Evening everyone,
DH is about to accept a job offer in Dubai, hooray! We have lived in the region previously and know Dubai reasonably well, so this isn’t a ‘should we move’ thread, it’s a ‘how/where/when thread’!
It looks likely that DH will go out just before Easter, with the kids and I joining him after summer in time for the new school year. We should be able to do some school tours if we come visit in May. Does the school half term there coincide with UK one generally?
I have a few questions on getting ourselves set up that it would be fab if anyone can help with? My last post on this board resulted in the creation of a long-standing beautiful friendship in our last country, which I’ve tried to pay forward over the years.
- This is a medium/long term move for us. We are fed up with UK and will probably want to put down some roots in UAE, buying a villa at some point. Kids will finish primary (DCs are 8 and 6) and we hope, do high school there. Until we’ve saved the deposit for a villa, we’d like to live in an apartment. Can I pls ask for recommendations on good communities with 3BR apartment options? Ideally with a pool… We like Arabian Ranches but I’m presuming no apartments there?
- On schools; assuming we’d like to live in the Ranches area, which school options should we consider? JESS, JAS, any others? I really don’t want a super long school commute, though will do so for the first year rather than move schools later. Ideally we want an apartment not too far from this area first?
- Schools application process… in our last ME posting school places were sold as very hard to come by, but in reality pupil turnover was high and places were usually available even in the ‘best’ British curriculum schools. Any ideas on how oversubscribed the schools above are, if at all??
- Cat… we’d like to bring our cat with us, but have no experience of this at all. Would he cope ok with climate transition or is it better to rehome him with a loving family member here in UK?
- Any recommended moving companies please? Slow ship is fine…!
- What are your top tips for planning the move? Kids are excited, so are we, just keen to get organised now!
Thanks so much in advance for any advice.