my rent has dropped from 140k to 60k for a beautiful one bed appt
my dewa has remained the same at an average of 80-100 dh a month.
the traffic is much, much better. i used to watch SZR still gridlocked at 10 pm from my balcony. same view 3 years on and it's free flowing and smooth.
food has always seemed expensive to me, i haven't noticed a big difference....
It certainly is different, as mentioned roads are quieter and I think it is easier to travel around. Theres also a lot more choice - when we first moved here we used to travel from Emirates Hills to Deira city centre to Carrefour, or sometimes to spinneys at the marina, but it was a while before that opened!
Restaurants have become ridiculously expensive, as has food shopping ( but i believe that is global).
A few months ago I would have said the mood is a lot more positive, but am hearing as many redundancies recendtly as when the crash first happened. I think it is very wise to be cautious here in terms of job securing.
Rents may be cheaper but food and DEWA have risen considerably.
Ah-but a slice of chocolate cake from Spinney's has been 3 dhs for 6 years-that is my benchmark!!-will have to consider leaving when that changes-mind you the exchange rate is crummy for sending money home now.
The traffic is certainly better -especially since the Metro has been up and running-love it!-some malls are quieter-mostly the smaller ones but the new ones like Dubai Mall can be insane! Haven't been to a brunch in 6 years so can't help you there!
Hey ladies.. we visited Dubai in mid 2008 for a month and as you know it was the height of the boom and the roads were packed, it was hard to get an appt and prices were going up (i remember the cost of brunches/restaurants for new years' eve were becoming v. expensive). -- I'd love to hear your thoughts on how Dubai is different now? Of course the obvious is prices have plummeted on property and many jobs have been lost... but what is the general mood there now? are there any advantages to a more quiet and um.. more humble Dubai? --- Signed a Mom still in the USA who is due to move over with my family in August! Thanks so very much in advance!