markhighpeak

Thanks for all of the above I can't wait to come out and see first hand what it's all like.

The schools are obviously key if I need to bring the children out, and Dubai does have a lot more than AD. Either way, both places seem really cool, and next week will give me a big insight into what lies ahead.

Would everyone think that 18,000 Dhs a month will get a good family home in either place, because if you look on the websites from Googling "property in Dubai to rent", all you get back is buy this or that from £50,000, then when you look they are about 25,000,000 Dhs, which is scary. They don't seem to have the websites like our estate agents have.

I've heard the Irish Bar is a good place to drink, so I'll be checking that place out ASAP

weescot

Started last month - Lebansese and Egyptian party mafia take turns at organising. Leaves from Al Bateen Marina Fri 9.30 - 11.30 ish (a shuttle boat service). All in deal...limit on numbers so have to book. I'll track down the name/numbers for both and PM it to you .

soukie

You will struggle to find a family home for Dhs 18000 per month in Abu Dhabi - prices are rising daily and very difficult to find . You will have more choice in Dubai but not sure about prices as we moved from there years ago.

hawkhead

I'm with Beardman - wild horses couldn't drag me to live in Dubai. It's one big dust bowl-construction site-traffic jam. Yes it has a ski slope and the world's tallest building etc etc but hey, it's only an hour's drive away if that's what floats your boat.
Mind you, I'm not with Beardman when he mentioned a "quiet social life" in AD - my social life is exhausting!
Markhighpeak - nearly all landlords insist on a year's rent up front, that's perfectly the norm here, so a figure of Dhs18k per month is a bit meaningless.

DaWarrior

I'd say Irish village is good but not great. Just don't expect too much customer service from the waitresses...

shammy

You could always look at Al Ain - You could get all that AD or Dubai offer on the weekends - great family life, green, and 18K per month would get you a great villa, loads of people now moving here and commuting

markhighpeak

Thanks for that shammy...

I've had a look at the Al Ain and it does seem like a nice place, but I'm not sure about a daily commute of that distance ??? One site said its 1.5 hours each way , so if I put that on top of my construction hours, I'd be in for a very long day. It would be like travelling from Manchester to Birmingham daily.

I have a freind in Sharjah which seems quite cheap (by the standards of the other two places) but it seems a lot more conservative....

Roll on thursday when I'll get a better feel for the place..........