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International City - it is a good place to live in?

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6

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 October 2011 - 20:23

Thanks everyone for responding, I am appreciative of the time you have taken to give your views. Worried and Rabiaah - we'll be in touch! Thanks!.

490

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 14 October 2011 - 19:45

Well put Dentro...Harsh but fair. I think Worried123 must have found a rare gem in International city because the norm is definitly how you explained it.

1184

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 14 October 2011 - 19:39

Good place to live if you can handle the body odor of your neighbors on the corridors and in the elevator, if the elevator works, but most of the time it is non-airconditioned staircase anyways. Expect torn of fire doors and garbage on the corridors. Nakheel gave up on maintenance long ago. Do not be surprised if your house mates spat on the corridors. Oh, and hard to get parking as some studios are shared by 6-8 taxi drivers. You may see mold on the ceiling, but do not worry, it is not a leak from the upper tenant's bathroom. They do not shower or bath. If you like all these, it is your place. On the good side, easy to get a maid, as there will be a few in your building, sharing studios, 10 of them. But not all apartments are that overpopulated. You will also sometimes see very fancy cars, arriving with arab guys and a questionable looking lady, spending a few hours in a rarely used apartment. <em>edited by dentro on 14/10/2011</em>

worried12342824

137

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 October 2011 - 17:38

What month are the heavy rains? Hubby has been here ten months. Also, from what I have heard, the only area that happens in now is Morocco, and Greece. And there is one place I would never recommend you go! From the size of JFine's family I would say that the CBD would be best for her- it's more expensive but quite nice :) Also, I have the cheapest, greatest beauty salons in Dubai (hheeehhee... glee!)

2958

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 14 October 2011 - 17:35

Hi JFine7412, I am from Australia, and have lived here in International City with my husband for the last six months. No children yet though. No, it isn't JBR, or the marina, or even Mirdif.... but we paid our entire rent in one cheque upfront and no longer have to worry about it. I live right next to a carrefour, and a five minute walk from a spinneys. If I don't want to cook, there are countless great takeaways available at very quick notice. Near me I also have a beauty salon, a locksmith, a bakery, clothes shops, laundries (yes! I hate ironing) and a tunisian restaurant that does THE most amazing tea. Now I live in France, which is not families only, but there are clusters that are. Spain, and a fair bit of the CBD area where some of the buildings have pools. Despite the bachelors, I have NEVER felt unsafe here, not in the entire time I have lived here- they are more likely to help you carry your furniture than do anything untoward. I know a South African family that live in the CBD area with their daughter and are very happy here- and live in a families only building. I live 10 minutes from Mirdif if I want a big carrefour, or to shop, and the same from DSO which has a post office and a less busy but very good choithrams. As for the sewage problem, six months and never seen it. Not once. Now it feels like **** (ha ha) from Gulf News to fuel the fire about where I live :) If you do move here, keep an open mind, be prepared to see something different. It isn't Western homogenized like most of the communities where expats live here. If I can give any advice, including the name of a good realtor, email me [email protected] if you want to visit and see it I am happy to show you around. It's always good to hear from someone who is actually there. I had no idea that there were family only areas so that's much better - maybe they designated those areas when they opened it up to more batchelors. The only thing I will say though is that you have only been there 6 months and therefore have not yet experienced it when the heavy rains come - I know it's only a few days/weeks per year but my goodness that's when the sewerage problem comes - hopefully the work has been done and it won't happen this year.

worried12342824

137

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 October 2011 - 17:26

Hi JFine7412, I am from Australia, and have lived here in International City with my husband for the last six months. No children yet though. No, it isn't JBR, or the marina, or even Mirdif.... but we paid our entire rent in one cheque upfront and no longer have to worry about it. I live right next to a carrefour, and a five minute walk from a spinneys. If I don't want to cook, there are countless great takeaways available at very quick notice. Near me I also have a beauty salon, a locksmith, a bakery, clothes shops, laundries (yes! I hate ironing) and a tunisian restaurant that does THE most amazing tea. Now I live in France, which is not families only, but there are clusters that are. Spain, and a fair bit of the CBD area where some of the buildings have pools. Despite the bachelors, I have NEVER felt unsafe here, not in the entire time I have lived here- they are more likely to help you carry your furniture than do anything untoward. I know a South African family that live in the CBD area with their daughter and are very happy here- and live in a families only building. I live 10 minutes from Mirdif if I want a big carrefour, or to shop, and the same from DSO which has a post office and a less busy but very good choithrams. As for the sewage problem, six months and never seen it. Not once. Now it feels like **** (ha ha) from Gulf News to fuel the fire about where I live :) If you do move here, keep an open mind, be prepared to see something different. It isn't Western homogenized like most of the communities where expats live here. If I can give any advice, including the name of a good realtor, email me [email protected] if you want to visit and see it I am happy to show you around.

269

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 October 2011 - 15:16

When it comes to IC, (being a real estate person) I would surely say "NO".. (as long as you have extreme issues with funds).. What budget u looking at, and how many rooms?? Maybe I can suggest an alternative! And if you have for sure decided to move there, then go for england! <em>edited by Rabiaah on 14/10/2011</em>

490

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 14 October 2011 - 12:48

I too would'nt recommend it, either as a family, or as a single lady. As Clairehdp mentioned, people leave rubbish lying around everywhere, there is raw sewerage on the streets, all the area's between buildings that used to be green are now overgrown and dead, with stagnant water everywhere, there are always sewerage tankers parked up...the negatives are endless! There is a German saying: "Its not a place I would want to be hanging dead over a fence"

2958

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 14 October 2011 - 12:06

I would not consider international city especially with young children. They had a nightmare with raw sewerage in the streets when it first opened and it became known as international s**tty! I know people who lived there and couldn't wait to get out. It's a low price for a reason. Also many of the companies are now using it for their staff accommodation so there are lots and lots of single there really not a family orientated area. I got lost around there a couple of months back when I was looking for a business office and I ended driving all around it and I couldn't wait to leave. Some areas are really nasty with lots of rubbish.

6

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 October 2011 - 11:55

I've heard varying reports on International City - what kind of a place is it? - Are there any particular areas/blocks to avoid? - Which are the best blocks? I've got 2 small kids, 4yo and 2yo. Thanks very much for your input.

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