work culture and job stability
\- Work-life balance
\- Cost of living (rent, future schooling, daily expenses)
\- Savings potential compared to Canada
\- Long-term career impact if I return to Canada in 2-4 years
A few things I’m concerned about:
\- Is Abu Dhabi a good place for engineers long term?
\- How stable are engineering jobs there, especially in electro mechanical field?
\- Does UAE experience help or hurt if I want to return to Canada later?
\- How is life there for expat families?
I’m especially interested in hearing from:
\- Engineers working in Abu Dhabi/UAE
\- Canadians who moved there
\- People who moved there and later returned home
I’d really appreciate honest perspectives from people who have gone through a similar move or have firsthand experience living and working in Abu Dhabi