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Potter
Joined: 11 Jan 2011
Posts: 12
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 Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:03 pm Post subject: Al-Ain: accommodation and cost of living |
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What is Al-Ain like for accommodation and cost of living?
Obviously there will be a wide range of accommodation to choose from but what would be an "average" price (to rent) for a modest/medium range two bedroom house or flat in a reasonable area. I don't want a palace or a hovel but a modest comfortable and safe place.
The same goes for cost of living. A reasonable but modest lifestyle, nothing too extravagant, not partying or socialising every night, but a few meals in a restaurant and an occasional bit of entertainment - and perhaps a car. How much cash would I need (approx)? (Imagine a salary of AED 12,000-14,000 a month with a currently unknown housing allowance.)
I know we are all different with different spending habits so I just want approximations, ball park figures, etc. Thanks in advance for any comments, suggestions or advice. |
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RobertinOman
Joined: 31 Jul 2010
Posts: 60
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| Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 7:34 am Post subject: |
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| You can eat out daily and buy a month's groceries and take cabs anywhere in town for 5000 dhr. |
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Neutrino Girl
Joined: 01 Apr 2010
Posts: 128
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| Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 9:58 am Post subject: |
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For a modest, 2-bedroom place, I would say that you would be paying around 5,000 a month, give or take.
If you are single, 5,000 a month is doable for spending. Some couples manage to live on that too with a great deal of belt-tightening.
Petrol is much cheaper here than it is in the West, but of course yearly registration, insurance, and general maintenance on a vehicle would be additional costs.
With the salary you stated (plus an accommodation allowance), you can still save money here. |
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anniebelle
Joined: 23 Nov 2010
Posts: 11
Location: UAE
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| Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:46 am Post subject: |
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| Are you currently looking for a place in AA? |
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desertdawg
Joined: 14 Jun 2010
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Potter
Joined: 11 Jan 2011
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks very much for the replies so far. Very helpful. Seems it's doable on that kind of salary, for a single person anyway, and maybe for a couple. I'm married with a pre-school age child.
Anniebelle, yes, I'm currently looking for a job in AA. Do you know of any current job openings (teaching English)? |
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homeless vet
Joined: 01 Apr 2009
Posts: 80
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 3:23 am Post subject: |
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Have you ever been to Al Ain? Don't believe they hype about being "an oasis city." It's a dusty pit, and the closest thing to civilization is 90 minutes away (Dubai). There are three malls, four hotels with bars, and the Palm Sports Club, which is basically a golf course, filthy swimming pool, two bars, and a "Chinese Spa" where hypocritical Emirati men go to get "special massages."
The city also boasts the highest traffic fatality rate in the country. |
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Middle East Beast
Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Posts: 836
Location: Up a tree
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 4:58 am Post subject: |
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There are beautiful parks in Al Ain as well as a mountain where you can watch the sun rise or set on the city. There are also some impressive sand dunes and a camel racetrack.
The nightlife there is great, with several bars and dance clubs to suit various tastes. There are fine restaurants, some in the larger hotels like the Hilton or the Danat (formerly the Intercon).
There are far worse places in the UAE than Al Ain, including the plastic city known as Dubai (talk about traffic!). And let's not neglect the true dust bowl towns like Fujairah--aside from snorkling, try having a life there. It took a year for them to open McDonalds (i.e. a year after it was built). |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Potter wrote: |
| Do you know of any current job openings (teaching English)? |
Don't expect to have people here point you to a job. Even if we knew of some, job openings are not allowed to be posted here. 
Besides you haven't given us a clue of your credentials or experience... do you have an MA in Applied Linguistics? In that case, search up the websites of the tertiary institutions - where you normally apply online. If you are looking at K-12 teaching, you will likely need a teaching certificate/license from your home country to get the best jobs. Again you need to search up the schools and apply directly.
Plenty of dodgy employers, so check out any offering schools very carefully.
VS |
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Potter
Joined: 11 Jan 2011
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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| homeless vet wrote: |
Have you ever been to Al Ain? Don't believe they hype about being "an oasis city." It's a dusty pit, and the closest thing to civilization is 90 minutes away (Dubai). There are three malls, four hotels with bars, and the Palm Sports Club, which is basically a golf course, filthy swimming pool, two bars, and a "Chinese Spa" where hypocritical Emirati men go to get "special massages."
The city also boasts the highest traffic fatality rate in the country. |
Thanks for your input, "homeless vet". No I haven't been to Al Ain but from your description, some of that appeals to me and some of it is an improvement on where I've been living for the last two years. Each to their own, I suppose. Thanks again for your input. Food for thought.
Last edited by Potter on Fri Jan 21, 2011 7:45 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Potter
Joined: 11 Jan 2011
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
| Potter wrote: |
| Do you know of any current job openings (teaching English)? |
Don't expect to have people here point you to a job. Even if we knew of some, job openings are not allowed to be posted here.
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I didn't realise that. Thanks for telling me. It probably says in the rules so I'll have to improve my reading skills.  
| veiledsentiments wrote: |
Besides you haven't given us a clue of your credentials or experience... do you have an MA in Applied Linguistics? In that case, search up the websites of the tertiary institutions - where you normally apply online. If you are looking at K-12 teaching, you will likely need a teaching certificate/license from your home country to get the best jobs. Again you need to search up the schools and apply directly.
Plenty of dodgy employers, so check out any offering schools very carefully.
VS |
No MA, BEd or PGCE, just a BA, a CELTA and experience. I applied to two places and had interviews for them both but I have been unsuccessful. I'll keep looking. Thanks for the tip on dodgy employers. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:56 am Post subject: |
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Very little available for just a BA + CELTA in the UAE. With the high pay, they demand top credentials. Now if you have 10+ years teaching Academic English to Arabic speakers, you will have some chance... but otherwise... not so much. The truth is that most employers who will hire someone with your credentials is probably not someone you would want to work for... especially taking the chance of bringing a family.
You may have to look at Saudi Arabia to hit the higher pay, or Oman for less pay, but more pleasant lifestyle.
VS
(PS: this board is paid for by advertising, so jobs are only advertised on that section) |
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