Okaaay, Ladies .. talk to me about DUBAI, Leaing at Xmas, know about the expatwoman site, but would like recc. from REAL people re; shools, housing etc.

[escape]

Title says it all...
Knew it was on the cards, but as of today its official.
hubby needs to start work on Jan 1st,
Don't want DD (age 6) to miss too much school, so I would like to do as uch groundwork as poss. before I leave Malta (boo hoo)
also, are there any good websites re; housing /estate agencies. We have a healthy budget, but have no idea what thats gonna get me
thanks in advance

anyone ?

please?

bump

purdy please?

with sugar on?

Hi also heading out to Dubai on 2nd Jan with three children, school sorted but nowhere to live as yet! Schools will be the main problem especially with 6 year old as early years classes full to bursting, Suggest you get on to schools right away.Good luck!

ah, a reply!
thanks for that!
we'll find somewhere to live when we get there - schools are a minefield , so many!
do you have/have you had any personal recoimendations
. I like the look of Repton

Where will your dh be working? Best advice is to look at where your dh will be working, then to find an area, reasonably close, with a school you like the look of in. It's been said many times but one of the absolute worst parts of living in Dubai is the traffic. Your quality of life will be sooooo much higher if you can minimize the daily school run. As previous poster said school places are very tight so you should apply as soon as possible, and then work out where you'll live depending on where you can get in and where your dh will be working.

Well, we may have school places but no nearer finding somewhere to live. Resigning myself to having to go on intensive househunt in Jan despite DH having viewed a considerable no of properties in last couple of weeks,trying to keep positive!

thanks Strawberry
DH office is on Jumeirah beacch road

Tarantella - why is your search proving so hard? - lack of deccent places/budget, or just not up to your standards ?

Agree with other posters, def find school places asap. You must hold your nerve as people come and go all the time, so places opne up unexpectedly. Additionally it pays to be very nie to he registrar of the school you want.
Housing is a huge prob, its v exp, you will prob need to pay a years rent in advance and when a 3 bed house can cost 20k dhs per year thats a whole lot of cash. I suggest you start with school, then dh work and then what you must have in a house as opposed to what you want. We had a 5 bed in the country overlooking fields back howm and was adamant that I wouldnt move for less, however the reality is much as I love the house we are in, I dont really need all the space we have. I could have saved some money.

If you have any specific questions please post and we will try to be more specific. Whbere I live is just like stepford wives but that doesnt make it a lesser place just different. It sure helps for getting to know people now Ds is a senior school there are less chances to meet other mums.

Good luck

I am terrified of a stepford wife environment!
Here in Malta, most of friends are not expats, the ones that I do know are real 'professionals' at it - bit sad really
I know what you mean about big houses. Got one at the momment and it really is too big, never thought I'd say that!
DH employers have quite good dispensation apparently when it comes to school queue jumping, so fingers rossedactually - can you reccomend a good rental agency?
got to get out of this house first, before I an think about another one!

I am terrified of a stepford wife environment!
Here in Malta, most of friends are not expats, the ones that I do know are real 'professionals' at it - bit sad really
I know what you mean about big houses. Got one at the momment and it really is too big, never thought I'd say that!
DH employers have quite good dispensation apparently when it comes to school queue jumping, so fingers rossedactually - can you reccomend a good rental agency?
got to get out of this house first, before I an think about another one!

Nothing wrong with being a stepford . As he's working on Jumeriah beach road - maybe you could try around safa/al barsha. Not so stepfordish as meadows/springs where I live. I have heard people say that it is difficult to meet neighbours there but I have only been here a few months myself so am no expert!!! School places round there though, I believe, are at an absolute premium as that's where the longer established schools with good reputations are. But with only one child you may strike lucky!!

Well, we now have keys to villa (in Stepford territory!) so all set. Looked in Al Barsha, space out back of house v limited and no communal facilities Older villas in Jumeira/Um Sequiem etc to be found if you have the time and persistence. My DH viewed an intersting one that was being renovated but nowhere near ready.(next week the agent said!!!)

Hi Tarentella

I hope you are all safely settled in your lovely new house. If you need any help or advice please let me know and I shall do my best.

Have a great New Years eve tonight.

Starmummy

Escape
Are you all settled as well? Have you ended up in Stepford territory? Same applies if you need anything let me know and I shall try and help. Good luck.

Tarentella

Do I know you? Did you come to our Halloween party? If not I apologise, but would still be nice to meet someone else who lies locally to me.

Strawberry - where do you live? We are in Meadows 1

Hi there,
well, we are here as of Jan 2nd. still In Grosvenor House hotel. DD started at Horizon school last sunday. we are going to buy as I am refusing to pay the top up we would have to pay for adecent place! Villas in Jumeirah and surrounds too old and pricey, just moved from an old villa, so I am looking looking for anice finish this time. gotta dah, would love to keep chatting to you guys... looks like its gonna be the Ranches by the way, for value for money... be back soon

oops, must change name - haven't been on since before Xmas, goodness, been living out of asuitcase for 4 weeks now!
what IS this weather BTW?

Chhhhesnuts, you must check the ranches morning run into school and back, not so bad but depending on where DH works, it could be a long day. Thats why its cheap, and you do know one of the roundabouts at AR washed away in the rain last week . Lovely houses though.

Horizon school is meant to be lovely, hope dd enjoys it.

Also rain is on the cards for Monday and Tuesday (again). It isnt always like this, promise :-)