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We are a family of 4, 2 small children. My hb has been offered a brillant job but we have some concerns, the main one been the cost. Aside from accomodation, is everything else mental expensive, like food in the supermarkets etc Just wondering will be able to survive on the salary we have been offered.

Thanks

Depends where you are coming from. Relative to Australia for example, food, mobile phones, petrol and most serviices are pretty cheap. Depending on how old you children are, private schooling seems to be about the same, if not more expensive.

Most other things seem to be either on par or cheaper than what I could get back home. The only killer is the rent, which is about 3 times what I was paying back home.

Thanks a million.

That doesnt sound too bad then as we are excpecting the rent to be very high but its everything else we are unsure about.

Could you recommend any area that would be nice to rent in? We have a 4 year old that will start school next sept so will have to be within reach of a school also.

Thanks

pobrien wrote:Thanks a million.

That doesnt sound too bad then as we are excpecting the rent to be very high but its everything else we are unsure about.

Could you recommend any area that would be nice to rent in? We have a 4 year old that will start school next sept so will have to be within reach of a school also.

Thanks

Best places are: Arabian Ranches, a bit out of town but nice community with schools etc close by.
Mirdif, growing fast with lots ameneties but right under the flightpath to Dubai International.
Jumeirah, traditional villa land. Lots of schools.
Umm Suquiem, more upmarket area next to Jumeirah.
Jumeirah Lake Towers and Jumeirah Beach Residence, ghetto in the sky!
The Springs, nice and close to the main arterial road. Good services.
Barsha, either villas or apartments, close to the Mall of the Emirates.

Any of the real estate companies will be able to help, or have a look at Gulf News online classified ads, Dubizzle or Thedubaiguide.com.

Good luck!



Knight

Very helpful post Knight, which one would be the closest to Dubai Media City as I have a job offer there. I am currently working and living in USA and thinking about moving to Dubai for couple of years atleast.

P.S. I have also added your IM address in my IM, will catch you there sometime.

Thanks

pobrien - some of the better schools are popular and full. Al Barsha, Emirates Hills, Umm Suqueim and maybe Mirdiff have some good (& expensive) schools, and are popular areas to live for western expats. Here's a list of Dubai schools.

USAtoDubai - Dubai Marina is closest to DMC, or Al Sufouh and Umm Suqeim a bit further away. Al Barsha / The Greens also close but on the other side of Sheikh Zayed Road.

Thanks bonk but could you plz give me some more names.
Also is it possible to buy a 2 bedroom apartment/townhouse in a descent area like marina etc. around $300000? Is it easy to finance a house with about 10-20% down?
In USA as far as financing and other loans are concern, it all depends on how good your credit is. Is there something similar in Dubai (like good/bad credit) or if you have a full time job, you're good to go and banks will possible give you a loan?

USAtoDubai wrote:Thanks bonk but could you plz give me some more names.

Names of what?

Also is it possible to buy a 2 bedroom apartment/townhouse in a descent area like marina etc. around $300000? Is it easy to finance a house with about 10-20% down?

1. No. Allow $400-$500 for apt, more for townhouse.
2. No. Allow 20-40%

In USA as far as financing and other loans are concern, it all depends on how good your credit is. Is there something similar in Dubai (like good/bad credit) or if you have a full time job, you're good to go and banks will possible give you a loan?

Sort of. Banks will look at salary and what company you work for.