Living in Al Ain
 

I am living in Al Ain. Have been here 2 weeks and will probably be here for three years. My husband is working on the University extension. We are living at the Intercontinental at the moment Is there anyone out there who is also living here who might be interested in a coffee and a chat sometime.

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

PS: I am a Kiwi

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

I am so jealous!!! can your husband get mine a job! I would love to move to Al Ain! we are coming up for the weekend soon. :)

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

Where are you living at the moment and why would you love to live in Al Ain? Just interested as we went to Dubai at the weekend and it seemed like a fantastic place?

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

yes we are in Dubai, I would just prefer a slower pace of life! like Dubai used to be :)

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

Where are you from originally?

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

UK - Newcastle :)

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

Hi larnie,

I lived in Al Ain for 2 years (no longer there). We had such a hard time finding a house that we lived at the Intercon there for 7 months. Luckily, we were in one of those villas at the end of the garden. It was tough going though - specially with a 1 year old baby!

I actually found Al Ain v. tough going. Mind you, my husband didn't work in academics (like virtually everyone else in AA) so it wasn't soo easy to meet people and make friends.

Do you play sports? As a Kiwi, you must be familiar with netball?! The girls play once or twice a week at the Hilton. If you're interested, send me a PM and I will give you the contact details.
Do you have kids? What are you interests? Will you be spending the summer there?

Let me know and I'll try to point you in the right direction.
My best advice is get stuck in as soon as you can. Join everything, refuse no invitation and be as open to whatever is going on. Failing that, go to the pub at either the Intercon or the Hilton with your DH and just start talking to people. I used to use the babysitters at the Intercon and they were lovely.

Good luck!

PS: hubby is a Kiwi....not me though - I'm a hybrid!

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

Hi thanks for your reply. My husband is an Architect in charge of the building of the new Uni here in Al Ain. I think we will probably end up staying here at the Intercon for a while as there doesn't appear to be much decent rental accommodation around. Do you know if there is any possibility of us buying property here. We thought it might be a good idea if we are committed to 3 years here anyway. I don't have children, our children are adults and off doing here own thing. I am not planning to work either so looking for other opportunities really. We are spending quite a bit of time socialising here at the Intercon with people working with my husband who have left their wives and families back home. I am really lookingfor something to do during the day. Yes we are here for the summer whihc is proving to be quite overwhelming. Thanks goodness for the pool here.

Regards

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

My friend is moving to Al Ain and she is having trouble choosing a villa as there are so many for half the price of Dubai and huge... have you contacted agents there?

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

The problem with Al Ain is that there are hordes of villas available - but they are all horrid. We used to visit virtual mansions with 5 or 6 bedrooms for 95k but they were soulless, badly made houses with tiny little kitchens with bars on the windows. Most of them had avocado coloured bathroom suites (or pearly, pink shell-like decos with gold swans emerging from the taps)- euggh, no fitted wardrobes and just a disaster when it came to planning.

That's why we ended up living at the Intercon for 7 months.

Larnie, if you have no kids and want something to do during the day, my best advice is to either join the international women's group or start something up yourself. Most of the people there are eager to join new things so if you have a hobby or interest, get it going and you will reap the rewards. I started the netball club there and was rewarded with 40 members almost as soon as I put the notices up.

Good luck!

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

Hi we are moving to Al Ain in August, both my husband and have jobs there, not sure what to expect but we are being housed in an apartment to start with, what are your first impressions?

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

I love Al Ain though we have never lived there. We have been in Dubai for ten years. We are coming to al Ain for the weekend at the end of the month. It is roundabout city!!! there are two good malls but crap by Dubai standards but you can get most things. The zoo is amazing but not a place to visit in the summer. It is a nice pace of life and I am sure you will settle well. :thumbsup:

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

As it is summer here at the moment and hellishly hot and we do not have transport yet I have not managed to see a lot of Al Ain itself. I have found myself a taxi driver who speaks a little English and he has been very helpful taking me places and pointing out points of interest. We made the mistake of thinking we could drive on our NZ licences but we can't so make sure you get an International Licence before to get here. Al Ain is definitely the city of roundabouts and the traffic moves very very fast. There are two malls here Al Ain and Al Jimi which are not as good as Emirates Mall in Dubai but you can drive to Dubai in 1 hour 20 minutes shop til you drop and drive home or as we did stay the night in nice hotel. The zoo has just started opening at night this week as the weather is slightly cooler so we are yet to try that. The pcae of life here is a lot slower and more traditional than Dubai or Abu Dhabi but I think once we able to get out and about once the weather cools down and we can drive it will be a great place to live.

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

I am pretty sure you will love it ! I just wish we could get out of Dubai :)

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

Welcome to the UAE, Larnie.

I work for the Higher Colleges in Abu Dhabi, we also have colleges in Al-Ain & I know a few people in the expat circle there. If you are interested in zoos & wildlife, then you may be interested in joining the Al-Ain Natural History group - see the website below for contact details:

http://www.enhg.org/

They are very active during the camping season, and have loads of interesting field trips & social evenings.

You might also be interested in joining the Abu Dhabi chapter of Aussies Abroad (yes, I know that you're a Kiwi in Al Ain, but it's an inclusive group in both respects). I don't have their website to hand, if you have problems finding it I can get it for you from one of the Aussies at work.

Enjoy Al-Ain! I've had a few week-end breaks there, and have always enjoyed it.:)

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

Larnie let know how you are getting on ..... I just started a new thread but MM showed me your thread ...

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

Hi everyone I have just joined this site and having been an expat for over 30 years I know how helpful everyone on these sites can be. My husband arrived in Al Ain last Friday and started work on Sunday at Al Ain Hospital. I am not sure at this time when I will be joining him but being a web surfer I have been trying very hard to find any info I can on accommodation but without much luck. I have heard of two places Al Andalus Complex and also Oyoun Village and would be grateful if anyone could let me know how much these places are to rent. I was last in Dubai in 1988 so probably wont recognise it when I go to see it again. My husband and I have worked in Saudi Arabia so are quite familiar to the way of life and customs etc.
Many thanks in advance to anyone who can help. :cool:

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

Ooh AG that Andalus complex is lovely! we were in Al Ain for the weekend last weekend and I saw that complex and said to my husband I would love to live there! It is just round the corner from the Hilton Hotel and near to Al Ain Mall as well. Really nice. Also tell the hubby to try out Paco's bar in the Hilton, loads of Brits in there - lovely soldiers actually!! nice guys though.

I am so envious!!

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

Hi Blue Cat, thanks for your reply. My hubby is staying at the Hilton for a while so no doubt he will have found Paco's Bar. He is also an ex soldier and after all these years (33 years this month we have been married) he still has the Wow factor for me. I will tell him to have a look at Al Andalus when he has some free time. I hope the time passes for me to go out to join him as I love this part of the world. I have to stay in UK for a little while longer as our youngest daughter is near to having her second baby so needs her Mum. As i said anyone who can give me any info about housing would be greatly appreciated.:wub:

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

Well we were in the Hilton on Thursday and Friday night! came back on Saturday, I bet I saw him! what a small world. He will have found the military guys, there are loads of them. I hope your daughter is well, keep in touch as I love going up to Al Ain, we would love to work there ourselves.

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

Blue Cat is that the complex which looks a bit like small Tuscan Villas. Not sure of the District

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

yes it is sort of behind the Hilton if you were heading to the mall, they are on the left hand side. Look really lovely, I meant to PM you when I got back but forgot! AG reminded me about them. How much are they ???

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

An American guy working with my husband has just leased one. His is Dhs120K but it has nothing in it. He has to put in all the kitchen cupboards and bathroom etc

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

really?? that seems alot. We were talking to one of the military lads and he had a 7 bed villa for 100K, I would shop around if that is the case.

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

We think we'll stick with hotel until December. Might even try the Rotana for something different.

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

I actually preferred the Hilton to the Intercon, more buzz in there, nice pool area, two pools etc. I am going back up to the Hilton in August, on my own with little miss for a couple of nights break. The rotana is nice but they are extending it and I was woken up every morning with banging - the rooms are nice though

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

We went to Trader Vics for dinner one night saw they were building. Might suss out the Hilton then. What was the room rate like? We have an apartment here which we are hoping to get for Dhs9000pm

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

380 a night but if you apply for a Hilton Honours card which is 750 Dhs you get 20% on room rate and on all your food and drinks. They had some little villa type things. Apparently they do a good deal for long term. All the Military are there.

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

Thanks might give them a ring?

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

Does the Hilton have a gym

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

yes, I didn't see it but it definately has one. There is a really nice Italian Restaurant in there and we were surprised at how cheap everything was. Look it up on the hilton.com site. There is a pool bar cafe that was good as well. let me know how you get on!

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

My husband is staying in a poolside villa and says it is quite nice. He went to Al Jimi Mall last night and got lost on the way back and came across some extremely large villas with huge iron gates. When we worked in Kuala Lumpur I collected lots of blue and white chinese porcelain so I asked him if it would all fit in one of those villas. He said i would need a container full for one of those villas so maybe that is a bit too big for us as I hope to ship it all out from UK when I come.:thumbup:

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

I would wait til you get there, maybe meet up with Larnie and then find a few decent agents to show you around. I get the impression that the stuff near the Hilton area of town is the good area, seems to be a better standard but I am no expert. When you coming??

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

I will have to get in touch with Larnie, she will be more used to the area than me. Not sure exactly when I will be coming over but it could some time in September. I hope you will keep in touch as well though and any info is greatly received:wub:

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

Hi Larnie, just been re-reading some of the posts and noticed you said you had got an apartment in AA. Do the apartments there come with all the amenities eg pool, gym etc. I hope you are settling in well, I am looking forward to coming over later in the year, not sure when yet but if you can give me any info you might think is relevant I will be very greatful. It is quite difficult to find anything by doing a search so perhaps someone local would be good. My husband is staying at The Hilton for a while so once he gets his bearings he will also be a good source of information. Take Care:wub:

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

Hi Larnie, just been re-reading some of the posts and noticed you said you had got an apartment in AA. Do the apartments there come with all the amenities eg pool, gym etc. I hope you are settling in well, I am looking forward to coming over later in the year, not sure when yet but if you can give me any info you might think is relevant I will be very greatful. It is quite difficult to find anything by doing a search so perhaps someone local would be good. My husband is staying at The Hilton for a while so once he gets his bearings he will also be a good source of information. Take Care:wub:

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

I thought Larnie was in the Intercon?? I haven't stayed there before.

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

Hi AG yes BC is right I am living in an apartment at the Intercon which was provided by my husband's employers for the first month and we have chosen to stay for another month as it provies everything and my husband was worried I would feel isolated. We might even stay permanently in an hotel as we are only here for 2 and a half years so it seem pointless to set up house for such a short time We are keen to move around the world a bit for the next few years. I haven't really done much exploring in Al Ain yet as I've been ill with this "Travellers Illness" for a couple of weeks but we got a car at the weekend and that made a huge difference to getting around alhough I haven't had the courage to drive yet but am planning to give it a go this weekend. The temperature has an impact on what you do as it is extreemely hot at the moment and no one ventures outside much, although by the time you get here in September it should be a little more bearable.

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

I had an amzing experience yesterday. I went to Al Jimi Mall to do some shopping and was sitting having a Cap at Starbucks when this Western woman came up and introduced herself and asked if I minded if she joined me. She was British and had lived in Al Ain for 17 years. We went back to her house for a cup ot tea and spent the afternoon chatting. She was a wealth of knowledge about Al Ain and a lovely person. The house she is living in is close to Jimi but don't ask be where. She said it was quite old but it looked fairly typical being a semi-detached duplex but what amazed me most was the size once you got inside. It was huge, 3 enormouse bedrooms, 2 hugeg living rooms, a large dining room, big kitchen and 3 bathrooms. They were paying Dhs70K which is very cheap. So I guess if yo're going to be here a while then you won't mind furnishing a place. I'll be seeing her again so I'll get some info for you on agents, areas etc if you like.

Larnie

Re: Living in Al Ain
 

that is so lovely!! Dubai used to be like that many moons ago! now no one seems to have the time to help out anyone these days. The expatwoman coffee mornings can be a lifeline for alot of women but they don't run anything up in Al Ain. They are pretty popular here. :)