Madam Medusa

weather is rubbish...huge sandstorms at the moment...can't wait for the sun to return...

MM, xx

axlenoyl

Snowing in the UK and 2 degrees

Blue Cat

so I hear but you have the luxury of central heating

Live for now

You mean your air conditioning systems are not heat pumps? You will be telling me hot water is by solar only next? Went to Turkey last year and didnt realise that, you had to wait for 2 hrs sunshine before you could have a warm shower and it was cold.See you all soon.

Blue Cat

not sure about everyone elses AC but mine definately isn't we have tried it a couple of times with no luck. No solar energy out here which does surprise me. Apparently it is too expensive to set up

Live for now

One of the cheapest forms of green energy and one of the only ones with a reasonable pay back, but it of course depends who owns the utility company!

Blue Cat

I agree!! there was a shop on the SZR who sold solar energy panels but it closed down. I remember it was discussed on the radio some time back as to why it isn't an option here but I can't remember the outcome! maybe it is TOO hot in the summer

Cham128

prob takes too long to install... oh and the energy companies out there wouldn't like it...

but solar panels are fairly robust nowadays... all the BP garages here use them for power... apparently one day of UK sun, is enough to run the garage for two weeks

Francesca McAuliffe

Hi All,

We have been looking at accomodation in Dubai and looks like we will have around AED180,000. We ideally want a villa but the only places coming up are Arabian Ranches. Is anyone familliar with these villas. I take from the amount of them available that there is something wrong with them or they are in a bad area? I really do not know where I am supposed to be looking and the good and bad areas.

We want a villa as will probably be bringing two cats but would prefer a really nice appartment as apose to grotty villa if its all we can afford. I do not want to be in the marina, as it looks really built up with lots of tower blocks. I am affraid of moving to Dubai and being stuck on the 50th floor (slight exageration) of a tower block. We are looking for a nice area, close to malls, restaurants and local amenities but not smack bang in the middle of it all. Am I asking the earth???

Please get back to me with some areas and what they are like. Also is it usual that accomodation is completely unfurnished and has to be furnished bythe tenant?

Look forward to hearing from you

Thanks again, would be completely lost without your help.

Francesca xx

MataHari

maybe it's best to come here and stay in furnished accomodation for a couple of weeks and just take your time getting to know Dubai, get familiar with the different areas....it's very had to give advise on these things...I wouldn't live in AR, but I quite like the Marina...
Thing to remember is the traffic so try and live as close as possible to where you work...
There are lots more areas with villas apart from AR by the way...and there is nothing wrong with AR villas as far as I know.

Blue Cat

The villas on the Ranches are really nice, I have a couple of friends living up there. I think it is the location that puts people off and the roundabout! Northernlad lives up there so it might be better to speak to him for his thoughts. The houses are actually the same as the ones on the Springs/Meadows, same developer. Where will your husband be working?

Inselaffen

If you want a low rise apartment try the Greens. Very close to mall of the Emirates.

NorthernLad

We live in Arabian Ranches, currently in townhouse but probably going to buy a villa in Saheel.

The roundabout is a pain, but you actually become immune to it eventually, and plan accordingly for getting to work/nights out.

We have 2 cats and it is perfect for them - they can be let out on an evening to roam and are relatively safe.

I am not sure why there are a lot of villas available up here, we were astounded at the amount of empty Saheel villas - most likely greedy landlords asking ridiculous rents or greedy owners trying to sell them for way more than they are worth (can you see a pattern here?).

I'm not a fan of the marina, if you buy a place with any land next to it, you can almost guarantee it will be home to another tower block within a few months. And we like a garden for bbqs.

Live for now

[ And we like a garden for bbqs.[/QUOTE]

Is that an invite from one northern lad to another

axlenoyl

43 logged on at the minute could be some barbecue!