Aussies moving to Abu Dhabi with 2 kids and pregnant | ExpatWoman.com
 

Aussies moving to Abu Dhabi with 2 kids and pregnant

4
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 August 2016 - 10:55
I do know there is a hospital especially for women only. It's a big one too. It's near the medical testing centre for immigration. Not sure of the name, but if you want me to find out, I'll ask hubby about it. I'm from NZ, lived in Surfers Paradise for 20 years - been here 7 years.
6
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 August 2016 - 11:45
Hello ladies I hope you are all well. My husband got a new job and we are moving to Abu Dhabi in September. I have 2 sons (3.5 year old & 2 year old) and I am newly pregnant. I am feeling very excited & happy about our new adventure in UAE however feeling very anxious, nervous & overwhelmed especially when it comes to my kids and how they will settle in (I think my 3 year old is meant to start school is that correct? I have already enquired at a few schools but they are all full..) and also finding the right OB and hospital and giving birth there. I am hoping for any & all the advice that I can possibly get about everything from moving and starting a life there to my 2 little boys, to having a baby over there. especially any experienced aussie expats that can help me and let me know what things i should be buying and bringing over from sydney that would be hard to get/find in Abu Dhabi? Looking forward to hearing from you.. thanks so much Hi there from a fellow Aussie, I'm very new to Abu Dhabi originally from Melbourne, have a midwifery background and am here with my Family, now settling into an apartment in The Corniche - just next to the city of Abu Dhabi. Welcome! It's a frantic time moving, and with kids it's even more exhausting, but you'll make it! I did! Having visited the malls (it's really hot and humid here at the moment so everyone goes from air conditioning to air conditioned mall/ restaurants/ indoor play areas) and it seems to me that you don't need to stress about not being able to get things here that you find in Australia. There's everything from furniture, electrics (which are much cheaper here), baby goods, great clothing stores, and a very wide selection of local and world wide imported foods. My suggestions as to what to bring is to include amongst your clothes those personal things that make a house a home such as favourite pictures. As for healthcare, I have been informed that the quality is equivalent to Singapore, and that you will need to do some research on which OBGYN you feel comfortable. FYI I have been informed by a UK expat who has just had her baby that home births are discouraged here, not unlike some states in Australia. Quite unlike the UK approach. I will be finding out more as I delve into the health system to work here as a health consultant. If I can help at all, just get in touch Cheers Andrea
26
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 July 2016 - 14:09
Hi there! I felt just like you when we moved here 6 months ago. We moved from the UK but there are lots of Australians here. You shouldn't have too much of a problem settling in - there are lots of mum and baby groups here and plenty of things to do with the kids indoors and out.. It's quite easy to make friends as everybody is in the same boat. I can't recommend a hospital or a gynaecologist and where you can go will depend on your insurance, but from what I gather maternity services are pretty good here. Do you know where you're going to live? Are you going to drive here? Will you have a nanny/maid? Will you send your younger children to nursery? These are all important things to think about which can really affect you're quality or rather style of life here. Oh, if you like eating out, if recommend buying the Entertainer when the new addition comes out... And the annual pass to the waterpark is also a great thing to have if you plan on being here all year round. In terms of what you can't buy here... To be honest you can get most things. Some things are a bit harder to find than others but there's very little that you can't get... The things that I always ask people to bring when they visit are shredded wheat (you can get it in some places some of the time but it's hard to come by), bovril (same situation), calpol (the local equivalent isn't so good IMO) and Aussie miracle hair products (I haven't seen these anywhere) - I've also asked for cadbury's mini eggs before but I think that you can get those here too... My daughter's 2 and I haven't even thought about school yet. People are coming and going all of the time so I'm sure a place will become available in your chosen school.. Hopefully other people will be more helpful than me! Good luck with your move!
2
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 July 2016 - 16:09
Hello ladies I hope you are all well. My husband got a new job and we are moving to Abu Dhabi in September. I have 2 sons (3.5 year old & 2 year old) and I am newly pregnant. I am feeling very excited & happy about our new adventure in UAE however feeling very anxious, nervous & overwhelmed especially when it comes to my kids and how they will settle in (I think my 3 year old is meant to start school is that correct? I have already enquired at a few schools but they are all full..) and also finding the right OB and hospital and giving birth there. I am hoping for any & all the advice that I can possibly get about everything from moving and starting a life there to my 2 little boys, to having a baby over there. especially any experienced aussie expats that can help me and let me know what things i should be buying and bringing over from sydney that would be hard to get/find in Abu Dhabi? Looking forward to hearing from you.. thanks so much