Housing at EK

[Raise or Fold]

Can you change your housing at EK once you are assigned your villa?
Say if you want to be closer to friends and others, or it is just a dump where you live.

I hear silicon oasis is almost full, does anyone know where else people are going? Can you post a link?

Thanks

[BigGeordie]

The accommodation you get is the accommodation you keep. Some is very good and some is very good but all of it is a lottery. Single F/Os get a 2 bedroom apartment, married F/Os with no children get a 3 bedroom apartment, everybody else gets a villa.

Silicon Oasis is indeed full so they will put you wherever they have space (that lottery again) and you may spend several months in "temporary accommodation" which almost universally isn't very good.

Alternatively, you can take the "utilities allowance" which comes out at about 120,000 Dhs a year for an F/O and that will rent you a nice one bedroom apartment or a very average two bed but at least you have some kind of control over where you live and in Dubai that can make a very big difference to how happy you and your family are.

Sorry if that is all a bit vague but hey, welcome to Dubai.:ugh:

[Fart Master]

You've got about a couple of weeks after you arrive to lodge your complaint and they will prob move you, after that almost certainly not, although the head of accomodation is much more 'accomodating' than the last one:ok:

[Guns-A-GoGo]

I am taking from all this that they both are just complete crapshoots. Has thee been any real success of living on the economy? I am sure that the ones who live on their own has the problem with fluctuating rent. Any more news on that? What if you want to move into company housing after you have lived onthe economy?

Waiting to interview and just trying to gain some info for my wife.

Thanks in advance.

Guns-A-GoGo

[Wizofoz]

There hasn't been any fluctuations in Dubai rent, only increases!!

Peolpe who bought their own places 5 or more years ago have cleaned up. The current Utilities allowance would more than cover their mortgages and their properties would have increased in value 100%+.

If you were to do the same now, though, you would face a VERY large shortfall on a mortgage of even a modest place. If the property values continue to boom you might do well after a few years. I personally think this would be VERY high risk, as I have been told by numerous people that a correction is on it's way.

The Utilities allowance will not rent you a place even close to the equivelant company accomodation, and the gap between the two would seem to be widening.

My advice would be take company accomodation, as it's a roof over your head whilst you get some local knowledge. It IS a crap-shoot, though people who have been unhappy with their first assignement have been able to negotiate compromises with a bit of persistence.

You can opt out later, but it states very clearly in the contract that you can't opt back in.

[MTOW]

Have to agree with Wiz. To fluctuate, things have to go down as well as up, and to date, rents have certainly not done that. All that's varied is the steepness of the upcurve.

A lot of people who got in early have done very well in the Dubai real estate market, but the prices people are paying now for what in many cases are pretty ordinary apartments and villas, in my opinion, are unsustainable.

[Guns-A-GoGo]

Thanks, that gives me a start and answers many questions. I am coming up with a plan to consider, on the living front, before I come to interview. Many questions still are out there. For now thanks, I'll come back at everyone with more.

Guns-A-GoGo

[5man]

Question on the unaccompanied baggage that EK gives. Do I give the movers the address of the apartment or the PO BOX. Some ppl said that it will not be delivered if you provide the apartment address?

[EGGW]

Are you talking about a small parcel, or 100kgs??? If its the allowance EK give you, then its all done through the cargo village and you go and collect it yourself. For mail you can use your work PO Box, or get one yourself at various locations are town. Your villa or apartment address for mail means nothing, the local postal service is mickey mouse.

Once you upgrade you are entitled to a villa. You get 3 choices. Sometimes you get lucky what is offered. You do not HAVE to move.

EGGW

[5man]

Thanks for the post EGGW. I have a moving company that does the cargo for me (100 kg) and they told me that they have an agent in Dubai that will deliver the cargo to my apartment. ( FO no kids hence the apartment). Hence I wonder if the apartment address is adequate since I am paying for the delivery

[5man]

Need some input boys. Was just told that I will be put up at the Sahara Tower at Shiekh Zayed Rd. I google it and only manage to find a photo of the tower and that the tower was built in 97. So I would be grateful if anyone can provide some insight of it. Eg, facilities, parking lots etc etc. :ok:

[EGGW]

You WILL enjoy. Practice the escape route, the Cabin crew have a tendency to set their apartments on fire. Otherwise full of totty, good pool when the pigeons aren't having a dump in it, gym is so so. Parking is fine and security is pretty easy going, for visitors, ahem...

EGGW

[Guns-A-GoGo]

Geez.........the start of the 5000 questions my wife is going to ask. Can we bring our cats?

Guns

[Wiley]

Oh, you will enjoy Sahara.

Know a guy there who has an astronomer's telescope on his balcony overlooking the pool, but it's permanently set at a very funny angle for star gazing.

[Fart Master]

Coooooooooooooooooooool:E:E:E

[BigGeordie]

Yes, you can bring your cats.

[QCM]

...and your wife...:}

[Guns-A-GoGo]

Should have made it a little more clear, My wife's cats! You can't leave your pussy...............cats in the US of A!

Guns

[PositiveRate876]

...and your wife...:}


Why bring sand to the desert? :)