Possible move to Dubai, possibly quite soon. Anyone out there with good advice on areas for families, schools, life in general?

[Desertrunner]

DP (about to be DH) is in final stages of interview for a senior role in Dubai. Assuming he gets it, I believe I will be a quick turnaround so potentially we would be over there in July. Therefore I have been researching schools, areas etc and so far potentially can get the kids into Repton, with a view to living at Arabian Ranches or Villa Project. Anyone done this, and can give some advice? I know schooling can be a huge issue (with 3 kids this is my primary concern). Have been on expat woman etc and opinions seem to vary wildly so am looking for UK based ladies views if anyone can comment? Thanks

He thought the springs looked nice with lots of amenities? His other preference was the ranches which he really liked. Just need the offer now!
Ladies of mumsnet, please cross your fingers for us x

Isthiscorrect - I wouldn't say Springs houses are very small at all!! Ours is plenty big enough for us with 2 DCs....... There are the Meadows communities too in amongst the Springs which may be a better size for your family Desertrunner and have the same amenities x

Agree with JoandMax - the Springs, including Meadows etc is not much different to Arabian Ranches, but perhaps just older. The houses are definitely not "very small houses". The amenities are the same with parks, pools, tennis courts, shops etc.

Fingers crossed. If they did him a bit of a look see, he must have got the job!

We won't know til next week now I don't think. Will update when we finally know something. X

we are also moving to Dubai by September. I have to find a school for my 5year old son who will start year 1 and a nursery for my 2 year old twins. I would ideally like school to be near our home. My husband will work at Jumeirah Lake Towers so our home also needs to be near there. Specifically he'll be working at Almas Towers.
I'm looking into Kings Dubai but would really appreciate any advise about other schools and also nurseries.
Can anyone also let me know where is Repton? Is this the full name of a school and what about Jess, where is that? full name? Also there are other abbreviated names of schools i can't figure out JC, DC, DESC...
thanks!

also i'm new to mumsnet and what is DC , DP, DH is it darling children, darling partner and darling husband?? totally not upto date ...

ok i've found out some information...Jumeirah College (JC) and Dubai College (DC) are out because my son is only 5 years old. I'd welcome any suggestions of good school in Jumeirah Lake Towers area. we don't know yet where to live!

Pomegranate I'm in Dubai but don't know that end of town so well....I believe star international/ horizon is not far from JLT.

What type of home do you want? You can live IN JLT but they're mainly apartments. Villas nearby are the springs....

hello thanks for the reply. I'm looking for a 4bedroom villa. the only sure thing is that my husband will work at Almas Towers. Apart from that school is next most important thing for us. we will live near school and work hopefully. I'd like a place with a community feeling that we can get into and meet people by a communal pool hopefully....i really don't want to get isolated there with just the kids. Here in UK we go to a small local school and everyone knows each other.

Horizon is full - will look into Star International...

Springs and Meadows is right next to JLT, a lovely villa community so that would be a good place to start looking. There are communal pools and parks plus lakes to walk/cycle around.

Regarding schools Regent International is close, as is Wellington International. There are also a few schools on Al Khail Rd. Within Meadows/Springs there is also DBS (Dubai British School) and a couple of new ones opening nearby (Nord Anglia and Kings Al Barsha).

Have you had a look on expatwoman.com? There is a full list of schools on there and details on fees, curriculum etc. Getting a school place can be stressful, huge waiting lists but you will find somewhere! I have 2 boys at JPS (Jumeirah Primary School) which is about a 20 minute drive, initially I hated it as we were used to a 5 minute walk to our local UK school but it quickly became normal and now it never crosses my mind.

There are loads of toddler groups or coffee mornings and I have found everyone to be really friendly and sociable.

Good luck!

Desertrunner NordAnglia are a very well established group of schools. That particular school may not have a proven track record yet but the group have a strong global presence, excellent management support and are well regarded so don't rule it out just yet.

The trouble with the schools with a 'proven academic record' (ie. the longest established schools or the ones with the big recognisable names) is that everyone gravitates towards them making them near impossible to get into.

A new school may have the inevitable teething problems in the first few years but they tend to be administrative. It doesn't mean the education will be substandard.

You are going to need to be prepared to have an open mind and compromise a bit otherwise you are setting yourself up for heaps of stress.

And don't assume that because a school comes with a well known British public school name that it is in ANY WAY going to be the same quality/experience of a its namesake in the UK.

as its. not of its, sorry.

The other thing I would say (from experience) is it's no good saying 'ideally I'd like a school near home.'

It really doesn't work like that. You go where you can get all three children into the least worst place in the end, and it may end up being on the opposite side of the city.

If at all possible, get your school places first, then choose your long term house or you are in for a potentially horrendous school run. Look at proximity to DH's place of work as well, and pick your neighbourhood in a place that works for both.

Even saying that, it can be a nightmare because schools will break up in the next week or ten days and you'll get radio silence until September now. You won't be able to visit, they won't be able to interview your child etc, so realistically you may end up moving out there first and confirming school places much later. Be prepared for them not to be settled in school until October half term.

If you end up having to commit to renting a house before school places are offered, I'd say be prepared to move after the first year, once you a confident that the school is working out. Don't worry too much about finding exactly the right house at the moment, you won't be committed for more than a year and that is easier to change than the school or the school run!

Try not to sign a lease on anything in August or September - stay in a short term serviced apartment for as long as possible. If you want to move house it makes it really hard to look for new one when the changeover period is disrupted by the summer break (you will probably go back to the UK.) It's a pain if you need to move out of your current house in September you are not around to look for another one in July and August!

Be aware that some of the compounds come with a monthly fixed fee on top of rent for utilities rather than you paying direct to the utility companies for whatever you use, and these can be EXORBITANT. Ask the right questions, ask to see evidence, don't take anything at face value and don't trust anything you are told verbally.

Any news OP?

Hi everyone
Update as follows - we are now married woohoo!
Re the job, still don't know as a decision still hasn't been made. Seems to be taking forever, don't know if this is normal in the Middle East? Will update again as and when.

haha yes, completely normal!

Thanks Fell.
Any ideas how long they may deliberate for? It's a senior post so perhaps that makes the process longer???? No idea what to expect as normal. We know how it works in the UK but not in Dubai!

I hear all the time about people being verbally offered jobs before the company even has the go-ahead and the budget agreed by HR, and then people are kept hanging around for months while they debate among themselves about whether they can afford them or have permission to recruit them.

They like to do things a bit arse about face over here I'm afraid. (not that I live in Dubai, but same region, same business mentality...) It took my DH six months to go from being verbally offered the job on the spot after one interview, to agreeing a package and getting a contract, and then they were like 'we need you to start next week.'

Ah ok, that sounds reasonable and potentially applicable in this case. Guess we just have to cross our fingers and be patient!
Thanks

excellent advice there from Hopon

Congratulations on being married!!

And yes things can take their time here..... Processes and laws change constantly (rents and living costs are increasing loads too so lots of benchmarking needed for offers) plus a more general laid-back way! DH frequently does projects, hears nothing from clients for months then all of a sudden gets one days notice to go and present to the board etc

Fingers crossed you hear soon though x

Thanks Joandmax. Wedding was lovely!