tlh

Shipping anything here is very expensive. We shipped several boxes from the US when came over 3 years ago. The shipment worked out to about 1 cubic meter and we paid $600 to send it from the US. Then, when the stuff arrived at the Jebel Ali port, the shipping company charged an additional 2500 AED to get it through customs for us. While I'm sure they saw a chance to steal from us newbies, make sure you have a price that is door to door and it is in writing - if that makes any difference.

All in all, I would take the furnished apartment which currently ADEC is using the units in Hili. The good news is they are new buildings. The bad news is they look like 1970's public housing in Chicago and have a beautiful view of the razor wire fence between Al Ain and Buraymi located across the street.

Relative to having to leave in a hurry, there is very little chance (essentially zero) that any kind of political uprising will occur. This country is just too well designed to ever have the kind of revolutions that are going on in the region these days. While the government is essentially run by a few royal families, they share the wealth with the citizens due to Sheikh Zayed's brilliant planning starting 40 years ago.

There is a good chance that you will decide to leave in a hurry however. The rumors are that about 1/3 of the LT's (licensed teachers) simply cannot take the way they are treated by ADEC and take off after they receive their first paycheck in late October. And, yes, I know that you are planning to arrive in August. Be prepared for some differences between what you were told by recruiters and what really happens.

scarab1

We do have a pretty reasonable quote door to door including moving into the accomodation in Al Ain but that's good to know.

Yikes on the way the teachers are treated though. In my husbands contract it says that he starts getting paid in August - from what you said, that isn't true? Can you point me in the direction of any more info on how the teachers are treated or an ADEC teacher forum? I've looked on here and can't seem to fins anything specfic, but I am new

Casta

You could try looking and posting on the following: https://www.facebook.com/teachawayinc

made in manchester

Does anybody know if there are any Badminton courts for public use here in Al-Ain ???

redheart

leaving AA for Melbourne Australia. Can anybody recommend a freight shipping company in Al Ain?
Hopefully will only have all of our rugs, artwork, souvenirs and anything else we cant fit in our luggage to ship there.
cheers.

mathematist

Hi all. having checked out some local gyms for very cheap prices, are there any swimming pools the local emiratis use here in Al-Ain apart from the mubazzarah?

Cheers!

JB22

just come with eyes wide open. its not saudi so don't worry about not shipping personal belongings just no booze and food as they can get excited about that but you can get everything you got back home here. AA is slower than D and AD but they aren't that far away for a weekend.
I am not a teacher but I do here that the teachers in the local schools are not treated as well plus they cannot even tell off the Local kids as they have the schools on their side. You'll enjpy it if yougo with the flow and not get worked up over the lack of urgency to get anything done "except planting flowers on round abouts" If your arrving in the summer beware it will be hot unless you are coming from Arizona as then the climate is very similiar.
if you plan is 4 years which is the norm 4 to 5 years for most then keep that in mind and enjoy the life, culture experience if not for you the kids but saying that there is really no culture here as the country is so new that it doesn't know what it wants to be yet,??enjoy

Bluelionesse

Sorry don't know of any - the Al Ain Sports Clubs may have them but they are for Emiratis only.

JB22

this can vary from company to company. basically it is calculated off your basic salary and not the top line made up with all the allowances. for example my company give you 1 months basic salary on leaving for every year served up to five years then it goes to 2 months up until 10 years served and then 3 months after 10 years. So 1 month serverd 1 months salary, 6 years served 7 months salary.... i think???

JB22

just for all newbies looking at this site, if your getting a villa make sure the windows and doors seal tight otherwise you'll have sand everywhere when the wind kicks in like it did this week and earlier in the year.One down side of the desert is the sand......

good people to help you out here are Sandra and Emma from Al Ain Relocations. www.alainrelocations.com.

Help us out a lot and put up with our indecssions on finding the right home.

illujenz

I always wondered what al ain was like.

JB22

nothing like AD OR DUB. More locals here than you would see anywhere else.

JB22

chouefait or aaess... discuss I here aaess is ok up to secondary school but chouefait is strict and more routinewhich i like for my child. but is this the french school that is closing?

Bluelionesse

don't worry, the french school that is closing is a villa school, nothing to do with chouefait.

scarab1

Have some technology questions that I was hoping someone might have an answer for....

- When we first fly into Abu Dhabi, is there any chance that the borders/customs officials will confiscate our ipods, Kindle, laptop and external hard drive? We are in the process of taking anything "controversial" off of them but we want to bring our music collection and family photos.

-I am looking into getting a VPN and have been looking at the Witopia Cloakbox so that we can have wireless internet in our flat. Anyone have any experience using the cloakbox? And again, if we bring this to UAE in our luggage is it going to get confiscated?

thanks!