Abu Dhabi or Dubai, UAE

[usoverseas]

My husband and I (and dog :o)) relocated to the UAE (Abu Dhabi) about 6 months ago and would love to find some people with a similar mindset.  In a country where people make large salaries and spend most of it, we're finding it a bit difficult to make new friends!  We are originally from the US and love the benefits of overseas assignments, expect to be here for a bit, so hoping to find some MMM friends.  Let me know if there are any of you out there in the area who would like to hang out.

This is my first post, btw, I have been lurking on MMM for a while! :o)

[obrero]

Hello!
I'm moving to Abu Dhabi in February 2016 for a job.  Wondering if you have any tips on finding an affordable place to live?  The company I'll be working for is going to put me in a hotel for 14 days after my arrival, so I won't have a ton of time to find a place.  Rent seems high! 
I'd also be interested in meeting up once I arrive!
Thanks!

[eastcoastexpats]

Hi all!

My husband and I (we have a dog as well), just moved to Abu Dhabi from Canada in September. We've just recently been introduced to the world of MMM and we're pretty excited about saving a lot of tax free money while we're working overseas to help us retire early. It would be great to meet up with some like minded people! We live in Al Raha Gardens (Khalifa City), if you're close to us shortyoverseas, we should try to meet up for a doggy play date :). 

obrero, housing is quite expensive here. Unfortunately, I can't give you much advice as we were rather rushed in finding a house/community that was dog friendly so we didn't have much time to shop around. But let me know if there's anything I can do to help, it's not the easiest transition.

[usoverseas]

Hello!
I'm moving to Abu Dhabi in February 2016 for a job.  Wondering if you have any tips on finding an affordable place to live?  The company I'll be working for is going to put me in a hotel for 14 days after my arrival, so I won't have a ton of time to find a place.  Rent seems high! 
I'd also be interested in meeting up once I arrive!
Thanks!

Hi Obrero!
Sorry just saw this response today, I obviously need to track things better.

Finding and moving into a place in 14 days will be a bit tough I think, based on all of the things that have to be done first (i.e. medical, fingerprints, residency permit, etc).  I think you can just do it, but it will depend on how much help you get from your company and how quickly they move.  The other thing to note is that most places require you to pay the full years rent up front.  Some will let you pay in two checks, but a lot are in one check.  My company paid the full years rent and then are deducting it from my pay check each month.  You might want to considering extending your hotel stay a bit - 30 days might make it a bit less stressful, especially since you will have all of the obligations that go along with a new job.  There are several apt hotels as well.

So regarding tips for finding affordable places to live, I would recommend changing your mindset a little bit.  While it can be REALLY cheap to live here as there are people from all over the world here, you are going to need to find a place that you are comfortable with...Also, I'm assuming that you have an allowance to offset some of the costs as well? I can give some recommendations on where to look, but it really should be based on your job location.  We chose an apartment close to my office so I can just take cheap taxis to work.  That is something to strongly consider as well, because otherwise you will need to buy or rent a car immediately too.

So if you let me know roughly where your job is located, I can give you better feedback.

Also, sign up for the following Facebook groups, because I'm assuming you will need to furnish a place right away as well.  We bought the necessities like a bed right away from Ikea (because they deliver and assemble for free if you spend enough) and then took our time to buy the rest of the stuff used or on sale.  That made a huge difference in the costs to set our place up.

Facebook groups:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/uaeswapandshop/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/160395090966709/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/449319088469710/

[usoverseas]

Hi all!

My husband and I (we have a dog as well), just moved to Abu Dhabi from Canada in September.  It would be great to meet up with some like minded people! We live in Al Raha Gardens (Khalifa City), if you're close to us shortyoverseas, we should try to meet up for a doggy play date :). 

We would love to meet up!  What kind of dog do you have?  We try to head out to kite beach on most Friday mornings with the pup.  Maybe we can coordinate once these crazy winds stop!  Our dog takes a bit of time to "warm" up to new friends, so might be easiest for us to meet first before we try and intro the dogs!  I wish there was somewhere easy place to meet up for happy hour or something, or maybe we could meet up for Schwarma somewhere?  Any ideas?  We live on the island, near the Corniche (very un-MMM  of us:o)), but a pretty good place to live with the dog for walks!

[usoverseas]

Another thought is we could meet up at the Qasr Al Hosn festival next weekend:
http://qasralhosnfestival.ae/en/visitor-info/faq/

[eastcoastexpats]

usoverseas - I sent you a private message :), not sure if it goes to your email or just a message on this site

I've dragged my husband to a few events/festivals like this one and they were all extremely children oriented. There was nothing for adults to do/learn/explore so it wasn't very interesting or educational for us (we had trouble keeping ourselves occupied for 30 min). Therefore, we've had a change of heart regarding these events in the UAE and it's very unlikely i'll be able to get my husband into the city for this haha!

[obrero]

Hello!
I'm moving to Abu Dhabi in February 2016 for a job.  Wondering if you have any tips on finding an affordable place to live?  The company I'll be working for is going to put me in a hotel for 14 days after my arrival, so I won't have a ton of time to find a place.  Rent seems high! 
I'd also be interested in meeting up once I arrive!
Thanks!

Hi Obrero!
Sorry just saw this response today, I obviously need to track things better.

Finding and moving into a place in 14 days will be a bit tough I think, based on all of the things that have to be done first (i.e. medical, fingerprints, residency permit, etc).  I think you can just do it, but it will depend on how much help you get from your company and how quickly they move.  The other thing to note is that most places require you to pay the full years rent up front.  Some will let you pay in two checks, but a lot are in one check.  My company paid the full years rent and then are deducting it from my pay check each month.  You might want to considering extending your hotel stay a bit - 30 days might make it a bit less stressful, especially since you will have all of the obligations that go along with a new job.  There are several apt hotels as well.

So regarding tips for finding affordable places to live, I would recommend changing your mindset a little bit.  While it can be REALLY cheap to live here as there are people from all over the world here, you are going to need to find a place that you are comfortable with...Also, I'm assuming that you have an allowance to offset some of the costs as well? I can give some recommendations on where to look, but it really should be based on your job location.  We chose an apartment close to my office so I can just take cheap taxis to work.  That is something to strongly consider as well, because otherwise you will need to buy or rent a car immediately too.

So if you let me know roughly where your job is located, I can give you better feedback.

Also, sign up for the following Facebook groups, because I'm assuming you will need to furnish a place right away as well.  We bought the necessities like a bed right away from Ikea (because they deliver and assemble for free if you spend enough) and then took our time to buy the rest of the stuff used or on sale.  That made a huge difference in the costs to set our place up.

Facebook groups:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/uaeswapandshop/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/160395090966709/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/449319088469710/

Thanks for the info! Your post was helpful with what to expect, I'm flying out next Friday.  Those links are helpful, I couldn't find much on craigslist in UAE, mostly dealers selling stuff or scams it seems, so I was looking for some type of classifieds.

 I'm going to be working between khalifa and "on island", if I understand correctly, Khalifa seems cheaper, the guide from my company said its more family oriented suburban type place, lower rent per square foot, as a single guy I think I'd prefer to be on island despite the higher cost, and it seems it would be equidistant from either khalifa or most places in Abu Dhabi proper.   Some of my pay is a housing allowance, and they will front me the years rent if I want it.
  Overall I'm excited because I have much more vacation time with this job than I get in the u.s. and the tax benefits are swell, too.  its just going to be a bit of a pain getting set up! 

[usoverseas]

@eastcoastexpats Oh that's so funny, I suspect this will be the same, but we will let you know.  We've not been to enough to have my husband boycott them yet, but I think it won't be too far off!

I got your PM, I will email you back shortly.  Traveling for work this week, so might be in a day or two! 

[usoverseas]

Hi Obrero-
I'm really by no means an expert, since I've only been here since May! You might want to look at Reem Island, potentially reverse commute to your job, but not sure.  You can get a cheaper more western, modern apartment there. Al Reef, I think, has reasonably priced apartments too, near the airport. 

Safe travels and good luck setting up.  Keep us posted!   

[eastcoastexpats]

Hi Obrero,

Yes, Khalifa is more family oriented - we live in Al Raha Gardens which is basically a giant suburb/complex of houses that all look the same for miles and miles (not our idea place buy our dog loves having a yard and going for long walks around the community). However, there are a few good apartment/condo complexes in the area (Al Bandar, Al Zeina and a bit further out is Al Reef). A lot of these complexes are occupied with Etihad employees and flight crew ;), so I've heard there are a few good bars in the area. As Usoverseas mentioned, Al Reem is a good island to live on in the city, we have a few friends who live there and it's convenient.

But I think you should figure out if the city or Khalifa area is closer to your work. I work in Khalifa and my husband works in the city so he's doing the 30 min commute which isn't fun for him! And he gets up early to try to beat the traffic and cut time off his commute, and it's still 30 min minimum. Not sure what traffic is like going the other way, probably similar as there are quite a few people who commute to Dubai.

Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions throughout the process. Good luck!

[Mycalian]

Could all of you be knowing of vacancies over there in Abu Dhabi? I just want to start my life over in a place far away from where I am.

[obrero]

Hi Obrero-
I'm really by no means an expert, since I've only been here since May! You might want to look at Reem Island, potentially reverse commute to your job, but not sure.  You can get a cheaper more western, modern apartment there. Al Reef, I think, has reasonably priced apartments too, near the airport. 

Safe travels and good luck setting up.  Keep us posted!

Hi Obrero,

Yes, Khalifa is more family oriented - we live in Al Raha Gardens which is basically a giant suburb/complex of houses that all look the same for miles and miles (not our idea place buy our dog loves having a yard and going for long walks around the community). However, there are a few good apartment/condo complexes in the area (Al Bandar, Al Zeina and a bit further out is Al Reef). A lot of these complexes are occupied with Etihad employees and flight crew ;), so I've heard there are a few good bars in the area. As Usoverseas mentioned, Al Reem is a good island to live on in the city, we have a few friends who live there and it's convenient.

Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions throughout the process. Good luck!

Thanks for the info. y'all.

  According to the Google Al Reem is a 20 minute drive from where I'll be working on SAS Al Nakhl, which is immediately northwest of Khalifa.  Khalifa would probably be perfect, close to work, probably 10 minutes driving, lower rents, but I'm just not too pumped on living in the 'burbs.  Do you find the times that google gives for driving to be pretty accurate? 

The company I'll be working for has been continually pushing back the date I'm supposed to fly over, first it was the 5th, then the 12th, now the 15th.  A little frustrating, but from talking to other employees at the firm, its pretty normal! 

[Wadiman]

Mycalian - check out Monster Gulf - it has vacancies for the Gulf states.  Bayt seems to be popular as well.

[Blonde Lawyer]

Just a word of caution.  My friend was an ex-pat and passed away in a car accident.  His wife's accounts, in her name only were immediately locked down.  She couldn't leave the country until her dad flew in to get her.  She lost all autonomy and right to everything (including pets) the minute he died even though he had "authorized" her to have those rights while he was alive.  I know most companies warn you of these things before you go there.  Heed the warnings and get the legal advice you need to make sure that doesn't happen to you.  They were young and carefree and never thought one of them would be in that situation.  You might think "oh, I can live there because my husband will authorize me around all these sexist laws."  That doesn't help if your husband dies.  Just food for thought.

[obrero]

Just a word of caution.  My friend was an ex-pat and passed away in a car accident.  His wife's accounts, in her name only were immediately locked down.  She couldn't leave the country until her dad flew in to get her.  She lost all autonomy and right to everything (including pets) the minute he died even though he had "authorized" her to have those rights while he was alive.  I know most companies warn you of these things before you go there.  Heed the warnings and get the legal advice you need to make sure that doesn't happen to you.  They were young and carefree and never thought one of them would be in that situation.  You might think "oh, I can live there because my husband will authorize me around all these sexist laws."  That doesn't help if your husband dies.  Just food for thought.

Thanks for the info.  My employer had me sign a document appointing a beneficiary for my assets in the UAE, should I die.  I believe that was to prevent the situation you're speaking of.  Either way, I'm only keeping the necessary money in my UAE accounts, sending the rest back to my U.S. accounts. 

[obrero]

I'm all settled in here on Al Reem Island.  They definitely have different ways of doing things here than what I'm used to! 

[Viracocha]

Hello everyone,

If you're looking to meet fellow mustachians in the UAE, you can join us on "Common Sense Personal Finance and Investing", on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/466644330175575/
It's a community of people sharing the bogleheads and mustachian philosophy. We normally meet once or twice amonth and discuss all sorts of topics related to investing, FIRE and happiness :-)

We also have a website (http://bogleheadsuae.wixsite.com/website) and we post summaries of our meetups in the blog section. The next event is in 2 weeks (starting up with index investing). Feel free to join us!

Oh, and we are also on Meetup.com, both for Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

See you soon!