Stay in Dubai or move to Switzerland

[bigbill27]

Dear Friends ,

Seeking some advice . Currently in Dubai , corporate dude , life is easy , career is what it is, money is good , work life balance is excellent, career growth is low. Currently I have an opportunity to move with the kids to Switzerland. More money after tax…. Maybe not as flexible in terms of work life balance, but good career prospects. Seeking the advice of the great ones on this forum. EU passport and Golden visa in hand . Cheers Big Bill

 

[eurobundance]

So whats your main goal?

Career growth?
Improve quality of life?

If you earn more in Switzerland after tax, I would move there. Since its a much nicer country in my opinion and you have more growth opportunity there.

 

[2fire]

Moved from CH to AE because of taxes. With my income in AE i feel that I am saving more.

CH or AE are similar golden jails, however if in AE you get used for affordable nanny, cleaners and restaurants, then in CH you would do it all most probably yourself.

In terms of the culture, there is no doubt that CH would be better.

CH fundamentally can offer more, but you have to pay for that and if after taxes (and all expenses) you will get more than in AE, I would personally prefer to live in CH

 

[Forester]

Just my 2 cents:
1) I do not dare to say what environment is better, UAE or CH; but just that these enviroments simply differ a lot.
2) Do not overlook that CH is anything but uniform. The difference between DE,FR,IT (and Rhetoromanic) cantons is huge.
3) @eurobundance is pretty right: Evaluate what's you main goal, otherwise it is impossible to decide properly.

 

[JohnLocke]

As an EU citizen who is used to living among like minded people and who wants to decide for themselves what to eat and drink and when to do so, and who is not subject to a religion, I personally would also prefer Switzerland over Dubai - Personally, I can only see myself vacationing in Dubai; I would never want to live there.

 

[scooterguy]

Switzerland is obviously a better environment in most areas, and if it comes with more money and better career prospects, then the choice becomes almost a no-brainer.

 

[daniels27]

Taxes are on the rise in Switzerland. Living expenses are priced at cost without much subsidies like EUSSR. The high number of German, French and Italian immigrants are becoming a problem as they are getting naturalised and tend to expand the socialist state. They go a lot good things to the country but no matter what taxes are opium for the people willing to work harder.

 

[Forester]

who wants to decide for themselves what to eat and drink and when to do so, and who is not subject to a religion,

I share your attitude.
Hence, I feel obliged to make a remark: There is not such a social freedom in CH what one might possibly expect. Just as a funny example, I remember the case when a (fully legal) newcomer encountered a really strong social pressure because of his habit to park his car in front of his house (neighboring with other houses) un-washed. (It happened in a DE canton, of course )

 

[2fire]

I share your attitude.
Hence, I feel obliged to make a remark: There is not such a social freedom in CH what one might possibly expect. Just as a funny example, I remember the case when a (fully legal) newcomer encountered a really strong social pressure because of his habit to park his car in front of his house (neighboring with other houses) un-washed. (It happened in a DE canton, of course )

There is would be endless amount of cases like that. Eventually I like an order in CH and I think this country all about such culture. However as soon as you are out of country, you feel so free from all that rules, regulations, traffic fines for over speeding 5km/h, restrictions (like to not use vacuum cleaner at Sunday) and endless tax bills (gemiende, cantonal, federal ). Even I checked out more then a year ago, they still sending me taxes from 2021/22/23 .

While economically I prefer to stay in UAE, emotionally I love this country and wish to come back there and rise my family there.

In terms of business it is hard to impossible to find employees and I even would not comment how much it costs, currently in UAE I see international employees which are qualified and interested to work.

Many people complain about living in UAE, however try to go shopping in Switzerland on your day off! Or try to order food delivery late evening. In UAE you have everything 24/7 (“thanks” to modern slavery).

People complains about desert, seems they never went to dune bashing and having a BBQ deep in sands. Try to do it in Switzerland and shortly police will be sending to you mails with fines.

I believe you will only gain by moving to CH to get new experience for you and your family, while you will never have a problem to come back to UAE. Try it and tell us about your experience after one year

 

[Forester]

There is would be endless amount of cases like that. Eventually I like an order in CH and I think this country all about such culture. However as soon as you are out of country, you feel so free from all that rules, regulations, traffic fines for over speeding 5km/h, restrictions (like to not use vacuum cleaner at Sunday) and endless tax bills (gemiende, cantonal, federal ). Even I checked out more then a year ago, they still sending me taxes from 2021/22/23 .

@2fire, may I ask you (hopefully it's not off-topic), in what part of CH (I mean DE/FR/IT/RR) have you stayed? (My guess would be DE but I can be perfectly wrong...)

 

[bigbill27]

Many thanks for all the opinions…. If I accept the offer , then I will be based in the DE part . We have lived in Germany before and had similar experiences with taxes and the constant bills arriving in the mail, in fact I can’t think of a place where I have received so much physical mail ever and having to pay them via bank transfer…. Anyway, off topic, again I appreciate all the opinions and will update the thread accordingly.

 

[Marzio]

like to not use vacuum cleaner at Sunday

I wonder what will happen if you do?

 

[daniels27]

I wonder what will happen if you do?

The neighbour from downstairs will get upset with the noise and then either:

• do nothing
• come and ring the bell
• call the police
• write the landlord to complain
• put a letter in your mailbox
• throw some rotten tomatoes unto your balcony

 

[Forester]

The neighbour from downstairs will get upset with the noise and then either:

• do nothing
• come and ring the bell
• call the police
• write the landlord to complain
• put a letter in your mailbox
• throw some rotten tomatoes unto your balcony

I think that the first and the last option are not plausible (if your neighbours are really locals). If the police or the municipality is engaged, be assured that you will receive a letter with fine.

 

[Forester]

Many thanks for all the opinions….

You are welcome.

If I accept the offer , then I will be based in the DE part . We have lived in Germany before and had similar experiences with taxes and the constant bills arriving in the mail, in fact I can’t think of a place where I have received so much physical mail ever and having to pay them via bank transfer….

Just a remark: Do not expect any average CH-DE small town to be similar, concerning the freedom and culture, to e.g. Berlin or Hamburg. It's another world.

Anyway, off topic, again I appreciate all the opinions and will update the thread accordingly.

It will definitely be appreciated

 

[Alonzo]

The high number of German, French and Italian immigrants are becoming a problem as they are getting naturalised and tend to expand the socialist state.

Geneva and Vaud are definitely socialist cantons (Huge influence from tax hell France). Their tax rates are so horrendous that they have a tax shield so that you pay max 60% of your taxable income BUT it doesn't cover federal income tax! (11.5%) Which means your final tax bill can be as high as 71.5% of your taxable income lol.

I'm surprised these cantons didn't abolish the lump sum taxation.

 

[bigbill27]

I wouldn’t be residing in the French speaking cantons and you are correct , the taxes are high. I will be in 15%-25% band most likely if I include the wealth tax .

 

[jafo]

I wouldn’t be residing in the French speaking cantons and you are correct , the taxes are high. I will be in 15%-25% band most likely if I include the wealth tax .

Lower your taxes with a special ruling by using UAE as leverage! Speak to the right attorneys in CH.

 

[EliasIT]

I wonder what will happen if you do?

restrictions (like to not use vacuum cleaner at Sunday)

I was not aware of this. I have two Robots running every day also Sunday, they make as much noise as a normal vacuum cleaner, so far no one has complained. I live in a DE Cantone.

Taxes are much less than what I was used to in Denmark. I smile every month when I take my salary and pay taxes etc. then I call my friend in DK and ask him how much tax he paid this months and if he is happy with is shitty car, so we have 5 minutes of fun. I don't find it that bad.

 

[jafo]

then I call my friend in DK and ask him how much tax he paid this months and if he is happy with is shitty car,

Sometimes, I also want to do this, but I'm scared they may be vindictive beyond my imagination, and I don't want to be near ANY lawyers , much less pay them ANY retainer!