Helping children transition - moving to Dubai

[Bossbabies]

My husband has been offered a job in Dubai; we're currently scheduling a look-see, and busy researching schools and communities. At the moment we're expecting to move in time for the beginning of the new academic year. Whilst this is not our first international relocation, it is the first one with school-age children. We have two boys (4 and 7), and our main concern is really to try a make this move as easy on them as possible.

I would love to hear about any specific approaches/strategies that have worked well for you and your children when undertaking such a move.

For those of you with specific Dubai experience, I would also be really interested in hearing any experiences of buying property instead of renting (good or bad).

And of course any general tips and recommendations would also be massively appreciated.

1. Don’t wash teddies or special blankets before travel. The smells give a sense of security.
2. Get the children into school as soon as possible for routine. Ask the school in advance if they have any dress up days (so much easier to buy from the UK - book day, International day etc.)
3. Expect culture shock for 3 months. Don’t decide anything final for 3 months but try more to go with the flow.
4. Find favourite foods in local supermarkets and make the living space familiar. Buy dry goods in the UK & fill a suitcase until you know where to buy stuff.
5. If living out of suitcases ‘til shipment arrives, or waiting in serviced apartments ‘til accommodation’s ready; make everything in the suitcase count: favourite toy, special framed photo of grandparents (or friends), prepurchase birthday cards in the UK if needed, stock up on everyday children’s medicines, toiletries, suncream, sunhat, sunglasses, favourite and familiar books etc.
6. Have Skype set up, with credit, to contact family & friends back ‘home.’
7. Expect your children’s behaviour to dip, especially during the first 3 months (culture shock,) especially at home as it maybe the only place the children feel secure enough to let loose.
8. Read TCK (third culture kid) or Raising Global Nomads for wider perspectives.

Hi Boss sorry just seen your post. I am presently in Dubai although shipping out soon. We moved our children here when they were 5 and 9
Lots of good advise from Bobby although note that Skype is banned at the moment and VPN’s are quickly being banned as well . There are work arounds I suggest joining some of the Facebook pages (britmums in Dubai,brits in Dubai etc) for info/advise regarding this.
Lots of good schools and choice now unlike 10 years ago when we arrived so perfect time to be looking for schools. I suggest you establish where you need to live based on your husbands commute and look for the best nearest school using Khda schools report as a guide. School runs are a pain especially with 2 children and after/before school activities so you don’t want to be travelling too far. Don’t arrive too early before school starts it will be 40 degrees plus , most expats leave in the summer and not a lot to do here.
I wouldn’t recommend buying a house until you have been here a decent time ( if at all) Dubai housing is a very volatile market. When you arrive you will see they are building everywhere and soon I predict the housing market will be flooded. A close friend lost 20% of her house value in the last 18 months. Also build quality varies it is definately something which needs to be researched thoroughly. Also rents are lowest they have been for a long while so enjoy the cheap(ish) rents relatively speaking while you can.

Can't think of anything worse tbh. Good luck! Do you WANT to go? Do you think it would be good for your children? I'd think carefully about this one.

You're going to be lonelier than you have ever imagined. Let alone your children.

Dan Dubai is one of the easiest places to move to . Masses of expats in fact 85% expat. Loads of English speaking schools and lots going on . With opportunities to meet people. Education while I would not rank it anywhere near the top public schools in the UK is generally very good and the children will probably find it easier to integrate here than moving school in the UK as you don’t have the cliches from children knowing each other since birth as most children are relatively new . My children loved their time here

Four and Seven are easy ages for this type of move (mine are the same age and we moved from Abu Dhabi to Dubai last year, not a massive move I admit, but new schools and apartment and friends).

I agree with the others, find an area that's an easy commute to your DH's work and to the school, pick a place in a nice compound or apartment complex with pools and a playground. They will make friends quicky and easily.

There are lots of great schools in Dubai, and the KHDA guide is good (but don't feel like you have to go with Outstanding, often the Very Good and Good schools are rated that because they lack an Islamic program or because their fees don't put then in the Outstanding bracket, my DC's are at a "Good" school and they love it, I love it, it is seriously an AMAZING school).

DON'T BUY!!!! Don't do it! Build quality here is horrendous, the property market is volatile and you will only be able to get a 99 year lease, not truly buy it.

Good luck with your move. Dubai is a great city, even in the summer.

You're going to be lonelier than you have ever imagined. Let alone your children.

I certainly don't feel lonely, neither do my children. Quite the opposite really. We often have too much to do, and not enough time.

The school my children go to offers them programs and chances that they never would home (where music programs are cut, libraries are empty, and phys-ed is the bare minimum).

My best friend moved last year with her daughter.
Agree about the culture shock. She has a 2 year contract. It took them a goid 6 mths to settle in.

DP, I and our kids have moved around a lot (never Dubai) - TBH I've never had a problem with culture shock (although visiting home and having everything in English has started to feel a bit weird).

My kids (4 and 7, they've never spent more than 2 years in a country) love it all - they get to go to a school with 12 in a class (and still a teacher and assistant), mix with people from all over the world, when we're in a hot country, they have a pool, when we're in a cold they've loved the snow etc. it's a life I dreamed about when I was a kid.

I think it depends on the kids - my youngest doesn't have a blankie or teddy, but likes to have something soft of mine when he's travelling/feeling like he needs comfort - a scarf or a cardigan. My oldest is eager to move to the next place these days. Both of them, we have toys, but we've mainly gone digital - DS1 reads his books on a kindle, they both have ipads (on the flight to Dubai that'll be a life-saver) - they both have little travel kits - booster seat stuffed with ipad/headphones/battery pack/sweeties/wet wipes/change of clothes (and nappies back when needed) for flights, and when we move somewhere new, we're easy going about sleeping arrangements for a bit, so there's a lot of bed sharing until people are comfortable in the new apartment.

I agree with getting into school/routine as quickly as possible - each time we've had our kids in school within a fortnight, it gives them some structure, and it means you're not dragging them around everywhere looking at apartments/getting stuff sorted.

I don't feel at all lonely - but then I've never been a particularly social person - I talk to plenty of people, make the odd friend when in a country, but don't hold on to stuff, I don't need to have someone to hang out with - only you know how you feel about that.

Thanks so much for all your answers and advice. So much great information. As we suspected, it sounds like getting them enrolled in school is top priority, and will really help them settle into a routine.

We have been looking at some of the expat communities like Arabian Ranches, Sust City, however, my husband's job is based near to DIFC. Do any of you know how long is the commute likely to take during peak hours?

You have confirmed our thoughts re buying - we were briefly tempted, as the monthly repayments would be significantly lower than monthly rentals, but sounds like this comes at a very high risk.

Dan, why would it not be good for the children? Are your reservations specifically linked to Dubai or with moving abroad generally?

TheHulksPurplePanties, how are you finding Dubai? We're looking at the Ranches Primary School. Have you heard of this school?

Is the Sust City actually opened? I thought it was still just some signs along the highway?

Ranches is very nice, and there are loads of equally nice compounds in that area (we live in one about 5 minutes from Ranches). You're looking at about a 30 minute commute, but the area and the schools in the area, are worth it. Arabian Ranches Primary is a good example of Outstanding vs. Good. It's rated Good, but has an excellent reputation. Also look at Greenfield Community School, King's Barsha, and Al Safa Barsha.

I love Dubai. Like you, this isn't my first international city, and I would take this over Seoul any day!

I don't know when Dubai schools are finishing for the summer, but our ME school finishes next week. You may struggle to get a place secured for the new accademic year if Dubai is operating a similar timetable.
That said, kids leave and join international schools all the time, don't worry too much about being here for tgecstart of school (and celebrate if your relocation is delayed til September or even October, because August heat is awful!).
I'd agree with the others saying minimise school commute, and don't go for an excessive work commute.

For us, we talked of the positives the kids would see - so mainly me not working meaning no breakfast/after school childcare, and me around for the holidays. We talked about it being a hot place, but that meant lots of swimming pool time. We also acknowledged that we would be missing friends, but that we would make new ones, and come back to visit old friends and family.

And have a read of The Expat Partners Survival Guide. I believe it was written by a mumsnetter, and is full of useful stuff - including finding friends and settling kids, iirc.

Hulks Is Sust City actually opened? haha, just assumed it was open

Ant other communities/compounds you would recommend in the area? We did think the commute would be around 30 mins, but I guess that's the compromise.

Will definitely check out the schools you mentioned, thanks!

Yes, not our first international city and have been to Dubai several times before, but never with a view to live there. So our reccy trip will hopefully provide some good insights.

Balloonflowers thanks for the advice and link to the guide. Really useful.

Also good point about not necessarily being there from the start of the academic year.

I don't know when Dubai schools are finishing for the summer, but our ME school finishes next week. You may struggle to get a place secured for the new accademic year if Dubai is operating a similar timetable.

July 2nd is the last day of school for my 2. Shouldn't be a worry to get places. I don't think any of the schools are full, a lot of people have left recently with the introduction of VAT and other things.

Ant other communities/compounds you would recommend in the area?

Mudon, Layan, Damac (although you'll have to look at the Trump International Golf Course) & Green Community in DIP.

Sustainable city is open I have friends who live there and love it (free range chickens,allotments, bee hives), and cheap bills. Although they are still developing it . I live in Arabian Ranches which is very family orientated. Lots of schools around this area Jess Arabian ranches, Jebel Ali school (motor city), Ranches, Primary school, Nord Anglia school, Safa Community School, Foremarke school, Brighton College is opening September. All within 15 minute drive of the Ranches

I moved here last August with DH and DC 6 and 4. We love it here (I'm writing this from my pool lounger watching the kids burn off some energy after school). Yes it's hot, yes there will always be people who say they'd rather eat their own hair than live here and yes, things can be a bit pricey. BUT for my family it was the best move we could have made.

Our children go to a brilliant school (one already mentioned by a PP) and have opportunities and experiences that they would never have had, had we stayed in the UK.

They adjusted really well to the move - we had to make sure it sounded really exciting and make sure that it lived up to that when we got here. For example promises of the beach after school, camel riding and swimming every day made it as easy as we could make it for them.

In terms of housing, I really wouldn't buy and to be honest rents aren't much more expensive than they were where we lived in the UK. Arabian Ranches is lovely and so are the other places near there -Mudon, Mira, Town Square and Sustainable City. SC sounds especially child friendly as cars aren't allowed into the compound, you park at the entrance and golf buggies take you to your house.

I would suggest joining the excellent British Mums in Dubai group. They were so helpful when we were planning our move.

You’ve had some great advice. Dubai is a brilliant place for raising young children. Silicon Oasis (Cedre Villas) gives a good straight line commute into town. We are moving there (from jumeirah) in Sept and our kids will go to Kent College.

Dubai is a great place for young kids and they help you to settle in by creating a circle of people around you. Feel free to pm me.

Sustainable city is open I have friends who live there and love it

You're right, I remember where it is now. I was thinking of the big billboards farther up the highway towards the turn-off to Hatta, but it's actually the place just up from the Arabian Ranches souq right?

And all the other schools mentioned are also great. You really need to visit a few and get a feel for what suits your kids. My DD has SEN issues, so our choice was right for us because of its SEN program, mindfulness room, and daily yoga, as well as it's focus on learning by doing. Other schools are more science focused, more traditional learning focused, more sports focused, etc. There is literally a school for every child here.

Feel free to PM me as well. :)

Thank you so much, I really appreciate all your fantastic advice and info.

We're looking at doing a reccy trip sometime in June (without kids) - avoiding Eid hols. Will two days be adequate to look at neighbourhoods and schools?

Stpancras and TheHulks may well shoot you a pm as more questions arise. Thank you so much for the offer.

I work (write) for a website that reviews schools here so could help on that front. Won’t add the name for fear of being seen as advertising on here!

You'll probably find the kids don't want to move. The best advice I got on here was to just keep talking about it to them, even if it upsets them, as pretty soon it becomes their new normal and the (in the case of my children) sobbing and screaming stops!

hi i have a 13 year old and moving to dubai, can anyone let me know what life for kids is like there? what the schools are like, whats the best type of school to go for? will they have a better life there then in uk with kids of similar age, what activities are available.
also as a mum what kind of things i can do or what jobs may be available for us part time etc? pls any advice is greatly appreciated. many thanks al