Gulf expats , what do you do in the summer if you can't go "home"?

[habibihabibi]

If you both work, don't own a property in your home country, or have willing family to take on the kids how do you pass the summer ?
In the past we tried a mixture camps, very pricey uk rental properties, and separate trips dividing the kids time between DH and myself.
It just seems everyone takes off with the kids as soon as school closes or before and arrives back in Sept.

How old are the kids Habibi?

I've got some thoughts. Will crystalise them on the school run, and get back to you.

They are primary aged balloon' s. I am just curious to see what others do and to console myself that I'm not the only one that doesn't get 8 weeks in a cooler climate.

Not the only one habibi - I’ve never taken 8 weeks at the summer and I’ve a 2 year old and been here 5 years. First few years I was working, then I couldn’t fly as I was pregnant and now I’m about to have another baby so same scenario again.

Usually I hid from the sun all summer - it’s pretty miserable tbh and walking around the malls gets boring after 30 minutes. This year I’m going to put my 2y.o. into her nursery summer camp for a few days to break up the boredom

Not the only one staying, Habibi.
I'm in the UK for 3 weeks - and I don't work.

For those who do both work - you've pretty much mentioned the options most people use - holiday clubs, splitting holiday (both with DH and others who are working - you take their kids for a week, they have yours for a week), packing them off to Grandma. The only other one I've heard is getting a TA from the kids school who is staying to come over for some days, or to "borrow" a nanny from someone who has disappeared for the summer.

Put out feelers. I'm sure there will be people about. Just avoid the saps who can't possibly take their primary aged kids on a plane without DH to help, because it's just impossible to control 2 children at a time. They will use and abuse you over the summer.... bitter experience.

My two are 6 & 4, and have never left the country in the summer except for week long holidays to Oman. We put them in summer camps if we can, take advantage of the cheap summer rates at the theme parks/water parks and hotels (weekend stay-cations are a godsend), and let them go to the park in the mornings and evenings.
Otherwise they entertain themselves.

Perhaps it's my experience growing up in Canada, but sometimes the weather means you're stuck inside and you have to find ways to entertain yourself, that's life.

cheap summer rates at the theme parks/water parks and hotels (weekend stay-cations are a godsend)

Granted, if you're in the Kingdom, this isn't an option...but hey, you can drive now right? (or at the end of the month).

We do summer camps and I'm managing to extend our summer holiday to be there weeks, right in the middle.

It's hard though. Where I am there are large numbers of teachers and academics so the place is empty in summer. Most of the academics have already left (bitter).

After Eid to drive in Kingdom, Hulk. Tho I don't know anyone who has actually succeeded in getting a licence yet!
But I dont think Habibi is here. Sad I recognise quite a few ME expat names, and most definitely take note of those in KSA!

I think the issue I have is my kids are perfectly happy to amuse themselves, it's just their version of that is 7 hours on their iPads!

it's just their version of that is 7 hours on their iPads!

Same. Which leaves to inevitable arguments about screen time. I do hate the summer.

Tho I don't know anyone who has actually succeeded in getting a licence yet!

I do know a couple of Saudi ladies with international licenses, will those be allowed?

Gulf licences are ok.
But uk/us and some others need converting - and this is proving problematic - especially if you are under your husbands sponsorship rather than here on your own work permit.
Others need to take lessons and a test.
I've also seen rumours that ladies will be able to drive with an international driving permit for up to 12 months, but not seen this officially - but then my Arabic isn't good enough for this!

I've only been here a couple of months and I'm already wondering this! I am taking the kids home for half the holidays but that still leaves me with 4 weeks to entertain a 3.5 year old and 18 month old who both need a lot of attention. I'm also not convinced that staying with grandparents is going to be much easier! The kids are already hating the fact that they can't go outside as soon as school/nursery finishes as it's too hot. The majority of people that I've managed to meet are leaving soon even before the end of term so there's not even the play date option really. I probably need to try and make some friends with people who don't live on my compound maybe but then I can't drive at the moment as still need to sort my licence.

I imagine it'll end up with them watching a lot of tv along with the pool in the morning/late afternoon or is it even too hot for that...? Next summer I'll definitely be using summer camps for the youngest at least

along with the pool in the morning/late afternoon or is it even too hot for that

Depends on you. My two will happily while away the hottest hours of the day in the pool. When they were your age, we'd take them early in the morning, they'd nap for 2 or 3 hours during the hottest part, and then back down till 4 or 5. Rash vests are a must (although the layer of dust in the air this time of year makes it nearly impossible to burn).

Which Gulf country are you in and how old are your kids? A lot of my ex-pat colleagues with kids in Saudi tend to work out of the UAE offices in the summer, as there tends to be more kid-friendly activities there. Means a lot of them have rentals in both countries, though the UAE property tends just to be a small base / flat.

I'm in Qatar.
When they were younger they were happy to little
pootle about in the paddling pool and play indoors but now coming up to 7 and 9 they would given the choice be on the iPad all day while I'm at work .
I think the only option is expensive camp interspaced with screen days overseen by a helper.

Bah Qatar. Yeah, the hotels are too expensive even in the summer to do a staycation. Expensive summer camps are really the only option.

@habibihabibi - that's what we did when we were in Qatar but it cost a fortune there and my kids didn't necessarily enjoy them that much. There seem to be a lot more options for summer camps now which hopefully means you can find something they'll enjoy.

One other option is to find others staying here and seeing if the helpers can get together to take them out to things during the day / just have a group of kids hang out together. I've had this suggested to me by friends but I suspect this will just mean the kids end up in a big group on their ipads, probably depends on the families involved! The number of people hanging around in Qatar over the summer increased every year I was there so hopefully there will be more people there than you're expecting.