Moving to the Middle East
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: somewhere near heaven
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Moving to the Middle East
Can anybody shed some light on living in the Middle East. I have been given the opportunity to move to Egypt with my family????? What is life like with a family?? Shopping and Accomodation??? Cant seem to find any threads to suit???
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: "como todo buen piloto... mujeriego y borracho"
Posts: 2,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Allow me just to say this:
Egypt is not the same as Dubai, or Bahrain, or Riyadh. Just like Hong Kong is not the same as Macau, or Guangzhou, or Beijing.
Egypt is not the same as Dubai, or Bahrain, or Riyadh. Just like Hong Kong is not the same as Macau, or Guangzhou, or Beijing.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Dubai
Age: 58
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Egypt is a developing country and you should not expect anything like the Gulf states.
On the other side Egypt has some good points if you can adjust to driving.
food shopping is Caurfour and the local chain called Metro market, most other things are available but prices on imported things are high.
As for Family, a few good schools are available in Maadi area. Maadi is also a good area to live. If you work at the airport and live in Maadi you will almost never need to travel downtown into the madness.
In all cases go and look for yourself, Cairo is an acquired taste. Lived there 10 years but have spent the last year in Dubai and enjoy the change in life style.
On the other side Egypt has some good points if you can adjust to driving.
food shopping is Caurfour and the local chain called Metro market, most other things are available but prices on imported things are high.
As for Family, a few good schools are available in Maadi area. Maadi is also a good area to live. If you work at the airport and live in Maadi you will almost never need to travel downtown into the madness.
In all cases go and look for yourself, Cairo is an acquired taste. Lived there 10 years but have spent the last year in Dubai and enjoy the change in life style.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Middle East
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I love Egypt, it is an aquired taste and you do have to get use to the crowds, I wouldn't live in the downtown area or "Cairo" proper. There are plenty of new developments and compounds to the east of the airport within 25 minutes.
Positives:
Friendly helpful people, VERY low cost of living (excluding vehicles), all the Antiquities, Cairo is within driving distance of many resort areas and beaches.
Negatives:
Crazy driving, high cost of vehicles, nobody knows how to line up (same as in every M.E. country).
Remember it is a developing country.
Positives:
Friendly helpful people, VERY low cost of living (excluding vehicles), all the Antiquities, Cairo is within driving distance of many resort areas and beaches.
Negatives:
Crazy driving, high cost of vehicles, nobody knows how to line up (same as in every M.E. country).
Remember it is a developing country.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Middle East
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am sure that if people could figure someway to skip the "Cue" (sp?) at the runway, it would happen there as well.
Yep, I was talking about bank lines, ticket lines, shopping lines, anything requiring someone to wait their turn.
Yep, I was talking about bank lines, ticket lines, shopping lines, anything requiring someone to wait their turn.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Dubai
Age: 58
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
jumping the line at the runway is called preferred taxiway routing and yes some aircraft get that as well from ATC.
If you ever get routed down a long taxi way and told to hold while the all the Egyptian registered aircraft take off you, you know that they just jumped in front of you.
If you ever get routed down a long taxi way and told to hold while the all the Egyptian registered aircraft take off you, you know that they just jumped in front of you.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: somewhere near heaven
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Living in the Middle east
Everyone thanks for the living and flight info. It looks as if there needs to be a lot of thought about the relocation. As far as crowds, Egypt sounds a lot like HK, queuing is also a problem here.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: somewhere near heaven
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Living in the Middle East
If HKG is your yardstick for acceptable living standard, then you'll be confronted with initial severe culture shock living in CAI. 
You obviously havent lived in HK very long. Do you have a family here?????
It is also very hard to get around when I am flying. Unless of course you have a Helper!!!!!!
You obviously havent lived in HK very long. Do you have a family here?????
It is also very hard to get around when I am flying. Unless of course you have a Helper!!!!!!
Last edited by littlebattler; 14th Oct 2007 at 07:11.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Magic Kingdom
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So you are saying the GCC states are not developing countries? A tad bit overdone, don't you think?
The difference is that the GCC caters to Western Expats. It is possible not to have to interact with the local world outside your compound and many people do that. You would understand that only if you have lived here.
I doubt it will be the same experience living in Cairo. From my infrequent visits there, it seem to be different than any place in the GCC.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Dubai
Age: 58
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"developing countries" used as a politically correct from of third world.
The Gulf countries are developing but very much in a different way and achieving different results than "developing countries" of the third world.
Gulf countries in my experience have things like good electrical supplies, water, sewage, roads without holes, land line phone networks with high penetration, availability of imports at reasonable prices,...
Living in the UAE and Cairo have nothing in common from my personal experience on the comforts of life side.
The Gulf countries are developing but very much in a different way and achieving different results than "developing countries" of the third world.
Gulf countries in my experience have things like good electrical supplies, water, sewage, roads without holes, land line phone networks with high penetration, availability of imports at reasonable prices,...
Living in the UAE and Cairo have nothing in common from my personal experience on the comforts of life side.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Magic Kingdom
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I see we have a fisherman! And an almost 10 year expert on the sandpit
Actually, they are resurfacing that highway as we speak. And as for surgin electricity, not sure where you are refering to mate, it doesn't seem to be anywhere in the middle east I've been to.
And as for your non-interacting comment, well there are only so many times you can go to the suq. If you really have been here long enough, you too would understand.
Actually, they are resurfacing that highway as we speak. And as for surgin electricity, not sure where you are refering to mate, it doesn't seem to be anywhere in the middle east I've been to.
And as for your non-interacting comment, well there are only so many times you can go to the suq. If you really have been here long enough, you too would understand.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Dubai
Age: 58
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BeeBop, I knew you were trolling and was waiting for the hammer to fall.
And yes everything in GCC countries is not perfect but the biggest mistake you can make looking at Egypt is to think life there has anything to do with the GCC.
Having lived in Egypt for 10 years and now in the UAE for 2 years, maybe I am not the best judge but I have seen both sides.
A few holes in a highway is nothing compared to horror stories that I am forcing myself not to post about egypt (not getting bated again).
well maybe one, wait no control....
And yes everything in GCC countries is not perfect but the biggest mistake you can make looking at Egypt is to think life there has anything to do with the GCC.
Having lived in Egypt for 10 years and now in the UAE for 2 years, maybe I am not the best judge but I have seen both sides.
A few holes in a highway is nothing compared to horror stories that I am forcing myself not to post about egypt (not getting bated again).
well maybe one, wait no control....
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: somewhere near heaven
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gone away from the post!!!!!!!
Hey guys.....hold up a minute.. My initial question has no relevence to the last couple of posts!!!!!!! All I am after is some constructive information on Middle East. None of your comments have anything to help with this.
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Sandpit
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Middle East
Maybe they are confusing something here. You want to move to Cairo, that is Africa. You cannot compare Egypt to GCC countries. Although I was just in Cairro for vacation I could NEVER live in this place, it was a horror But that is only my opinion. All the Egyptians hate the GCC countries, but I guess it is home and they are used to it. Why I did not like it: As a foreigner you are constant target for scams etc, constantly I was pestered "where you are from, you speak English, French? etc, etc" The traffic was terrible and everyone expected a tip for nothing. and yes I was cheated in the shops and got foodpoisining. Maybe just my bad luck. Hope that helps. I cannot comment however how it is to live there as an expat, I heard they have some nice areas to live. However, talked to the engineer at the airport, he was glad to leave to Dubai.
But that is only my opinion. All the Egyptians hate the GCC countries, but I guess it is home and they are used to it. Why I did not like it: As a foreigner you are constant target for scams etc, constantly I was pestered "where you are from, you speak English, French? etc, etc" The traffic was terrible and everyone expected a tip for nothing. and yes I was cheated in the shops and got foodpoisining. Maybe just my bad luck. Hope that helps. I cannot comment however how it is to live there as an expat, I heard they have some nice areas to live. However, talked to the engineer at the airport, he was glad to leave to Dubai.