Does anyone have any experience or advice on working in Kuwait?

Ossyrocks

My future daughter in law works in Aviation Security and has just been approached (head hunted) by G4S for a 6 month contract working at Kuwait airport. She has until tomorrow to decide, and after much research we are all still scratching our heads.

The money is fab. £500 per day, 7 days a week, for 6 months. Apartment paid for and a hire car.

They are just going through with a house purchase, so the money would be handy, but she would miss the completion day, as well as various other family events. There is no opportunity to come back in the six months, so if my son wants to see her, he will have to fly out for a week in the middle.

Security and safety are the main concerns. G4S don't have a great rep for looking after people. She is 28, single white female, and potentially alone in Kuwait for 6 months.

It doesn't help that she has just come back from 6 weeks in Bangladesh and was right round the corner from the massacre which took place there. They were in lock down and had to be escorted home by British Intelligence. 

If you have any experience or knowledge please share it.

Cheers,
Rob.

stickyfiddle

I live in the UAE and have travelled to most of the ME and I have colleagues who go in and out of Kuwait every month. I'm going for my first trip there in 6 weeks and looking forward to it. From everything I've heard it's fine but a bit boring, but on those hours that won't matter.

I can't speak for G4S but generally Kuwait is a secure country and the people are absolutely fine - don't worry about security. It'is COMPLETELY different from Bangladesh, which is really not a safe place at the moment. 

You don't mention the hours but 7 days a week will be tough in any job, though it's only for 6 months, and on that money it's a hell of a lot easier to swallow.

Ossyrocks

Cheers.

The FO standard advice is a little scary. But what you are saying is reassuring.

The hours are variable, but she will get a couple of days a week off and still be paid £500 a day just for being away. 

Rob

stickyfiddle

(I can't speak for the emotional side as obviously that's difficult to judge, but the only trouble I've ever heard anyone having in Kuwait is, ironically, with airport security & passport control...)

stickyfiddle

Ossyrocks said:

Cheers.

The FO standard advice is a little scary. But what you are saying is reassuring.

The hours are variable, but she will get a couple of days a week off and still be paid £500 a day just for being away. 

Rob

That sounds awesome then. If she can get 2 days in a row that's enough to pop over to Jordan, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or Qatar for a night and see some more of the region.

After 3 years out here I'd definitely go for it (although I'm happy to admit before I made the jump I'd have been very nervous to take that kind of posting and can completely understand her mixed feelings)

Jalapeno

£90k could be a tidy nest egg, assuming it's tax free. Get advice on the best way to get it back to the UK.

stickyfiddle

Jalapeno said:

£90k could be a tidy nest egg, assuming it's tax free. Get advice on the best way to get it back to the UK.

This would be my next recommendation! 6 months dead is not enough to avoid income tax, but an extra couple of weeks out of the UK should be enough to claim non-residency for year and save the tax. 

But PLEASE don't take my word for it - it's well worth getting proper advice as it could save 25k+!

Ossyrocks

Yes, we're already looking into the tax business. 

Eeesh, she may end up going now! 

The money is really hard to turn down. Buying a house, getting married, starting a family. With that kind of cash behind you after six months, it's a great start. There are not many young people in their twenties in this position any more! But, they have both worked really hard for it, uni, postgrads, renting in London to get the better jobs and experience. Now up near Wakefield and settling down.

Rob

Troy

I think the biggest thing is that she may get use to that kind of money.

chrispy108

Ossyrocks said:

Now up near Wakefield and settling down.

£90k would pbefore half my mortgage on my 3 bed semi in Wakefield...

That's a life changing lump of money.

Ossyrocks

chrispy108 said:

Ossyrocks said:

Now up near Wakefield and settling down.

£90k would pbefore half my mortgage on my 3 bed semi in Wakefield...

That's a life changing lump of money.

Yes it is. The house they are buying is £100k, but needs work. Probate sale. They could make it fabulous. It's up to them now, we have discussed it over and over now. Decision time tomorrow.

I have been on the phone and told them what you guys have said, and they have also been getting opinions. If they can stand the time apart it would be a very financially rewarding thing to do.

Cheers,
Rob

stickyfiddle

FWIW me and MrsF also did 6 months apart while she had a placement in Dubai.m, so it's absolutely do-able.  We moved to Abu Dhabi 6 months after she got home... 

On that money they can afford for her chap (your son, I assume) to visit more than once if time allows. 

Handsome_Chris

I know a few people who've gone for security work, the scratch is good.  A mate of one of my ex-colleagues gave it up after getting injured , including losing eyesight in his left eye, in an IED attack.

That's the nature of security work. For £500 a day, I'd consider rolling the dice on it   

holnrew

I'd be an airport toilet for 500 day

Evilmags

90 days in the UK and your a resident for tax purposes. 

Jez6345789

Do it to good an opportunity at that age
there are loads of ex pats she will make friends

6 months is nothing with FaceTime etc etc

Axe_meister

Tax can be reduced if she set up her own company pays herself a minimum wage. Either pay the rest as dividends or folds the company after a year and withdraws the money

gavin_axecaster

Evilmags said:

90 days in the UK and your a resident for tax purposes. 

Yes, that was the deal back when I was working on cruise ships. If she's already done 6 weeks in Bangladesh this financial year she would still need to be out of the UK another 6 weeks before April 5th 2017. Might not be possible, depending on when the Kuwait contract starts.

TimmyO

Ossyrocks said:

My future daughter in law works in Aviation Security and has just been approached (head hunted) by G4S for a 6 month contract working at Kuwait airport. She has until tomorrow to decide, 

With that kind of sharp practice by the agency it can only be wonderful opportunity...

I hear the day rates in Mordor are pretty good too. 

TimmyO

Ossyrocks said:

Security and safety are the main concerns. G4S don't have a great rep for looking after people. She is 28, single white female, and potentially alone in Kuwait for 6 months.

This.

all kidding aside, I know people who did various contract periods in the ME (inc Iraq) and their experiences were wildly variable - some companies put you in secure accommodation, give you a local fixer etc to call if any issues - others just put you anywhere cheap and you're left to your own devices. 

different employment agencies do different diligence on this. 

One guy took one look at the living arrangements where he was going in Iraq and went back to the airport and bought a flight home. 

rhinofeet

Evilmags said:

90 days in the UK and your a resident for tax purposes. 

It is 90 days in a tax year April-April so she might have already used her 90 days for this year. Otherwise she has to stay out for ages. I'd get proper tax advice if this is the case.

Should also consider expat contracts often get extended, I have been out 2 years longer than I thought.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-foreign-income/residence