Job Discussion Forums

[nathan_lomax]

Good morning, good afternoon, good evening,

I applied to work for HCT and I'm already 'in the pool', waiting to be picked. Just wondered which college is the best for all round quality of life with young kids in mind.

I have heard that Dubai is not a good place to live and people say Abu Dhabi is similar. The new MZ college sounds like a long commute. I haven't heard much about Sharja, Al Ain or any of the others.

Any insights would be valued,

Thanks

[veiledsentiments]

Since you get very little input into the choice, I'm not sure what it matters. They put you where they need you. Some prefer Dubai, some prefer Abu Dhabi, some prefer Al-Ain and some prefer RAK, and etc. Any of them is fine for young kids.

VS

[NadiaK]

What VS said.

[Strolling minstrel]

Nathan,

VS is right up to a point. They take your family circumstances into account, and then they put you where they want. There is no point putting a family man with kids needing schooling some place where it can't be accessed as he will be leaving pretty quick. For a good blend of OK traffic conditions (important given the lack of public transport), decent living accommodation (your accountable allowance goes much much further) and pleasant environment, Al Ain is a good bet for a family.

[nathan_lomax]

Thanks, I'll wait and see!

[Gauguin]

Knowing the age of your children would help here, Nathan. If they are under 12 then any of the rural areas are good, I'd recommend RAK for the sea, mountains, sailing club, camping, a decent mall, and easy assess to Dubai for day trips.

The expat schools here are well staffed and seem to have settled down after a bad year, last year. If however, your kids are taking violin and ballet lessons then the city is for you. Driving back and forth along the Emirates road twice a week can wear you down. Young teenagers, unless into outdoor activities, easily become bored out in the sticks and soon start yearning for their mates back in Blighty / Stateside / Down under.

However, HCT will send you where you are needed, that�s all part of the deal. You�d have done better asking this prior to the interview. Either way, welcome to HCT.

gauguin

[tek44]

Any word on life in Fujairah?

[NadiaK]

There is life in Fujairah, I hear, but it seems quieter than the other main HCT locations, and is certainly a smaller town than Al Ain and RAK. Those who live there say it's good for families with small children - there's a decent British curriculum English-medium school which seems to be good at the primary level and OK at the secondary level but with very little choice at A-level (some families do leave for the bigger cities once their kids reach secondary age, though).

[Stephen Jones]

I like Fujairah, and I believe it has got better over the last ten years.

[tek44]

How about the HCT schools in Fujairah?

[hb]

How much do they pay at HTC?

[Gauguin]

I went to Fujairah once, it was closed.

Steve, the dark side of the moon has got better in the last ten years.

What do Fujairah expats do at weekends? Come to RAK!

RAK goes to Dubai.

Dubai tries to leave town, gets stuck in traffic and gives up.

In Abu Dhabi, pretend they are not really like the rest of us and in Al Ain, they visit roundabouts.

Have Fun

gauguin

[Stephen Jones]

I doubt Fujairah expats go to RAK as you can't drink there.

You didn't say which half of Fujairah was closed, the Hilton or the motel!

I had a great time there but I got in with a nice crowd.

It used to be the norm to go to Dubai once a week to stock up with illicit booze from the boats.

[Gauguin]

Steve, there are over 10 bars in RAK. The Centurian 'Hole in the Wall' in the town centre and the Baracuda 20 mins down the coast. The sailing club has more social members than sailors. A Carrefore. Bibilo, a Buy/Swap bookshop and comimng soon, a Spinneys at Al Hamra.

I believe Fujairah has a 'sharama' stand.... open weekends...sometimes.

[It used to be the norm to go to Dubai once a week to stock up with illicit booze from the boats.]

Did you go by camel, when was this?

gauguin

[HCT_Long_Timer]

Fujairah currently has 14 (yes, read that number) bars. It also has a 'hole-in-the-wall" bottle shop (off-licence to Poms). One of the better Indian cuisine restaurants serves cheapish normal booze which is nice. There are three hotels that have bars and restaurants that serve booze. More hotels are now being constructed. Fujairah is also the only place I know of in the UAE that has 'live' music during Ramadan (suck that Dubai and Abu Dhabi!).

Traffic jams don't exist which is fantastic, and if you yearn for bigger shopping you can drive for an hour and visit Manar mall in RAK, or you can drive for 90 minutes and visit the big smoke of Dubai.

Fujairah has beaches and the Hilton Hoten in town on the waters edge, and there are a couple of great resort hotels about 45 minutes drive up the coast at Al Aqah (near Dibba).

Shopping may be a bit 'modest' but a large-ish new mall is being built on the coast road inside Fujairah city and should be open in 2009 (I suspect).

AS and A level grades from the British curriculum school here are well understood and accepted by Oz university entrance organisations, and expat kids here seem (overall) happy. But kids are kids and it's usually the parents who actually stress out.

It is important to perhaps avoid some employment places such as IAT, and even FWC and FMC aren't 'travelling' that well right now but at least the HCT pays decently.

Overall, Fujairah is not a bad place to live if you're in the UAE. And places like Dubai and Abu Dhabi are best enjoyed during short duration visits. Avoid MZ and Sharjah like the plague (for different resons).

Can respond to specific questions if asked, so don't be shy.