How terrible is Dubai in summer? Impending newbie needs to know... | ExpatWoman.com
 

How terrible is Dubai in summer? Impending newbie needs to know...

357
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 March 2011 - 19:20

Hi all,

We (DH + DD age 5) are planning a move to Dubai, and it looks like we will need to move in late April or mid-August. In either case we will end up having to spend at least part of July-August in Dubai.

I know that many (most?) expat families flee in the summertime; how awful will it be, as a new arrival, to deal with the heat and (perhaps more importantly) meet people and build up a social circle?

I would appreciate your thoughts on whether Dubai really is a deserted, broiling wasteland in the summer (with lone husbands cavorting in hotel bars with "ladies of the night") or whether there are still some families around and the heat can be managed with the right attitude and a bit of planning.

Thanks!

110
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 March 2011 - 16:45
I have read all this with such interest because it's almost April and we have just arrived. I was worried about our time of arrival and the heat of the summer but feel better now. I thought I would homeschool the kids (aged 9 and 5) until they started school in September but, having read this thread, I think maybe I should get them in a school for term 3 as it seems like it will be easier to get a place. My DH is very keen on living in the Marina but I am not driving yet so worried about the school run. If I have the pick of the school (haha!) which should I go for? I'm on the Marina, it's a lovely place to live, on the Walk though, not down at JBR.
110
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 March 2011 - 16:43
I stayed home last last year in Rome were it reached the late 30's early 40's and i found it unbearable, so I was glad not to be here were it was worse, but then again I didn't have air conditioning everywhere, so i don't know which was the worst place to be.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 30 March 2011 - 15:35
Why anyone would want to endure the sun-baked purgatory of July and August is beyond me. Perhaps because my DH was working his backside off to ensure that our financial future is sound. The least I could do was stay put and support him. Old fashioned view perhaps but there it is. I can, however understand mums with tiny children wanting to go home to visit grandparents etc.
357
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 March 2011 - 15:25
@ Niki : Je le ferai! De la part de "Niki" je présume? Je me demande si les pâtisseries de La Muscadine pourraient voyager dans nos bagages à main...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 20:03
@ Tartiflette. Si tu passes au Chaudron, pense à dire bonjour à Jacques. Niki
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 19:46
Thanks. I visited there and liked it but they seemed to be delighted with their price and thats not really a problem for us. The only other school I saw was Dubai British school. Could you say which is nearer?
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 18:17
Call Jebil Ali primary and see if they can intake now.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 17:54
I have read all this with such interest because it's almost April and we have just arrived. I was worried about our time of arrival and the heat of the summer but feel better now. I thought I would homeschool the kids (aged 9 and 5) until they started school in September but, having read this thread, I think maybe I should get them in a school for term 3 as it seems like it will be easier to get a place. My DH is very keen on living in the Marina but I am not driving yet so worried about the school run. If I have the pick of the school (haha!) which should I go for?
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 08:53
PS- As a Canadian I found it funny that people compared UK cold with Dubai heat when talking about extremes! When I lived in the UK (OK the southern part but still) I found it positively balmy... I'm the same - it is funny. I find the cold far, far easier to deal with and don't have a problem going out in -10, but here, there's absolutely nothing you can do to not feel the heat. A UV parasol really helps though - well, that's what I'm telling myself, because I'll still be walking to the bus stop in June. In theory. I'm going to be the sweatiest, reddest scummy mummy at school pick-up! lol As for kids being able to cope... I'd say it depends on the child. My eldest sweats a lot when it's hot and breaks out in a heat rash, so that would be a "no" and dehydration can be a real issue too. Never leave the house without water.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 05:37
Happy to have helped, good luck with all your plans!
357
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 23:06
Many thanks to everyone for your advice and for sharing your experiences. I am now totally sold on arriving in April, settling in, making friends to hang out with in the summer, and travelling a bit to break up the long hot stretch and avoid Ramadan (but not all of it, in order to get some cultural benefit and do some Iftar-ing). Now I just need to get a school for Tartiflette Junior! I have been in touch with some and it looks like we may have a chance for April (indeed a much better chance than for Sept.)... Special thanks to Cornish Pixie, Clairehdp and Nobbles for their input on the school issue and to Singapore Sling for the book recommendation. Bunny I haven't tried the oven trick yet! Tartiflette :cool: PS- As a Canadian I found it funny that people compared UK cold with Dubai heat when talking about extremes! When I lived in the UK (OK the southern part but still) I found it positively balmy...
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 13:54
Not so bad, it does take some organizing, activities for kids and stuff...but not that bad...its quiet.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 13:51
Kids don't feel the heat. As a child I would be out on my bike all day long during the summer, then as a teen we were glued to the beach/pool in our gangs. We were the darkest shade of brown ever and never noticed the heat.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 13:29
I have been here 10 summers. Yes, people find it hot but it is great, all the moaning people leave because they find it "unbearable" and you can sail around town doing anything you like at a reduced price. Everywhere is airconditioned so provided you are not a beach junkie then you will not be restricted by the weather at all Not so many summers here, but agree wholeheartedly. :) Been here 4 summers and agree with the above statements.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 13:28
this will be my fourth summer and i spend all every friday and saturday on the beach or by the pool, all the way through. under the parasol with a nice breeze until 4 at which point i emerge. LOVE the beach and the sunshine. the summers don't stop me at all! yes some of my favourite bars clubs and restaurants close, but there's still so much to do. the week is spent working mainly, but every weekend is like being on holiday...love it!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 12:56
Been here for 9 years and at first found the summers unbearable but last few years have to say they have not been too bad. At least the condensation on the outside of the windows seems less. LOL! Also we have a small dog which we walk 4 times a day and i think this helps as when you avoid going out it seems worse when you actually do go out where as if you keep going out it doesn't seem too bad. However, i get out of town during Ramadan and recommend doing the same if you can. No eating in malls, neighbours turn day into night so are very noisy at night and trying to get anything done is a nightmare IE licence, DEWA, Etisalat etc as they all have reduced working hours and dont even get me started on the driving!!!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 10:38
True, there is a lot of things to do indoors during the summer and plenty of AC everywhere, but it's still a shock if you have never lived in a climate like this. I would suggest you move in April so your body gradually gets use to it. Before, I could not stand 35 degrees, but after 3 summers here (including spending 1 month in Canada in July), 35 is fine, but 40 + is not easy. The problem is also Ramadan where they close all the food outlets, food court, restaurant all day until it's time to break the fast. That can be very hard if you go out with little ones and not easy to eat in public (I think you're not supposed to eat+drink in public at all). Obviously, it's ok for kids, and I do it in certain places (like play aeras), and no one will come and tell me kids cant eat cause its Ramadan (they are not even suppose to fast). It's just that it's a big change and you don't need the shock of teh weather on top of that. And so very true also that you will have a harder time processing anything adminwise in the summer and Ramadan....Just too slow and too hot
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 10:03
I have been here 10 summers. Yes, people find it hot but it is great, all the moaning people leave because they find it "unbearable" and you can sail around town doing anything you like at a reduced price. Everywhere is airconditioned so provided you are not a beach junkie then you will not be restricted by the weather at all Not so many summers here, but agree wholeheartedly. :)
2958
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 10:00
summer here is hot, humid and uncomfortable (not to mention boring) but if you are prepared for it then it isn't that bad. there aré plenty of indoor play areas to take your 5 year old. I also have a 5 year old girl and a two year old boy and although it can be a bit frustrating when the temperature rises, I still manage to find things to do with them. Last summer I even took their bikes etc into Ibn mall and let them bike around the mall. The mall was really quiet and the security guards didn't raise an eyebrow. Swimming after about 4 pm is a great release and then you can shower them off, take them home, feed them and stick them in bed! The real hard part is during Ramadan but its only 4 weeks and if you have a good circle of friends who you can annoy for the afternoon then you're laughing! I think your last paragraph sums it up though - if you hve a good circle of friends here then the summer and Ramadan is not so difficult - if you've just arrived and are nobby no mates (as we all were at some stage) then it's a very very different story and a pretty difficult time - especially with little ones. If you come in april you will have some friends who you can do playdates with by then and the summer can be like Freckles says.
353
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 09:36
We moved over in the summer and boy was it hot! No one can prepare you for the heat and the humidity. If I had my time again and was offered the choice of moving in april or in July I would most definitely go for April. You have time to make some friends and you can then spend time during the summer on playdates at each others houses. If you come in the summer you will have to be out and about getting your home set up and I'd far rather do that in the sunny month of april rather than the oppressive heat of July/August. Another huge plus for arriving in April is that you will have a much better chance of a year 1 place in a good school. As others have said - more and more people do stay on in the summer and there are lots of things to do in Dubai now compared with say 10 years ago but......with little ones - I would really push for the April set up - you will then become acclimatised to the gradual increase in the heat and by July/August it probably won't feel so awful. Arriving in the summer and straight into Ramadan and shortened government office hours will make your visa processes and all the necessary setting up procedures just that little bit more challenging than they already are!!!!! Good luck! Completely agree particulary the school place issue. It is worth moving early just for this reason. We moved here in July and nobody knew we existed nor us them until the winter! It was like living in the UK in the winter except you didn't freeze starting the car - you just boiled to death.
374
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 09:19
I have been here 10 summers. Yes, people find it hot but it is great, all the moaning people leave because they find it "unbearable" and you can sail around town doing anything you like at a reduced price. Everywhere is airconditioned so provided you are not a beach junkie then you will not be restricted by the weather at all
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EW GURU
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 09:14
summer here is hot, humid and uncomfortable (not to mention boring) but if you are prepared for it then it isn't that bad. there aré plenty of indoor play areas to take your 5 year old. I also have a 5 year old girl and a two year old boy and although it can be a bit frustrating when the temperature rises, I still manage to find things to do with them. Last summer I even took their bikes etc into Ibn mall and let them bike around the mall. The mall was really quiet and the security guards didn't raise an eyebrow. Swimming after about 4 pm is a great release and then you can shower them off, take them home, feed them and stick them in bed! The real hard part is during Ramadan but its only 4 weeks and if you have a good circle of friends who you can annoy for the afternoon then you're laughing!
2958
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 09:09
We moved over in the summer and boy was it hot! No one can prepare you for the heat and the humidity. If I had my time again and was offered the choice of moving in april or in July I would most definitely go for April. You have time to make some friends and you can then spend time during the summer on playdates at each others houses. If you come in the summer you will have to be out and about getting your home set up and I'd far rather do that in the sunny month of april rather than the oppressive heat of July/August. Another huge plus for arriving in April is that you will have a much better chance of a year 1 place in a good school. As others have said - more and more people do stay on in the summer and there are lots of things to do in Dubai now compared with say 10 years ago but......with little ones - I would really push for the April set up - you will then become acclimatised to the gradual increase in the heat and by July/August it probably won't feel so awful. Arriving in the summer and straight into Ramadan and shortened government office hours will make your visa processes and all the necessary setting up procedures just that little bit more challenging than they already are!!!!! Good luck!
654
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EW GURU
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 08:44
I did half a summer and one full summer in Dubai and now I glady stay away from June-August. People are correct in that you can survive the summer. Avoid going outside during the day and everywhere is air conditioned. But for me the real problem is that the summer seemingly never ends. It's not just blasting hot for a few weeks. It's blasting hot from June - October. Every single day seems just as hot as the day before and there's no respite of a few cooler days here and there to break up the monotony of the ceaseless heat. On top of the heat you have the perpetual white glare which is very harsh and you won't see any blue skies for at least four straight months. Then there's the sand of course. The air is filled with so much sand in the summer that people have to wash their cars every few days. The summer here just wore me down with its grinding, ceaseless perpetuality. If you do come out in April, try to take two vacations during the summer. Escaping even just for a week at a time helps quite a bit.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 08:14
When I read these threads, I always remember relatives who declared "Oh yes we know about heat - we went to Cyprus on holiday" ! Did they know about heat? Will let you guess! :) Oh yes!!... Love that old chestnut!! lol Reminds me of my Danish guests who did not need sun screen..... "it's only April...." I kindly gave them my very expensive after sun lotion:cool:
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 08:00
We normally endure the summers, and I say endure because I cannot stand the malls. So, as someone has said, we get creative with inside activities for small people at home, and swim/ out side play either early morning or in the evening. I cannot stand ramadan here, so we try to leave for a short break just to break things up for a couple of weeks. Last year, Lil Miss and I went to NZ for 6 weeks and it was horrible....neither of us liked being away from himself for so long, so this year we revert to the normal plan...endure the heat and have a break as a family. Though I may sneak an extra 10 days in Thailand at the end of the break. :)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 06:41
When I read these threads, I always remember relatives who declared "Oh yes we know about heat - we went to Cyprus on holiday" ! Did they know about heat? Will let you guess! :) Oh yes!!... Love that old chestnut!! lol
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 06:38
When I read these threads, I always remember relatives who declared "Oh yes we know about heat - we went to Cyprus on holiday" ! Did they know about heat? Will let you guess! :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 06:35
We relocated to Dubai during April and then by July took a nice holiday to Turkey all those years ago. I would recommend coming over during April, get settled and go on holiday if you can to break up the long summer holiday and by the time it is Ramadan, you already know a bit more about the society. PS: This is the best book that you can possibly get hold of in order to learn more about the UAE as well as the neighbouring countries http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Arabs-Guide-Westerners-Interact/dp/1877864153
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 06:25
Why anyone would want to endure the sun-baked purgatory of July and August is beyond me. I stay as my husband has to, so I sit it out because I should be here with him. I feel the same, too long for my family to be apart if we don't have to be.
 
 

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