Moving from Al Ain to A.D. (Zayed U/Khalifa City)... questions!!!

Hi I recommend The Club great for families. It's our home away from home :) http://www.the-club.com/

RE: Club memberships - as Louise S said - we got a great deal with Yas Hotel - for gym, pools and spa - worth looking into once you're there. <em>edited by Mrs Wolf on 13/05/2012</em>

Friends of ours live in Khalifa Oasis which is just across the highway from the new uni, and they have a little park in the compound, Al Reef comunity too has lovely play parks for kids. As for club memberships close to KCA not sure of cost but you can look at the AD golf club or even the hotels on Yas, Al Forsan is very costly. the main issue in kca is the first roundabout, its got too much traffic now it needs to be changed to traffic lights at peak times like they do have in town.

Friends of ours live in Khalifa Oasis which is just across the highway from the new uni, and they have a little park in the compound, Al Reef comunity too has lovely play parks for kids. As for club memberships close to KCA not sure of cost but you can look at the AD golf club or even the hotels on Yas, Al Forsan is very costly.

Hi, We will probably be moving to Abu Dhabi from Al Ain this summer and I am really worried about a bunch of things! I don't know Abu Dhabi very well, except for the places we regularly visit- Ikea and the beach, lol. We will most likely be relocating to Khalifa City, near Zayed U- my husband drove around the area a bit and was sad to report a lack of parks and a deserted feel (yes, I know we live in the desert but...). One of the main things that keep my son and I sane are the numerous parks here in Al Ain, so I'm so worried that we won't have any nearby or will have to drive for 30 minutes just to find one. Can anyone testify as to the existence of parks, playgrounds or green spaces in Khalifa City? Also, and this is a long shot- anyone live in the housing provided by Zayed U? We've been told it will be sufficient for our small family, but also that no specific details can be given until right before we move! Oh one last thing- we are members at a wonderful hotel resort here and I'd like to have the same kind of thing in Abu Dhabi, but from what I can see memberships are uber expensive! Anyone know of an affordable family friendly hotel resort or club that offers pool access? Any other info about living in Khalifa City (I'm not sure, A?B?C?) is very welcome! Thank you! zayed uni is a new campus located in Khalifa City C (or when they build the rest of the Capital District) its in between Khalifa City A and Khalifa City B. Dont be fooled looking at what it says on the buses as they cant get it right) the 140 goes from town in via Khalifa City A and into the university campus and back out again. So you could look along that route and that will take you in, if not you will need a car. To come from KCA is a nitemare, the first roundabout has too much traffic, in need of traffic lights, and is a real bottle neck, coming from KCB is much easier and now they have sorted out the road system in and out of the campus is the much easier option, also KCB is cheaper but they have recently changed the bus routes so there is no bus currently going past (they used to have 2!!!). What money do you have to spend as that will dictate where you will end up. You are right there are no parks in either Khalifa Cities but they are on the plans to be created in the next year, but who knows when exactly that will be. We used to live in KCA many years ago before everyone decided they "liked" it and there was nothing there except the cricket stadium, adnoc and 1 mosque! now there are many schools/local shops/facilties but the 2 ways in and out cannot cope. the nearest park from kca is at al bahia or between the bridges and a little further khalifa park. the nearest park to kcb at the moment is over in baniyas etc. 5 mins from kcb is a new mall at baniyas and it will house a lot of the shops, car4 and a few others are there now. no big supermarket/mall in kca, there is abelas/geant/a new spar to open soon, but these are little shops. you will not have to drive that far nowadays, 5 mins to supermarket in kcb, 5/10 mins to supermarket in kca, 5 mins to bainyas for park from kcb, from kca to btb park 5 mins again. remember that you cannot compare al ain to abu dhabi for the greenery as AA with its hills has more rain etc and is smaller. if you live in kcb then the mafraq hotel is right there and is pretty good, for kca you have westin or ad golf club (but much more expensive). across the road there is raha beach hotel, but its a bit of a pain to get too, improving with new roads opening. fyi: khalifa city c does not exist yet, all that is there is the uni campus.