Abu Dhabi or Dubai? Your opinions please...

[TintinetMilou]

Hello ladies,

my Dh has the option of choosing the next city we'll live in. AD or Dubai. I haven't seen either but have travelled and moved loads, so will embrace the challenge.

We have a 1mth old baby and I was originally looking at returning back to work when she's 1yr. Both Dh and I work(ed) in banking.

We are not party animals and I want DH to have a more slow paced life and enjoy it rather than live in the fast lane and be under pressure at work and in social circles. I'd like to make new friends for us and esp. my baby.

What are your experiences? What is good? What is bad? What should I be aware of before I move? What do I need to look out for?

(I know the muslim culture well, it's in my family so I'm not fazed.)

you could be me 5 years ago

we are in singapore (thank God) now.

No first hand experience of either. From what I hear: If you have the finances to live in a nice house in an expat compound in Dubai then you'll have the best of both worlds.( I guess you do and lifestyle is a major in your decision).

Abu Dhabi is more tame but still only a stone's throw away to be able to do weekends for fun.

Dubai is flash brash very much in your face. I can not come to terms with women wearing full veil and escort girl grade makeup and attitude.

Being a western educated professional muslim myself I have to say I always feel uneasy because my arabic is poor and I do not practice the rites nor believe the superstition.
But I understand it enough not to make any social faux pas.

Voila!

Sorry cannot help more with practical stuff

Good luck

it's me slim, i've got a new alter ego...

how r the LO's? I'm much better now and we should see each other again x

I am in Dubai. I don't have time to write a long reply, but I have to advise you that the first thing you must be looking at is your hubby's package. you don't need school fees - the market is slow and people ARE being laid off, but depending on your speciality - you should find a job.
A villa in Dubai will set you back a MINIMUM of 55GBP a YEAR paid UPFRONT.
no typo's there.
Abu Dhabi has a huge shortage of accomodation. You will pay a fortune for nothing there as it is so scarece. at least more 'choice'; in Dubai.

Thank you escape, I'll keep that in mind. How's medical care in Dubai? Very expensive? It should be very good, no?

Is it easy to get a child into school or is it a ratrace like in London (you basically dash to get them in on the same day they're born).

How expensive is eating out (2 meals, 1 bottle of fine red) in Dubai? Zuma or other restaurants?

How do you get along with the locals? What areas are nice for expats?

Lurking as am moving out there in next few weeks

what? when?

Feel awful have not yet seen you.
just saw your post this am about DD. How is she?? How are you?

Call you later

Not too soon. Sometime next year. Just gathering intel

Hi BroccoliSpears: saw your post further down. Which city are you moving to?

schools are a nightmare places wise. with such a young one though, you would probably get aplace at F1 level at your 1st choices as you have 3 years to wait and you put your name down now (only half joking emoticon)

I haven't been to Zuma but have eaten at most of the other 'big' restauramts average price per couple with wine is about 1250 AED = 200 quid.

Many, many other cheaper places to eat, although wine is always expensive in licensed places.

Many thanks escape, I appreciate your insight.

Hi

AD is much slower but escape is right accomodation is very very scarce. I know women and families who are living in serviced apartments which dont have an oven!

Its easier to get accomodation in Dubai but both places are very exp. The credit crunch has hit but being all fur coat and no knickers (Dubai) nobody has admitted it. One of the big real estate agents hasnt sold a house for 4 weeks!

Genrally nursery fees arent included in relo packages so make sure you check the cost of nurseries. www.expatwoman.com should help you re both AD and Dubai. Incidentally they have a review to Zuma in their previously reviewed foodie section.

If you have specific questions ask away.

PMSL @ fur coat and knickers

Thank you starmummy, I appreciate your input. It seems like we're going to end up in Dubai for reasons of work politics.

I've bought a residents' guide for both cities and will check out the link. I hope you don't mind if I CAT you in 1 or 2 weeks' time as I'll be a bit more clued up about things. Many thanks!!!

hi can i lurk too? just found out we are moving to dubai in 6 weeks!!! tried to find a forum for dubai but failed, or maybe i didnt look hard enough
No children after recent mmc but will try again once settled out there, anyone want to be my moving buddy????

Hi barbie - have you looked on expatwoman.com ?

Article here on moving there property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/overseas/article5155142.ece

sounds ridiculous doesn't it - but it really is the truth.
at least the supply is here in Dubai - prices the same though.

i'm moving over to dubai in a few months too.

heres what i can tell, since we're always in dubai and abu dhabi.

i nearly shot myself stupid in ad this past week, it was sooo boring. this time in dubai though, i pretended to live there, so i stayed in a practice flat did groceries for the first time (in my life actually) and went through the motions like my beauty appointments, took my son to the doctors, hired help for a week to see what it was like... i did a weeks stint in each city, one week in dubai and one week in ad.

the week in dubai was much easier, and i had a lot more time left over. in the evenings (i stayed over on the palm which has a fab expact community) i ran into loads of women my age who just wanted to make friends and have coffee. so i think i'm going to go for dubai. the week in abu dhabi was more stressful, cab drivers and others in general spoke a lesser degree of english, .. i did get a chance to see this art exhibition at the emirates palace but it was really sparse and not great. also, i couldn't find a serviced apartment for a week in abu dhabi. so i had to pretend living in abu dhabi while i was staying at the emirates palace.

escape yes i have it saved to favourites, along with mn of course! moving over on the 10th jan 09, staying in a service apartment for first few weeks and the we have to find own accomadation paid for by dh work xx

well, if you need any insider info, or just want to meet for a coffee when you get here, just give me shout.
You do know how high rents are here though don't you.............. keep in touch

thanks escape yes the rents are mega high however dh company is paying a fair bit towards it need somewhere close to the marina for dh work, im looking on a few web pages now...we have a dog who will be coming but sadly no children having just had a mc. However we do plan to try again once over (just not on the beach! so hopefully we can find a house/ flat big enough for a growing family xxx

can i just ask are you from the uk originally?

dh works in AD and we go out to see him a fair bit - I have to say the little I have seen of Dubai makes it seem like the seventh circle of hell every time we've been there there's been this thick pall of dust and pollution hanging over the city with hideous traffic going in and out

development in AD is much more controlled so there's more green space and it's obviously much less bling

the children have been perfectly happy there but give them sand and sea and they don't care where they are personally I'd rather be eaten by crocodiles than move permanently to either place

The Marina is a great place to live.
With respect, even better for those without children - and even when you have your own little one - still the right age (baby)for it to still be convenient too.

Is your Dh working in Media City by any chance?
I have 3 kids, so a villa felt like my only real option.
You should take alook at any of the Marina rtowers (quality of finsih varies depending on who built it) JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence)or even the Palm.
There are many new residences now acroos Sheik Zayed road a stones throw from Marina called Jumeirah Lake Towers.

I have been out of the UK now for 6 years (coming up to a year in Dubai) but am a Yorkshire lass originally.
Am happy to give very impartial advice. Am not the biggest fan of Dubai - but am not on some Expat rampage against it either.
When life gives you Lemons... and all that!