Clay pigeon shooting in Dubai

[Bloggs]

Well my time in the RAF is drawing to a close - I asked for redundancy and got it :blink:

 

I'm now looking at working out in Dubai and helping to maintain their fleet of C17 Globemaster aircraft as I have experience on type already.

 

Just wondering what the clay pigeon shooting is like out there and what peoples thoughts are about living out there generally

 

Thanks for any input

[100milesaway]

There is an excellent clay ground at Jebel Ali, which has trap skeet and some sporting and compact. You cannot take your own gun out there but the armoury has a fantastic choice of shotties and a very large ex pat following with regular comps. A very nice gang hut which serves excellent food. It is very expensive to shoot there, but earnings are high so i guess relative to price. There is also a club owned by the same people at Hatta Fort but this is mainly a small skeet club with limited opening. :yp: It is very close to some dodgy borders and i wouldn't recommend you to wander off the beaten track :yp: , its surrounded by very attractive mountains but the borders do meander and as, when i was there i had to resist the temptation to drive into the interior as i was alone.I was only there for 4 days so didn't get chance to speak to any locals untill it was time to fly home, but in honesty that region looked the most interesting the Dubiah area is very sterile and heavily built up. Hope this helps. from Auntie.

[Bleeh]

To be honest, from everyone I known live their I've only heard that once you get passed the level of shine you'll only find a level of ****. It doesn't seem to be worth it.

[AVB]

If your biggest worry is "what is the clay pigeon shooting like" then you either have everything sorted or your priorities are all wrong.

 

The most important things to consider are the basics:

 

Housing - What will my allowance be and what quality of house will that get me in what area?

Medical - What level of cover do I have? Are family members fully covered (depends of course on whether you have a family)

Schooling - Will my employer cover schooling costs and can I get the children in the school I want? Lots are over subscribed (again depends on whether you have children)

Salary - What will the take home pay be like relative to the cost of living?

 

Then you can start worrying about what it's like to live there. I am a fairly frequent visitor and have mates working out there and I think it's an OK place. Better that India! It has a big expat community so you won't be short of things to do. Yes it's expensive BUT your take home pay needs to reflect that. Don't just look at it relative to GBP. Start looking at in AED and what it will buy you. Also do NOT commit until you have done a look/see trip. At your own expense if your future potential employee won't pay for one. When you go on a look/see DON'T think of it as a holiday but immediately start looking at the place as though you are living there.

 

There are a number of expat forums that I suggest you start browsing through. This one is quite popular http://www.expatforum.com/expats/dubai-expat-forum-expats-living-dubai/

 

As you were in the forces I assume you have experience of living overseas. However being an expat will be different as you won't have the same support network to support you. That said I would say that assuming you have done the above then go for it.

 

ps - Make sure you do get plugged into the social network soon. Otherwise, like me, you will end up in the office on a Sunday morning because it seems a good alternative to sitting in your apartment staring at the walls!

 

pps - Just to correct your title - You won't be emigrating. You will be an expat. You WILL leave Dubai at some time in the future. Nobody stays long term. It's a palce to earn some money and have some fun.

 

Good luck.

Edited July 1, 2012 by AVB

[HDAV]

There is a sheik who owns a ground he won gold at OT in Athens in Dubai IIRC

[Bloggs]

Thanks for the replies, greatly appreciated

 

AVB, I've just about got everything sorted but I just wanted some info about my hobby out there. I personally need to keep the work and the play in balance, so, for me it is an important factor to take into account on deciding whether or not to take the offer of employment out there. I have some other leads of employment to chase up here in the UK but obviously a tax-free income is very attractive. :yp:

 

Is it a fact that you can't take your own shotgun out there?

 

Again, thanks.

[100milesaway]

The last time i went out (about 10 years ago), you could not take firearms out. The rules may have altered but I would think that they could have got stricter. You will need to check with the ailine you are flying with and with the police in UAE, when you have done that check again because you don,t want your guns cofiscated at the airport. If you are allowed to take them, and you have a plane change, make sure that your guns have changed planes with you as they will be taken off you at the start of your journey.You will also need to make sure your firearm cert and gun permit are long enough for your duration of stay.As i originally said they have a fantastic range of guns at the armoury so you will be spoilt for choice. If you put up Jebel Ali gun club, they may well have a website. I think it was a chap called Ray Ward who originally set the club up. Hope this helps. from Auntie.

[JonnyR]

There is a sheik who owns a ground he won gold at OT in Athens in Dubai IIRC

I think it is the one at Jebel Ali. He was there shooting skeet, extremely well,when I was there last. Nice club.