commander

True! Cheers

Meow

You too? I know quite a few families who are leaving this year. Not a great sign for Dubai.

Millhouse

I'm wondering this. I know lots leaving - and more than last year. I'm thinking its the combination of the rising costs but also the potential for better opportunities back home. Most came here on the 2008 lifeboat and are now leaving as the UK has upticked.

My house has been up for sale for 9 months - we have not had a single viewing for the past 4. The agent checked in a week ago to see if the sign was still up - but said he wasn't worried that the market has slowed a bit...different this time etc. He wasn't here in 2008.

It won't affect Dubai too much though - there are many other sinking ships sending their lifeboats here. I have noticed that rents have every-so-slightly dropped -- or at least stopped their rapid growth.

Meow

Most of the people that I know who are leaving came here well before 2008. Many of the long term expats are leaving, not just the ones who came with the intention of staying a few years.

scrubbedexpat141

Lots of people on this bored seem to be disappearing.

Rent prices are offensive here in Dubai at the moment, but such is. They can't really go much higher, 1beds in Disco Gardens are c80,000 which is crazy. Any higher and who will live there?

Millhouse

any idea why??

Meow

Invariably money related, in one form or another.

weasel decentral

I shall be gone by end of July, though I am not Dubai based. Mainly because the coffers are reasonably full but also because things are picking up elsewhere and the ME was only meant to be a temporary hideout. Though now it is close to 5 years!

Bahtatboy

Its only ever about one or more of three things: money, greener grass, or running away from something. Usually, money.

commander

Yea, we had no intention of leaving to be honest. An opportunity arose in another country so decided to take the plunge while my little one is young enough. Plus our daughter was born here and knows no different, which isn't a good thing as Dubai has no real community and some of the moral and ethical "norms" are not what I want her to grow up with. At 6 years old, last week she told us she didn't want to move because in our new location they don't do Friday brunches....that sealed it.

We have loved our time here, but change is good and in my industry and with my contacts, I could get myself back if I wanted.

Gonna miss the cycle tracks but that is about it really. I can't reel of many other things that aren't readily available where we are going.

commander

I'm not sure which category I fall into. Definitely not running away as I'm staying with the same company. Not greener grass as I have no misconception about where we are going. Definitely not about money as I will be a whole lot worse off each month after mortgage payments etc.

I think it's a move back to normality. (guess that is the greener grass)

Irishbeekeeper

that!
I may be wrong but the more time I spend here the more I feel that this would be a very tricky place for parents to try and raise their kids (teenagers especially) properly.
Kudos to the ones who already are btw

winter

6 years ago, disco gardens cost 100, 000, then when the bubble burst, it dropped to 40.

scrubbedexpat141

Christ almighty.