Job Discussion Forums

adorabilly · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah

Hi Arty...

I'll try to answer but I don't know some of it.

1. Will it be a hassle in cost and or time and stress if I go for a car/ bike licence from the start in Abu Dhabi? Not sure about this. I live in the RAK and it was EASY to get the liscence here. No hassle, and we were don in 30 minutes. But I have a friend who doesn't have a liscence from their home country and they seem to be having a hassle.

2. Is public transport OK?

What public trasnportation? I have seen a few buses, but they seem to for businesses, hotels, or differnt groups. There may be busses, but there seems to be NO public transporation authority (that I can find) and no posted bus routes. There is no light rail here. the only form of "public transport" is taxi. Most taxi's are clean, ,and pretty easy to find. But you need to watch out or they will try to skin you alive if they think they can get away with it.

Is it air conditioned?

The Taxi's are airconditoined. and most of the buses that I have seen appear to be with A/C.

Are there trains?

Yea, right. There is no rail traffic in this country. Everything goes by road, including freight.

Pickpockets?

Not that I have seen, but knowing most arabic laws concerning stealing, I dont' expect to see any.

Staring?

Why? Because you are a foreigner? You need to realize that in dubai the expat population is 90% of the total population. In RAK is is 40% of the total population. No. They don't stare, unless you are blatantly breaking islamic customs/laws.. and then it is more of a "boy are you STUPID" kind of look... The only time I get stared at is when I wear shorts. Apparently in most of the cultures here men don't wear shorts... always pants...

Or might it be a way to see how Emiratis are what they�r e like?

If you take a job with HCT you will be teaching emiratis. You can meet them anywere they hang out, and strike up conversations, and make friendships just like anywhere else.

Even a place to strike up a conversation?

3. Do people ride motor cycles there?
I have seen several people on motorcycles, either they fall into the category of extremely stupid (ie an 18 year old on a bullet bike who likes to do 240kph on the freeways) or the lower class poor pakisatini who has to drive the motorcycle. Don't see many westerners on motorcycles in town (not in the RAK). I do see several out in the dunes and having fun off roading on motorcycles though.

Is it safe? Does the heat make it out of the question? ( Am I right in the understanding that 40 to 50 degrees is the common range for most of the year.)

I would not recommend riding a motorcycle here. Not like you do in the states, canada, or england. Way too dangerous. The drivers here zip all around folks at extremely high speeds. You may want some steel around you... but it is your life. Yes it is extremely HOT from april until november. And if you are a serious bike rider you will want to wear the proper gear which makes riding a motorcycle torture.

So would wind burn be a problem?
since the wind blows quite a bit, at those temperatures if you are outside for any lenght of time you get a nice bit of wind burn (even not on a bike). Yes it is very uncomfortable.

Now if you are talking about riding a bike for fun, off roading is a blast, and there are lots of places in the UAE to do so. But to use as a main source of transporation to and from work I think it is not a good idea. (if you are serious, you need a helmet, and some sort of jacket/chaps. now wearing that over a suit/long sleeve shirt/tie means by the time you get to work you are COVERED in sweat. You will have sweated through your clothes.... now you are supposed to teach classes???? very unprofessional IMHO.)

Bin Shafted · Joined: 08 Mar 2005 Posts: 52

Bin...glad you managed to do it. I was in an almost identical situation to you, and I did not have your luck . Am still driving license-less (haven't plucked up the courage to take the lessons, tests etc...)

I happen to think that a lot depends who is on duty when you go in, and the kind of mood they're in[the kind of mood they're in.

Sorry to hear that and you may be right. The young lady in question was an ex-student of the place where I am working, that added to my natural charm and the fact that I had my two cherubic sons, all blond hair and big blue eyes with me probably sealed the deal.

Actually my two boys have often come in handy when I'm dealing with officialdom in the UAE...............especially when there are ladies involved. They can be rented out by the hour for a small fee and a packet of Maltesers.

Iamherebecause · Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 2:18 pm Post subject:

Arty - taking your driving test here is a hassle. The instructor decides when you can take your test; lessons are weird; and the instruction leaves a lot to be desired.

Motor cycles tend to be driven either by nespppppaer delivery/pizza delivery etc chaps; or purely for leisure (Harley Davidson Club etc.)

There is some public transport - buses along certain routes, boats on the creek (abras) in Dubai and taxis. Most western expats use taxis in towns and maybe buses between the major cities. Buses are full of expatriate workers from a range of countries throughout Asia etc; very few women.

If you can try to pass that test before you come here as it will make your life a lot easier.

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

Let me add a detail or two for Arty...

Abu Dhabi is the one city in the Emirates where taking a taxi has been the easiest because they have meters and use them. But, it is still pricey...

There are city buses there with a very limited coverage, and I never met a Westerner who had used them. They invariably won't go where you need to go.

Taking the driving test there is mostly aggravating and time consuming... try to do it in your home country and simplify your life.

VS

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

About meeting Emiratis on the bus - don't hold your breath. Abu Dhabi has some scheduled public bus routes but again, don't hold your breath if you're expecting them to be on time with any regularity. If you're female, they may not even stop at all if there are no "lady" seats available.

ArtyCycle · Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 11

Thanks a lot for all your helpful comments. Fantastic. Yeah will certainly try to do this before I leave. It's turned out a real problem here In Oz though.

If I can't get my licence before I go, I suppose using taxis though pricey is still cheaper than buying a car, and it might be hassle free in the sense you don't have to worry about insurance and maintenance and rego and all that stuff eh.

Spose it helps to use a taxi company with a good reputation? And it must help to know the place where you are so you can sound as though you're not green eh..

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

Keep trying on the license thing. Depending on how much you travel about the city - how far the commute to work is - how much you go out on weekends and such - taxis may not be cheaper. But, you certainly lack the flexibility to travel outside the city too if you don't have a car.

You know taxis by the color and you stand in the street and hail them. It is helpful to know Urdu as most of the drivers speak it. But, of course, few of us do... I only know one word and that is 'seeda' which means 'go straight ahead.' They will usually know where the hotels, malls, and supermarkets are, but other than that it is best to know where you are going... as they may not. As I said, it is metered so your greenness shouldn't have much effect, if any. Cool

Luckily Abu Dhabi isn't a huge place, so you will learn it quite quickly.

VS

ArtyCycle · Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 11

Hey Scot47, Adorabilly, Iamherebecause, Veiledsentiments and helenl,
Thanks again for your kind comment. A wonderful website it is that fosters this kind of camaraderie.
I�m trying again this Wednesday...
Arty

adorabilly · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah

Hey arty.

another thing you may be able to do is carpool with folks from where you work. When you start at HCT, just ask if anyone lives near you and see if they are willing to carpool you to work. Then you only have to worry about taxis when getting groceries, or going out.

just a thought.

ArtyCycle · Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 11

Just to thank those of you who encouraged me to get my licence before I come to Abu Dhabi. I was lucky enought to get an assessor who could see that I drove well and that my two technical mistakes should be overlooked. I have now got a driver's licence. Thanks.

A further crazy question. Would one be crazy to attempt to ride a bicycle from home to work ( HCT ). If I stayed hydrated..? Would that be out of the question too. ( No footpaths ? ) Could I ride my bicycle at night when it was cooler...? I fear you are going say no no and no. Does that mean I would be crazy to even bring my bicycle with me? What about a solid kind of scooter type motor bike? I have my licence now but I wont want to buy or will not be ready to buy a car for a fair while I'd expect. Car pooling sounds good but I'd reckon it'd only work for me if I had struck up a connection with someone. You know what I mean>

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

As to cycling to work... depends on how far it is. The country is NOT set up for bikers or walkers. This could only be answered by scoping out the route between your flat and office - and how much of a sweaty mess you would turn into on the trip. Laughing

Evenings are probably do-able... again depending on where you live.

VS