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hotsands
Joined: 30 Mar 2005
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 9:30 pm Post subject: Impending Move to Al Ain |
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I have a few questions in regard to our move to Al Ain this year that I wonder if someone could answer for me.
1 How much if any household goods should we take? I think that VeiledSentiments has suggested in previous posts not to take anything but I wonder with a wife and two kids on faculty wages if the housing set up allowances are adequate.
2 What is the accommodation like? I know that people say that they are satisfied but the wife would like more detail if possible. Will we get a villa or an apartment and what is the difference?
3 I have a blonde wife (yes, literally!), and she wants to know if she needs to die her hair brown - will she gain unwanted glares by Emirati men, - the westerners she can deal with.
4 Transport - we don't have a spare 90,000 AED to purchase a new vehicle - can we lease, rent - does anyone know if there is a system whereby your employer gives you interest free loans?
5 What about licences? Do we need to get an international licence before we come?
6 Is there a second hand market in Al Ain for furniture that is decent or do we need to go to Dubai?
7 I want to go sailing - is it a hassle to get to Dubai to go sailing on a regular basis?
8 What about computers? Is it possible to purchase a laptop in Al Ain or would you suggest buying it duty free on the way there? Is there broadband connection available and is it available through housing?
That's about it. Any takers? |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 12:03 am Post subject: Re: Impending Move to Al Ain |
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| hotsands wrote: |
1 How much if any household goods should we take? I think that VeiledSentiments has suggested in previous posts not to take anything but I wonder with a wife and two kids on faculty wages if the housing set up allowances are adequate.
2 What is the accommodation like? I know that people say that they are satisfied but the wife would like more detail if possible. Will we get a villa or an apartment and what is the difference?
3 I have a blonde wife (yes, literally!), and she wants to know if she needs to die her hair brown - will she gain unwanted glares by Emirati men, - the westerners she can deal with.
4 Transport - we don't have a spare 90,000 AED to purchase a new vehicle - can we lease, rent - does anyone know if there is a system whereby your employer gives you interest free loans?
5 What about licences? Do we need to get an international licence before we come?
6 Is there a second hand market in Al Ain for furniture that is decent or do we need to go to Dubai?
7 I want to go sailing - is it a hassle to get to Dubai to go sailing on a regular basis?
8 What about computers? Is it possible to purchase a laptop in Al Ain or would you suggest buying it duty free on the way there? Is there broadband connection available and is it available through housing? |
I guess I'll start it out and people can add or disagree as they wish. 
1. Assuming that you are teaching for HCT or UAEU, you should get 30,000 DH furnishing allowance. That is just over US$8000. Flats come air conditioned, but you need to buy appliances and furniture. I know frugal people who furnished their flat AND bought a cheap used car with that amount. If you look at shipping costs, most things can be bought there for the price of shipping. I would take favorite things... kids toys... favorite kitchen items... small lightweight things.
2. Whether you get a flat or a villa is the luck of availability on arrival. As a family, you might get a villa, but don't count on it. Quality of what you get is also luck of the draw. But, most people are happy with what they get and if you hate it, you can often move at the end of the first year.
3. Why would your wife want to dye her hair? She will draw just as much attention just by being on the street alone and uncovered.  Really it is not a big deal... no worse than walking past a construction site full of workers in the US. Just ignore them and their silliness..
4. You can get a new car for significantly less than 90,000 if you don't need all the bells and whistles - just AC and a basic car. You can also rent. Easy enough to check out the options when you get there. Lots of used cars too, but be very careful as maintenance is pretty spotty... buy from Westerners if possible. I'm afraid that I laughed out loud at the interest free loan from employer idea.  Once you have a signed contract, you can get a bank loan though.
5. Once your paperwork is done, you change your western driving license into an Emirates one with just a trip to the DMV. Be sure that your home license is current and has a few years to run. Also take a no claims letter from your car insurance company. It will cut your premiums in half. I have never used an international license, but it may be useful if you rent a car.
6. Second hand furniture places are another thing where luck is important. There are also 'cheap' furniture stores. If you like cheap, but nice, both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have IKEA and they used to deliver quite cheaply.
7. You can drive to Dubai whenever you have the time. It would only be a hassle if you don't like driving for a couple of hours each way.
8. Personally I found computers to be cheaper in the US, so I always carried one with me. If you wish to buy there, I would buy in Al-Ain so that you have access to assistance if you need it. Perhaps someone on here has had experience with this. I don't know about broadband - probably pricey, but I am quite certain that you have to arrange your own connection with the local provider.
VS |
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Ka-CHING!
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 102
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Gnocchiman
Joined: 23 Mar 2004
Posts: 68
Location: Limbo
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| Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 3:50 am Post subject: |
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Welcome to Al Ain Hotsands!
VS was pretty much on the money with her advice (except Dubai is only a short 1hr and 15 minute drive from here). I don't know where you are coming from, but it helps to think of Al Ain as a suburb of any North American city. Other than more sand, some camels, women covered in black and men wearing white dresses with sheets on their heads, it really isn't that exotic. You can buy all you need right here (heck, you can even go to Chilis with the kids-now how suburban is that?). The Emiratis are quite used to us and our different colored hair. Your wife will be in good company as there are a thousand blondes here in Al Ain. Buying a car is very easy and every family I know was able to buy one within the first month of getting here (leasing tends to be expensive-cheaper to buy a car). I don't know about HCT, but if you're coming over to work for UAEU they do a very good job with orientation these days (so I hear). You'll get a mentor and a lot of advice before you even get your plane tickets. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Gnocchiman wrote: |
VS was pretty much on the money with her advice (except Dubai is only a short 1hr and 15 minute drive from here). |
Is your speedometer going 'ding ding ding' gnocchi?
I was kind of thinking portal to portal here. You have to wind your way out of Al-Ain and deal with the Dubai traffic on the other end. That can really multiply the time to get from Al-Ain to the beach areas.
But it just struck me that he might want to go to Fujairah instead. Is that closer? Or even Sohar in Oman? I'm too lazy to get out of my chair and get a map.
VS |
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