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Where would you live in Dubai if........

28

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 15 February 2011 - 20:04

you were moving there for the first time.....
your housing allowance was approx 400KAED.....
your husband would be working in the jebel ali free zone.......
you had two children (8 & 6) who were homeschooled.....

would really appreciate your advice/suggestions.........

Log in to post new content in the forum.

1996

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 13:50

JLT is nice walllah? for 400k? How about Deira? Karama? Hamriyah? ROFL! And your problem with those places is.........????? We live in Bur Diubai which is a hop skip and a jump from those 3 and wouldn't move for any budget

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 11:15

I don't think 400k would find you much in Emirates Hills, normally starting prices there are 600k + To the OP, I think you have a good shortlist of places to consider, be prepared for 'Dubai Standard' quality houses, I wasn't and I was so disappointed at the condition of some of the properties particularly at the high end budget. We looked at villas on the Palm, Jumeirah Islands and Meadows before finally settling on a Meadows villa and I have to say, some of the JI properties were dire. Whole gardens had been uprooted, the paintwork was shoddy, tiles were chipped etc etc ... and the asking prices were 400K and up. Ridiculous! Some of the Palm properties weren't much better and they were asking even MORE. And even in our Meadows villa, we have had numerous issues with leaking air-conditioning units, bad plumbing/pipes issues; you name it. According to Emrill, many properties are reaching an age where everything is starting to fall apart, so make sure you have an agreement in your lease that covers you for maintenance [eg a contract, paid for by the LL, with a maintenance company like Emrill'>. Good luck to the OP. :) . <em>edited by WaxMuch on 18/02/2011</em>

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 08:28

I don't think 400k would find you much in Emirates Hills, normally starting prices there are 600k + To the OP, I think you have a good shortlist of places to consider, be prepared for 'Dubai Standard' quality houses, I wasn't and I was so disappointed at the condition of some of the properties particularly at the high end budget.

3220

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EW MASTER

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 07:08

JLT is nice walllah? for 400k? How about Deira? Karama? Hamriyah? ROFL! Hey! No need for nastiness! :\:

14

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 06:30

SOOO excited to see the pictures of our new home! Nobles~~~thank you again!! When I get there we need to go have a coffee!!!

353

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 19:47

I think I must have missed the "maid" thread...LOL I will have to go back and look as I think I missed something here!! And thanks again Nobles~~~:) You're welcome :)

353

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 19:43

Nobbles, what a kind lady you are. The spirit of EW :) (No maids were harmed in the making of this post.) I am sending the maid to take the photo.... Just kidding! Lol!

353

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 19:42

Nobles~~~ WOW!!! That is absolutely sweet of you!! I am worried as my hubby is a pilot and is gone alot so I really want to be sure I will be ok there...I live in FLorida and have never lived anywhere else so this is a HUGE adventure!!! I am very excited and looking forward to it very much. And if there are people like you there, I know I am going to LOVE IT!! My email is [email protected] will anxiously await your email...oh...our apartment is 12 a....... so thats 12a 9 c street Um Suqeim scond.....Thank you again!!! Noted! Will email you tomorrow. :)

5400

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 19:39

Nobbles, what a kind lady you are. The spirit of EW :) (No maids were harmed in the making of this post.)

14

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 19:34

Nobles~~~ WOW!!! That is absolutely sweet of you!! I am worried as my hubby is a pilot and is gone alot so I really want to be sure I will be ok there...I live in FLorida and have never lived anywhere else so this is a HUGE adventure!!! I am very excited and looking forward to it very much. And if there are people like you there, I know I am going to LOVE IT!! My email is [email protected] will anxiously await your email...oh...our apartment is 12 a....... so thats 12a 9 c street Um Suqeim scond.....Thank you again!!!

51

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 19:29

JLT is nice walllah? for 400k? How about Deira? Karama? Hamriyah? ROFL!

1029

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 19:27

Emirates Hills Me too!

353

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 19:26

What does anyone know about what my husband was told are called the Garden Apartments? The address they gave us is 9c street umm suqeim second in Dubai....I have looked and looked and I can find 9c street on a map but there seems to be three different complexs it could be....can anyone help me discover my future home for the next three years?? Please??? craner - I have noticed that you have made a couple of requests now. You are obviously worried - I will do a drive by there tomorrow for you and even take a photo for you. Post me your email address and I will email the details through. Once you have posted your email address, I will let you know that I have noted it down so that you can remove it. :)

14

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 19:24

What does anyone know about what my husband was told are called the Garden Apartments? The address they gave us is 9c street umm suqeim second in Dubai....I have looked and looked and I can find 9c street on a map but there seems to be three different complexs it could be....can anyone help me discover my future home for the next three years?? Please???

Anonymous (not verified)

0

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 18:44

JLT is nice JLT with a 400k budget???! You'd get an entire buliding there for that lol!

8

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 18:39

JLT is nice

shinedew0138389

3

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 17:25

CLOSE TO JEBEL ALI FREE ZONE YOU CAN OPT FOR EMIRATES HILLS LAKES, MEADOWS, JUMEIRAH ISLAND IS ONE GOOD PROJECT TOO RENT IS ABT 300K FOR 5BED VILLAS.. HOPE YOU HAVE A PLEASANT STAY ..

27

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 12:38

some villa with nice garden and private pool in Jumeirah or Umm Suqeim.

704

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EW GURU

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 10:43

I live on the Palm and would highly recommend a Garden Villa on the Palm with your budget. Your kids can go Kayacking, swimming, sailing...the list is endless...it is truly heaven!!

1996

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 10:41

I would live exactly where I am -even though it wouldn't make much of a hole in your budget! We are in the new consulate area near the Creek-nice and quiet as the consulates are not open at night. Can walk down the creek every night and enjoy the sights and sounds of Dubai-can bargain in the markets-hop an abra across the creek and wander through the gold and spice markets-walk through the Indian districts and Karama-and still be within 5 minutes walk of Burjuman mall and the Metro. I love this area-there is always something going on-at the moment it is the shopping festival market by the creek so we have loads of cultural displays going on and live music-and even camel and horse rides if that takes your fancy. The dinner boats ply up and down brightly lit and there is always a cricket match going on on the grassed areas. The call to prayer from the Creek mosque sounds amazing close to water.A 10 minutes walk gets me to the Bastikiya area and museum-a bit further and I have Heritage Village and more. We have been here 6 years-still have no car-and nether does BH-taxis are plentiful anyway and the buses are good.

1257

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 10:28

That allowance is correct for a high level executive with a multi-national company. Some companies do not give the difference if the rent is less than the allowance, it is basically 'use it or lose it' ! So true. The company cheque is usually written out to the LL, not to the leaseholder. :( Really depends on the company, have seen a big move towards it being part of the package or given directly to the employee in the last few years. Interesting. :) Wish it had been that way when we moved! That said, we found a great corner villa in Meadows with pool + garden and the rent has come down considerably since then, so in answer to the OP's question, I would live exactly where we are now, if given the choice. Then again, I don't have children or a potential 'community' feel to consider: we like keeping ourselves to ourselves and being able to shut Dubai out in our little corner of social Siberia. :D

232

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 09:18

I hate all the labour camps around Green Community and the construction. The roads are a nightmare at any time of the day and it's way out of Dubai. I personally would live first choice the Lakes, Second choice Arabian Ranches. ... hardly notice any noise to be honest and there are labour camps everywhere, they are not in the community though and the OP's hubby will only be 5 mins from work. I get what you mean about it being isolated, I rarely go into old Dubai and that's a shame but I still make the occassional visit and it takes 40 mins... The OP will be homeschooling and her hubby is working within 5 mins of Jebel Ali so it seems like an option that they should consider.;)

1618

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 09:14

I hate all the labour camps around Green Community and the construction. The roads are a nightmare at any time of the day and it's way out of Dubai. I personally would live first choice the Lakes, Second choice Arabian Ranches.

232

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 08:51

you were moving there for the first time..... your housing allowance was approx 400KAED..... your husband would be working in the jebel ali free zone....... you had two children (8 & 6) who were homeschooled..... would really appreciate your advice/suggestions......... I would seriously look at the Green Community: advantages: Very community oriented, children will have access to swarms (and I mean swarms) of kids their age whilst being in an enclosed community where they can walk to the park or shops without even crossing a road) Close to work (about a 5 minute drive) Quite a few families home school here so you may have an in-built support network.. Lovely and quiet and green..... disadvantages: isolated from old Dubai That bl00dy roundabout Cost of utilities and fees (the rent may be well within budget but water, cooling etc is expensive) I personally think this is the best development for families in Dubai but that's just me. Just have a good look at your package... make sure that it has a high allowance for utilities or that the company covers all, otherwise you could easilly be going through 5K per month on DEWA and 30K per year on cooling (we did with a villa.... Also, just my opinion but the East side of GC is better (don't have to cross the major road to get to the shops etc), it is older, more established and you will have less maintenance issues (we spent a fortune on our 1 yr old villa on the West, really poor build quality) You can get the family villas on the east for 300K (they are hard to come by but they do become available) and I'm sure if you offerred them 300K, the owners would throw in landscaping maintenance and regular 'outside window cleaning'.... You may find that you need a maid for the villas though... they are huge... anyway, good luck and a real estate agent from Allsopp (spelling?) called Victoria is great (believe me, they are hard to come by and if you use a relocation consultant, still mention Victoria, the reloc consult will appreciate it).. sorry, don't have her number or last name....

2192

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 08:31

Al Barari off Emirates Road !

3220

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 07:59

Al Sufouh or Umm Suqeim. Close to the beach with a view of Burj Al Arab. :)

AdviceSeeker13702

1100

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 07:54

Sorry thought I'd just add, you can get houses in the Lakes for around 150-250 as well but the ones I put up were in the high end bracket since you mentioned 400k

AdviceSeeker13702

1100

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 07:48

I would live in the lakes in either of these two OR I would buy a 2 million dirham property with a 5 year mortgage if you have the deposit of 20%.... If you are getting your allowance in cash, and you want to save more you can find lots of nice houses for far less, but if you want to spend your allowance I personally think the lakes is the nicest place to live in Dubai and the big Maeen's and the Hattans are lovely. You could also consider Jumeirah Islands which is near the lakes.... As others have said you can pretty much live anywhere with that budget, even on the beachfront at the moment! Green Community houses are nice and close to Jebel Ali, but I wouldn't choose to live there as its quite a pain to get there from anywhere else... The Lakes is definitely close enough for your husband to go to Jebel Ali for work... You could also look at the villas in the Meadows, there are some nice houses there too with pools etc... But the Lakes is a really nice little community so that would be my top pick! Edited: Sorry removed the links to the houses as they mess up the thread... if you go to www.dubizzle.com and search properties in the lakes for 5 bedrooms they'll come up, there's a lovely upgraded Maeen which should be nicer than the other houses hence why a bit more expensive, there's also the Hattan's for 350-375k. The Lakes is a lovely place and great for kids. Also if you go on dubizzle and look at the houses on the Palm you'll see you can get them in your budget too. If you get the cash as well you may want to calculate in the 5% fees that are paid yearly and the electricity and water in the 400k. <em>edited by AdviceSeeker on 16/02/2011</em>

28

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 07:30

If your budget is 400k then yes, you can afford anywhere, however you must think about getting around. AR a little out of town..same for Green Community. Mainly traffic nightmares on these roads. Lakes can be congested also due to other developments in the area...all accessed by one road coming from Jebel Ali. If it were me and you were looking for privacy and central location, I would look at Um Suqueim or anywhere in Jumeirah. Here, you will most likely deal with a 'local landlord' instead of dealing with the many expat landlords who purchased to rent and are known for messing you around. I would deal with a local first. You must decide firstly if you want private or community living, then start looking. thanks to those w/suggestions - will check them out when we arrive in a few weeks we were thinking that community living would be nice as it would be a lot easier for the kids to find playmates....are there many 'lack of privacy' issues in a community setting? curious as i've never lived in one before. guess i should be wary of 'expat landlords' then? had no idea... btw, company will pay landlord directly. thanks again

1170

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 15 February 2011 - 23:53

I would rent a flat for less than half that allowance and bank the rest. ditto great minds, think alike ;)

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