Fuel in Bahrain costs...

[Fourstar]

Ironically their cheap fuel is part of the problem.

The Arab states have been investing ever more money from the public purse in providing subsidies and benefits to their populace. Not through the kindness of their hearts but to suppress public anger and calls for political reform.

I was reading an article yesterday highlighting this as yet another reason prices are unlikely to fall.

I saw some striking numbers this week: Look at the "break-even" costs for the world's top oil producers. That is the minimum price at which these countries need to sell oil so that they can balance their budgets.

Russia now needs oil at $110 a barrel to manage its finances. For Iraq, the number is $100. Even Saudi Arabia now needs oil to trade around $80 a barrel just to balance its budgets. The numbers are also high for Algeria, Qatar, and Oman. Only a decade ago Saudi Arabia was able to balance its budget with oil prices averaging around $25 a barrel.

So now it is in these countries' interest to keep oil prices high, which they do by curtailing supply in one way or the other. This is perhaps the most lasting impact of the year of global protest: High oil prices.

http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/15/zakaria-why-oil-prices-will-stay-high/

 

[Craterloads]

Well take off the extortionate VAT price, Duty and considering importing costs we would have cheap fuel too.

 

[Howard]

with all probability, tomorrow will be Wednesday.

Don't be ridiculous. Who do you think you are, Nostradamus?

 

[Skeeter]

Seems the average wage is in the region of 600 - 800 BD PCM, depending on what sector and what job.

So around £14,000 a year, roughly half the UK average.

Puts things a bit more in perspective, but still shows the massive difference.

Is fuel in Bahrain taxed? And if so, how much?

 

[iguanoid]

Average wages are probably not really relevant to the price of fuel, as they will be artificially lower by the huge amount of sub continent unskilled labor used to build the property, clean stuff and work in industrial plants.

Nothing against them but they wont for the most part own cars, but will be shuttled from labor camps to work and back in buses like cattle. As such their wage and the price of petrol have no real relationship.

 

[[TW]Fox]

So around £14,000 a year, roughly half the UK average.

Puts things a bit more in perspective, but still shows the massive difference.

Is fuel in Bahrain taxed? And if so, how much?

It's not taxed, its subsidized. Fuel costs more than its sold for, the government pays the difference.

 

[Skeeter]

Average wages are probably not really relevant to the price of fuel, as they will be artificially lower by the huge amount of sub continent unskilled labor used to build the property, clean stuff and work in industrial plants.

Nothing against them but they wont for the most part own cars, but will be shuttled from labor camps to work and back in buses like cattle. As such their wage and the price of petrol have no real relationship.

Whilst not perfect, its definately better than comparing it to UK wage and fuel price, which is what people automatically do in their head when people state a price in isolation.

It's not taxed, its subsidized. Fuel costs more than its sold for, the government pays the difference.

Explains a lot...

 

[Hamish]

So around £14,000 a year, roughly half the UK average.

Puts things a bit more in perspective, but still shows the massive difference.

Is fuel in Bahrain taxed? And if so, how much?

Average wage isn't really relevant, if you're a brit expat in the Middle east you can expect to earn double what you earn in the UK... tax free.
Compared to this fuel in Dubai is pricey, 30p/litre.

 

[panthro]

I have a friend working in Qatar who bought a big engined Nissan 4x4 that he wouldnt dream of running back in the UK. If I ever got a job in an Emirate country I would certainly be buying something with a very big engine.

 

[Berger]

Average wage isn't really relevant, if you're a brit expat in the Middle east you can expect to earn double what you earn in the UK... tax free.
Compared to this fuel in Dubai is pricey, 30p/litre.

Will have to pay tax and duty on the money you earn in the country you are in though....

 

[panthro]

Will have to pay tax and duty on the money you earn in the country you are in though....

Theres no tax paid in the UAE. Its essentially tax free because its considered haram to take unearned income. You will only find tax on goods that are considered haram.

 

[Begbie]

I have a friend working in Qatar who bought a big engined Nissan 4x4 that he wouldnt dream of running back in the UK. If I ever got a job in an Emirate country I would certainly be buying something with a very big engine.

Im there just now, most vehicles are either Nissans or big yank tanks. I honestly never realised just how big F150s are untill your stood next to them. Some other Chevy things with widened arches too massive things.

And I get lumped with a Nissan UVAN horrible thing, quite throaty considering mind.

 

[Westyfield2]

You don't want to drive in Bahrain. All the women come over the bridge from Saudi to drive in Bahrain (as women aren't allowed to drive in Saudi), and the fact that they've never driven before combines with the usual ZOMG woman driver to make them not exactly the best drivers ever.


Fuel price IIRC it's about 7.5p for Unleaded, and 10p for Super Unleaded. Motorbikes fill up for free as "it's not worth putting such a small amount through the cash register".

 

[Felix]

Im there just now, most vehicles are either Nissans or big yank tanks. I honestly never realised just how big F150s are untill your stood next to them. Some other Chevy things with widened arches too massive things.

And I get lumped with a Nissan UVAN horrible thing, quite throaty considering mind.

Nice. You will blend in with the indian/filipeno labourers! You in Doha?

 

[iguanoid]

Theres no tax paid in the UAE. Its essentially tax free because its considered haram to take unearned income. You will only find tax on goods that are considered haram.

Not strictly true. There is tax, it just gets given a different name and then brushed under the carpet as much as possible. Housing fees for instance on your water and electricity bill, which everyone is supposed to pay, even if you are living in a privately serviced residential area such as arabian ranches, the springs, motor city, green community etc.

These fees are still charged and above mentioned residents are effectively charged double for services such as sewerage, garbage collection etc. Once by the master developer who actually provides the services, and once by the municipality who don't supply any service as its a private development.

The housing fee is justified as being used to maintain and implement city wide services. Definition of tax anyone?

There is also continued talk of introducing VAT in the UAE....

 

[panthro]

Not strictly true. There is tax, it just gets given a different name and then brushed under the carpet as much as possible. Housing fees for instance on your water and electricity bill, which everyone is supposed to pay, even if you are living in a privately serviced residential area such as arabian ranches, the springs, motor city, green community etc.

These fees are still charged and above mentioned residents are effectively charged double for services such as sewerage, garbage collection etc. Once by the master developer who actually provides the services, and once by the municipality who don't supply any service as its a private development.

The housing fee is justified as being used to maintain and implement city wide services. Definition of tax anyone?

There is also continued talk of introducing VAT in the UAE....

In the UAE at present, there is no income tax or goods/value added tax on anything except products such as alcohol, which are considered haram.

 

[iguanoid]

In the UAE at present, there is no income tax or goods/value added tax on anything except products such as alcohol, which are considered haram.

I didnt claim there was income tax or vat. VAT is regularly discussed as you should be well aware, and housing fees are basically tax with an inventive name, and last time i checked, owning a house, or even living in rented accomodation, wasn't haram.

Paying a fee for services rendered throughout dubai is a tax, like it or not. I am charged 1000 dirhams a month by dewa for housing fees, and recieve nothing in return from the municipality that relates to my house. All my services and provided and billed by Emaar, not the government.

Background reading

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/Display...e/2010/June/theuae_June189.xml&section=theuae

especially:-

“We have not told anyone (free hold properties) that the housing fee doesn’t apply to them though they are paying an amount to their developers for maintenance. The Municipality collects this fee not to serve any particular area. This is to offer various civic amenities and services across the emirate. These include environmental, health and infrastructural services,” said Ahli.


In a word, tax.

 

[panthro]

I dont know about Dubai, but AFAIK Qatar doesnt have any of these sorts of fees.
Not really interested tbh, all I know is that the UAE is income and VAT free, so if people go to work from the UK to the UAE, they pay neither of these.

 

[Begbie]

Nice. You will blend in with the indian/filipeno labourers! You in Doha?

Yeah there is a lot of them!

Just outside of it. Unexpectidly pretty cold out here just now mind.

 

[iguanoid]

I dont know about Dubai, but AFAIK Qatar doesnt have any of these sorts of fees.
Not really interested tbh, all I know is that the UAE is income and VAT free, so if people go to work from the UK to the UAE, they pay neither of these.

Sorry for pointing out the reality, didnt want to bore you

Also you could be working in the uae and still be hit for income tax in the uk depending on how much time you spend in the UK on holiday / business etc