It's a tough one to wrap ones head around. The ME carriers all provide housing or compensation for such, which ups the package overall. Included is free health care that the company provides for families. The wages paid are lower than US or EU standards, but include the additional benefits and it may come close. In some cases the housing that is provided is the equal to 50 thou a year when it comes to what a similar villa would rent for. Shouldn't personnel that are based in SF or LA be paid more than those in ATL doing the same job. The government even pays more at higher cost of living locations.
Funny thing is, the US pilots here are the ONLY pilots taxed on their salaries. Every other country does not tax expatriates (some countries do if one owns property). Talk about taxation without representation, the Brits love the irony.