Saying that you need to match what guys are leaving behind is not valid. Do you think controllers leaving their 5 bedroom homes in Australia, going to Hong Kong, moved into Houses when they arrived.
For the vast majority of professionals living in Abu Dhabi, apartment living is part of the deal. For 84,000 dh's a year you can get a really nice big apartment. It will also mean we are on a par with what Dubai get accomodation wise, which would be a much fairer situation than the current inequity.