Hi

Accepted a job in Abu dhabi - married with two children

Just want to know everything!!

rent a decent house / villa - approx cost (I get an allowance)
rent a car
private medical
nice school for children ages 11 and 7

is it safe? (i am a worry!)

any negatives to look out for?

expat groups to join and become involved in?

argh just everything!!!



Thanks people x

If you've accepted, it's a bit late to worry about it being safe and what to negotiate for....but welcome to BE.

Worth having a look over past threads on the place as there's quite a lot of decent info already posted.

hi,

had a look already on the site. Job starts sept. I dont need to negotiate salary etc - however would like recommendations for areas to live, agencies to go with to find a house/villa etc. nice schools. I am doing as much research as possible.

a lot of stuff i have found is out of date - more recent info would be helpful?

basic is 30,000 p/m
12,000 housing p/m

Also get child education allowance

i would get your applications into the schools as they accept registrations from january onwards for the following academic year so you have already "missed the boat" there are huge waiting lists for schools here for the american and british curriculums, you will fair a little better as your kids are older, very difficult for nursery/reception aged kids.

Welcome to Abu Dhabi...you'll be wanting to join my expat drinking club, erm...I mean social networking organisation We're on facebook and have been quiet lately but I'll start arranging some dinners, brunches and after work sessions early next month!

N.

You'll find a huge amount of housing, schooling etc info on this other website:

http://www.abudhabiwoman.com/index.php?

From my own experience, I find that the hardest years to get children into schools are the youngest years, and you might not have the problems we did (ours are somewhat younger than yours, and it was only our youngest who had major problems finding a place). That being said, I don't know many people with children of your ages here at school - I have heard more than a few say that they moved their children back into boarding schools in their various home countries as they were not so impressed by expat-oriented secondary level education in the UAE. I don't think they had major concerns - but even their minor concerns were enough, in this highly competitive age we live, to send their children home for the slightly better education they thought they would get there.

Not sure what sort of job you have but I think the housing is low for a family in AD. I hope that you have a very good education allowance package for your 2 children as school fees are expensive and ever increasing.

according to the other thread she has accepted a heads position, so schooling shouldnt be a problem nor should accommodation as that should be included, but surely its a bit late asking about this now.

But she quotes a housing allowance so it may not be company housing. The package sounds very low for a Headteacher but it may be a small school.

who knows bit cloak and dagger, just give us a clue and we can shed some more light yeh!!! normally for heads etc housing would be provided no allowance etc.

FTM

welcome to BE, are you from Sunderland?

careful..... this one is a skunk

cheeky git