What is Mirdif like? Is it a suitable place for families? Are there compounds with swimming pools and other amenities? What's Jumeirah 1 like? Which areas offer value for money, but at the same time are suitable for families with a good community feel? Help?!
I'm in Mirdif. Husband works in Shahjah and I work/kids school is in Al Soufah. We love it. On a compound of 7 villas, all western except 1, great evenings and weekends, great shops, kids activities, villa is 5 bed, over 3 floors and considerably less than we would pay down in Jumeriah etc.
I love driving, even out here! So the travel doesn't bother us - it takes us about 40 mins each way, which is great conversation time with the kids. (except maybe weekends when I don't want to drive over to that side to drop or pick up kids and friends however, my teenagers are now using the metro regularly so that's cut that down. ). As a result of the journey - as opposed to the UK where I went one way, the teenagers got a bus for 30 minutes and my girl was in Child are - we have a much better family dialogue.
HTH
L