Am I the only person moving TO Dubai at the moment?
Discussion
Just when it looks like everyone is leaving Dubai... I am moving there at the end of March to start a new job! I thought it was probably time I stopped lurking on here and said hello.
Car-wise, I'm a fan of anything old or different but I expect I may have to settle for something a bit more reliable to get me through the hot summers in Dubai. I am moving over at the end of March so I may well start a 'What car?' type thread once I get my feet on the sand. I'm looking forward to the F1 in Abu Dhabi already!!
Car-wise, I'm a fan of anything old or different but I expect I may have to settle for something a bit more reliable to get me through the hot summers in Dubai. I am moving over at the end of March so I may well start a 'What car?' type thread once I get my feet on the sand. I'm looking forward to the F1 in Abu Dhabi already!!
Welcome.
I moved out a year ago at the time when there were stories of queues at the airports and streets littered with abandoned exotica. I even read a story about some woman living in a roller in a hotel car park and thankfully it was mostly hot air expelled by the good ole british press.
There's a few old hands on here and a few of us who've been here a year or less so if you've got any questions have a read through the other 'I'm moving to Dubai have I got enough shower gel' threads below or ask away.
Good luck with the move!
Hitch
I moved out a year ago at the time when there were stories of queues at the airports and streets littered with abandoned exotica. I even read a story about some woman living in a roller in a hotel car park and thankfully it was mostly hot air expelled by the good ole british press.
There's a few old hands on here and a few of us who've been here a year or less so if you've got any questions have a read through the other 'I'm moving to Dubai have I got enough shower gel' threads below or ask away.
Good luck with the move!
Hitch
Mattt said:
I can confirm that you can buy shower gel in the UAE 
Not quite sure what my boss was on about when he said that.
Sorry, couldn't resist - always makes me chuckle that one. I think he is a master of the classic wind up - has he ever asked you to get him some tartan paint or a tin of elbow grease?Not quite sure what my boss was on about when he said that.
Welcome to the Middle East!! 
Good time to get here as well as it’s not hot yet so you will have time to adjust! And if you’re in to anything with an engine then you’re in luck as there's plenty of nice toys around these parts. If you have been lurking on here for a while you'll have seen that we are spread out around the Middle East, Bahrain (only me!??) Qatar, any takers for Oman Saudi and Q8...??
I’ve only been in Bahrain for just over 4 months and love it, having been in and out of the Middle East since I was 4 years old, once your settled in Dubai check out the surrounding areas!
And yes, I’m sure you have already hence the move but leave any bad press BS you may have seen at home, Dubai is fine and has its problems just like any other country at this current time and i think the Dubaions.. Dubaians.... Dubs...
on here will back me up on that! 
Plenty of this too
with very pleasant views!
Enjoy!
Good time to get here as well as it’s not hot yet so you will have time to adjust! And if you’re in to anything with an engine then you’re in luck as there's plenty of nice toys around these parts. If you have been lurking on here for a while you'll have seen that we are spread out around the Middle East, Bahrain (only me!??) Qatar, any takers for Oman Saudi and Q8...??
I’ve only been in Bahrain for just over 4 months and love it, having been in and out of the Middle East since I was 4 years old, once your settled in Dubai check out the surrounding areas!
And yes, I’m sure you have already hence the move but leave any bad press BS you may have seen at home, Dubai is fine and has its problems just like any other country at this current time and i think the Dubaions.. Dubaians.... Dubs...
on here will back me up on that! Plenty of this too
with very pleasant views!Enjoy!
Hitch78 said:
Mattt said:
I can confirm that you can buy shower gel in the UAE
Not quite sure what my boss was on about when he said that.
Sorry, couldn't resist - always makes me chuckle that one. I think he is a master of the classic wind up - has he ever asked you to get him some tartan paint or a tin of elbow grease?Not quite sure what my boss was on about when he said that.
Thanks for the replies everyone. Some of this shower gel banter is lost on me, but I think I get the general idea... no doubt I will have some silly questions of my own before too long!
The first time I went to Dubai was in October 2009, well after all of the 'cars abandoned at airport' stories but just before the 'Dubai can't pay back it's loans' news hit the British press. In fact, I accepted the job literally a week before all this hit the fan and I admit it did cause me to wobble a bit. But at least rents seem to be much lower now and I gather the roads a a bit quieter than they once were?
I'll be in temporary accommodation to start with but I will need to look for a place of my own - I was thinking of looking for an apartment around the Marina. I know a couple of people there already but I'm not so familiar with the rest of Dubai yet. Any other recommendations?
Definitely looking forward to exploring the rest of the region once I get sorted.
The first time I went to Dubai was in October 2009, well after all of the 'cars abandoned at airport' stories but just before the 'Dubai can't pay back it's loans' news hit the British press. In fact, I accepted the job literally a week before all this hit the fan and I admit it did cause me to wobble a bit. But at least rents seem to be much lower now and I gather the roads a a bit quieter than they once were?
I'll be in temporary accommodation to start with but I will need to look for a place of my own - I was thinking of looking for an apartment around the Marina. I know a couple of people there already but I'm not so familiar with the rest of Dubai yet. Any other recommendations?
Definitely looking forward to exploring the rest of the region once I get sorted.
Gentleman Geoff said:
Thanks for the replies everyone. Some of this shower gel banter is lost on me, but I think I get the general idea... no doubt I will have some silly questions of my own before too long!
The first time I went to Dubai was in October 2009, well after all of the 'cars abandoned at airport' stories but just before the 'Dubai can't pay back it's loans' news hit the British press. In fact, I accepted the job literally a week before all this hit the fan and I admit it did cause me to wobble a bit. But at least rents seem to be much lower now and I gather the roads a a bit quieter than they once were?
I'll be in temporary accommodation to start with but I will need to look for a place of my own - I was thinking of looking for an apartment around the Marina. I know a couple of people there already but I'm not so familiar with the rest of Dubai yet. Any other recommendations?
Definitely looking forward to exploring the rest of the region once I get sorted.
Biggest thing I found with accommodation is that it is very difficult to get short term leases. We were in a right old pickle and had to suffer the indignity of a few weeks at the Habtoor grand in a huge suite as we couldn't find anywhere. Eventually, we got a place at the ar$e end of the Marina. Nice enough, but you wouldn't want to be there too long. The first time I went to Dubai was in October 2009, well after all of the 'cars abandoned at airport' stories but just before the 'Dubai can't pay back it's loans' news hit the British press. In fact, I accepted the job literally a week before all this hit the fan and I admit it did cause me to wobble a bit. But at least rents seem to be much lower now and I gather the roads a a bit quieter than they once were?
I'll be in temporary accommodation to start with but I will need to look for a place of my own - I was thinking of looking for an apartment around the Marina. I know a couple of people there already but I'm not so familiar with the rest of Dubai yet. Any other recommendations?
Definitely looking forward to exploring the rest of the region once I get sorted.
We've now moved to Mirdif, the other end of SZR.
Do you mind posting a few more details? I only ask as Mrs C and I had a F***ING nightmare (can't emphasise that enough) getting settled. My employer were crap and clueless, and we had to sort everything out ourselves....not an easy task when you don't have the first clue, about how thing work.
If your employer has agreed to sort everything (Visa's, Driving Licence, Rent agreements, Alcohol licence, vehicle licence....the list goes on) then this will be a big help.
If not, I strongly suggest you ask as much as you can on here. Given the pain I went through, I would be more than willing to help you with anything you need!
Chilli said:
Biggest thing I found with accommodation is that it is very difficult to get short term leases. We were in a right old pickle and had to suffer the indignity of a few weeks at the Habtoor grand in a huge suite as we couldn't find anywhere. Eventually, we got a place at the ar$e end of the Marina. Nice enough, but you wouldn't want to be there too long.
We've now moved to Mirdif, the other end of SZR.
Do you mind posting a few more details? I only ask as Mrs C and I had a F***ING nightmare (can't emphasise that enough) getting settled. My employer were crap and clueless, and we had to sort everything out ourselves....not an easy task when you don't have the first clue, about how thing work.
If your employer has agreed to sort everything (Visa's, Driving Licence, Rent agreements, Alcohol licence, vehicle licence....the list goes on) then this will be a big help.
If not, I strongly suggest you ask as much as you can on here. Given the pain I went through, I would be more than willing to help you with anything you need!
Thanks Chilli, that's very decent of you. My employer has been pretty good so far, and one of my colleagues moved to Dubai only a year or so ago, so he's been through all of these issues quite recently. But I will almost certainly be posting back with snags, problems or general rants!We've now moved to Mirdif, the other end of SZR.
Do you mind posting a few more details? I only ask as Mrs C and I had a F***ING nightmare (can't emphasise that enough) getting settled. My employer were crap and clueless, and we had to sort everything out ourselves....not an easy task when you don't have the first clue, about how thing work.
If your employer has agreed to sort everything (Visa's, Driving Licence, Rent agreements, Alcohol licence, vehicle licence....the list goes on) then this will be a big help.
If not, I strongly suggest you ask as much as you can on here. Given the pain I went through, I would be more than willing to help you with anything you need!
What was up with the Marina? Although it's at the other end of Dubai from the Creek and airport, I got the general impression from my last couple of visits that it was a pretty decent residential area close to hotels, bars, beaches etc. I am a single bloke so I'm not really looking for a villa in the suburbs.
No probs. don't get me wrong, the marina is excellent. we were just in a toilet of a building! It was called Manchester tower! Most of the places are very nice though. The nearest bar would be the Yacht club...It gets rammed and noisey, so get there early. Other than that, I think it's only the hotels that have bars, but there are loads within a short cab ride.
good luck with everything, it is priceless having an employer that will help. Dubizzle.com is the main place to find property, furnishings, cars etc, so have a butchers in there.
Cheers.
good luck with everything, it is priceless having an employer that will help. Dubizzle.com is the main place to find property, furnishings, cars etc, so have a butchers in there.
Cheers.
The Marina district is pretty good - I live over the road in The Lakes which is the poor bit of the Emirates Hills development. It's getting better too as more and more of the buildings are coming to completion and it seems there's a hotel with bars and restuarants still opening every month or so.
Unfortunately in Dubai you can't be close to everything so you do have to choose an area and accept that to get to some other places is going to be a pain in the arse, esp so with the Marina as it is at the end of the strip. At least more of the Metro stations are opening in the next month or so meaning you'll be able to get pretty much anywhere in half an hour or so.
Unfortunately in Dubai you can't be close to everything so you do have to choose an area and accept that to get to some other places is going to be a pain in the arse, esp so with the Marina as it is at the end of the strip. At least more of the Metro stations are opening in the next month or so meaning you'll be able to get pretty much anywhere in half an hour or so.
As said above, very good time to arrive as it will give you time to adapt before the sweltering summer heat comes.
Where to live = depends on where you will be working, unless you like driving and sitting in traffic jams.
Yes, rents have plummeted in the last 6 months and now you can even get rented apartments/villa paying with 6/12 cheques, a feat unheard of 18 months ago. Lots of options on the market, but like most things it will depend on your budget.
Cars - lots and lots of options. Again, if you want to off-raod then a 4x4 is required, if you are a black top merchant, then there are some spankers out there to be had.
Good luck.
Where to live = depends on where you will be working, unless you like driving and sitting in traffic jams.
Yes, rents have plummeted in the last 6 months and now you can even get rented apartments/villa paying with 6/12 cheques, a feat unheard of 18 months ago. Lots of options on the market, but like most things it will depend on your budget.
Cars - lots and lots of options. Again, if you want to off-raod then a 4x4 is required, if you are a black top merchant, then there are some spankers out there to be had.
Good luck.
Great stuff, I'm really looking forward to the move now. There's lots to sort out here in the UK before I go, but I can't wait for a change of surroundings and the sunny weather. No doubt I will post back here with a few questions as things crop up but thanks for all the replies so far.
I have a feeling that I may be another moving to Dubai within the next few months, my company has never operated there before and I will be having to do pretty much everything myself.
Any help / suggestions of where to live, what salary and benefits to push for etc would be really handy.
Any help / suggestions of where to live, what salary and benefits to push for etc would be really handy.
K50 DEL said:
suggestions of where to live, what salary and benefits to push for
There are loads of specialist expat forums on the internet that are awash with "I am moving to ABC, working in XYZ, what salary should I ask for?" type threads. I don't think you will ever get a straight answer to this question and most people suggest that it all depends on what you personally would be happy with.However, it's relatively easy to get your hands on useful information regarding the cost of living overseas and this might help when it comes to working out what salary to ask for. Good luck!
PS. I like the Ectomobile.
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