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Try to get a copy of this issue. Full of info this month. If you rent one article to read is on page 10 - "When tenant is king". I guess it is just as well that landlords read it as they can find out what to expect this year. Wow have the tables turned. People looking to rent are asking the landlord to pay the agency fee!

I'm up for rental renewal in June. Sweet Sweet Sweet!

Tables have turned indeed. Last year I was DESPERATE to get a place because I knew that every month I waited meant another possible 10K.

Thanks for the heads up. Is this a magazine or part of a paper?


EDIT: Just for anyone doubting the ferocity of the rental increases in the UAE last year, here is my story. I arrived in Abu Dhabi in March 2008, stayed in a serviced apartment (Studio) on the corner of Airport and Passport. First month 10500, second month went up to 11500, third month (now in a 1 bedroom in Tourist Club) 13000, fourth month 15000, fifth month I was told it would be 17500.... so I got off my arse and moved out, to Dubai.

Bastards, I hope they all go bankrupt.

Captain Australia wrote:I'm up for rental renewal in June. Sweet Sweet Sweet!

Tables have turned indeed. Last year I was DESPERATE to get a place because I knew that every month I waited meant another possible 10K.

Thanks for the heads up. Is this a magazine or part of a paper?

Magazine. Every week a bunch is left in the lobby of my building - complimentary copy. Ask around but I am sure that it can be purchased. If you can't get hold of one let me know.

Cool. I'll have a look for it. But if you can easily scan the article that would be awesome. If it's too much of a hassle don't trouble yourself though.

Stupid magazine, I used to get it free as a subscriber, then GN decided to stop!
Its about time landlord's pay 4 their excesses!
Although i personally never went to a landlord, I had a friend at the Khalifa Comitee now taken over by ADCB, and I got my flat from there. Their rental increases were way more moderate!

Captain Australia wrote:Cool. I'll have a look for it. But if you can easily scan the article that would be awesome. If it's too much of a hassle don't trouble yourself though.

Let me know how you make out and if no luck will scan. But it is worth trying to get ahold of as there were more articles of interest.

Captain Australia wrote:I'm up for rental renewal in June. Sweet Sweet Sweet!

Tables have turned indeed. Last year I was DESPERATE to get a place because I knew that every month I waited meant another possible 10K.

Thanks for the heads up. Is this a magazine or part of a paper?


EDIT: Just for anyone doubting the ferocity of the rental increases in the UAE last year, here is my story. I arrived in Abu Dhabi in March 2008, stayed in a serviced apartment (Studio) on the corner of Airport and Passport. First month 10500, second month went up to 11500, third month (now in a 1 bedroom in Tourist Club) 13000, fourth month 15000, fifth month I was told it would be 17500.... so I got off my arse and moved out, to Dubai.

Bastards, I hope they all go bankrupt.

Wow, this is some jump. You paid the latter increases for 1 bedroom or studio. Got mixed with your comment.

Sorry, 10500 for the studio in Ramee Gardens, then 11500, 13000, 15000 etc for the 1 bedroom in Ivory Serviced apts in Tourist Club. They were both increasing by about 2000 a month!

Thanks for that. With 1,600 hotel rooms expected and villa rents already coming down in Abu Dhabi .... life should be rosy again for people who came post 2008 and the few others still managing to make their way into UAE.

Captain Australia wrote:Sorry, 10500 for the studio in Ramee Gardens, then 11500, 13000, 15000 etc for the 1 bedroom in Ivory Serviced apts in Tourist Club. They were both increasing by about 2000 a month!

Captain,

How are you able to afford such monthly increases? I reckon you get a housing allowance or are you working for an Australian company paying for your expatriation costs?

Those are insane rents you mention. They have gone crazy...

RobbyG wrote:

Captain Australia wrote:Sorry, 10500 for the studio in Ramee Gardens, then 11500, 13000, 15000 etc for the 1 bedroom in Ivory Serviced apts in Tourist Club. They were both increasing by about 2000 a month!

Captain,

How are you able to afford such monthly increases? I reckon you get a housing allowance or are you working for an Australian company paying for your expatriation costs?

Those are insane rents you mention. They have gone crazy...

I saw the reverse back in the 90's Villa came from 144,000pa to 45,000pa in two years

RobbyG wrote:Captain,

How are you able to afford such monthly increases? I reckon you get a housing allowance or are you working for an Australian company paying for your expatriation costs?

Those are insane rents you mention. They have gone crazy...

Well I wasn't to be honest, that's why I left. I didn't come here to break even. I do get a decent housing allowance now, but it was 7.8K/month back then, increased to 9.8K later on. Fine for me, but for the guys with big families a one bedroom is not going to cut it obviously. I had a friend with the family over who had to pay 22K a month before he could get a place.

We didn't have a choice other than to use Serviced Apartments back then because our Residence Visas were not finalised for 3.5 months. No visa means no chequebook which means no apartment, unless you cut a deal with the owner.

So I moved to Dubai and for 120,000 AED I got a (pretty nice, but smallish) one bedroom in the Marina last June. My View Notice why I was sold on the place... that's right, the Barasti.



The good news is that I just got a call from a mate in the same building who is moving out and his landlord is prepared to take 110,000 for his large two bedroom now. Drop, drop, drop. Yay!

Ahhh, the dream...

I envy you :D:D

btw: Are you still working for an Australian company? Or local?

Local.

Cheers, but the point is that is wasn't a dream when I got here. I was told (by the company) that I could get an apartment for 70-80K when I got to Abu Dhabi. I arrive (March '08 ) and see things at almost double that, and rising every bloody month. It was quite a nightmare for a while.

Now that prices are dropping it's looking much better. Abu Dhabi is still not out of it though. It might slow down a bit but the drop won't happen until more of those apartments come online.

Captain Australia wrote:Local.

Cheers, but the point is that is wasn't a dream when I got here. I was told (by the company) that I could get an apartment for 70-80K when I got to Abu Dhabi. I arrive (March '08 ) and see things at almost double that, and rising every bloody month. It was quite a nightmare for a while.

Now that prices are dropping it's looking much better. Abu Dhabi is still not out of it though. It might slow down a bit but the drop won't happen until more of those apartments come online.

Good luck in Abu Dhabi with the prices, still seems to be a shortage. Also many people now driving daily from Dubai.

well, it's going really nicely at the moment I'm moving out of a 2BR Springs to a lovely 3M next week, 30 seconds walk to park & pool (great for the kid), and together with the upgrade I save myself a whopping 45k pa. (plus I can pay in 2 cheques now & the landlord payed 50/50 agent fee, real nice guy - really refreshing, after the last disaster I had with Opera and a non-caring a$$ off a landlord).

Unbelievable if you would turn the clock 6 month back ...!

... feels like I'm all set for yet another 2 great years of Dubai ahead;-)