moving to AUH
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moving to AUH
Howdy fellas,
I'm moving to Abu dhabi later this month... any pros and cons?
I guess there will hardly be any happy hour in town
but anything about lifestyle, nightlife, spa's, wallmart, shopping malls, things to do and things NOT to do. long term car rental, ecc... any info is very much appreciated.
I'm moving to Abu dhabi later this month... any pros and cons?
I guess there will hardly be any happy hour in town
but anything about lifestyle, nightlife, spa's, wallmart, shopping malls, things to do and things NOT to do. long term car rental, ecc... any info is very much appreciated.
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Sorry to break your heart, but you wont find wallmart here. You will discover new things such as Lulu Hypermarket tho. 
There is few shopping malls around and you can always drive to Dubai if you want something bigger.
All the restaurants (with % drinks), pubs and clubs are located in main Hotels.
Dont rent a car, just buy one.
The rest you will find out as you go...
There is few shopping malls around and you can always drive to Dubai if you want something bigger.
All the restaurants (with % drinks), pubs and clubs are located in main Hotels.
Dont rent a car, just buy one.
The rest you will find out as you go...
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Well, back to your question,
Various supermarkets around town supply you with all that you need on a normal day. Water, food, panadol, and light-bulbs. If you are looking for something comparable to WalMart, there are several Carrefours around.
Some shopping malls exist in AUH, but the more flashy ones are down the road in Dubai.
However, malls are more intended to keep new-rich locals, kids and wives busy than to supply you with anything necessary. Nothing is cheap, nothing special, just stuff to look at and try on. They contain plenty of Cafés such as Starbucks & co where the locals hang out. The shopping malls around here are not bad if you enjoy "shopping", but they merely have an entertainment-purpose. You'll see what I mean once you've been there. It's very easy to get rid of 500 Dirhams without knowing for what.
Buying a huge SUV is very affordable and fuel is cheap, so it's what everyone does. You can rent something like a Toyota Yaris-thing for around 600 Dollars (equivalent) per month, all inclusive. But you won't get much joy out of that. People here drive like hell, and have even less respect of a small shoebox than of a huge truck. The sand, the heat and the way of driving here will turn any vehicle into junk within a few years anyway, so although there are people here who drive Porsche/BMW/Corvette, the best choice seems to be a 4WD.
And forget about a motorbike - if the taxi-drivers won't kill you, the sun will.
If you like to waste your money, there are plenty of outrageously overpriced clubs around, usually offering sports facilities, recreation and socializing. Many people choose to do that, and maybe there is little other choice if you have a family with you. But even though you may get a discount here or there, it is VERY expensive to become and stay a member.
The heat during summer (starting May, lasting until November) is really bad. you can't go outdoors during that time, so you'll need to find something for your wife and kids to do. There is also the month of Ramadan somewhere in between, during which all is shut down. Most shops and all restaurants are closed until after sunset, and it is prohibited to eat, drink, listen to music or even smoke a cigarette in public.
Holding hands in public is the maximum; any sign of affection (hugging, kissing) in public can get you into trouble - the least that'll happen is, people sneer at you.
You can wear almost anything you like, but your wife should wear something regarded as decent.
It not only may, but it WILL happen, that your wife gets harassed by smelly men in dirty sandals. Don't take it personal, because it's just the thing that happens here to foreign females.
You may also think twice before letting her take an old taxi alone at night - it is not the normal case, but there are several cases of.... well, you get the idea.
Mind you, most EMIRATIS that you happen to get into contact with here are nice guys. A bit arrogant maybe, but friendly. However, they are the minority of people. You won't meet many of them during your stay here anyway.
If you like to go out, there are nice restaurants and even a few places where they play music and serve alcohol (but don't get caught driving under the influece or being drunk in public). If you like some action, AUH has plenty of places where you can go jet-skiing, yachting or offroading. Check the local papers and buy a pocket-guide, they mention a variety of things.
Don't get on the wrong side of the law, ever. It can happen very easily if you're not careful (you may, for example, even get deported, just for speeding with your car on the highway). If you have an accident with somebody who's wearing a Dishdash, you're guilty for parking your car in his way.
Stay far away from ladies wearing black, if you want to avoid problems. They have a way of getting offended if you are just standing alone with them inside an elevator, or if you say "good morning".
With a family, expect some hard times. Unless your marriage is strong, it's very easy to wreck it here.
My suggestion is to leave them at home until around christmas. During the colder winter-season, when the climate is quite nice, then there is even quite a lot of entertainment going on.
If your children are already teenagers, then, and I'm not joking, you have made a big mistake by coming here.
What everybody else on this forum will agree on:
Don't imagine that you will get rich.
Because no matter what you have in mind (real estates? selling stuff to rich people who own too much money? make friends with-, or marry the daughter of an oil-sheikh?): The answer is: HAHAHAHAHA!
You most likely won't save a single dollar of your, at first sight impressive-looking, salary.
You will very often need a lot of patience, and the ability to shrug things off.
It will take approximately six to twelve months initially to settle down and complete all the formalities. Your colleagues will help you with advice and share their experience.
Various supermarkets around town supply you with all that you need on a normal day. Water, food, panadol, and light-bulbs. If you are looking for something comparable to WalMart, there are several Carrefours around.
Some shopping malls exist in AUH, but the more flashy ones are down the road in Dubai.
However, malls are more intended to keep new-rich locals, kids and wives busy than to supply you with anything necessary. Nothing is cheap, nothing special, just stuff to look at and try on. They contain plenty of Cafés such as Starbucks & co where the locals hang out. The shopping malls around here are not bad if you enjoy "shopping", but they merely have an entertainment-purpose. You'll see what I mean once you've been there. It's very easy to get rid of 500 Dirhams without knowing for what.
Buying a huge SUV is very affordable and fuel is cheap, so it's what everyone does. You can rent something like a Toyota Yaris-thing for around 600 Dollars (equivalent) per month, all inclusive. But you won't get much joy out of that. People here drive like hell, and have even less respect of a small shoebox than of a huge truck. The sand, the heat and the way of driving here will turn any vehicle into junk within a few years anyway, so although there are people here who drive Porsche/BMW/Corvette, the best choice seems to be a 4WD.
And forget about a motorbike - if the taxi-drivers won't kill you, the sun will.
If you like to waste your money, there are plenty of outrageously overpriced clubs around, usually offering sports facilities, recreation and socializing. Many people choose to do that, and maybe there is little other choice if you have a family with you. But even though you may get a discount here or there, it is VERY expensive to become and stay a member.
The heat during summer (starting May, lasting until November) is really bad. you can't go outdoors during that time, so you'll need to find something for your wife and kids to do. There is also the month of Ramadan somewhere in between, during which all is shut down. Most shops and all restaurants are closed until after sunset, and it is prohibited to eat, drink, listen to music or even smoke a cigarette in public.
Holding hands in public is the maximum; any sign of affection (hugging, kissing) in public can get you into trouble - the least that'll happen is, people sneer at you.
You can wear almost anything you like, but your wife should wear something regarded as decent.
It not only may, but it WILL happen, that your wife gets harassed by smelly men in dirty sandals. Don't take it personal, because it's just the thing that happens here to foreign females.
You may also think twice before letting her take an old taxi alone at night - it is not the normal case, but there are several cases of.... well, you get the idea.
Mind you, most EMIRATIS that you happen to get into contact with here are nice guys. A bit arrogant maybe, but friendly. However, they are the minority of people. You won't meet many of them during your stay here anyway.
If you like to go out, there are nice restaurants and even a few places where they play music and serve alcohol (but don't get caught driving under the influece or being drunk in public). If you like some action, AUH has plenty of places where you can go jet-skiing, yachting or offroading. Check the local papers and buy a pocket-guide, they mention a variety of things.
Don't get on the wrong side of the law, ever. It can happen very easily if you're not careful (you may, for example, even get deported, just for speeding with your car on the highway). If you have an accident with somebody who's wearing a Dishdash, you're guilty for parking your car in his way.
Stay far away from ladies wearing black, if you want to avoid problems. They have a way of getting offended if you are just standing alone with them inside an elevator, or if you say "good morning".
With a family, expect some hard times. Unless your marriage is strong, it's very easy to wreck it here.
My suggestion is to leave them at home until around christmas. During the colder winter-season, when the climate is quite nice, then there is even quite a lot of entertainment going on.
If your children are already teenagers, then, and I'm not joking, you have made a big mistake by coming here.
What everybody else on this forum will agree on:
Don't imagine that you will get rich.
Because no matter what you have in mind (real estates? selling stuff to rich people who own too much money? make friends with-, or marry the daughter of an oil-sheikh?): The answer is: HAHAHAHAHA!
You most likely won't save a single dollar of your, at first sight impressive-looking, salary.
You will very often need a lot of patience, and the ability to shrug things off.
It will take approximately six to twelve months initially to settle down and complete all the formalities. Your colleagues will help you with advice and share their experience.
Last edited by Nightfire; 15th Jun 2009 at 19:20.
Join Date: Apr 2003
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There's loads of hugging and kissing going on........usually man on man though
Also dont be shy, you will be able, freely to walk through the terminal holding hands with your captain/FO
Also dont be shy, you will be able, freely to walk through the terminal holding hands with your captain/FO
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Nightfire got it pretty spot on. If you have teenagers it will be challenging but some teens do settle in very well. The HEAT!!! It depends on your tollerance, some folks are locked away from April until Nov, while others play golf in the late afternoon or early morning even in July and Aug....but those are the so called mad dogs and Englishmen.
