My Dubai Salary: 'I earn up to Dh30,000 and aim to retire by 40'

SEO specialist Jayesh Jain owns two properties in Dubai and two in India

Jayesh Jain invests in real estate, UAE stocks and gold. Antonie Robertson / The National

Jayesh Jain, an Indian expat in Dubai, is only 33 but already owns two properties in Dubai and as many in his home country. With the aim of retiring aged 40, he hopes the investments he has made will yield good returns and grow to become his main source of funds.

A savvy investor, Mr Jain also buys stocks in the UAE, as well as gold coins.

Born and raised in Mumbai, he has been living in the UAE for the past eight years and lives in Dubai’s Al Barsha neighbourhood with his wife, who is an HR and admin specialist.

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Mr Jain completed his bachelor’s degree in mass media from Mumbai University and an MBA in marketing from the Himachal Pradesh University in his homeland.

What was your first job and salary?

I started off as an intern for two months with The Brand Saloon, a digital marketing and search engine optimisation (SEO) agency in Mumbai. Later, I found a full-time job there for a monthly salary of 12,000 Indian rupees ($138) and worked there for two years. I then moved to iProspect, another digital marketing agency in Mumbai, as an SEO manager.

I then got an opportunity to work in Taiwan for a year with the same company. Then, I was referred to a senior SEO executive role with Salama Insurance in Dubai, where my starting salary was Dh8,000 ($2,180) per month and worked there for two years. From there, I moved to Alshaya Group, a retail e-commerce company, as SEO manager where my monthly salary doubled to Dh16,000 and I worked there for two years.

Tell us about your current role. What is your salary now?

I work as a senior SEO manager with a media company. I earn a total of Dh30,000 per month from my salary and rental income in Dubai.

Do you manage to save?

Yes, I manage to save between Dh3,000 and Dh4,000 from my salary every month and this is saved for emergencies. I plan to move this money to a high-interest savings account soon. My emergency fund can sustain me for four months.

What asset classes do you invest in?

I not only invest in real estate, but also in UAE initial public offerings and gold. I have invested in the stocks of Dubai’s public parking operator Parkin, retail firm LuLu Group and UAE delivery service Talabat. I keep aside a portion of my salary for my investments.

I used to buy gold coins every two to three months but haven’t of late owing to high prices.

Have you purchased property here or in your home country?

I own a one-bedroom apartment and a shop in Mumbai, which I managed to buy with my savings during my initial days in the UAE. The rent from these properties pays off my mortgage on the shop.

I bought a three-bedroom townhouse in Nshama's Town Square in Dubai for Dh2.3 million, for which I paid 20 per cent down payment, in 2024. I purchased it only as an investment and live in a rental apartment instead. I have a mortgage on this property.

In January this year, I also bought an off-plan four-bedroom townhouse in Dubai South for Dh2.3 million, on which the payment plan is flexible (30:70), so I can manage to pay it using my savings and rent.

I have a group of friends in the UAE who invest in real estate. We pool in money and in case one of us has an upcoming payment to a developer and requires money, everyone chips in without charging interest. We’ve made an Excel sheet of upcoming property payments for all of us.

I am also inspired by my father, who works in the real estate sector in India.

Jayesh Jain lives in a rented apartment in Dubai although he owns two properties in the emirate. Antonie Robertson / The National

Do you have any debt?

No, because I plan well and manage my cashflow properly. I have credit cards but use them mainly to avail benefits, such as airport lounges, but make sure to pay off the entire amount on time or ahead of time. I also paid for my car with full cash.

Growing up, were you taught how to handle your finances?

Yes, my parents taught me that I will gain respect if I have money. But they also advised me to not rely only on money but value family and friends in equal measure, too. They taught me about savings and not to spend unnecessarily on luxury products.

What are your major monthly expenses?

On house rent, for which I pay Dh45,000 annually. I spend between 10 per cent and 15 per cent of my salary each month on rent, utilities and food. My wife and I also like to travel, so we keep a certain portion of our income for travelling twice a year, be it to India or outside the UAE. Last year, we went to Europe, this time it’s Japan.

How do you budget your salary every month?

I save 15 per cent of my salary, invest between 40 per cent and 45 per cent, and spend 5 per cent on dining out and travel within the UAE. The remaining is spent on utility bills and other recurring payments.

At what age do you wish to retire?

I wish to retire after five years since my industry is filled with the Gen Z crowd. So, I feel it will be challenging to work after the age of 40. I hope to retire to a remote place, somewhere like the small town of Mahabaleshwar in the Indian state of Maharashtra, where I can do organic farming.

I need to be self-sufficient and make sure that I have passive income worth between Dh20,000 and Dh25,000 per month to sustain me during retirement. I am relying on real estate investments to offer me good returns.

Do you worry about money?

I worry about work since it is a major source of my income now. I think of times like the Covid-19 pandemic when things went haywire. That is why I know the importance of having a passive income or being self-sufficient.

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What are your financial goals?

In the short term, I wish to pay off all my debts, such as the mortgage. I don’t wish to wait until retirement or for 25 years to pay off the mortgage. I wish to pay it off in the next five to seven years. I also want to sell one of my properties, so I can be debt-free.

My future financial goal is to invest in a business to generate more passive income.

What is your idea of financial freedom?

To be able to take on a consulting role and invest in a few businesses such as drop-shipping or import-export, which will become my main income source.

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