Last Minute Move To Adu Dhabi | ExpatWoman.com
 

Last Minute Move To Adu Dhabi

7
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 August 2012 - 17:42

Hi ladies,
I'm a new member of the site but have been keeping my eye on your forums over the last few months so knew this was the right place to turn for some advice.

Earlier on in the year my husband and I considered a move to AD. I had a few interviews but as the summer passed things really began to slow down and we thought we'd have to wait for the next academic year to go (I'm a teacher so jobs only really start each September). However I got a phone call from a school this morning. I had interviewed with them about two months ago but only made it to number two on the panel. Turns out their number one has let them down and they've offered me the job last minute.
I would really really love to take it but I am concerned about finances. This is hopefully where you ladies might be able to help me out.

Since we thought we wouldn't be going this year we haven't put a lot of money aside for relocation costs. Flights will be covered as will accommodation so I'm just wondering if anyone could give me a ball park figure of how much I would need to keep me going for the first month. The first 2 weeks I'll be on my own, my husband and son will join me after that. I know this is a really subjective question so I'll try break it down into some areas:
1. Groceries - any body with a small family like mine care to share how much they spend weekly on groceries? (unfortunately this includes nappies!!!)
2. Utilities - Do internet / electricity / phone companies require deposits when setting up accounts? If so does anybody know how much this typically costs?
3. Car rental - I'm assuming there are plenty of places I could go but I'm having trouble finding prices. I'd only be looking for a small car- a Yaris or something comparable? (Just as an aside, does it take a long time to get used to driving on the "wrong" side of the road? Also is it a long process to exchange an Irish drivers licence for a local one?)
4. Lastly if anyone here has moved from Ireland could you recommend a shipping company please. Accommodation will be furnished so will only be bringing a relatively small amount of things kitchenware, linen etc.

Any information you might be able to give me, however small, would be really appreciated. I have, at max, 2 days to make a decision then they'll have to move on to number three. Thanks for taking the time to read my post.

4747
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 10 September 2012 - 20:53
Hello (Lulu), I see you have recently moved from Doha to AD.....just wondered if you have any kids and knowledge on the schools there in AD. My two children are now both in DESS which is a super school here, they are so happy and we did have to wait a while to get them in there. But now there are mutterings from DH about a potential move to AD. The school issue is a an important one for us so wondered if you, or anyone else had any comparisons. DESS here in Doha is the British Embassy school and the oldest established school here...I have been reading about BSAK. Any comments? Thanks! bsak is the same, but very difficult to get in, it all depends on year group and where you are coming from, best to speak with the registrar.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 September 2012 - 19:54
Thanks Lulu.
309
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 09 September 2012 - 14:42
Hi Qatcat! Sorry, can't offer any advice at all on schools in AD. My youngest has just flown the nest and starts university in Scotland this week, so school runs, etc now firmly behind me! It's been so much less stressful moving to a new country without all the hassle of finding school places. Good luck, whatever you decide.
8
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 September 2012 - 13:04
Hello (Lulu), I see you have recently moved from Doha to AD.....just wondered if you have any kids and knowledge on the schools there in AD. My two children are now both in DESS which is a super school here, they are so happy and we did have to wait a while to get them in there. But now there are mutterings from DH about a potential move to AD. The school issue is a an important one for us so wondered if you, or anyone else had any comparisons. DESS here in Doha is the British Embassy school and the oldest established school here...I have been reading about BSAK. Any comments? Thanks!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 September 2012 - 12:09
Oh thanks for the tip. Will make sure to ask before handing anything over.
309
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 01 September 2012 - 14:58
Sorry, can't help you with that one IrishMammy, but my husband had to send our marriage certificate to the UAE embassy in London to be attested, and we were advised to send a copy as they sometimes don't return the original. Worth bearing in mind. Hope you get it sorted out.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 September 2012 - 02:48
Thanks for the reassurance lulubaker - there certainly have been some hairy moments over the last 48 hours but I think things are starting to come together. There is one thing that has been worrying me though and if anyone has had a similar experience they might be abe to help me out. My husband and I got married in Lanzarotte - in order to get this certificate attested (for the purposes of sponsoring DH) will I need to send it to the UAE embassy in Spain or should I be able to bring it to the Spanish Embassy in Dublin and then on to the UAE embassy in Dublin too? It's an international marriage certificate which means it's in a number of languages, so I won't have to get it translated. This is just niggling in the back of my mind and since school isn't open until Sunday I was hoping to get some info before then.
309
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 31 August 2012 - 20:58
Good luck IrishMammy and well done for having the guts to take a leap of faith and move over here. I've just arrived too, but from Qatar, so not quite as daunting. You'll soon get used to the Middle East, it's an easy place to live. Don't worry about driving on the 'wrong' side of the road or driving an automatic car, it's very easy, like driving a dodgem. It will all seem a bit strange to start with, and you will undoubtedly have days when you think 'WHY did I do this?' but just be sure that bad days pass, and things will get easier once you become familiar with things. At least you have a chance to get familiarised with things before your husband and child arrive, which is good. Hopefully the school will help you with driving licence, and other paperwork, and one of the HUGE advantages of living here is that everyone speaks English, and believe me, that makes life in a new country MUCH easier. Our first expatriation many years ago was to Venezuela, and I didn't speak a word of Spanish, and not many people there spoke English, so it was very alienating until I learned the language. Wishing you all the best with everything!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 August 2012 - 02:11
Thanks ladies, Just to update - have accepted the job and move next week!!!! Leaving my capable husband to organise the wind down here and he'll follow in a few weeks. Absolute bedlam here. Crazy amounts of documents to fill out. Hopefully in 12 months time I'll be able to give advice instead of always asking!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 August 2012 - 17:42
Hie Ladies, A few months back I made a decision to shift from Fujairah to Abu Dhabi on terms of Jobs and Housing. Had a couple of interviews here and there but nothing seemed to excite me. Now i am second guessing my decision. But, i have recently come across something that made me realise is not a bad idea and would boost my chances for a better job, so I'm sharing it with you'll, it might help you ladies too. I have signed myself up for a language course at the Eton Institute here in Abu dhabi. It has been goin great so far, and hoping to be able to communicate fluently in arabic soon. They have more than 100 languages so I'm sure there's something for all. Also, they're having a FREE ITALIAN course this month, now that is something really interesting, after all who wudn't want to be communicate with an Italian Guido! Any more advice for me do reply please.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 August 2012 - 22:10
Hello Irish! I agree with all that's been said previously, recently a friend paid AED 1 k for electricity deposit. If you are speaking with your principal you should clarify your housing allowance situation. Frequently this will be here in cash for you on arrival, which would help get your through in a pinch. Good luck! You came to the right place for info!
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 27 August 2012 - 21:45
if you are being employed by a school here they usually provide accommodation and utilities, which school, as thats usually the case with bsak and yasmina etc, cant say for bisad and bc, if you are talking british schools. deposit of 1k for electricity. etislat : the cost of a wasel sim card is much less than it used to be, but you need paperwork and id cards in order to get one, otherwise you can get a tourist one for a month or so. to active roaming it now costs 2k, used to be 5k!!! wasel usually works in most countries as its charged differently. any phone can be unlocked here, go on to mobile st which is opp al wadha mall. any licence will be good to transfer, but you need to have matching passports with driving licence, they dont like them otherwise. you would then need to do a test. pets ; yes you can bring them but they are expensive, plenty here now to choose from.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 August 2012 - 18:33
Thank you so much for your response. I hear what you're saying about pet expenses - my moggie cost me a fortune in vets bills when he got hit by a car last year. Will be sad to leave him behind but have plenty of offers for a good home for him if we do go. I'll be speaking to the principal of the school tomorrow morning so I'll be sure to ask about utilities. You mention a SIM card is about 100 dhs - do you know if I can get my Irish phone "unblocked" to take an Etisalat SIM? I had been so worried about the side of the road I totally forgot about automatic driving! Yikes! If you don't mind answering one more query BellaUK: what do you mean by paper counterpart? Would that only be with UK licences? I've never heard of it over here - we just have one version of the licence and it is paper/card as opposed to a plastic card. Anyone else who may be reading this can you think of any other "start up" expenses that I may not have considered? There is so much to get my head around that I feel I must be forgetting something.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 27 August 2012 - 18:02
Not sure how useful I am going to be but hope this helps: 1. Groceries really depends where you shop. If you shop places like Spinneys it is usually imported from afar and can be much more expensive than locally grown or imported produce of Lulus/Abu Dhabi Co-op etc. I don't eat meat and don't have kids (but I do have cats so other expenses) and I spend about 250-300 dhs a week max in Lulus on food and other essentials. First time shopping can be more though as you are buying cleaning products, washing products etc. 2. The only deposit I recall paying was for my gas (500 dhs) but I have my accommodation paid so do not pay water/electricity. Teachers usually have utilities included in the accommodation. I think you'll only need a deposit for an Etisalat sim card if you want to activate roaming on your phone for when you're abroad (500 dhs) but a pay as you go sim is about 100 dhs. 3. When I first came I had a Toyota Yaris which was 1700 per month (thought that was Dubai and 6 years ago now) It wasn't the side of the road I struggled with, it was the lack of clutch and I was constantly pressing the brake accidentally instead and giving myself whiplash, haha! Doesn't take long to get used to. It should be easy to switch if you have an Irish License and Passport, just a few formalities (eye test) and some paperwork. Make sure to bring the paper counterpart. Can't help with the shipping as I just came with a couple of suitcases (now I have a houseful!!) Good luck with your decision. :) <em>edited by BellaUK on 27/08/2012</em>