this is for all of you out there who are considering the expat lifestyle here in abu dhabi. where the benefits are great, the housing situation is a challenge. here is some information that i wish i could have found clearly stated somewhere before i moved:
* There are about four categories of housing available to you:
o High rise apartments
o Villa conversions (stand alone villas divided into apartments for individual let)
o Villa/townhouse complexes (Arabian version of the suburbs)
o Buildings that look like they are going to be fabulous, and look mostly done but are still under construction, but no one can officially tell you when they will be done, should have opened 6 months ago, could be 3 more months, could be a year. These are the most frustrating ones of all.
* There is typically a refundable 10,000 Dhs security deposit required.
* The entirety of 12 mos rent is due upfront.
* Studios tend to be between 65-95,000 dhs, one bedrooms 110-135,000, two bedrooms and up are 160k +. Prices do not really differ in or out of the city proper unless you go all the way out to al reef, which is well on your way to Dubai and also starts at 2 bedrooms (our realtor didn't even have time to take us there, she said that would have to be a separate trip).
* One bedrooms and studios are very scarce to come by. More complexes/buildings than not don’t even offer them, they start at 2 bedrooms. The further out of the city proper you go, one bedrooms are nonexistent and even 2 bedrooms become fewer and further between.
* Apartments do not come equipped with appliances.
* High rise buildings in the city tend to include gym and pool facilities, but villa conversions in and out of the city, and villa developments further out typically do not.
* Basically what you get further out of the city is more for your money in terms of space and interior fit out style, but less for your money in terms of facilities (gym, pool, etc.). This is of course if you are looking for a 2 bedroom + situation, nothing under two bedrooms is available. The finishes are less “Arabian” like you would find in the city and more contemporary, something we would be more used to seeing in the States.
* UAE has a zero tolerance policy for drinking and driving. If you live any further out than between 2 bridges (where the Fairmont and Shangri la are) then getting a taxi is a difficult process. Depending on your social lifestyle this is something to consider. One drink could be enough to put you in an Arabian jail.
* It is very common here for a building/complex to be listed as “complete/move-in ready” and when you get there, by any sort of American terms the building is still under construction. Site trailer is still up, parking lot and entry side walk are 6” deep sand, and workers are still on site. But somehow, among all of this, “all of the good units have already been spoken for, in some cases even moved in to”
* Parking. Some of the high rise buildings have underground parking usually one spot is allowed per apartment. Villa conversions, parking is available but often uncovered (which is painful out here in the heat, for you when you get in the car and for your car’s paint job) villas and townhouses out of the city seem to have 1-2 car ports or full garages.
No comments:
Post a Comment