Job Discussion Forums

NQTabroad · Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 20

Hello all,

I have worked in Al Ain in the UAE in 2007 and I am thinking about returning for more Smile

I worked as in the International School of Choueifat. I then returned to England, got my PGCE and have worked 2 years in an English school.

For all the bad things people say about Choueifat I certainly found it less stressful than teaching in England. Laughing

That said I d rather not go back there.

I am looking at everywhere in the UAE except Dubai. I loved Al Ain and if the opportunity arose at AAESS I d be there in a flash.
I ve started to have a look at Ras Al Khaimah. It looks very pretty on Google images and it seems to be rather small and quiet. I loved Al Ain because it was small, quiet and more Arabic than the rest of the Emirates. Plus I could always go to Dubai or Abu Dhabi when I needed a bit more excitement.

I d love to know peoples opinions of Ras Al Khaimah. From what I heard its quite touristy and popular for scuba diving.

What are the schools like? What is the repuatation of the British school? I couldn t find much online.

This site was really great before I went to Al Ain and I found out so much before I went.

Any replies would be much appreciated

elmoro · Joined: 12 Feb 2010 Posts: 58 Location: The Emerald City

i lived in rak about two years ago and i actually liked it. unlike fujairah, i didn't find myself having to travel to sharjah/dubai for quality groceries. everything i needed was there, and now that they have finished some of those big projects, i'm sure the quality of life is better. only reason i left is because my employer ceased to exist.

elmoro

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

RAK is not pretty. Half of it is passable and the other half is a scraggly, dusty, hideous mess, clogged with big belching truck convoys. Looks like a frontier town in Tajikistan. I was also amazed how pis*-poor the local Carrefour was compared to Dubai's similar stores, when you consider the excellent expressway making Dubai a mere 50 minutes away by car. They can't even manage a decent truck load of groceries an hour outside Dubai. Surly, indolent Arabs from Syria or wherever at the deli counter--sometimes a Pakistani who literally didn't know the difference between red cheddar and Gouda cheese! Tried to tell me they're the same! If this qualifies as quality shopping... well, enjoy.

The corniche abode I had was horrible because of the noise especially at night.

I left in 2007. Who knows, maybe it's all a paradise now.

elmoro · Joined: 12 Feb 2010 Posts: 58 Location: The Emerald City

yeah, it's not a pretty town at all, but since you SnB left, they finished the hamra mall which has a spinney's and the safeer mall which has a safeer market. there are more housing options now, and yes, the corniche is a terrible place to live because of the traffic and noise.

yes, the trucks are annoying and unavoidable.

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

Good that there are two good, new supermarkets and apparently another mall. That'll show Carrefour.

tmac-100 · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 137

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

Carrefour has certainly improved in variety and choice over the past 5 years. However, Spinney's still carries some items I can't get elsewhere, and some of their smaller stores are more convenient to pop in and out of for a few small items.

elmoro · Joined: 12 Feb 2010 Posts: 58 Location: The Emerald City

there is an e66 exit on emirates road that will allow you to bypass that national paints mess. i wish i remembered the exit number, but i can tell you that it is a fly over somewhere passed the first gas station on emirates once you leave rak. this road will take you behind academic city, so you can get to mirdif cc, dfc, arabian ranches, dubai mall, and other places in no time and with no traffic. just look for e66 (dubai bypass).

elmoro