Dubai - what is the latest there?

[swanseaboydan]

Please move thread to appropriate section or merge with correct thread as I couldn’t find a discussion on this .
Just wondering, any PHers living there and what is it like at the moment ?

[Jaybee1981]

Bit quieter but completely fine.
Anything specific you want to know about?

[swanseaboydan]

Thanks - was wondering are there loads of empty apartments - big blocks going unsold etc ? Any companies leaving ? That sort of thing . I nearly bought a place over there a few years ago so I’m interested I suppose

[Marshall878]

From what I've seen...business as usual. Rent and house prices certainly haven't dropped as much as expected in Abu Dhabi. Demand is still there, new developments still being released almost weekly.

My biggest gripe is schools! My boy was out of nursery (not cheap) for months, finally went back after being fed spiel about new procedures being in place, additional training being given should alerts happen when at school. Went back for 2 weeks, collected money for term 3, then closed immediately after the alerts earlier this week! Apparently reopening next week....inshallah

[swanseaboydan]

Ahh - that’s a pain for you . Dubai seems to have dropped off the headlines in the UK. Thanks for letting me know - do you feel you have made a nice life for yourself out there ? Are you an expat from somewhere else ?

[Marshall878]

swanseaboydan said:

Ahh - that s a pain for you . Dubai seems to have dropped off the headlines in the UK. Thanks for letting me know - do you feel you have made a nice life for yourself out there ? Are you an expat from somewhere else ?

Thank god it's quietened down. The whole "tax evading" stereotype was driving me insane!

I'm originally from the UK, moved out here for a job back in 2014 at the age of 24. I was a lodger at my dads, commuting into Cambridge, struggling to be able to save for a mortgage and pay for the fuel commuting. Opportunity arose and I took it. 12 years later I am still here, married (met here), with a 2year old (born here). Work is...st, career progression is poor, plus other issues with job security but I have managed a decent work/life balance that suits me.

We have everything on our doorstep, abundance of things to do to keep us busy outside of work and the sun is always shining (albeit 50 degrees in the summer which is hell).

I'm currently itching to move on, but the UK isn't on my list.

[Wills2]

swanseaboydan said:

Thanks - was wondering are there loads of empty apartments - big blocks going unsold etc ? Any companies leaving ? That sort of thing . I nearly bought a place over there a few years ago so I m interested I suppose

You're not going to find residents saying anything too negative about Dubai online, they have very strict laws about that sort of thing, you'd be better off looking at news reports rather than asking people that can't really tell the truth.

[Jaybee1981]

Wills2 said:

You're not going to find residents saying anything too negative about Dubai online, they have very strict laws about that sort of thing, you'd be better off looking at news reports rather than asking people that can't really tell the truth.

Haha We're not captives!
And everything i will say is the truth.

its almost completely business as usual.
The hospitality sector is feeling the drop in tourism but i was in Dubai airport Sunday and it was rammed.
I flew to US on business and will be flying back later today. flights 45 minutes longer as i presume there is some route change.
Businesses are open.
The vast majority of us are completely unaffected.
Is there any particular you'd like to know?

Lastly, to hold up the media as the bastion of truth is quite a stretch...

[swanseaboydan]

How do you and family cope with the heat over the summer ?
Do you still get the chance to enjoy much stuff outdoors ?