Where to live?
 

Hello all...

My job is shifting from Al Ain to off island Abu Dhabi (Zayed Military City). We are weighing the pros and cons of staying off island AD or Dubai. The company expects my housing budget to be 220k or less all fees included. There's 4 of us so we're trying for a 3 bed.

Basically AD is limited to MBZ, Khalifa City, Raha, and Reef. Dubai options are Ranches, Em Living, maybe a nice apartment on the Palm. I need input on traffic, quality of life, etc from some of these places so we can make an informed decision.

There is one more big factor here: schools. We have a 5 year old in reception and I don't want to pay through the nose (worse than I am) for a decent school (American or Brit).

The move is to happen at the end of Jan.

Basically, is driving an hour each way worth it for the family?

Thanks all...

Re: Where to live?
 

Does this thread have the plague?

I thought I'd get loads of responses in the vein of: Avoid (fill in development) because traffic is terrible.

Or: Have you considered _____, we just love it!

Re: Where to live?
 

Check out this new development, we love it!

Re: Where to live?
 

I don't care for Abu Dhabi. Dubai has more social activities, better restaurants and malls, and the beaches are far better.

Stick to the south end of Dubai and you will be fine. The commute is annoying, but as ong as you aren't going onto the island itself it should stay just under 1 hour each way.

Look at the Springs. Can you pocket your housing allowance difference? If so rent a 3-bed for 135K and save the rest. If not, get a Meadows/Lakes villa. I have to say I was in the Lakes the other day and was surprised at how so many of the villas, all fairly new, were already showing signs of shoddy workmanship with ill-fitting doors and windows and cracks in the walls. But that's Dubai for you.

Ranches is a bit further north.

Other option is a glam dam apartment in the lower end of the Marina, just by the exit ramp for Abu.

Re: Where to live?
 

Right. I've searched high and low on this site and the rest of the internet and found a load data that isn't helpful. What I want can only be provided by someone living in one of the aforementioned developments right now. Threads from 6 mos ago are irrelevant.

Re: Where to live?
 

We are looking at Springs but I'm concerned about traffic in and out of the development. When we went to look it seemed there were only 2 ways in or out. I don't mind the hour drive to AD, but if I spend 30 mins getting out of the development thats no good.

Re: Where to live?
 

well, as most people are aware by now, we're in the Marina and it's easy to access. Can't help on schools though.

The Palm strikes me as a bit of an odd choice - i don't know what it's like at peak-times, but there's only one way in and out.

Re: Where to live?
 

Precisely. Intriguing due to beach access but I wondered about traffic.

Re: Where to live?
 

I think you'd have to go see the quality of the beach access.
Certainly the public beach at JBR is nothing short of foul, with cigarette butts, ring-pulls and all kids of junk just left there. We always use one of the hotel's beaches and just have to buy a small alcoholic beverage to show willing... such a hard life!

Re: Where to live?
 

JBR's beaches can be nasty, but the public beaches in Jumeira and Umm Suqeim are very pleasant.

Re: Where to live?
 

Beaches on the Palm looked nice according to my wife. She looked at some 3 beds in Tiara. If anyone lives on the palm I'd love to hear if there are traffic probs.

Re: Where to live?
 

the sand feels like gravel to me

Re: Where to live?
 

How does the traffic feel?

Re: Where to live?
 

what is your budget and have you got a school place sorted out yet? do you want a villa or an apartment?

edited to say on a budget of 220k I would seriously look at the Lakes Development

Re: Where to live?
 

I was around the Lakes yesterday and thought it was far nicer than the palm, the palm seems over built and very little privacy for what you pay. I live in Tecom which is not far from the Lakes and the traffic is fine in the morning- I leave at half 6 though- by 8 its a bit of a bugger getting onto the SZR but once your on it the traffic is moving (as long as there are no accidents).

Schools I have no idea I'm afraid.

Re: Where to live?
 

We are starting to refine our search thanks to the advice received here. We expect that we will live in either the Springs or Lakes. School should be Regent or King's depending mostly on spaces. I think we've all but ruled out living in AD. The hour drive looks very much worth it for the benefits of living anywhere in Dubai.

Re: Where to live?
 

my daughter is at Regent, you should get onto them they seem pretty full I have to say :)

Re: Where to live?
 

Live in the Palm. Absolutely no traffic problem. However, there is nothing walking distance and only a few building have mini-marts (expensive and only the basics).

Re: Where to live?
 

We've never had a problem with traffic either.

Barca, Gusto, Cabana and Biddi Bondi are all walkable.

Re: Where to live?
 

Noted, the Palm may have to be considered. We've never lived in an apartment before so I don't know how the minor inconveniences add up, like making multiple trips carrying groceries up 7 stories or so.

There certainly seem to be some appealing 3 beds on the shoreline in the right budget.

Re: Where to live?
 

if we weren't where we are now we would be on the Palm :)

Re: Where to live?
 

Buy one of the metal trolleys and a plastic box from IKEA. Then it takes one trip.

Re: Where to live?
 

I nicked one from Choithrams :eek:

Re: Where to live?
 

All good to know. The palm was waning in our opinion but has rejoined the contenders. We'll see what happens with prices between now and January I suppose.

Re: Where to live?
 

this is nailbiting...

Re: Where to live?
 

Nailbiting it is not.

What it is, however, is helpful practical advice.

Mangrove would be my first choice, but since that's impossible I'll "settle" for Dubai.

Re: Where to live?
 

Why impossible? there are empty houses? i guess the price is still stupid?

Re: Where to live?
 

No vacancies are advertised for Mangrove and I understand the going rate is nearly 400k. We need to coordinate school in advance and AD is waaaay more expensive with fewer options so we're better served by a sure thing. But hey, if you know of a place opening up there in January for 220k I'll take it!

Re: Where to live?
 

Sorry to hi-jack this thread, I really hope you won't mind OP.

What sort of 1 bed apartments can be expected in Dubai for around 70-80k? (Not including bills). When I get out at the beginning of next year I'll have 3 months accomodation sorted for me, after that I'll be looking at my own place (not provided for).
I too, will be commuting to Abu Dhabi (but also working out of their Dubai offices on certain days).

Re: Where to live?
 

See above.

Note: I'm rarely snarky but I've just been hijacked and this one was too obvious.

Re: Where to live?
 

moved the other way... you could move to Khalifa City A or Raha, both off island, and about the 220k mark for 3 beds.

schools wise - Al Yasmina is British Curriculum (39k aed/year), Al raha International is IB curriculum, and is 42k ad/year. there are cheaper schools in other parts of KCA.

Dubai - springs/lakes & meadows - villas are starting to fall apart, my ac had gone, and my waterpump was knackered also, when i lived there a few months ago. landlords can't be bothered to do maintenance, now that the rents have come down, and they don't want to fork out the extra cash. Springs 7,8, and 9 are good to get onto al khail/emirates road and get to abu dhabi without avoiding the traffic & 2 year + roadworks (on springs drive) that you will go through every day if you lived in the other springs (apart from springs 1&2). Lakes has best access to SZR. Greens/The Views, my opinion is that it is the best community, but for traffic it is definitely one to avoid, as it takes 30 mins just getting onto SZR every morning.

schoolwise - dubai british school & emirates international school in meadows/lakes/springs area, but places are limited and waiting lists may be closed.

if i was to stay in dubai, i'd stay in the newer developments maybe on the palm such as tiara residence - 220k for 3 bed (pricey compared to shoreline, as they are 175k on the right hand side, again 3 beds). alternatively, you may want to go for some aprtments or duplex apartments in the marina.

my reason for moving to abu dhabi - simple: commute is 90 mins - and i see an accident every day on the road, some minor, but some fatal..

Re: Where to live?
 

There are plenty of villas empty in mangrove. Trust me..

Re: Where to live?
 

Ahhhhhh... Everything you've mentioned is what I was afraid of (maint, traffic, accidents)

We'll likely look into Raha and Khalifa city a bit more, but lack of facilities is a big downer.

If the commute to Zayed Military City is 90 min from Dubai, I'll stay in Al Ain and remain blissfully ignorant.

Re: Where to live?
 

dubai marina to zmc is 60 mins.
i drive extra 30mins, as i work in the city.

Re: Where to live?
 

how much are they going for nowadays?

Re: Where to live?
 

i really do not know