One of the main problems for both new arrivals and current residents in the past year or two in Abu Dhabi has been finding accommodation within their budget. Some companies provide housing with the contract, others provide an allowance towards housing, and still others give an 'all inclusive' salary, out of which you find and pay for your own accommodation.
The main problem in recent years is that there are not enough housing units to accommodate the number of new and current residents. This has meant that many new residents have had to spend weeks or sometimes months in hotel apartments or temporary housing belonging to their company(if this is available) before finding suitable housing. In some cases, families of the main earner may have to stay in their home countries until a place is found.
The reason for this problem: the rapid growth of Abu Dhabi in a short amount of time leading to a huge number of new residents. The construction industry is not able to keep up with the current demand and large multinational and national companies are prepared to pay over the odds for accommodation to attract high level, experienced personnel to their companies. It's a problem which is not going away in a hurry.
Five years ago it was not unusual for a family to be able to afford to live in a villa on the island with a back yard or garden and possibly even a shared pool. Off the island in areas such as Khalifa City, a pool or large garden was almost gauranteed. Nowadays, most families who are new to Abu Dhabi have to live in apartments on the island and pay much more for off-island villas if they are available. In the city, areas such as Khalidiya Village, Bateen, Muroor and the Corniche can cost a minimum of 250,000 dhs, and some near the Marina Mall rent for about 650,000 dhs per year. Villas off the island of Abu Dhabi in areas such as Khalifa City, or other popular spots such as Sas Al Nakeel, Bain Al Jessrain, Seashore Villas or Mangrove Village can cost anything from 190,000 dhs to 250,000 dhs and above for a four bedroomed villa.
Apartment rentals vary too, with some parts of the city being typically more expensive than others. Areas such as Khalidiya, Corniche, Bateen, Mushrif and Manasir are either near the sea, or they are more sought after because they are quieter, have more parking availability or have buildings which are only 4 - 12 storeys high. A three bedroom apartment in these areas can cost anything from 95,000 dhs to 180,000 dhs depending on proximity to the sea and the facilities in the building. In the city centre in locations such as Hamdan Street, Electra Street, Najda Street and Falah Street (Passport Road) the rent will be slightly less but parking is difficult to find and traffic is bad at peak times.
There will be some relief when the new buildings on Reem Island are available for rent. Expats who bought there will be able to enjoy either rent free living in their own apartments, or a very good rental income on their investment. However, the first of these will not be ready for at least another year, and according to a recent article in Gulf News, Abu Dhabi is already short 20,000 housing units for the next year.
If you are in the process of negotiating a contract to come to Abu Dhabi, be sure to address the area of accommodation very carefully. The best option is to have the company provide you with accommodation, as they will absorb the increases as the rent goes up. However, many companies are now avoiding this because they are having problems both finding and keeping accommodation. If you are responsible for sourcing and paying for your own housing, try to get the best possible deal now, or include an agreement in your employment contract related to housing increase. The rent cap was fixed by the government at 5% for this calendar year. This was only for current tenants. If you are a new tenant, a landlord can charge any price and will always find someone who is willing or desperate enough to pay whatever is asked - the age old issue of supply and demand.
A website I came across recently which might be useful is http://www.2rentuae.com/
Note: The UAE dirham is fixed at a rate of: $US1 = 3.68 AED
Bringing Medicines into the UAE
The UAE's zero tolerance policy towards drug taking and possession seems to have tightened up considerably recently. Tourists coming into and transiting through the country are under scrutiny, with new drug detection equipment in use at airports and ports of entry.
Some medicines which are available over the counter or on prescription in the home country of the tourist are on a banned or controlled list in the UAE, and travellers need to familiarise themselves with the medicines on that list. Many remedies for coughs and colds (especially anything which contains codeine), some anti-depressants, sleeping pills, painkillers and hormone replacement therapy drugs are banned in the UAE. As a visitor, you should not carry any of the banned narcotics and you should have a prescription from your doctor with you if you are bringing any of the controlled medicines into the country.
In addition, poppy seeds, betel leaves and betel nuts are also banned. The minimum sentence for any drug related crime is 4 years.
Travel agents do not always know or do not always inform potential tourists of the rules, so it is better to check with the UAE embassy in your home country before travelling. The most up-to-date list available at the moment accompanies an article on the Fair Trials website.
Some medicines which are available over the counter or on prescription in the home country of the tourist are on a banned or controlled list in the UAE, and travellers need to familiarise themselves with the medicines on that list. Many remedies for coughs and colds (especially anything which contains codeine), some anti-depressants, sleeping pills, painkillers and hormone replacement therapy drugs are banned in the UAE. As a visitor, you should not carry any of the banned narcotics and you should have a prescription from your doctor with you if you are bringing any of the controlled medicines into the country.
In addition, poppy seeds, betel leaves and betel nuts are also banned. The minimum sentence for any drug related crime is 4 years.
Travel agents do not always know or do not always inform potential tourists of the rules, so it is better to check with the UAE embassy in your home country before travelling. The most up-to-date list available at the moment accompanies an article on the Fair Trials website.
Beach Clubs
As the weekend draws near (Friday and Saturday here), I'm led to thinking about how I am going to spend my valuable two days off. The weather is a nice 30 degrees today and there is a slight breeze - a perfect time to go to the beach and catch up on some reading.
Most people join a beach club when they come to Abu Dhabi. This has proved to be a more and more difficult task in recent years as the number of residents has rocketed and the number of hotels has largly remained the same. With the amount of construction going on around the city, beachfront property is being whipped up for the many new 5 star hotels which will inhabit the coast.
There are beaches clubs at hotels such as the Hilton, the Beach Hotel, the Sheraton, the Intercontinental, the Meridien, and more recently, the Raha Beach Hotel and the Shangri-la. Membership for these clubs comes at a high price, as the number of tourists to Abu Dhabi is increasing daily. Another beachfront option is The Club, previously known as the British Club. It has traditionally been subsidised by its membership so food, drink and services are cheaper than other clubs. They have a full range of activities including sailing, diving, gym, pools, an adults only beach, a library, creche and more which are all available at a nominal price once you have paid the membership. They have a number of restaurants, a main bar and a concert hall where a variety of activities take place.
Almost all other hotels in Abu Dhabi have pools, many of which are rooftop or central pools. Membership to these is also possible and if you are not a fan of the beach, they are a slightly cheaper option.
A facility with excellent gyms (one mixed and one for ladies only) is the Abu Dhabi Health and Fitness Club. The membership here is not the cheapest, but all exercise classes are free with the fee. The have the full Les Mills list of classes which are very popular. They have a pool but no beach, but it is located in a very tranquil spot near the equestrian centre.
Finally, if you want to go to the beach once in a while and don't want to pay a month's salary for a year's membership, there is still a public beach near the Emirates Palace at Ras Al Akhdar, and for the 'almost free' option there is Lulu Island (see blog entry titled 'an island paradise').
Driving in Abu Dhabi
In order to drive legally in Abu Dhabi you must have a valid driving license, however you do not have to be a resident.
If you are on holiday in Abu Dhabi, you can rent and drive a car provided you have an International Driving License from your country of residence. An International Driving License is also valid for new residents awaiting their valid residence visa. On receipt of the visa however, you must obtain a full UAE driving license.
Driving license applications fall into two categories; those who can automatically replace their own country license for a UAE license and those who must pass the UAE driving test.
Citizens from the following countries can replace their driving license without doing a driving test as long as their passport and driving license are issued from the same country:
France-Britain-USA-Holland-Germany-Italy-Belgium-Japan-Switzerland-Sweden-Greece-Spain-Denmark-Austria-Ireland-Norway-Turkey-Canada-Poland-South Korea-Finland-South Africa-Australia-New Zealand
The documents required are:
1. The original passport + a copy of it
2. 4 recent colour photographs
3. The foreign license to be replaced (provided that it is valid)
4. A legal translation of the license enclosed with a copy of the license
5. A letter of no objection of sponsor or work authority
6. Eye exam
7. Blood type
8. Fees: 200 dirhams
For those who do not have a license from one of the above countries or those who do not have any driving license, there is a separate procedure. If you fall into this category you will need to open a file with the traffic police department and register for driving instruction. The following documents are necessary to open a file:
1. The original passport + a copy of it.
2. 4 recent colour photographs.
3. A letter of no objection from sponsor or work authority.
4. Eye exam
5. Fees: 100 dirhams
6. A copy of the driving license that an applicant possesses (For those who wish to apply for a trial test based on their own country license)
Once a file is opened, you should then go to Emirates Driving Company and register for the theory test and driving lessons. A test costs 50 dirhams.
If you are on holiday in Abu Dhabi, you can rent and drive a car provided you have an International Driving License from your country of residence. An International Driving License is also valid for new residents awaiting their valid residence visa. On receipt of the visa however, you must obtain a full UAE driving license.
Driving license applications fall into two categories; those who can automatically replace their own country license for a UAE license and those who must pass the UAE driving test.
Citizens from the following countries can replace their driving license without doing a driving test as long as their passport and driving license are issued from the same country:
France-Britain-USA-Holland-Germany-Italy-Belgium-Japan-Switzerland-Sweden-Greece-Spain-Denmark-Austria-Ireland-Norway-Turkey-Canada-Poland-South Korea-Finland-South Africa-Australia-New Zealand
The documents required are:
1. The original passport + a copy of it
2. 4 recent colour photographs
3. The foreign license to be replaced (provided that it is valid)
4. A legal translation of the license enclosed with a copy of the license
5. A letter of no objection of sponsor or work authority
6. Eye exam
7. Blood type
8. Fees: 200 dirhams
For those who do not have a license from one of the above countries or those who do not have any driving license, there is a separate procedure. If you fall into this category you will need to open a file with the traffic police department and register for driving instruction. The following documents are necessary to open a file:
1. The original passport + a copy of it.
2. 4 recent colour photographs.
3. A letter of no objection from sponsor or work authority.
4. Eye exam
5. Fees: 100 dirhams
6. A copy of the driving license that an applicant possesses (For those who wish to apply for a trial test based on their own country license)
Once a file is opened, you should then go to Emirates Driving Company and register for the theory test and driving lessons. A test costs 50 dirhams.
Jaywalkers fined
Accidents involving pedestrians is a growing problem on Abu Dhabi streets, mainly because people do not use the pedestrian crossings or underpasses provided. People argue that there are not enough of these, and this leads to misuse of the roads by pedestrians. However, on all major streets there is ample provision for pedestrians; it's just a matter of giving oneself those extra few minutes to walk to the traffic light.
Recently the police held a 'pedestrian safety campaign' which highlighted the problem. During this campaign, additional police patrols were placed in 'black spots' to ensure pedestrians crossed the streets only at designated points. In total, 3074 jaywalkers were fined for crossing at unauthorised places.
Considering the speed of some vehicles on our streets, this was a campaign which will hopefully highlight the dangers pedestrians place themselves in when they do not cross in the correct places. The campaign was widely supported by the media, both before and during the campaign, highlighting the problem to a wider audience. Hopefully this will have had a positive effect.
Recently the police held a 'pedestrian safety campaign' which highlighted the problem. During this campaign, additional police patrols were placed in 'black spots' to ensure pedestrians crossed the streets only at designated points. In total, 3074 jaywalkers were fined for crossing at unauthorised places.
Considering the speed of some vehicles on our streets, this was a campaign which will hopefully highlight the dangers pedestrians place themselves in when they do not cross in the correct places. The campaign was widely supported by the media, both before and during the campaign, highlighting the problem to a wider audience. Hopefully this will have had a positive effect.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
