Originally Posted by lullabelle

Don't move to MBZ city. you may get a huge villa but there's nothing there except Mussafah, and why on earth would anyone want to go there unless they worked there? I worked there and I will be happy to never see the place again. Even if you can get excellent cheap curries cut price booze.

These housing areas are really not anything like you expect. seeing them on the internet doesn't really prepare you. The distances are far greater than you imagine and some of those places really are very... err....deserty. And not in a romantic, rolling dune way.

My friend lived in Al Reef and to be absolutely honest you would have had to pay me to live there. I'm sure it suits some and each to their own but it is sooooooo far out and soooooo close to the airport and soooooooo oppressive feeling and I thought it was rather scruffy.

Another mate lived in Al Raha and rather liked it - but it goes on for miles. She was close to Al Yasmina school and there seemed to be more happening around there. No facilities though, so if you want a pool/gym etc you will be disappointed.

We looked around off island and the best areas by far were Bain Al Jesrain, Mangrove, seashore, and Golf Gardens. The apartments at Al Bandar are stunning but there are some noise issues from Yas.

Personally i would go for a smaller villa in a better area. Or even a lovely apartment. Cheaper on the chiller and a better quality of life I think.

Originally Posted by busybee2

hahahaha still alive......... and its my birthday today so another year closer to death as you put it!!!

if you are going to be going to CIS my first choice would be KCA, I am glad that I dont have to go into KCA from the main mussafah road, as getting off the main road people push in and its 2 lanes going up the slip road on a 1 lane road, and then people pushing to get onto the main road and then big traffic then at the roundabout, pretty slow going up to the next roundabout which is where you would then turn right upto cis. Al Reef is also ok but much further commute, but you are then having to sit at the new traffic lights which take an age to change, but you can then go through the back way into CIS and therefore miss a lot of the traffic up from all the other schools such as Raha, Yasmina, Gems, Chouefiat, etc

Originally Posted by leepee

Thanks for that BB.....

Looking at a (not very clear) map I got the impression that Al Raha is pretty convienient for CIS - by which I mean no big scary roads to deal with for a while at least. From Al Raha would I have to do the main road you talked about? How long roughly do you think the journey will take? I like the idea of an independant villa but frankly feel that being in an expatty style area would be better for helping the kids to settle in a bit faster.

Thanks!
Lisa

Originally Posted by leepee

Hi all

We are looking at a possible move to Abu Dhabi in a few months time. If it does come off I would be trying to get the kids into the Canadian International School (they are currently at school in Calgary, Canada). I am pretty sure it is located in or near to Khalifa A.

Looking online I keep finding pretty reasonable priced housing options(3-4bed around 165 - 180,000 dirhams) - not something I was really expecting. I am wondering if maybe it isn't such a great area?? Or, have prices really come down. This is a move that was postponed and when I was looking last yr things seemed more pricey??

Would really appreciate opinions
Thanks
Lisa

Originally Posted by John7

Renting a villa, means you will pay electricity bills, and for a villa it might cost you as much as Dhs. 2,000 a month, but having a flat ususally the electricity bill will reach upto Dhs. 150 a month, but you need to make sure that the flat with a Central AC, which is paid by the owner

Originally Posted by John7

It is far a way from downtown, it is basically villas, and not much of foreigners living in it, if you have a budget in the range of Dhs. 165,000 - 200,000, then you may consider having a good flat in a tower inside Abu Dhabi city itself, being new to the country this will be more convenient to you in terms of shopping, schools ...etc

Renting a villa, means you will pay electricity bills, and for a villa it might cost you as much as Dhs. 2,000 a month, but having a flat ususally the electricity bill will reach upto Dhs. 150 a month, but you need to make sure that the flat with a Central AC, which is paid by the owner

Originally Posted by busybee2

what no many foreigners in khalifa city, far from it, it will be mostly expat.

Originally Posted by John7

Yes I agree with you, but the area is basically residential area for locals, some locals they have one villa and some of them they have compounds, in which they are renting for foriegners, unlike Al Raha and other towns which is managed and owned semi-government organizations