Job Discussion Forums

[dragonpiwo]

If you don't get free digs (I do), be warned that the rents in Au Dhabi are just plain daft.

Rents in 1-beds/ studios that are far below a western standard run at 70-80,000. Western standard places start at 95,000. Anywhere near a beach will cost even more.

Landlords will charge you more if you don't have the whole year up front. Average notice is about 3 months. You also will need to invest in furniture, deposits and commissions.

People will offer you a flat and the price goes up 10% by the end of the month.

Living in a dreadful flat and paying a fortune is no fun but putting your wife or kid in one is just a straight no.

Not sure if it's worth it quite frankly unless you are single.

[Gulezar]

[dragonpiwo]

You are the ONLY person I've met who talks like that here.

[veiledsentiments]

Gulezar speaks the truth. The rents were higher in the past, BUT... that is when nearly all education employers provided flats and the big settling in allowance. So, teachers didn't really feel it so much.

Back in the 90s it was all flats... always at least two bedrooms even if you were single. Anything smaller was rare as hen's teeth. Cut-up villas were a late entry to the rental scene.

VS

[dragonpiwo]

I'm gonna call you out on that.

Remember, I'm talking about Abu Dhabi VS, where you haven't lived for some time. Rents bubbled over the past 5 years. They have come off slightly. However, they are still exorbitant. I'm talking about places you'd actually want to live in with your family. Granted you can get a cheaper room/converted studio in a villa but then these aren't strictly legal, you won't be able to get a tawtheek contract and ADDC utility bill and that means your wife can't get a residency visa. If you want to live around other westerners and not in 'India Town- type' areas, then you will pay through your nose. A 1-bed, unfurnished place anywhere near Raha Beach starts at around 100k. You can't go to the building site that is Reem Island and pay 75-95k for a studio but it has its own problems ie no beach, few facilities, construction work, few taxis. You can move way out to Khalifa City A , but then you'll need the car. Khalidiya rents are plain daft. The TCA is full of sub-standard, old housing. The guys I work with have been here between 10 and 30+ years. All are family guys and all on top end teaching salaries. ALL of them are bringing the issue of salary increases and the cost of living up. Utilities and petrol have shot up recently and now they are talking about VAT and possibly tax.

You can live cheaply here. However, I think for families, who may not want to live in a 1-bed in a neighorhood where they'll make no friends, I think it's a really bad call.

Dubai etc are very different since they are much, much cheaper re accommodation.

[nomad soul]

[dragonpiwo]

She isn't here. It's cheaper for her to visit and stay in a hotel very regularly.

I won't even go into the opportunity cost of a wife having to ditch her American/European career.

[veiledsentiments]

[auhruh]

I have been in the UAE since 2007, and I concur with Dragonpiwo.

Rents higher
Housing allowances not keeping up with rents
Petrol prices higher
Fewer all-in-one packages of salary plus housing plus educational allowances
Education costs going through the roof
Grocery costs going up and up

You can have a good life if you're single and on a salary of 15K plus a month if it includes housing.

If you're a breadwinner with a family, then you'd need more than double that before even considering schooling costs.

[dragonpiwo]

There ya go. Don't let facts get in the way of armchair speculation.

http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/abu-dhabi-inflation-at-highest-level-since-2009-as-housing-costs-bite

[Gulezar]

[dragonpiwo]

I work for an oil company. Big lump sum. Free camp like a hotel complex and 4 day week. I still reckon it's a singlies posting more or less.