Help me figure out this job offer in Bahrain

September 2, 2007 9:52 AM

I am hopeful of being offered a job in software development in a construction company in Bahrain. I have a final interview tomorrow. I am a B.E.(Computer) with 7 year experience in various software projects, currently working in a US-based software MNC in Bangalore, India. Help me evaluate this job in terms of what salary package I can expect (or rather negotiate for) and other general Hows-n-Whats about (cost of) living in Bahrain.

Here's my career details :

I have a total of 7-year software development experience. I am currently leading a small team in architecting, designing and developing our next software product. My past experience encompasses various phases of software dev lifecycle. Two year US experience in several diff. projects/locations and a couple of patents against my name.

The target job I am shooting for is also a senior developer/architect kind of role where I'd be expected to lead a team technically. It's a big company which undertakes major civil construction projects.

However, I was unable to google any concrete salary information for this kind of job (for that matter any job) in Bahrain, cost of living for two(me & wifey) as an expat in a middle-class lifestyle.

Given my bkground how much salary I should expect to be offered for this position or how much should I ask?
Putting it in a different way I'd like to know atleast ballpark figures for the following so that I can figure out how much I can save:

- Rent (1 or 2 bedroom) in an avg locality (most likely company will offer subsidised housing, but incase if it doesn't)
- Cost of food, groceries.
- Services: electricity/water/internet etc.
- Cost of commutation
- Eating out, entertainment (once/twice a month).

There's too little information about Bahrain online.

Anything else people would want to tell me which I may have missed in terms of living as expat in Bahrain or job offers in Middle East. Can I expect a one-time joining bonus or a "settling allowance" etc ? Are there any retirals/pension benefits ? Anything which you think might be useful here.

Thanks.

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