archie159

Al Bandar is one of the developments opposite Yas - I've got American colleagues there, and they like it a lot. But you aren't in town.

AED220k will get you a lot in Abu Dhabi these days - we pay AED200k for a 4BR villa in fairly central Abu Dhabi (Al Karama area). I wouldn't massively recommend Al Reef unless you want to be close to the airport - its probably fine for families, but I think a single man alone in a villa there might get a bit bored. Al Raha gardens would be well within your budget, but again not in town, and many families. If you do go for Abu Dhabi, I'd take either a smaller villa in town, or one of the many new apartments coming on line - when I lived here on my own, for nearly 9 months prior to the family arriving, I actually socialised out a lot more than I do now, and it was great to be able to walk or short-taxi. Al Reef, Al Raha etc are much more of a trek if you want to head out for a quick drink.

One final idea - a (single) male British colleague of mine is seriously looking at the St Regis apartments on Saadiyat. They are fairly quick to get into town from, and also quick to the airport. He also loves the ability to get onto the beach or golf-course with a short walk.

Ethos83

If you want a villa in Dubai get one of the bungalow style villas in Al Barsha. A couple project managers at my old company shared one of these villas and threw massive parties on the weekends when they weren't working in Iraq or Afghanistan. I've a feeling such an environment would be right up your alley. Their villa had a pool too.

Patsy would probably be able to chime in on the current rents.

GolfGardener

I'd certainly give Al Reef a wide berth if I were a single man with a decent budget. Sure, it's close to the airport but a long way from anything else.

As other have suggested, Al Raha Beach (Al Bandar/Al Muneera/Al Zeina) seems like to best bet. You'd get a great apartment for around 120k, have pools, gyms, beach, shops & restaurants (at least one with a license) on your doorstep, be just ten minutes drive from the airport and the same from the bars on Yas Island.

In fact I can't think why you'd bother looking anywere else unless you decide you really want a villa, in which case KCA is the place - 200k will get you something huge with a pool there and you'll be even closer to work.

flares

Etihad plaza.

Hubbabubba

busybee2

6. not al reef, thats not the best villa area, if you dont want to be that far away then kca or raha beach, al munera is good.

busybee2

al bandar is raha beach but beware its an aldar property and district cooling and noise from the airport, pick carefully, obviously some right up close to the runway/approach

weasel decentral

I am mulling over the villa idea, I am not sure if its just a desire to live like a bit of a nobber for a couple of years or not.

weasel decentral

overall it seems like the apartment seems a better idea, be it AD or DXB. Like i mentioned above I need to figure out if I just want to lord it up for a while or not. The price difference between the villa and apartment seems to wide to justify the extravagance, but anyhow.
Thanks for the suggestions so far, keep them coming please. I have some decisions to take soon so all information is good.

scrubbedexpat141

The villa's behind the Gloria Hotel in Dubai...not sure what they are called, but chalet bungalow type things. Good access to SZR and there is a pub on compound.

That or JLT / Marina, get a swanky 3 bed apartment and lord it up a bit.

If you get sick of it then you can always move to AD, that airport job will go on long enough for a few rentals.

Millhouse

Motorcity

Nice pool, massive apartments, shops below (sadly no bars to speak off that near by), good access to AD. Other factors to consider are that they are cheap as chips and populated by bored single teachers who need to be serviced.

weasel decentral

I feel old as I type this but servicing teachers is not on my list of priorities. Will take a look at motor city though, despite the feeling I get that it is an isolated urban wasteland.

scrubbedexpat141

Don't bother mate.

Your budget for accomm will get you a mac-daddy place in the marina...or even a more mac-daddy place in JLT. A pal has a 4 bed, 2 storey penthouse in JLT with huge terrace for BBQing etc for about 140,000. Yeah the traffic around JLT isn't amazing but in the 6 weeks I've been working here it has improved massively with a few changes to the road layout.

Otherwise, marina offers quick access to the Sheikhs Helmet for the boot to AD...and you'll not sit in traffic coming in because it doesn't build up there.

Millhouse

oh, yes - it's an isolated urban wasteland for sure.

depends on what you want - if it's good road access and cash then motorcity isn't bad. Also nice villas out that way.

If you like powerlines and massive 2 bed villas then JVT is good.

weasel decentral

Well its a toss up between saving some cash or living large (ish). Anyhow I have a few other choices to make regarding even deciding to come to the UAE. I will have to have a bit of a think about what I want to do in the next few years.

scrubbedexpat141

Why not compromise.

Knowing your employer, you can work in some seriously shit locations and you've been to some interesting places already.

Why not come to Dubai, live in a decent but not extravagant place and lord it up having fun before finishing that project and going somewhere a bit less 'exciting'.