Moving to Abu Dhabi - advance information?
#1
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Joined: Aug 2007
Location: The city of many visions - and fast performance cars
Posts: 887
Moving to Abu Dhabi - advance information?
currently I am packing up in the UK and moving to Abu Dhabi to take up permenant job next month. As I have not visited before, can anyone advise on:
1. Decent apartment rental agents (please, only expats with direct experience to respond). Looking for 2 bed with gym facilities close by
2. neighbourhoods to avoid
3. Details of any local scuba diving sites/dive clubs/activities
4. How to meet people socially..
Any information would be a huge help!
1. Decent apartment rental agents (please, only expats with direct experience to respond). Looking for 2 bed with gym facilities close by
2. neighbourhoods to avoid
3. Details of any local scuba diving sites/dive clubs/activities
4. How to meet people socially..
Any information would be a huge help!
#2
Re: Moving to Abu Dhabi - advance information?
currently I am packing up in the UK and moving to Abu Dhabi to take up permenant job next month. As I have not visited before, can anyone advise on:
1. Decent apartment rental agents (please, only expats with direct experience to respond). Looking for 2 bed with gym facilities close by
2. neighbourhoods to avoid
3. Details of any local scuba diving sites/dive clubs/activities
4. How to meet people socially..
Any information would be a huge help!
1. Decent apartment rental agents (please, only expats with direct experience to respond). Looking for 2 bed with gym facilities close by
2. neighbourhoods to avoid
3. Details of any local scuba diving sites/dive clubs/activities
4. How to meet people socially..
Any information would be a huge help!
3+4) check out the hiltonia club attached to the Hilton hotel and 'The Club' (www.the-club.com) for both, activities and, the latter one to meet people socially.
BTW www.abudhabiwoman.com is also a good resource to find your way around.
Hope that helps.
#3
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 39
Re: Moving to Abu Dhabi - advance information?
Hi there, I would recommend Le Miredian, they do have diving Center and there is nearby a complex of allBars and Rests very nice place to meet and socialize while having diner or a Drink - good luck
#4
Re: Moving to Abu Dhabi - advance information?
currently I am packing up in the UK and moving to Abu Dhabi to take up permenant job next month. As I have not visited before, can anyone advise on:
1. Decent apartment rental agents (please, only expats with direct experience to respond). Looking for 2 bed with gym facilities close by
2. neighbourhoods to avoid
3. Details of any local scuba diving sites/dive clubs/activities
4. How to meet people socially..
Any information would be a huge help!
1. Decent apartment rental agents (please, only expats with direct experience to respond). Looking for 2 bed with gym facilities close by
2. neighbourhoods to avoid
3. Details of any local scuba diving sites/dive clubs/activities
4. How to meet people socially..
Any information would be a huge help!
Scuba is not great around Abu Dhabi - the East Coast is better, Oman is better still...
Nice 'hoods - Khaladiyah, Bateen, Corniche. Tourist Club area is the right side of OK.
Letting is a nightmare & the few nice apartments go within days or even hours. Good luck!
#5
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Joined: Aug 2007
Location: The city of many visions - and fast performance cars
Posts: 887
Re: Moving to Abu Dhabi - advance information?
Thanks for all the information provided. Bit worrying that the apartment rental market is so difficult. I only have 2 weeks to look! Do many expats buy their own?
#7
Re: Moving to Abu Dhabi - advance information?
Option to buy in AD is very restricted to particular develpments-mostly off plan with completion dates projected to 2009/2010.Some properties available to buy from Emirati first time owners in Raha Gardens but price exhorbitent and comprable to Paris or London.No opportunities yet to buy to sell on at a quick profit or flip. Nothing like the Dubai market.Rentals can be had but usually after a lot of legwork and chat with watchman.An Agent will charge you 5-6% of annual rent on any property he introduces you to.
There are no'bad' areas in AD.On island-Off island-distinction.
There are no'bad' areas in AD.On island-Off island-distinction.
#8
Re: Moving to Abu Dhabi - advance information?
Wow - do any expats actually live off-island??? I've never met anyone who does?
#9
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Joined: Aug 2007
Location: The city of many visions - and fast performance cars
Posts: 887
Re: Moving to Abu Dhabi - advance information?
Thanks - these little snippets are great. I don't really want to buy - have property in the UK. I just want a decent apartment.
So, on island is where to look, chat to building doorman/watchman, act quick yet be patient and hold my nerve....
thanks again.
So, on island is where to look, chat to building doorman/watchman, act quick yet be patient and hold my nerve....
thanks again.
#10
Re: Moving to Abu Dhabi - advance information?
And come along to a BE Abu Dhabi night out.
One of our members (revilo) made valiant efforts to organize one this Thursday, but it seems the Abu Dhabi members are not the party-people that the Dubai chapter is....
One of our members (revilo) made valiant efforts to organize one this Thursday, but it seems the Abu Dhabi members are not the party-people that the Dubai chapter is....
#11
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: The city of many visions - and fast performance cars
Posts: 887
Re: Moving to Abu Dhabi - advance information?
thanks. I am a party girl, but usually need a day to recover from the working week... Friday night is my night if I am not away diving of course...
will check threads for next BE night out.
will check threads for next BE night out.
#12
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Abu Dhabi
Posts: 200
Re: Moving to Abu Dhabi - advance information?
re 1+2) tricky, try Homestyle (http://www.homestyle-property.co.ae/) and the Khalifa Committee (www.ejarat.ae/searchProperty.do). Generally, its pretty hard to look for smth from a distance, since the market is pretty tight and available apartments are rented quickly. Area depends a bit on personal lifestyle, but the Khalidiya and Corniche areas usually gets the thumb up from a lot of folks.
3+4) check out the hiltonia club attached to the Hilton hotel and 'The Club' (www.the-club.com) for both, activities and, the latter one to meet people socially.
BTW www.abudhabiwoman.com is also a good resource to find your way around.
Hope that helps.
3+4) check out the hiltonia club attached to the Hilton hotel and 'The Club' (www.the-club.com) for both, activities and, the latter one to meet people socially.
BTW www.abudhabiwoman.com is also a good resource to find your way around.
Hope that helps.
As for agents, work on the assumption they are all crooks unless proved otherwise. Hayatt were good, pm me for contact numbers, and my colleague had a good experience with Asteco. Do not pay any "viewing fees", its illegal and a sign of a shoddy operator.
If you see somewhere you like - take it immediately, as apartments tend to go within hours. Typical prices now AED 70,000 per annum for one bed, 95 - 110k for two bed, 110k plus for three bed. Villas start at around 140k plus and upwards to 250k plus.
Again, PM me if you need any more advice, I did all this last year and I would have sorely liked some guidance then!
#13
Re: Moving to Abu Dhabi - advance information?
Do people really move 3,500 miles without having visited & checked a place out??
#14
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Joined: Aug 2007
Location: The city of many visions - and fast performance cars
Posts: 887
Re: Moving to Abu Dhabi - advance information?
Yes - well travelled and already visited UAE on previous occassions (plus denied luxury of advance visit due to family member hospitalisation in UK).
#15
Re: Moving to Abu Dhabi - advance information?
Well, good on you for making a big decision on moving out here - I'm sure you'll have a great time.
Good luck - hope everything goes smoothly for you, if it doesn't there's plenty of folks here to help.