Job Discussion Forums

ProfessorsWife · Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 26 Location: Sharjah, UAE

Any thoughts on how expensive it may be to rent by the month?

Another silly question...we've been told that the exchange rate in Sharjah is different than that of the other Emirates. I find that very hard to believe. Tell me someone is pulling my leg.

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

As for prices for leasing,, I don't know because I have never done it. If and when you do decide to rent, lease or buy - shop around, there will be different offers. That's why I rented for a while before I bought - I could take my time and evaluate the different options.

The exchange rate is the same wherever you go - just stick to one of the exchange shops for the best rates (yes, better than banks). Shop around there too, they'll have their rates posted.

ProfessorsWife · Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 26 Location: Sharjah, UAE

Great, thank you Helen.

I'm trying to have a better attitude about the change and the adjustment. I suppose attitude is half of it, the better I think about living here, the better it will actually be.

You all have helped a great deal. Thank you so much.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Yes, Mrs Professor... it is all about attitude, but it is all perfectly understandable for someone in their first overseas experience... rather trapped in an apartment in a strange city and country with two tiny tots. All three of you are probably unsettled and bored. Cool

While hubby gets to pop off for the day and be around people and the hurry-up and wait of learning a new job.

I can promise that in a couple months when you have figured out the system and everyone has a routine, the weather will be getting cooler and you will love it!!

Also Ramadhan is coming soon (about a month), so your husband's workday will be shortened. Rent a car for a month and explore!!

VS

stoth1972 · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:53 pm Post subject:

Re: renting
I rented in Dubai, which could up the rate a bit, but if you went w/ a new model Mazda or Toyota Echo, you would be paying around 1400 dirhams/month from mainstream car companies. If you went to the individual car companies, you could likely rent an older car for around 1000 dirhams/month. Some of these locally run car rental companies do not care for the cars like they should. My timing belt went on the Hyundai I was renting on the Sheikh Rashid Road-flyover to Wafi....you should have seen the backup! But I digress....If you went to some of the Sharjah car dealerships, you could probably buy a brand new Diahatsu or Daewoo for that same monthly cost. If I had been able to predict that I was not going to leave, I would have bought.

Harriet · Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 16

And don't forget, once you DO have a car, Dubai is right next door. Dubai is bigger, more modern( still a construction site) and currently has "summer surprises" going on, which ihncudes lot of things for kids to do. Check out 7Days for the summer surpises schedule of events.

It's unfortnuate that new teachers come into town in the middle of August -- arguably the WORST time of year here in the UAE. When the temps drop and you get used to getting around here, you will find that there's lots to do. And you'll be perfectly safe -- so will your kids.

stoth1972 · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 6:57 pm Post subject:

redcliff · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 46

to echo a comment made earlier, I highly reccomend the Sharjah Discovery Center.
If you go in the morning hours it is only 15 dirhams for a family admission. The kids, ages 2 4 7 absolutely loved all of the hands on activities. It is entirely airconditioned. We packed a lunch, no real food available, and all had a blast.
This is hands down the best value for money around and there was hardly anyone there. Ironically enough the Discovery Center doesn't appear to be discovered at all.

At the same time I would give a big thumbs down to the Mondasha? Kids Fun City being held at the dubai airport expo until the end of the month. The papers play it up like it is the greatest thing with a low admission price and while there are a number of free rides once you get in, all of the interesting ones that catch your kids' eyes are 10 15 dirhams a pop. Really its just a giant arcade amusement park.

kiefer · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 268

The exchange on the AED to the dollar does not fluctuate from emirate to emirate. The inflation rate does.

So--Sharjah = Newark/ Dubai = NYC?

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

The dirham is pegged to the US Dollar- and while that official exchange rate does not change, others can and do depending on amounts, whether cash or credit card or bank transfer, etc. Transferring funds to the US can be much cheaper thru an exchange house as compared with a lot of bank wire transfers.

holbrook · Joined: 14 Jun 2003 Posts: 60

As for cars..... The month of Ramadan is car sale frenzy. If you want to buy a new car wait 3 weeks for Ramadan and then the deal will be better. If you can't wait then I heard on the radion that Nissan is running some special on the Altima. Apparently its just 1000 down and 1000 a month. Sounds cheap enough. Check it out. You can rent a decent car at Hertz in Dubai for about 1400 a month until you settle in better and decide what kind of car/truck that you really want.

Also Sharjah has some great places for kids. First you should check out the discovery center as the previous poster advised. Also, once you have your car (because it is a bit far out of the city for a taxi) check out the Sharjah Arabian Wildlife Center. It is a fabulously done indoor zoo and science museum. They have great exhibits, a petting zoo and a geology center with real dinosaur fossils and the such. It is so much fun for the little ones and all indoors. My 4 and 7 year old go at least 3 or 4 times a year. It is worth the effort.

Hey I'm glad that you cheered up. Really it isn't so bad. Once you have access to a nice beach club, a car and more of a clue about what's available and where n when to get things done, you'll be just fine.

Cheers

stoth1972 · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 1:45 pm Post subject:

That's a great deal on a Nissan Altima!!!!!

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

That depends on how many months you have to pay that 1000 dhs... the rest of your life? Cool

VS

stoth1972 · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:28 pm Post subject:

120 month payment plan?

Re: the exchange rate...what the professor's wife says rings familiar. Money exchanged in sharjah back in 1998 supposedly got a better rate than changing it in Dubai. I seem to recall some money changers in Rola Square later being busted. Not sure what the angle was (or what their business really was).

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

You're kidding right? 10 years? Shocked

I think in most countries of the Gulf the money changers do give a slightly better exchange rate than the banks and then they will often send it home cheaper. But, unless you have lots of money, it wasn't really worth the time and petrol to drive to these places. Plus I didn't like the idea of carrying large amounts of cash. I know one fellow who wouldn't do a transfer until spring and would carry his whole year's salary over there in cash to exchange it and send it off. Until the year that he was apparently followed home from his bank and the cash was stolen from his house when he went to the super market. (and it was a teaching couple, so they lost both salaries)

VS