Work in Abu Dahabi, live in Dubai

[MABS]

Here we go again girls, would appreciate any advice on this. Dh has been offered a great job in Auh, with full expat package. Co have said that housing now far cheaper in dxb, so advise us to live there and put kids to school there and he commute each day. Any thoughts on that advice?

secondly , we have 2 children , girl in year 10 and boy in year 4, any good English schools i should contact? or any to avoid?

TBH we are not sure whether to leave uk or not but dh flying out to have big chat with employer on Thurs this week. Really appreciate any thoughts.

hi MABS. Am meeting with some of DS's teachers at 3ish so will look out for you x

lovely. you meeting in senior school or 6th form block?

apparently we are being 'collected' by Dr Baxter who will then take us to meet with several of DS's teachers.

oooh, do enjoy ;-)

Hi all you helpful gals in UAE. Finally dh got his job offer this week for a great position in Abu Dhabi.

Could you let me know whether the housing/utilities allowance is adequate or unrealistic? We are 2 adults and 2 kids - they have offered aed 11,800 per month, that's plus a good salary, health, flights, schools of course.

Any info greatly appreciated. thanks (have also started a separate thread so use either!)

Hi and congrats on your DH's job offer.

You are unlikely to find accommodation within that budget in Abu Dhabi. Rents are coming down, but I believe a decent 3 bedroom apartment on the island would cost at least 250,000 per annum (with utilities on top). Many are paying a lot more than this. Rents in Abu Dhabi are generally payable annually in advance - so you would have to pay the full yearly rent before you move in.

Of course, you could top up the rent from salary - many people have to do this as most housing allowances will not cover rent.

I would recommend you try to negotiate a higher allowance as the allowance offered is definitely on the low side, especially for a family (unless the salary is exceptionally good).

Just an aside. If you get an apartment, make sure you ascertain whether the "chiller" (eg aircon) is included or excluded from the rent. It can make a big, big difference as you're going to have it on 24/7 for 4 months of the year and for some of the day for another 5 months.

Anyway, weirdly, in some apartments, they dont have meters on the air con circuit so it's just included in the management fee to the LL and passed on to you in your rent.

However, in other apartments, it's just billed in your electricity bill.

thanks to all, doesn't sound good Desertkiwi, please thank your dh, are you in auh?

Yes we are in AUH - we have been here for 3 years so got in before the rents went too crazy. Hope it all works out for you.

so its on again MABS. So when would you go? Hopefully after the summer so we can have lots of meet ups when I'm back in the UK. Once you move I can come and meet you there and escape the madhouse known as KSA x

unlikely we can go now MOS, heard a few days ago that ds needs major surgery later this yaer. 8 weeks off school, think we ave to tur4n the job down in AUH realistically. We fly out there on Wed fpr ten days and DH is meeting with the prospective employer out there, but really think its a no go

oh no, MABS that is awful. I hope everything will be ok with DS. Any idea when the surgery will be? I'm back in the UK from end of June til first week of Sept if there is anything I can do to help you.
Hope you enjoy your trip next week and hopefully sort something out about the job. I suppose its not an option for DH to go ahead and you and DC to follow on later?

think the first surgery and then posible second is going to take 18months from start of Oct time, so not really look forward to seeing you in July x

will be lovely to catch up, so sorry you are going to have such a rough time.
DC1 and 2 just arrived so have to dash. catch up soon. BTW, you made a decision about the ball yet? x