Moving to uae (abu dhabi)
May 17th 2015, 12:39 pm
#31
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,520
Re: Moving to uae (abu dhabi)
Perhaps I did exaggerate a bit.
1985 is a little extreme. A more apt comparison would be a sleepy provincial city of 1995.
I have been the length and breadth of Abu Dhabi, from the Corniche and Khalidiya to Reem Island to the stadium area to Raha Beach and the other offshore islands and the mangroves and Yas, from the fancy malls and hotels to whatever passes for local ones, and every place confirms one thing: Abu Dhabi is a quiet town. Nothing wrong with that, it's what some people like and prefer, but it's indisputably a quiet city when compared to Dubai. It's smaller. The range of restaurants is far smaller, the range of shops is more limited (though I don't care about that) and it lacks that distinctive urban energy that Dubai has. Having talked to scores of people who've lived in both AD and Dubai the consensus is also Abu Dhabi is quiet. The singles say, 'it's ok but it's not Dubai'. The families say, 'it's a nice place to raise a family although Dubai seems to have more things for families to do'.
There are some things I do like about Abu Dhabi. It's much greener than Dubai, even if that's due to massive watering schemes and is hardly sustainable. If you make a solid group of friends AD can still be a good experience. But I easily see why many people prefer to commute.
1985 is a little extreme. A more apt comparison would be a sleepy provincial city of 1995.
There are some things I do like about Abu Dhabi. It's much greener than Dubai, even if that's due to massive watering schemes and is hardly sustainable. If you make a solid group of friends AD can still be a good experience. But I easily see why many people prefer to commute.
May 17th 2015, 12:44 pm
#32
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,520
Re: Moving to uae (abu dhabi)
Not really the case anymore, when you compare like for like.
Dubai is now more expensive for prime property. Reem Island and Raha beach are cheaper than their counterparts in Dubai.
I can find a basic 1-bedroom apartment near the corniche for under 70K, which admittedly won't be in the best of buildings, but it's doable. Can't touch any one-bedroom anywhere along Sheikh Zayed Road from the Marina to Bur Dubai for under 70K in Dubai.
I won't comment on villas as I don't know that market.
Dubai is now more expensive for prime property. Reem Island and Raha beach are cheaper than their counterparts in Dubai.
I can find a basic 1-bedroom apartment near the corniche for under 70K, which admittedly won't be in the best of buildings, but it's doable. Can't touch any one-bedroom anywhere along Sheikh Zayed Road from the Marina to Bur Dubai for under 70K in Dubai.
I won't comment on villas as I don't know that market.
hmmmm dxb is still less expensive than auh... and its not going to get any better as there is a shortage of units coming online.... some areas were mentioned just recently that they have declined in rental amounts... there is nowhere in auh because now there is no rent cap unlike rera in dxb which controls it to a certain degree.... auh is expensive being the capital and dont think its going change.... some areas will be affected by the expo2020.
May 17th 2015, 6:52 pm
#33
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,125
Re: Moving to uae (abu dhabi)
Perhaps I did exaggerate a bit.
1985 is a little extreme. A more apt comparison would be a sleepy provincial city of 1995.
I have been the length and breadth of Abu Dhabi, from the Corniche and Khalidiya to Reem Island to the stadium area to Raha Beach and the other offshore islands and the mangroves and Yas, from the fancy malls and hotels to whatever passes for local ones, and every place confirms one thing: Abu Dhabi is a quiet town. Nothing wrong with that, it's what some people like and prefer, but it's indisputably a quiet city when compared to Dubai. It's smaller. The range of restaurants is far smaller, the range of shops is more limited (though I don't care about that) and it lacks that distinctive urban energy that Dubai has. Having talked to scores of people who've lived in both AD and Dubai the consensus is also Abu Dhabi is quiet. The singles say, 'it's ok but it's not Dubai'. The families say, 'it's a nice place to raise a family although Dubai seems to have more things for families to do'.
There are some things I do like about Abu Dhabi. It's much greener than Dubai, even if that's due to massive watering schemes and is hardly sustainable. If you make a solid group of friends AD can still be a good experience. But I easily see why many people prefer to commute.
1985 is a little extreme. A more apt comparison would be a sleepy provincial city of 1995.
I have been the length and breadth of Abu Dhabi, from the Corniche and Khalidiya to Reem Island to the stadium area to Raha Beach and the other offshore islands and the mangroves and Yas, from the fancy malls and hotels to whatever passes for local ones, and every place confirms one thing: Abu Dhabi is a quiet town. Nothing wrong with that, it's what some people like and prefer, but it's indisputably a quiet city when compared to Dubai. It's smaller. The range of restaurants is far smaller, the range of shops is more limited (though I don't care about that) and it lacks that distinctive urban energy that Dubai has. Having talked to scores of people who've lived in both AD and Dubai the consensus is also Abu Dhabi is quiet. The singles say, 'it's ok but it's not Dubai'. The families say, 'it's a nice place to raise a family although Dubai seems to have more things for families to do'.
There are some things I do like about Abu Dhabi. It's much greener than Dubai, even if that's due to massive watering schemes and is hardly sustainable. If you make a solid group of friends AD can still be a good experience. But I easily see why many people prefer to commute.
May 18th 2015, 11:26 am
#36
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: Moving to uae (abu dhabi)
What about the moratorium on building imposed between 1999 and 2001?
May 19th 2015, 6:01 am
#38
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Moving to uae (abu dhabi)
Malls in AD are alright actually, what's Yas Mall like?
May 19th 2015, 6:32 am
#39
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Abu Dhabi by body and Sydney by soul
Posts: 1,841
Re: Moving to uae (abu dhabi)
Yas Mall is pretty good. I concede that we said "This feels like Dubai". 
They have introduced some new shops to the scene and the restaurants are ok in it too. Being connected to Ferrari world means that one day, I might even get on a ride.
The 2030 plan of moving everything out towards KCA seems to be happening. There are now restaurants and bars that people have recommended that i haven't been to yet. Unheard of 3 years ago.
They have introduced some new shops to the scene and the restaurants are ok in it too. Being connected to Ferrari world means that one day, I might even get on a ride.The 2030 plan of moving everything out towards KCA seems to be happening. There are now restaurants and bars that people have recommended that i haven't been to yet. Unheard of 3 years ago.
May 19th 2015, 6:33 am
#40
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Moving to uae (abu dhabi)
Yas Mall is pretty good. I concede that we said "This feels like Dubai". They have introduced some new shops to the scene and the restaurants are ok in it too. Being connected to Ferrari world means that one day, I might even get on a ride.
The 2030 plan of moving everything out towards KCA seems to be happening. There are now restaurants and bars that people have recommended that i haven't been to yet. Unheard of 3 years ago.
They have introduced some new shops to the scene and the restaurants are ok in it too. Being connected to Ferrari world means that one day, I might even get on a ride.The 2030 plan of moving everything out towards KCA seems to be happening. There are now restaurants and bars that people have recommended that i haven't been to yet. Unheard of 3 years ago.
Might take the mrs shopping somewhere different
May 19th 2015, 7:19 am
#41
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: Moving to uae (abu dhabi)
If it opened in 99, then it was clearly started before the moratorium...
May 19th 2015, 8:14 am
#42
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,520
Re: Moving to uae (abu dhabi)
Yas is all right. Weird layout.
A mistake, IMO. The focus should be redeveloping the Corniche area into a proper downtown with lots of new cafes and shops and streetlife. Such an area would give AD an advantage over Dubai's lack of centre and sprawl and help it develop a personality that doesn't involve howling dogs and tumbleweeds. By repeating what Dubai did with New Dubai you're only encouraging an increasing split between off-island/Reem and the Corniche area, with the latter slowly but steadily turning unfashionable and shabby despite the prime location.
Look at Doha. Many older blocks particularly around Souq Waqif are being demolished and replaced with new ones, and when it's all said and done Doha could actually have a decently walkable and proper urban downtown environment.
Look at Doha. Many older blocks particularly around Souq Waqif are being demolished and replaced with new ones, and when it's all said and done Doha could actually have a decently walkable and proper urban downtown environment.
