Middle East Moves - Dubai/Abu Dhabi

[SecondSoprano]

Hi, hoping all the lovely ladies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi can help out.

I'm a regular mner but have name changed for this due to paranoia. Currently living in ME but we are thinking about a move to Dubai or AD.

Can you give me tips on the british curriculum schools there and which housing development/compounds are near each school? I know AD is more compact and I know a few folks there but Dubai just seems sprawling to me and I wouldn't want to end up with a long school run (am currently on 4 minutes door to door).

Thank you!

hi, there is a dubai expat website called expatwoman.com that has loads of the info you are looking for. i lived there a while ago but didnt have kids, so sorry cant be more helpful

SS- I dont still live in Dubai but second the suggestion that you post on expatwoman. Nest of vipers (WAY worse than MN ) but useful on practical matters.

When I was there the advice was definitely, get the children into a school, then worry about the housing because there are loads of villas but a shortage of good school places.

FYI- The family friendly villa complexes are Arabian Ranches, Lakes, Meadows, Springs. If you dont mind an apartment then you could also consider the Marina area.

Also, some schools (eg Repton) are stuck in the middle of nowhere and they bus them in so doesnt really matter where you live!

Best of luck

Thanks. I posted on expatwoman but the board moves really fast. Not sure about bumping.

Have looked at Arabian Ranches and Lakes - look nice. Like the look of JESS and maybe GEMS Wellington. Impossible to get in though, may have to wait til 2011 school start. Aaaargh.

Well they say that but people come and go in Dubai at an incredible rate so worth sticking your name down and you may find yourself miraculously at the top of the list!

You can bump with impunity on EW!

Hi, my friend lives on Arabian Ranches and I've visited a few times and thought it was a lovely area. Her DC go to JESS and she is very happy with it.

Hi there, used to live in Dubai. My kids went to GEMS Wellington Primary School which I believe has places (a bit more expensive than others).

JESS Arabian Ranches is very hard to get into but there is another one in Jumeirah.

Other schools to consider are:

• Jumeirah Primary School
• English College (on Sheizh Zayed Rd)
• GEMS Wellington International (which you mention)

The most popular housing developments (Springs, Meadows) are close to GEMS Wellington Int, English College.

am moving from uk to AD next year so doing lots of school research at the mo if i can help?

What age children?

The younger they are the harder it seems to be!

(have just confirmed a nail biting place at a GEMS school in yr2 and 4)

(hi MABS thanks for your help on a previous thread!)

Hi, they're 6, 5 and nearly 2. If we end up going for september 2011 start, which might be likely as they are in a great school just now and DH could theoretically weekend commute, we'll need Year 3,2 and Kindergarten (Foundation 1 or whatever it's called).

MABS, I've seen some property in Abu Dhabi but can't work out if it's on "the island" whatever that means. Do you know particular compounds near the British School and what do you think the other good schools are?

I think it's looking like we'll move next year if at all, so DH has the time to find the right job as opposed to just jumping on the first thing he finds - already been here long enough to know better. Then we can stay here til he settles down in new role and then move. Also gives us more time to get the schools sorted.

Year 2 for this year (ie 2010) has been really oversubscribed (we squeaked in on a sibling rule as there was room in yr4) so I'd put your name on waiting lists now (be warned schools charge about £100 per child ... non refundable just to be put on the wait list)

Dh will be working in Abu Dhabi but we'll be living in Dubai (you get A LOT more for your money)

We've been looking at Jumeriah Islands and Meadows.

HTH

Hi there,

Yes, schools are definitely a nightmare in Dubai. There are still a few in DD's nursery class that don't have confirmed places for school in Sept 2010!

But it looks like there will be a huge amount of 'movement' in Dubai this summer. I've been hearing about redundancies every week for the last two months and in all the time I've lived here (into my second decade now), I've never seen so much property for rent.

I'd second a PP's suggestion and decide on school first, then look at where you will live. To be honest, the school run takes an age regardless of where you are. My DC are at Jebel Ali Primary, we live very close by and it still takes 20 mins to get there on a good day!

Best of luck!

Oh, I'd definitely stay away from GEMS schools if you can help it. It's a company run conglomerate out to make money and their reports are not glowing.

Try Kings JESS. Much better choice. Put your name down regardless of when the move will ber confirmed. It'll cost you something like £100,- as an admin fee but your dc stand a much better chance of getting in.

With regards to housing I think it would depend where your Dh will work and then figure out a way from there. Don't even bother looking around BUr Dubai, Trade Centre, etc. Barsha has loads of overhead electricity lines so stay away from that, too. Jumeirah 1 is too close to the harbour zone and a bit gaudy and old.

From Jumeirah 2 to Umm Suqueim 3 it's a residential zone with lovely villas, some with their own pools...the only thing to consider is the various mosques surrounding your house as it is an area where most of the Emirati live (in beautiful, huge mansions). We are currently putting in soundproof glass to reduce the call to prayer noise (a service on amplifier at 4.30am is not nice), but also because we have small dc and my Dh will entertain a lot in our garden/pool area beneath the babies' rooms.)

I didn't like the Palms because there were no walls between the different houses, their 4 sqm 'private' beach is full of shells, corals and stones and the water stagnant and full of jellyfish. Not impressed.

I have been to a few houses in the Meadows and Springs and liked them. Not huge but private and seemingly a nice community vibe.

Secondsurprise - which property is it? i have researched most of em in AD!

Also, Brighton College AD (brilliant school here) is opening Sept 2011 i understand, there are accepting registrations, i have a contcat for them here if you are interested? pm me if you want

Hi there. Sorry no personal experience as DD 14mth has only just started nursery in Dubai.

The government's Dubai school inspection reports are published here if you hadn't already found it and might help with your decision (there is a filter by curriculum to whittle down the list). From what I hear, it's worth registering with 2 or 3 schools then when the places come up you have the upper hand.

Best of British!

Hi . I am moving to Kuwait in 2012 with two children aged 4
and 6. Can anybody who already lives there advise on the best British curriculum schools? I have checked the internet but its hard to know what are the pluses and minuses.Which one is favourite among british Expats?

We lived in Kuwait 15 years ago and our kids went to The English School
www.tes.edu.kw/
We were very pleased with the school then. It had a high percentage of European children with English as their first language. Best thing is to visit and get the feel of the different schools - difficult though with small children I know.
The British Ladies Society (don't be put off by their name!) should have more up to date info:
theblskuwait.com/

forgot to say about Kuwait schools your children will need to have BCGs (for TB) before they can attend - get the injection done in the UK.