There is no single best model. Lump sum is cheapest and simplest but shifts risk to the employee; Core-Flex balances control and cost; fully managed costs the most but carries the lowest risk of a failed assignment. Most UAE and GCC employers tier them by level: lump sum for junior and single hires, Core-Flex for mid-level professionals, and fully managed for senior leaders and families. In ISS Relocations planning ranges (September 2026), a lump sum runs roughly 17 to 44 percent below a fully managed move for the same profile.

Every relocation policy answers the same question: who carries the risk when a move goes wrong? Under a lump sum, the employee does. Under a fully managed policy, the company and its provider do. Core-Flex splits it. Choosing between them is less about price than about which risks your business can afford.