Job Discussion Forums

s2000000 · Joined: 27 Dec 2008 Posts: 26

Hello..
Does anybody have any comments or information on this particular stretch of highway? I may be teaching in Al Ain , while living in Dubai..and driving this route daily..
Does anyone out there do this, or done this in the past? Perhaps the commute is practical..?
Your ideas/comments welcome!
Thanks..

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

It is practical only if you don't mind spending a long time - twice a day - commuting on a road mostly filled with suicidal maniacs in big fast cars.

There is no way that I would even consider it...

VS

turtlepi1 · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 94

A little dramatic, VS...

Depending on where you live in Dubai it is an easy commute against traffic. I wouldn't be interested in a long commute but it would be considered reasonable in many large cities. (I didn't become an expat to sit in traffic)

I guess family commitments drive you to the commute so I guess we all have our motivations...

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

Dramatic... no... I'm completely serious. Of course it depends on where one lives in Dubai, but I have friends who have done it. There is no way I would put myself on that road for 2.5 to 4 hours a day every day... depending on how fast you can drive or will drive.

VS
(full disclosure though... I HATE commuting... it was one of the reasons that I went into education. Laughing

)

MrScaramanga · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 221

The distance between Dubai and Al Ain is 120 km. The speed limit on the highway -- well officially -- is 130 km/h. Feasibly, you can commute from one city to the other. Tne highway is flat, lit at night and pretty straight. However, as VS mentioned, there are a lot of crazy drivers out there. So, depending on where exactly you are commuting from in Dubai and what time you'll be on the freeway, it could actually be really exhausting and nerve racking. It's really a very personal decision. Also be aware that in the fall, there could be very heavy fog on the UAE freeways early mornings and in the evenings...
MrS

Wastaman · Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 19

I would have thought it more likely to commute the other way!

The Al Ain road is being widened from 2 to 3 lanes and there's now a 100kmph speed limit and various diversions.

It doesn't look like they'll finish work for at least another couple of years.

At the moment there are barriers and bollards down much of the route, this reduces the width of the lanes and makes for treacherous driving (especially with someone in a Range Rover Sport, lights flashing, trying to squeeze by you and forcing you ever closer to the barrier��.this has happened to me often, seems drivers of these kinds of vehicles have sufficient �wasta� not to have to worry about speeding fines!).

There seem to be at least 2 or 3 fatal accidents on this road every week, so the chances of coming a cropper if you�re driving this route daily must be quite high.

........and yes fog can be a factor, there seems to be the belief in these parts that you can drive at full pelt into the mist as long as you are using your hazard lights!

Why not just relocate to Al Ain? It's far more pleasant than Dubai............and the cost of living is much lower especially in terms of accommodation.

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

As Mr. S. says - it is feasible - the more pertinent questions are (1) How hardened are your nerves to negligent drivers who sometimes appear to actually be trying to kill you? (2) Do you consider yourself to be a competent (safe) driver in racetrack conditions? (3) What kind of vehicle will you be driving? - pick one with lots of airbags and an excellent crash test safety rating.

Chances are you wouldn't be in an accident (at least, not one that was your fault) - however I have a family member who was stopped on the hard shoulder in broad daylight on a straight stretch with the road relatively clear (i.e. not bumper to bumper traffic) and a national idiot in a Camry managed to hit their stationery Land Cruiser so hard that he bent the LC's frame and it was in the repair shop for 2 months as they took it apart and put it back together again (note, National did not have a drivers licence or insurance). Fortunately, they were in a Land Cruiser and not a Corolla - their injuries were slight.

s2000000 · Joined: 27 Dec 2008 Posts: 26

Great responses, thanks..I was told that the commute time is 45 min, each way, from home ( the housing is in International City, Dubai) to the schools, which are "close to Al Ain" ..I would think 2 hrs min.,daily..the rest of the package is good, but this commute..I've done it from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain many times, but never daily, nor long term..anybody out there doing it now, or planning to ( perhaps with the same education company ), starting in the very near future?

Thanks!!