Abu Dhabi?????

lisajoneseey · #1 (**permalink**) 20th November 2008, 09:14 AM

Hey everyone,

Due to the current situation ive been asked to consider a position in AD rather than my preferred choice of Dubai.

Ive done a bit of research and its seems AD is a nice place and a bit more relaxed than Dubai. That sounds great, I can live with that.

However, im concerned that accomdation in AD may be a little more expensive and more difficult to come by than in Dubai. (info from previous threads).

I will be grateful if any of you in AD can give me the benefit of your experience and how you have got on in the search for accomodation.

Id expect to be earning around 30k/mth. I wouldnt want my accomodation costs to eat up half of this??

Thanks all.

mazdaRX8 · #2 (**permalink**) 20th November 2008, 10:16 AM

Abu Dhabi is GREAT! very clean, no traffic (well very organized traffic) no crappy detours, very easy roads to remember (its one giant square/rectangle grid), very relaxed too.

Bad points are its not a touristy place and not much places to go out. Rent is also a little higher than Dubai due to the limited space. Abu Dhabi city is much smaller than the City of Dubai. Parking is a nightmare because there are more people with cars than parking spots... so they park at exits, the middle "line" of a parking lot, on the sidewalk, etc. Good luck if you get a monster SUV like a tahoe/armada.

I am not sure if there are any online AUH search sites, but you can always look at Gulf news online and search in the Abu Dhabi region!

Sparkysair · #3 (**permalink**) 20th November 2008, 10:22 AM

Hi there, hopefully I can help with this one

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisajoneseey

Hey everyone,

Due to the current situation ive been asked to consider a position in AD rather than my preferred choice of Dubai. Unsurprising - the AD job market seems far more stable at the mo than Dubai

Ive done a bit of research and its seems AD is a nice place and a bit more relaxed than Dubai. That sounds great, I can live with that. It's definitely a nice place, far greener than Dubai and lower rise. It is more relaxed in the sense that it's slower paced than Dubai but it's also a bit more conservative

However, im concerned that accomdation in AD may be a little more expensive and more difficult to come by than in Dubai. (info from previous threads). You're right to be concerned! It's a lot more expensive and a lot harder to come by I'm afraid. There simply aren't the huge high rise residential developments like Dubai. Assuming you are coming alone and looking for a 1 bed apartment, you would only find villa conversions (which I found to be very badly thought through in terms of layout, size and facilities) or older quite run down blocks of flats.

I will be grateful if any of you in AD can give me the benefit of your experience and how you have got on in the search for accomodation. I arrived here mid October and had accommodation provided for the first month. I spent the first two weeks desperately searching for a 1 bed in AD with very little luck. I'm lucky in that my company runs a shuttle bus between Dubai and Abu Dhabi for staff so I broadened my search to Dubai. To be honest, when I saw what my money would get me in Dubai, the commute seemed much less daunting!

Id expect to be earning around 30k/mth. I wouldnt want my accomodation costs to eat up half of this?? What sort of place would you be looking for? If you're earning 30k/mth inc housing allowance, you should be able to find somewhere. Prices for a decent 1 bed apartment in a villa conversion are 160-170k per year though...if you can find somewhere. It's worth checking with your company whether they can provide accommodation, and they should definitely pay the year's rent up front for you and deduct it from your salary (don't forget the 5% agent fees)

Thanks all.

My company has links with some good agents and they circulate available properties on an almost daily basis by email. I haven't seen a 1 or 2 bed come up for a couple of weeks but there are a couple of 3 beds today for 290/300k. Maybe there would be other new starters you could share a bigger apartment with?

Just to give you an idea, I gave up on AD and moved in to a brand new, super luxury 1 bed in Dubai Marina a couple of weeks ago. It's part furnished and includes all appliances, is 3G wired and has a 42in plasma tv. My rent is 150k pa and if I could find something similar in AD I think it would probably cost me 220k+. On the down side - the commute is an hour and a half!

I hope I don't put you off too much but it's really better to be fully aware of the accommodation shortage in AD. If you can find the right job in Dubai, go for that. If you can't, AD is commutable!

lisajoneseey · #4 (**permalink**) 20th November 2008, 01:10 PM

Thats very useful guys, youve reignited my enthusiam for the UAE.
Im encouraged by the thought of commuting and will check for shuttle buses etc.
I heard AD was a bit quiter but of course you have to consider the nightlife and Dubai seems to win there.

Thanks.

titirangi · #5 (**permalink**) 21st November 2008, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparkysair

Hi there, hopefully I can help with this one

My company has links with some good agents and they circulate available properties on an almost daily basis by email. I haven't seen a 1 or 2 bed come up for a couple of weeks but there are a couple of 3 beds today for 290/300k. Maybe there would be other new starters you could share a bigger apartment with?

Just to give you an idea, I gave up on AD and moved in to a brand new, super luxury 1 bed in Dubai Marina a couple of weeks ago. It's part furnished and includes all appliances, is 3G wired and has a 42in plasma tv. My rent is 150k pa and if I could find something similar in AD I think it would probably cost me 220k+. On the down side - the commute is an hour and a half!

I hope I don't put you off too much but it's really better to be fully aware of the accommodation shortage in AD. If you can find the right job in Dubai, go for that. If you can't, AD is commutable!

Would you mind sharing name of the agents? - about to start looking in AD and feeling a little lost.

AussieLouise · #6 (**permalink**) 1st March 2009, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by titirangi

Would you mind sharing name of the agents? - about to start looking in AD and feeling a little lost.

Hey there, Im moving over to UAE shortly from Australia and would love to find another westerner to share an apartment with. Like you, I have been looking for accommodation and have had no luck, and the ones iv seen have seemed a bit suss or way too expensive. I have thought about living in Dubai and commuting to AD everyday but a recruiter advised me not too because it can take up to 4hours and not to mention dangerous on the roads. But the accommodation seems 10times more value for money, more modern and more facilities around. It would be interesting to see how you go and we should keep in touch incase we end up going there around the same time!! Good Luck! Louise

HelenG · #7 (**permalink**) 1st March 2009, 08:52 AM

One of my former colleagues has recently moved out to Dubai, although he got placed on a site in Abu Dhabi. He tried looking for accommodation there but has finally given up because it was too expensive and is now moving into Discovery Gardens. I think it all depends on where in AD you are going to be working and how much you value the night life. Personally I'd prefer to travel further to work but have the social venues on my doorstep.

AussieLouise · #8 (**permalink**) 1st March 2009, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HelenG

One of my former colleagues has recently moved out to Dubai, although he got placed on a site in Abu Dhabi. He tried looking for accommodation there but has finally given up because it was too expensive and is now moving into Discovery Gardens. I think it all depends on where in AD you are going to be working and how much you value the night life. Personally I'd prefer to travel further to work but have the social venues on my doorstep.

Exactly, I completely agree! I would much prefer to be close to the social scene then having to travel an hour and a half to go to a bar if i lived in AD! Is discovery gardens closer to AD? I heard Jurimirah Lake Towers is about 45mins away from AD which is pretty good. But I would love to live at Jurimirah Beach Residence, everything seems to be there and booming with expats! Seems like companies atm arent wanting to pay for accommodation so its best to be where its cheaper and where its all happening.

Trusty · #9 (**permalink**) 1st March 2009, 09:27 AM

We have had many colleagues trasferring to AD from our Dubai office, definately seems a little more stable there right now. Most are car-sharing, some are looking at the Marina or the MUCH cheaper option of Discovery Gardens to commute in much less time - no one is looking to move there quite yet. Discovery Gardens is still a distance away from things in Dubai, you will have a bit of a cab ride after a night out (thankfully, they are relatively cheap).

Ogri750 · #10 (**permalink**) 1st March 2009, 09:34 AM

JLT & JBR are pretty much opposite each other across Sheihk Zayed Road.

Discovery Gardens is a bit closer, but not hugely.

45 mins to AD......all depends where in AD you have to travel to. I travel from Arabian Ranches to just past AD airport and that is 1hr 10mins. If I had to travel to say, Al Reem Island, that would be closer to 1hr 45mins.