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Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

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Original poster

Anyone in Abu Dhabi?

21 replies

DaysofHoney · 30/01/2023 19:16

Evening all,

DH has been offered a role in Abu Dhabi (we had a Dubai one on the cards too but it has gone cold).

We have visited once before and really enjoyed the calmer pace, but any insights on what it’s like to actually live there with two kids would be much appreciated.

Looks like rental costs are equally high but might be a bigger villa - any names of compounds to check out would be super. Equally, are any of the schools better than others?

many thanks!

OP posts:

veiledsentiments · 30/01/2023 19:22

I lived there for over 44 years. It’s much easier to get around than Dubai. My two children went to BSAK, as did I. We were happy with it. It’s the oldest British Curriculum school there. Lots of compounds around the area. Never lived on one though, so can’t offer any insight on that. I liked Abu. Was a great place to bring up the kids. However, it is expensive, so make sure the company is providing rent and school fees.

Original poster

DaysofHoney · 31/01/2023 10:51

Thanks @veiledsentiments - 44 years! Wow! BSAK looks amazing so I’ve made contact there and hope they’ll have space.

Soent the whole evening last night looking at communities/compounds and was a bit dejected, couldn’t see anything that was in price range that didn’t look really old/dated or on top of the airport! I think we will stay in an apartment for a 6month period or so while we figure out the lay of the land and where best to live.

OP posts:

Original poster

DaysofHoney · 31/01/2023 16:24

Bumping this for the ME evening crowd…!

OP posts:

losingit31 · 31/01/2023 16:31

Yep, me

Yuja · 31/01/2023 16:45

I lived there when my DC were tiny, it was fabulous - slower paced than Dubai but it was lovely anyway. Go!

Original poster

DaysofHoney · 31/01/2023 19:40

The switch in location has thrown me off, I was all set for Dubai which I know quite well, and while I’ve been to AD once, I’m struggling to picture us there. We’ve lived in Doha before, am I right in thinking it might feel a bit more like that?

@losingit31 can I ask if you’ve got DC out there?

@veiledsentiments BSAK looks fantastic!

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losingit31 · 01/02/2023 12:39

I can't compare with Doha, but moved from Dubai to AD last year after 4 years there. I work in the education sector but don't teach any more, so have insight but no DC of school age.

I really like AD - it's calmer, more peaceful, greener, there's a lot more waterfront, the scenery stretches for miles...there aren't as many expats but that isn't an issue. When I go back to Dubai I remember what I don't miss - the congestion, traffic and overcrowding! Perhaps a way to sum it up is the 'wow' moments in AD are natural (or mostly) but in Dubai they're all manmade.

What areas/schools are you considering?

Original poster

DaysofHoney · 01/02/2023 19:42

Thanks @losingit31 - natural wow suits us perfectly, I genuinely think it will be better for us as a family, I guess I’d just pictured a certain villa in a certain place and I don’t think there’s anything comparable in AD… I know that’s very narrow minded of me and I have given myself a firm talking to today and now feeling much better about it!

Looking at BSAK for school and husband will work near Grand Mosque, so would rent somewhere near both (Al Raha/Al Mushrif?)

OP posts:

veiledsentiments · 01/02/2023 20:27

We lived in 19 villa compound in Mushrif. Called that, but not a compound. Don’t let Al Bateen Airport put you off. It’s not really used. Right next to the Co Op. 10 minutes to BSAK in the morning. Probably less to the Mosque. Not really far from anything. Loved that villa.

veiledsentiments · 01/02/2023 20:32

Sorry, 24 villa Compound. They looked almost Mexican. Had a jacuzzi and a sauna. Never used them. However, lovely villas.

veiledsentiments · 01/02/2023 20:40

This one.

veiledsentiments · 01/02/2023 20:50

But the electricity was ridiculous in summer.

losingit31 · 02/02/2023 07:13

You could try Bloom Gardens - not to everyone's taste, DH hated the house we saw there! Convenient location though. Off island, if you want an apartment you can do the Al Raha - Al Zeinah stretch, but it's not an area for villas. You'd need to go further south to Yas, if you want a more expat community. if that doesn't bother you, there are thousands of villas around, but fewer communities than in Dubai so it can be harder to find villas in a managed community with shops, pools and play areas. If that's the sort of thing you want, off island you could look at Raha Gardens and Al Forsan Village - fairly mixed communities with lots of space in the properties and good facilities.

Fiddlesticksand · 06/02/2023 05:42

We've been here 8 years.

West Yas and Yas Acres for villas. Al Yasat compound is right by BSAK. If you'd like Saadiyat, consider a larger apartment at Pearl Residences.

Cranleigh, Brighton, BSAK all great schools. Mine were and are at Cranleigh.

Join The Club.

Happy for you to PM me.

Original poster

DaysofHoney · 06/02/2023 22:24

Thanks @Fiddlesticksand

Saadiyat will be a stretch commute wise for DH (and budget wise too I expect).

Im liking the look of the apartments (and many coffee shops) at Marasy/Al Bateen - do you know much about them?

Brighton and BSAK def on the list - think Cranleigh and Saadiyat will be too far - but the Club looks amazing!

OP posts:

losingit31 · 07/02/2023 04:59

Brighton v handy for DC and DH if he's near the mosque. If you're off island, DH will pay 4aed for each bridge crossing between 7-9am and 5-7pm weekdays and Saturdays, so that can bump up the commuting cost. How would DC get to/from school - bus or DH dropping off?

You can get pretty much anywhere in AD in 30 mins, in my experience. I'm in Khalifa City.

Fiddlesticksand · 07/02/2023 05:32

@DaysofHoney, i know someone who lived there and had kids at BSAK. He really liked it but moved out to a villa recently. The Marasay/Bateen area is nice, The Edition hotel is great. It does get choked up with traffic though as streets are narrow near the marina. Have you looked at Al Zeina?

Rhpink · 16/04/2023 08:24

Hi we are now in this exact position - how did you get on did you go? I would love some advice

Rhpink · 16/04/2023 08:37

Hi everyone OH has been offered a post in Abu Dhabi which we allowed ourselves to get excited about because we have always wanted to live and work in another country. He was told after the interview that his salary negotiations would be with HR. Following the interview and numerous back and forth with documents he received his job offer which was far less than what the post was advertised at. We have been back and forth a few times now which is really slow- sometimes days/week for a response and finally they asked what he wants. When he said the advertised amount they said that it’s outside of their pay scales- not sure what to do now as we want to go but i would be giving up a good job to go and with that salary i would need to get one. This HR person is not very helpful I wondered if anyone else’s has had a similar experience and what we should do?
Thanks

Fiddlesticksand · 16/04/2023 11:38

Hi @Rhpink, it very much depends on the employer and job tbh. Happy to respond via pm if you like. I'm an HR Manager here.

losingit31 · 18/04/2023 12:50

Yep, that sounds about right! Don't take the job, it will only get worse.

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