Job Discussion Forums

utagawa · Joined: 22 Jul 2005 Posts: 2

I'd sincerely appreciate any information you could offer about living in ras al khaimah. I'd especially like to know about the international schools there. There isn't much specific information on the Web. Thanks for the help.

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

I don't think there are any international schools in RAK, but don't quote me as gospel on that. I knew someone who taught at RAK Women's College there and liked the job, and the relative quiet, but I'm more of a Hong Kong/San Francisco/Dubai kinda guy myself and would personally avoid RAK, dusty hick place that it is.

hithesh · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 10

Can somebody throw some light into this. I also want to know about the climate and environment there in RAK.
Thanks,

Wander · Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 34

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

RAK is not as bad as it used to be I have heard. There is a new road now so it is much faster to get from there to Dubai for a bit of shopping... or whatever.

I actually liked the old quiet RAK, but never had the chance to work up there... not that I tried all that hard. Laughing

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

I'm going to be working there at the new George Mason University campus (just intensive English this year; full academic campus in the fall of 2006). There's a new US-style mall on the waterfront called Manar Mall, with a Carrefour hypermarket and 110 other shops, food court, 7-screen movie theater, etc. There are about 7 hotels, of which at least 2 are five-star. The Hilton has gorgeous-looking pools and grounds in addition to a beach club. There are supposed to be several nightclubs and pubs among the hotels. For home life, at least you can get Evision there, the UAE cable TV system that combines Orbit and Showtime satellite, i.e., 50 or more English channels--not only movie and tv -series channels but also CNN, BBC, MSNBC and more plus and a consolidation channel of every American news program available: 48 hrs., 60 Minutes., Good Morning America, etc. etc.

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

Can anyone tell me about the RAK HTC womens college?

It is one of the posts my wife has been offered working in the UAE.

What i'm interested in finding out is
1. How good is the expat school there?
2. How are the working conditions at the womens college?

i have heard different things on this board about both locations, and about the RAK in general...

I'm hoping that some of you may have first hand knowledge.

Thanks.

NadiaK · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 206

The English-speaking school there does not have a great reputation. Do research it carefully.

Your wife might like to check out the forum at www.expatwoman.com (I'm afraid they're rather sexist, and cater only to women) - a search there should throw up some info on the school. and she might get some more info by posting a query.

Afra · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 389

There is also a Choueifat school if you are happy with 'teach to the test'.

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

I like RAK. The city has lots to do, and no traffic jams. Things are close, but the city is big enough to hide in/get lost in Smile

RAK has good services. If you want, you can always drive the 1 hr to Dubai for additional medical service(s). My colleagues find there are good pediatricians and GPs here.

I have a link for the English Speaking School (pronounced RAK-S). Try http://rakess.net

Smile

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

In the Nakheel half there are traffic jams, caused by the nonstop, 24-hour, seven-day-a-week truck convoys--big diesel trucks--on their way to Dubai with quarry rocks and other stuff. Sometimes on the expressway that extends about 2 miles from the RAK Hotel to the Sharjah road there's a line of trucks for the full length--maybe 100 trucks or more. They really bring down the quality of life in this place.

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

That sounds unpleasant. Is this for a specific project or just the ongoing Dubai construction?

Can one avoid it? Or do all roads lead to the convoy?

VS

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

The trucks are to supply Dubai forever and ever!

Well, on the Nakheel side, the main shopping street (Nakheel Road) is horrible because of the truck convoys. It's a narrow two lanes on each side, with little shops and an Indian cinema, and it looks to me like some dusty frontier town in Tajikistan or somewhere. The trucks are always lined up from one end to the other, mostly in the direciton of Dubai, but quite a few the other way too. You can imagine the noise and fumes. What a mess. The Nakheel side is dusty, incredibly ugly, and once you go one or two blocks over you have to stop for goats and the roads are appalling. Frontier town in Tajikistan, as I said.

The RAK side of the creek starting with the mall (which is technically still on the Nakheel side) is much better and more attractive. I like the view from the top of the one bridge. Looking one way, the city looks like Reno, Nevada and turn your head the opposite way and you see a classical Arabian village by the sea...palms, mosques, the green sea...straight out of Lawrence of Arabia coming down on Aqaba.

The nasty big trucks on the RAK side mostly confine themselves to the expressway leading to the Sharjah Road, passing by the RAK Hotel. That's where I said sometimes they're backed up two miles, 100 trucks or so.

The Corniche Road is OK, nothing special, but sort of attractive. It's extremely noisy after 10 pm with all the corniche boys revving their engines into the ground and squealing their tires. I wish I had glazed windows...since I live on the Corniche Road.

I call this place the Land of Not Quite Right. I'd zip over to Dubai more often but I get scared of suffering hypoglycemia while stuck in traffic for hours. I bring food and drink.

For social life the main digs seem to be the Sailing Club, where the majority of expats apparently go there to imbibe and socialize and sailing is an afterthought. That's what I've heard, since I'm not much for pub life. Absolutely nothing against it, as I used to do it; I simply don't enjoy it anymore.

Hope this helps!

holbrook · Joined: 14 Jun 2003 Posts: 60

I would argue that RAK is a fairly good place to live in the Emirates. As long as you are not a hardcore-out-all-nighter type. There are now several bars in town. The mix isn't so good. Nothing glamorous, but there are still options.

Nowadays there are more and more good restaurants as well. When I first came there was almost nothing, now there are two decent Italian places, a great Chinese (one of the best that I've ever had, and cheap!), plenty of Lebanese, and the new restaurants and the golf club and hilton spa are well liked.

If you like golf RAK is great. The course is really good and dirt cheap compared to Dubai or even similar quality clubs back in Europe or America.

The surrounding desert and mountains are superb for camping. I'm always up and out in the bush. Withing 20 minutes from your house your in no man's land with dune-bashing or alpine scenery. Can't get that in Dubai!

Also the weather is a bit cooler up in RAK. The mountains cut down on the thermal winds that make Dubai so dusty and hot. I can't tell you how many days I've left RAK with blue skies and ended up in Dubai with nothing but sand induced haze.

The local school is very good for the elementary level. Less so for high school as many of the smarter Arab girls leave for non-coeducational institutions once they are older. But the new PYP program is going well and threatens to improve things further.

Traffic never used to be bad before 10pm but has gotten insane on the Nakheel side of town. If you live in the Kuzzam area things are much better and easier. But construction, like everywhere in the Emirates is putting high demands on the roads. At least the new Emirates Highway means its only a 45 minute drive into Sharjah and an hour or so into Dubai.

The worst thing about this place is the shopping. Even in Carefore the fruits and vegetables are not as fresh as in Dubai, and its more expensive. The fish is great and fresher than Abu Dhabi or Dubai because it mostly comes from here, but there are many items that are standard in Dubai and Abu Dhabi Carefoure's that are absent here. A monthly trip into Dubai to stock up on delicacies and pork and you're good to go.

All in all I'm glad that I'm in RAK. I'd sign up here before I'd ever live in Dubai. Abu Dhabi maybe, but Dubai is just manic with traffic, expensive, hot, etc.

I hope this was helpful.

Cheers

redcliff · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 46

Holbrook somes things up pretty well.

RAK is growing and it will certainly be an interesting time over the next few years. Seeing the goats munching by the side of the road and having camels walk past your back yard certainly adds authenticity. You wont get that in Dubai, a city I think has a good chance to be mired in grid lock within the next few years.

RAKEES is improving and will certainly do more so the more expat kids we get there so come on down!
I think this is a great place for a family especially if your kids are young.
If you do have young ones you may want to push for a villa with a pool as I think this makes a big difference it people's daily quality of life. my kids are in the pool at least twice a day for updwards of 3 hours!