Job Discussion Forums

[mishmumkin]

So it looks like we'll be settling in Abu Dhabi this August. Can anyone provide some insight into the different neighbourhoods of Abu Dhabi? What each one has to offer? Which ones are cheaper? Which are less developed? Which are most expensive? Which are most built up(and less likely to be further developed)?

[saluki]

mishmumkin,

It really depends on what's available when you get here, and whether your company is going to find you accommodation or you have to do that yourself. This article from The National newspaper will give you some idea of prices in different areas http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080420/NATIONAL/892638918

Other considerations may involve where you/your spouse work, if you have children to take to school, if you plan on buying a car, want underground parking, want to be near the busier areas or prefer quieter neighborhoods, if you have pets etc.

Honestly, it's not an easy task these days, and very often you don't have much of a choice about where you live or what areas are available. If on the other hand your employer has accommodation to offer you in various areas, you could mention these and we could give you an idea of what they are like.

Generally speaking, areas that are already built up and have no further room for development have huge parking and traffic problems (parts of Khalidiya, Hamdan, Tourist club etc). Areas that still have empty plots will be built on very soon. Finally, there are the buildings in all areas which are old and are possible renovation projects in the making, so you can't really be sure!

[mishmumkin]

Thanks, Saluki. It depends on which contract offer I take, but it's a good possibility that we'll have to find out own accommodation. We do have a cat, no kids, and my husband will look for work once we're there, but he's in the hotel industry which tends to have non-standard hours so his work location is less relevant in making this decision.

[turtlepi1]

[Umm Banat]

I strongly recommend not accepting any job when you will have to find your own accommodation.
At the moment there is nothing, repeat nothing, out there. The agents can't even find housing for their relatives.
A good friend has just arrived with a budget of 200k and still cannot find anything.

[mishmumkin]

We get 120,000 if I go w/ one potential employer, while the other potential employer will provide actual accommodation. HR w/ the former tells me that housing is the biggest challenge they face, but that they have managed to accommodate everyone thus far. IT would likely mean 2-4 weeks in a hotel, though. There are conflicting messages on this board, though. No units are available, some units are, etc. If the salary difference between the two jobs wasn't so significant I would take the one that provided the accommodation. That still does not guarantee that I won't be a hotel for 4 weeks while they sort out the accommodation, right?

[saluki]

It's a difficult decision. If the salary is considerably higher, that also means the gratuity etc will be higher, so not easy to pass up. On the other hand, if you get 120,000 and have to pay any increases yourself, you could end up paying out of your own pocket for accommodation immediately or within the year. This year the rent cap was fixed at 5% but that will be reviewed again next year and could be the same or higher.

The advantage of the employer allocating you the accommodation is that if there is an increase in the rent, it is paid by the employer. More and more companies are trying to phase this out, but employers such as HCT and ZU are still doing this (while at the same time encouraging employees to take the cash in lieu).

I think the reason there might be conflicting responses is that the housing problem changes weekly in Abu Dhabi. I know of people who have been very lucky and happened to see an apartment/villa, loved it and paid a deposit immediately. But I also know people who are here weeks and months and still have not found something suitable, or have ended up adding thousands to their allowance just to get out of a hotel apartment and living out of suitcases - some of them for months.

If the company will help you find something then this is a big help, as the housing officers have a lot of contacts. If you're on your own, be prepared to be very frustrated.

[Umm Banat]

If an employer provides accommodation, you are probably going into a flat vacated by someone leaving. Very unlikely to be left in the lurch that way.

One new university gives 120k for staff, but some were still looking 4 months after being appointed. A decent 2 bed is 135k now and going up monthly.

[Umm Banat]

Do you have kids? If so, do you already have your places sorted out?

[mishmumkin]

We don't have kids, so that's a non-issue. Some employers who've recently beefed up their staff (ZU) are reportedly trying to find new accommodation for the additional staff, so it's still a possibility that we could be in temp housing for an extended period while that gets sorted out.

[saluki]

While I can imagine that staying in a hotel/hotel apartments is a pain for any extended time, I think the main issue is who pays for it.

ZU, as you mentioned has to find accommodation for many new members of staff, but as they are one of the companies that provides housing, they will pay for the temporary accommodation.

Other companies who only give a cash allowance will not pay for your temporary accommodation, and while they may say they will help you to find housing, they are under no obligation to do so. Therefore if you are in temp housing for a number of weeks or months, it is eating into your annual housing allowance every day.

Just something else to think about when assessing the overall packages.

[django]

If you or your employer can get accommodation, take it, whatever it is, wherever it is. Accommodation - let alone good accommodation - has been short for the last 12 months or so. Your best chance of having a roof over your head is getting someone else's place as they leave the company. If the organisation says they're waiting for something to get refurbished/built and that they'll put you up in a residential hotel, be prepared to stay there for some time. The irony is the shortage has come about because of the influx since a year ago of expatriate employees coming to work in the fast-growing construction industry!

[mishmumkin]

The employer that will provide assistance in finding a house will give people up to 4 weeks in the hotel. What's the chance of not finding anything in 4 week's time?

[MrScaramanga]

Pretty high, unfortunately...
MrS

[turtlepi1]