Moving to Abu Dhabi
Discussion
Hi fellow PHers,
I am due to be moving to Abu Dhabi in Jan and have literally ZERO contacts in the town. Any dubai/abu dhabi tips for me?
The company has offered me a position in either city.. Which would you choose?
Would anyone want to meet for a coffee when I arrive to show me the ropes or impart any local knowledge?
I am due to be moving to Abu Dhabi in Jan and have literally ZERO contacts in the town. Any dubai/abu dhabi tips for me?
The company has offered me a position in either city.. Which would you choose?
Would anyone want to meet for a coffee when I arrive to show me the ropes or impart any local knowledge?
totally depends if your choice also extends to which office you're based in. i would say dubai but also would hate to have to commute to AD every day. it's over an hour each way and that's without traffic jams of which there are many.
dubai is deffo much more mature in terms of quality and variety of restaurants and in my opinion can offer a more varied social scene. its also less of a drive to barracuda, hehe.
i think sam's your man to answer this one, only one on here [i think] who has lived and worked in both.
dubai is deffo much more mature in terms of quality and variety of restaurants and in my opinion can offer a more varied social scene. its also less of a drive to barracuda, hehe.
i think sam's your man to answer this one, only one on here [i think] who has lived and worked in both.
shirt said:
totally depends if your choice also extends to which office you're based in. i would say dubai but also would hate to have to commute to AD every day. it's over an hour each way and that's without traffic jams of which there are many.
dubai is deffo much more mature in terms of quality and variety of restaurants and in my opinion can offer a more varied social scene. its also less of a drive to barracuda, hehe.
i think sam's your man to answer this one, only one on here [i think] who has lived and worked in both.
As Shirt says I have worked and lived in both AD and Dubai, so you have been offered a position in an office in either AD or Dubai? dubai is deffo much more mature in terms of quality and variety of restaurants and in my opinion can offer a more varied social scene. its also less of a drive to barracuda, hehe.
i think sam's your man to answer this one, only one on here [i think] who has lived and worked in both.
I enjoy both cities, Dubai is much more up-beat there is more going on, plenty of restaurants and good night spots. AD is much more chilled, more relaxed.
Are you coming here as a single or with family? If single then it has to be Dubai, if you'er bringing your family then either AD or Dubai.
Now get yourself over the 'what car' musings thread and start looking for a motor!
I've only lived in Abu Dhabi so won't tell you in which of the two to stay.
But I'll echo what was posted above about the commute between the two. I live in Abu Dhabi (as the wife works there), and work in Dubai at Jebel Ali. It's brutally boring and if there was an opportunity in Abu Dhabi I'd be there tomorrow. Plus it's over 1,000km/week onto the car.
My advice would be to avoid that commute at all costs.
But I'll echo what was posted above about the commute between the two. I live in Abu Dhabi (as the wife works there), and work in Dubai at Jebel Ali. It's brutally boring and if there was an opportunity in Abu Dhabi I'd be there tomorrow. Plus it's over 1,000km/week onto the car.
My advice would be to avoid that commute at all costs.
I can't think of any reason to choose to live in AD over Dubai, I am biased though.
Oh, apart from the fact you don't need to go to Barracuda, as long as you pay cash any of the booze shops are happy to serve you without a licence.
The rental market is a lot more weighted towards landlords in terms of the regulations in AD, no rental index and it's a lot easier to keep getting increases year after year.
As all above have said, do not have any illusions you will be able to cope with the commute if you live in one and work in the other, would be an awful trip to do 5 days a week.
Oh, apart from the fact you don't need to go to Barracuda, as long as you pay cash any of the booze shops are happy to serve you without a licence.
The rental market is a lot more weighted towards landlords in terms of the regulations in AD, no rental index and it's a lot easier to keep getting increases year after year.
As all above have said, do not have any illusions you will be able to cope with the commute if you live in one and work in the other, would be an awful trip to do 5 days a week.
Hey mate, just made the move here 3 weeks ago. My office is in Abu Dhabi but work takes me all over the region so there about a 25% chance I would be in Abu Dhabi on a daily basis. I got mixed views from my colleagues but most Western Expats particularly the single ones agreed that Dubai was a better option. So I got a great place in Dubai Marina within walking distance to the Marina Mall, Pier 7 and the Jumeriah Walk whilst being easy to get onto SZR / Metro & Tram.
Funnily enough commute wise I have a client in the DIFC and it takes 45mins to get across town on the Metro (no free parking) versus 60mins to get to my office on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi isn't all that bad either, it's a lot quieter and more relaxed then the madness of Dubai so it all depends on what you came to this part of the world for.
Just had a massive weekend for the Rugby 7's, the Dubai car show, the F1 the weekends before, driving up to Abu Dhabi for the Volvo Ocean Race this weekend so you won't be short of something to do.
Funnily enough commute wise I have a client in the DIFC and it takes 45mins to get across town on the Metro (no free parking) versus 60mins to get to my office on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi isn't all that bad either, it's a lot quieter and more relaxed then the madness of Dubai so it all depends on what you came to this part of the world for.
Just had a massive weekend for the Rugby 7's, the Dubai car show, the F1 the weekends before, driving up to Abu Dhabi for the Volvo Ocean Race this weekend so you won't be short of something to do.
thanks for the opinions, all echoing what I have been told already.
My main issue is that the AD office is smaller, its for a wealth management company and I get the impression there is more scope for progression in AD. Girlfriend lives in Dubai so I imagine my time would be split (but nice to have some distance to stop me leaning on her heavily in the first few months).
Is there a big expat community in Abu Dhabi or is it more Locals?
My main issue is that the AD office is smaller, its for a wealth management company and I get the impression there is more scope for progression in AD. Girlfriend lives in Dubai so I imagine my time would be split (but nice to have some distance to stop me leaning on her heavily in the first few months).
Is there a big expat community in Abu Dhabi or is it more Locals?
tomd1338 said:
thanks for the opinions, all echoing what I have been told already.
My main issue is that the AD office is smaller, its for a wealth management company and I get the impression there is more scope for progression in AD. Girlfriend lives in Dubai so I imagine my time would be split (but nice to have some distance to stop me leaning on her heavily in the first few months).
Is there a big expat community in Abu Dhabi or is it more Locals?
Please tell me it isn't DeVere, PIC or GlobalEye?My main issue is that the AD office is smaller, its for a wealth management company and I get the impression there is more scope for progression in AD. Girlfriend lives in Dubai so I imagine my time would be split (but nice to have some distance to stop me leaning on her heavily in the first few months).
Is there a big expat community in Abu Dhabi or is it more Locals?
Frankie Vaughn said:
dxbtiger said:
Please tell me it isn't DeVere, PIC or GlobalEye?
And the difference is???Global eye, on the other hand, seem to have a much higher quality of advisors, a few of whom I know personally and have shared many a beer with.
Thanks for the advice, I am aware its a bit of a tarnished profession with loads of idiots running around but I believe if you work hard and offer good advice you can still build a name for yourself.
I have been working in money markets for the last 4 years so do have experience of finance, just that the market is becoming very thin and the draw of sunshine and 0% tax was too much to resist. Hopefully I will be able to meet some of you in the coming year and chat about cars. Considering importing the Caterham over but I'll wait until im properly settled first!
I have been working in money markets for the last 4 years so do have experience of finance, just that the market is becoming very thin and the draw of sunshine and 0% tax was too much to resist. Hopefully I will be able to meet some of you in the coming year and chat about cars. Considering importing the Caterham over but I'll wait until im properly settled first!
tomd1338 said:
Thanks for the advice, I am aware its a bit of a tarnished profession with loads of idiots running around but I believe if you work hard and offer good advice you can still build a name for yourself.
I have been working in money markets for the last 4 years so do have experience of finance, just that the market is becoming very thin and the draw of sunshine and 0% tax was too much to resist. Hopefully I will be able to meet some of you in the coming year and chat about cars. Considering importing the Caterham over but I'll wait until im properly settled first!
I assume you got my (belated) email reply?I have been working in money markets for the last 4 years so do have experience of finance, just that the market is becoming very thin and the draw of sunshine and 0% tax was too much to resist. Hopefully I will be able to meet some of you in the coming year and chat about cars. Considering importing the Caterham over but I'll wait until im properly settled first!
Hard work will get you places yes, however I cannot reiterate enough what I said in the email about Dubai (and AD) being a small place, word travels quick and the aforementioned really do have very mixed (and mostly awful) reputations.
I don't understand why anyone who had 'wealth' would use them to manage it.
Are you qualified in any way shape or form to offer financial advice?
Echo the above question which was also in my email about basic salary v commission.
Edit - I'd almost say you'd be better going into Real Estate but the arse has already starting falling out of that market again.
Edited by dxbtiger on Tuesday 16th December 14:16
e21jason said:
If your bringing your caterham it to be LHD. Also I hope you on a salary rather than a bonus as the De Veere boys of this world have made that every expat is likely to hang up within 60 sec's
Yep, exactly what I do... you can tell within seconds of answering the phone that it's another "financial services" call to "advise expats on pensions and investments" so my stock answer is always the same...."not interested thank you, bye" and hang up the phone.
All my investments are done offshore managed from the UK and will remain so... that's the same for just about everyone I know here. Our HR department actually advises new starters to keep as little money in the UAE as possible in case of needing to make a sharp exit due to regime change or similar.
In short, good luck OP, you'll need it!
K50 DEL said:
All my investments are done offshore managed from the UK and will remain so... that's the same for just about everyone I know here. Our HR department actually advises new starters to keep as little money in the UAE as possible in case of needing to make a sharp exit due to regime change or similar.
In short, good luck OP, you'll need it!
Which reminds me, thanks for the contact, I must follow it up when I'm in the UK next week.. Or better still, before. Been a bit snowed under..In short, good luck OP, you'll need it!
In terms of GE, I've had one of their salesmen err. 'IFAs' fake what looked like an email exchange through LinkedIn and then sent to an email address for me which is relatively easy to find but not linked to that system so clearly made up. Sort of 'good to have met you through Dave, (or whatever), wild night that was at Barasti, was thinking of what you said about your investments and this excellent deal just popped into my PC' Utter
I did start investing through a personal recommendation over here and after the initial broker got sacked, the new one clearly knows f
k all about the investments and lost me a heap of money almost instantly. Spoke to a friend in this business in the UK, (who doesn't unfortunately deal with this market) and I would have a bloody good case for a complaint there, but not here. As Del says, good luck OP, but I'm sorry, I really wouldn't trust anyone over here, especially not if on commission only deals.
As for Estate Agents..
On a more helpful note, the commute between the two is a pain and well worth considering not doing. It does depend on where you are based at either end though; I'm luckily outside AUH and live at the edge of Dubai Marina and so about as easy as it gets. A friend works on the Corniche and lives Downtown so that makes a significant difference to the drive.
Rents here were getting silly but Gulf News reports today a levelling off. There is at least some protection from RERA here whereas big rent hikes in AUH you would not be protected from. I think DXB is growing faster than AUH, but there may be more opportunities in the latter, (fewer pissed off expats as a % of the leads you have). I've heard it said that if you moved to DXB you would regret moving to AUH after, but not the other way around though I don't spend enough time in AUH itself to know what its like outside of work and I suspect most who say this would be in the same position..
Rents here were getting silly but Gulf News reports today a levelling off. There is at least some protection from RERA here whereas big rent hikes in AUH you would not be protected from. I think DXB is growing faster than AUH, but there may be more opportunities in the latter, (fewer pissed off expats as a % of the leads you have). I've heard it said that if you moved to DXB you would regret moving to AUH after, but not the other way around though I don't spend enough time in AUH itself to know what its like outside of work and I suspect most who say this would be in the same position..
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