TMurfitt

Hi there, I'm a complete beginner with posting things in forums so please be patient with me!
My husband has been offered a job in Abu Dhabi starting in January so him, myself and our 21 month old are planning the move from London. It's still very early in the pregnancy but we are also expecting another baby in late April.
Can anyone help me with the following questions?:

I am hoping we will be able to afford a two bed apartment in Al Khalidiyah. We would like to be in the area so that we are close(ish) to my husband and so that his commute is much better. What are good apartment blocks that have nice facilities like a decent pool? How much is reasonable to pay for nice place?
Can you recommend any decent estate agents?

Decent nurseries?
I am hoping to get our little girl into one before the new baby comes!

Some weather questions!

What do you do in the day in the middle of summer? I'm worried about getting cabin fever, we certainly wouldn't be able to leave for that period.

Do you need a double buggy to keep a toddler out of the sun as well as the baby? Or will an umbrella and a buggy board be ok?
Or perhaps it's best to drive somewhere if it's the middle of the day?

And finally a few random ones, is it simply a case of requesting to give birth at Al Corniche hospital or is it harder to get in? Should I apply now?

How good is the choice of pram brands to buy in Abu Dhabi?

Can you drink water from the taps or is it all bottled water?

Sorry if some of the answers are obvious, I just thought is put it all out there!

csdf

We've just had a baby so can help you with some of these.

Depends on your definition of nice. Most modern apartment blocks have pools. For a 2-bed in a decent block you're probably looking at 140k-170k at a guess, though it's been a few years since I looked.

Go to the mall, go for lunch, go for evening walks along the Corniche (early summer), tidy the house, decorate...we thought we'd be bored but ended up having plenty to do.

You'll have to drive, unless you're going for a walk near your house.

I've heard rumours that the Corniche is going to become Emirati only, but for us at least it was simply a matter of going through the (mind-numbing) registration process.

It's fine enough. More choice in Dubai (as usual).
You can if you like. The issue is less with the quality of the system getting the water to your building, but with the local storage of cold water prior to it coming out of your tap. Bottled water is everywhere, though no BPA-free labelling.

busybee2

corniche is definately going local only, expats will have to go elsewhere, so i would get in there if you can quick. same with skmc too.

csdf

Really? That's a real shame. So the premier maternity hospital in the Emirate (possibly in the country?) is going to be locals only? What's the best alternative?

archie159

What's your source for that? Specifically for SKMC? We know several doctors working at SKMC, and they all say that is just one of those bored-housewife rumours that comes around every few years, and is not the case. If you know better, please tell us why you are so definite.

TMurfitt

Hi CSDF, thank you so much for all those answers, they are all very helpful!
BusyBee2, do you know if I'll make it in time by getting there in January, are there any other good enough hospitals on Island?

busybee2

another expat said that she had all all her appointments cancelled at skmc and had to find another place... dont know which section tho... some clinics you can get exemptions so they would presumably still see them. i had heard from midwives at corniche etc that its definately going local etc in time.

archie159

When specialist doctors resign (as happens regularly at SKMC) they often cancel appointments indefinitely, as they need to wait till they find and hire a new one. It's happened to us, but had nothing to do with nationality, and everything to do with lack of doctors.

For the Corniche, "in time" is the key word - and even then I'd be hesitant about saying "definitely". I do know they have reduced the number of insurance companies they deal with, and sometimes won't take the basic (low-level) policies that even the "acceptable insurers" (such as Daman) provide - and I've heard also they no longer accept self-payment, but don't know if that is just rumour. This has had the net effect of making it harder for some expats to get in there, but I don't know anyone who is actually involved in either of those hospitals at a reasonably senior level who'd agree with your statement that both are "going local only".