Job Discussion Forums

Shimokitazawa · Joined: 16 Aug 2009 Posts: 458 Location: Saigon, Vietnam

What kind of cars do most teachers drive in the UAE?

Are cars necessary to have or is public transportation or school faculty bus available as a means of going back and forth from home to work?

If not, do many schools have special agreements with auto dealers for finding teachers cars and selling them to teachers at discounted prices?

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

They drive whatever they want... and are willing to pay for... Laughing

You're on your own for transport in the UAE. Few, if any, employers assist in the process. Taxis are plentiful, but expensive for long term use. It depends on where you live and where you work how they will work out. In some areas, they are scarce during rush hour, and buses rarely go where you want to go... limited coverage.

Personally I always bought a new car... a basic model (nissan sunny, toyota tercel) with no bells and whistles. I negotiated directly with dealers and bought whichever one gave me the best deal. Many want a 4WD to take up dune bashing which is a popular activity on the weekends.

Many spend the first year without a car, or leasing, and then pick up something in the spring when other teachers are leaving. IMHO, only purchase used from a fellow expat. (as a "Western female driver" I always sold my cars the day I put up the ad)

VS

2buckets · Joined: 14 Dec 2010 Posts: 515 Location: Middle East

I had a car for years, but for the last few years, I long term rent. Renting relieves you of the trauma of annual registration, insurance, repairs, maintenance, etc. You can get a new car every six months too. If you break down, you just call and another car is there in minutes. It isn't all that more expensive. Another benefit is when you go on holiday, you just leave the car with the rental company at the airport and not have to worry about your car sitting in the oven like heat on the street all summer.

Shimokitazawa · Joined: 16 Aug 2009 Posts: 458 Location: Saigon, Vietnam

Great information - very helpful, thanks!

I never thought about leasing car there. Seems like another plausible option.

PC Parrot · Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 8:01 am Post subject:

It's not plausible to people who want to save money ...

I should imagine that the cheapest hire car is going to run at somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000 Dh per month ... which comes in at between 18,000 and 24,000 Dh a year ... it could be more than this

People who own new cars, of a type similar to the cheapest hire car, will pay approximate annual expenses of 1,000 Dh for insurance, 250 Dh for registration, and 1,500 Dh for routine maintenance ... When combined with a generous depreciation of 4,000 Dh a year, this comes in at 6,750 Dh a year ...

I, for one, would rather not spend two to three weeks in the classroom just so I can avoid an hour of car re-registration formalities every year and a trip to a garage every 4 months for an oil change ...

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

I think leasing is a good option for the first year. You really need to spend 2-3 years to not get killed on the depreciation if you buy new. Leasing lets you decide if you think you will stick around or whether you hate the place and plan to give notice. It also opens up the chance to pick up a good used car from a fellow teacher.

Also, another benefit when buying new, if you are a good negotiator you can end up with a few years of free service. Cool

In all my years in the Gulf, I had new cars and never spent a penny on maintenance... all free or under warranty.

VS

Pikgitina · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 420 Location: KSA

PC Parrot · Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 2:05 pm Post subject:

I wouldn't know about free services on new cars. In my 10 years here, I've always bought a 2nd or 3rd hand 4x4.

Older cars cost less, depreciate less, and have significantly lower insurance (4,500 Dh v 650 Dh a year for a new version of the same 4x4).

It has saved me a small fortune compared to what others have shelled out.

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

All true PCP...

As a female, I always went new because I didn't want to have to deal with the possibility of breakdowns (the heat there is so hard on car parts). I didn't want to be stranded half way between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain some evening.

It's a tradeoff...

VS

PC Parrot · Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 3:10 pm Post subject:

The only time I broke down was in the rolling dunes of the desert ..

A very brave friend towed me out ..

That said though .. I've seen new cars need a tow too

2buckets · Joined: 14 Dec 2010 Posts: 515 Location: Middle East

It used to be a trauma requiring two trips of a few hours each. I'm talking pre-computer days.

Maybe it's improved, I don't go there anymore.

PC Parrot · Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 5:21 am Post subject:

In the Abu Dhabi & Dubai Emirates, if you chose your time and place carefully, one trip of 25 mins is all that's required ..

Not sure about elsewhere ..

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

2buckets · Joined: 14 Dec 2010 Posts: 515 Location: Middle East

A loooonnnggg time ago, the 80s.

Badar Bin Bada Boom · Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 2:56 pm Post subject:

I drove in the Emirates from 1997 to 2007. After two or 2 1/2 years it is cheaper to buy than to lease. The longer you stay in the Emirates, the cheaper it is to own compared to leasing. As for annual registration, I had a service do that for me while I sipped a cappuccino.

As for new cars that break down, the first ones to go in that climate are the Range Rovers and Land Rovers, esp. the former. (Same in the US--check their bottom ranking in Consumer Reports).

These days I would suggest a one-year-old Ford Fusion or the boring Honda Accord. The Camry is cheap hard plastic in the interior and reliability is only average. VS as a lady is partial to the small, basic, boring cars but that's a lady's privilege. Although my ex-wife, a 5'1" Chinese, loves the 1997 Infiniti Q45 (big beautiful luxosedan) I gave her!

OK--I always go off on tangents. Long story short: think you'll stay for 3 years or more? Buy, don't lease.