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

Thank you Sam - will have a look at those.

Apparently if the offer is made they are looking for a start date in Dubai in a months time so I may have a lot to do in a short time! Will be doing research tonight and all weekend probably.

Isthiscorrect - when I was asking about things to do, I guess I meant proximity of activities for the kids after school and weekends. The girls like: trampolining, gymnsastics club, cheerleading, dancing etc. My son is more football, rugby type things. All of them like swimming, although I guess thats readily available!
I haven't looked into Jumeirah and Um Sequiem yet, but will be doing that also this weekend. Sounds like there are lots of really lovely areas to live, too much choice!

Kelly1814 - oh I hate that when you type a big message and then lose it!
Thank you for the link, will have a read later.....

So nice to hear you love Dubai, hopefully we will too! (am sure we will). Trying not to be too excited, can't tell anyone in real life yet as we don't want to say until its definite so I just have to be excitable on here for now!

Thank you all again for the advice.

That sound like good news for your DH and OMG for you ;-) in an ideal world JPS and JC would be wonderful, however for sure the wait list is closed for all years at JC, not sure about JPS. Both schools have been outstanding for a number of years (yearly reports). EC - English College, has no primary school, it will close in June, financial issues apparently. Basically you will need to register with the schools that will let you, and not all of them will, pay the extortionate non refundable fee and get on the waiting list. Hold your nerve and wait until the start of term in September. Easier said than done I appreciate.
Nothing we can tell you will prepare you for the heat, it is 10 am here and the temp is 41! And humid. When packing in your shipment do include slippers and a jumper and a sweatshirt for the kids. Ac is cold and in the winter the temp drops to 16. Also pack uggs, cold feet in the winter.
There is a new trampoline place opened in al quoz, that's an upcoming gallery, crafts area (although people who don't live here and have never been here don't believe we have these places). Sigh. A friends daughter is considered to be an excellent (county standard or higher) gymnast I will find out where she goes. Cheerleading, no idea sorry. Football all schools do this and there are various clubs around town, you can sort that later. Again the same with rugby, there are a number of clubs and you pick the one you want nearest. Arabian Knights, Exiles and Hurricanes to name but three. Surprisingly there are no real pools, although there is an amazing pool complex ( no slides or stuff but diving pool etc) but it is out of town and you would have to swim with the kids and you need a doctors note, so you need to live somewhere on a compound or somewhere like the ranches, meadows, lakes where the gated communities have pools. Most schools have swim clubs that run after school, run by companies not the schools.
Just to dh I was typing this and his jaw dropped and said don't bring the family, that's wrong IMHO but it will be very hard at this time of year, the heat and Ramadan for one month starting 28th June. Could you come at the end of school so the kids get to say goodbye? Dh needs to install Skype before he leaves the UK so he can show you villas etc. so much more to say but maybe when you know for sure.

Isthiscorrect - loads of info,all really useful thanks!

Our kids finish school here (Scotland) at end of June, but are going away for 3 wks with family so they wouldn't be coming until almost end of July, which I guess would be slightly better as Ramandan will be almost over by then. I am worried about the heat - DP and I were (being silly) sticking our heads in the (switched on) oven while cooking dinner last night trying to 'acclimatise' lol. We had had some wine at that point! But I do know it will be ridiculously hot. DP used to live in Australia so he is more used to the heat, but I am British so will undoubtedly struggle for a while as will the kids.

I looked at the JPS and JC websites last night and have the email contacts now so will send messages later, but am guessing the lists are pretty closed. Will email them anyway! They look to be much cheaper than my other options (which have places at present- Repton and Gems at Silicon Oasis) and obviously good results. Think I already emailed Kings, but no reply which I took to mean there was no point asking!

Thanks for the info on schools and on activities. I also should of said one of them is mad about horse riding, so would definitely want her to find somewhere for that (and me too, I love riding!) Looks like Gems schools etc use a company called ESports, just had a look at their website and they do loads of stuff for kids which looks really great!

We already have Skype (useful for the job interviews lol) on the laptops and phones, I take it that Skype is allowed to be used as long as it is pre-loaded onto devices? Are you not allowed to load it if you buy a laptop or iphone when in Dubai? So many different rules to learn about things, I keep throwing info at DP and he goes 'no! really!?' with a face.

But mostly right now he has a face.

And did you say you need a doctors note to go swimming?!

Haha to head in the oven, yep that just about sums it apart from the fact you need more humidity, think hairdryer and wet hair!
Note from doctor to swim is only at the Shk Hamden complex not at normal school or gated community pools. Sorry for the confusion.
Try Kings again, they are the ONLY school to have had Outstanding in every KHDA inspection. They are opening 2 new schools in September, different sites admittedly but schools love families of children so stress the need for all 3 of them together, great income for the school. Also if any of your children has any special talent, music, theatre, sport then stress that also. Schooling here is very competitive regarding extras. For example our school has had 3 Olympic swimmers (not for the UK but nevertheless Dubai is a small pond).
Horse riding is fine. Shk Mo is a world champion endurance rider, as is a girl in our 6th form (told you it was a small pond). Another friend plays polo so there are plenty of places for horse riding. Just accept you will drive to everything. From Jumeirah for example you might drive for 30 mins to get to horse riding, to rugby 30 mins. There are places that take less time but it depends where you live and where you choose to ride/ play rugby etc. Its really just to give you an example. E sports are ok there are plenty of other groups, like Dick Francis, loads of European football clubs have training schools here. Nothing will happen in the summer as its all closed. There are plenty of indoor play areas, cinema, the childrens museum, local libaries. Quite honestly part of the problem for people here is they dont take advantage outside their enclave.
Top all time tip, given to me by a poster on here before we moved out here, air con, your life will never be silent again, the whirring in the background.
Skype to skype and other voip services are technically illegal however everyone uses them, dont let it worry you. Basically it a cost issues for the government, skype to skype means they dont get any money.

Hi Thatiscorrect!
Thanks will contact Kings again over the wkend, kids are sporty and doing well at school here so will mention that.
Thanks for clarification on swimming and Skype - that was a bit of a concern.
In terms of activities it sounds like there are loads of opportunities for everyone in the family which is brilliant.
It sounds like a far better lifestyle and much more opportunity available than where we are here so am even more excited now!
Now all I have to do is find all our paperwork, organise absolutely everything haha - easy! (Not).
Thanks again for the info. Really very much appreciated.

Desertrunner - trying phoning Kings and JPS and JC as soon as you know you are going, as yes, they have long waiting lists but so many leave in the summer and don't tell the schools so it is sometimes possible to slot in for the new school year. I ended up phoning JPS in the May before and spoke to the Registrar and got a place. You will have to pay to put them down on the waiting lists which is non-refundable…very annoying. They quite happily take your fee, even JESS in the Ranches does this knowing that your DC will never get in!

The summer is pretty unbearable - like a hot, hot hair dryer blowing but you go from air-conditioning to air-conditioning so you get used to it. Agree with Isthiscorrect, it does get cold in the winter and you need slippers (strange), dressing gowns for the DC, cardigans and hoodies etc. One morning going to school it was 14 degrees and we had to put the heated seats on in the car.

Hope you get good news. You will love it, your DC will love it. I met the best friends ever out there, still friends now. Also my DC loved it and still miss it. Ignore the people who try and tell you otherwise.

Oooh am so excited for you!

Re: the heat, yes it is hot (just back from a justin timberlakr concert last night, was so very sweaty!) but the way I look at it, it is 4 months of pain for 8 months of joy.

Think of it like the hideous British winter, no one ever says 'how do you cope with it' as funnily enough everyone has central heating and just stays inside a bit more.

Likewise we have AC and spend a bit more time indoors int he height of summer. You live with it.

And then suddenly in October it's like a light switch goes off one night and you wake up to perfect temperatures

Hi Sam
thanks, will try phoning around once we know for definite when we are going. The company have told DP that they will help as much as possible to get us settled in and organised so that he can concentrate fully on his work, so hopefully they might have a relocation/schooling type person who can help us.

haha at needing the heated seats on in the car when it dropped to 14 degrees! 14 degrees is quite warm for us (god, we are going to get a shock with the heat, gulp!) Good excuse to purchase a new pair of Ugg boots for me and DD though lol

Thanks also for the good wishes, Sam and Kelly1814. We really want to go, and are hopeful for good news in the next week or so......will update when we know We also have a Uk job offer to consider, so either way we will be moving, however Dubai is definitely definitely the favourite! Have spent most of the weekend so far doing research into Dubai, and none at all into the UK job location lol.

Kelly - October sounds good, I know August and September might be a bit nightmarish for us to get used to it but hopefully by October when the temperature drops a bit we will be getting acclimatised. So nice hearing from people who like Dubai, gives me confidence that it is the right move for us and the family

Hi - just a little update on our potential Dubai move. DP (to be DH in 2 weeks time) is flying to Dubai on Monday next week for final interviews! It's all feeling like it might be real now, so hand-holding may be required!!!!!

Soooooo excited (and nervous for him).

[capers about excitedly]

must calm down haha

Amazing, so exciting! It is filthy hot now (44-46) but I still smiled when I left the office today and felt warm air and sunshine on my face!

Kelly - is so exciting. Trying not to caper about too much! Having some wine.....x

Keep us updated! And PM if you need anything....

Thank you Kelly! I will x

Fingers crossed for you!

Thank you Sam! X

How very exciting. Does he know where the office will be? He could always get a taxi ride around the area to get some photos fir you. He could have a quick perk in a supermarket to reassure it is possible to get home favourites, albeit at a heck of a price. Temperature has dropped from nearly 50 to high 20's overnight and 45 midday. Fingers crossed all goes well.

Hi Isthiscorrect
Office in Media City - somewhere. Don't know exactly.
Nearly 50 degrees? Oh my bloody god. It's freezing where we live. Total body shock in store I suspect!
He is there 2 nights so am expecting some photos when he gets back. No idea what his schedule is yet so don't know if he will get a tour or anything or just be interrogated relentlessly ( hope not ).
Will update more when I know anything useful!

And thank you for the good wishes. Much appreciated. X

Oh and Isthiscorrect, I have applied for the kids at the new Kings Al Barsha and right now they have spaces. Watched the promotional video online and looks fab. Also spaces at 3 of the others I have approached in my kids years so looks like all being well we may be able to choose a school instead of just taking the one with available places. Thanks for the tip about Kings x