Intelligence

Dubai

Telegraph | Expat | Mentor for Dubai

Simon McCrum has lived in Dubai with his family for the past three years. He moved in mid-2001 from Hong Kong where he lived for ten years. Simon works for a British Bank, is in his late thirties, has an English wife and three small children.

Living in Dubai, particularly with small children, is fabulous. For eight months of the year the climate is wonderful, schools are of the very highest standards, crime is very low and there is a very active social life on offer for those who wish to take part and best of all, there is no income tax!

Despite some things being incredibly cheap, Dubai is an expensive city. If you are negotiating a 'package' before moving out to Dubai, keep in mind that the cost of living (excluding housing) for a western expat is at least as high as it is in Central London.

Western expats tend to live in either Jumeirah or Umm Suquiem. These two areas can be found between the coast and the Sheikh Zayed Highway, south of the Dubai Creek. There are many other residential areas but the majority of western expats can be found in one of these two areas. Families tend to live in villas, either bungalows or two storey buildings, which are often part of a 'compound'.

Annual rental figures for villas in Jumeirah or Umm Suquiem do not differ wildly though a good hunt through what is available might throw up some 'bargains'! As a very rough guide a three/four bedroom villa in these areas might be between AED100-120K per annum. Bigger villas or villas with their own pools will be more expensive. Furnished or un-furnished apartments are also widely available.

Expats can now buy property in Dubai which also gives them automatic right to a residency permit.

Climate:

Winter sunshine averages eight hours per day, while the summer figure reaches as high as eleven hours a day. The climate of the UAE is, generally, hot and dry.

The summer months, from June to September, are too hot for comfort. Midday temperatures range from 35°C to 42°C, and occasionally top 49°C at the height of summer. From December to March, the climate is considerably more equable with midday temperatures ranging from 25 to 35°C and falling to as low as 9°C at night.

Whilst much is written about the fierce heat of Dubai in the summer (and with good reason!) the fact remains that for eight months of the year the climate of Dubai is extremely pleasant; warm, dry days and clear blue, cloudless skies.

Getting around

As anyone will tell you driving on the roads of Dubai is the biggest danger to life and limb that expatriates face day to day. Dubai has one of the highest motor accident rates in the world per head of population and young male UAE nationals have more chance of being killed in a car accident than a young male has anywhere else in the world.

Motor cars are tax free and as a result relatively inexpensive. Toyota is the country's best selling brand of motor vehicle.

Generally Western expatriates tend to buy 4x4 vehicles as off-roading and camping are two very popular recreational pastimes during the cooler months. There is also the added bonus of the security and safety offered by bigger, heavier cars.

Petrol is very cheap. A litre of unleaded fuel cost approximately eight British pence. Leaded fuel is no longer sold in the UAE. In the UAE we drive on the right hand side of the road (at least most of the drivers do most of the time!) As already mentioned drink driving is a very, very serious offence.

Health

There are a number of private clinics and hospitals in Dubai offering a very high standard of health care. Private health insurance is a must for all expatriates though this is generally offered by employers as part of the employee's benefits package.

The government hospitals are generally of a good standard. Of particular note is the Al Wasl hospital which specialises in Maternity and Paediatrics and which has an excellent reputation.

Entertainment

The social scene in Dubai is excellent; there are many great restaurants, bars and clubs. Certainly something to suit every taste and budget. The best guide to life in Dubai is 'Time Out' which offer a 'warts and all' look at what is on offer every month.

Cinemas here screen the most recent films though any scenes with nudity or sex are cut.

A quick flick through some of the expat guides show that there are clubs and social groups covering almost every interest and sport known and a few new ones (sand skiing anyone?)

Off-roading / dune bashing and camping are popular activities amongst the expats during the cooler months. A 30 min drive out of Dubai will find you in the middle of rolling sand dunes with only the odd camel for company.

Most expats join a 'club' soon after they arrive. These clubs tend to be part of a hotel and offer swimming pools and other sporting facilities. In the hotter months weekends tend to be spent lying around the pools.

Dubai is not a 'dry' Emirate (Sharjah is the only Emirate that is) though the consumption and purchase of alcohol is controlled.

The law states that only hotels or private clubs can serve alcohol though it seems that the interpretation of this law is stretched pretty thin sometimes. Due to this restriction western expat socialising tends to gravitate towards hotels and as a result the cost of alcohol is 'reassuringly expensive'!

There are two companies licensed to sell alcohol for private consumption and their premises tend to be located near the main supermarkets. In order to buy alcohol to consume at home you are required to apply for a permit issued by, for some reason, the CID branch of the Dubai Police department. It is a painless process though the license has to be renewed annually.

Education

There are many English-speaking kindergartens, particularly in the residential areas of Jumeirah and Umm Suquiem.

Full time education is compulsory for all children above the age of five.

Children of British expats tend to go to one of three primary schools: Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS), Dubai English Speaking School (DESS) or Jumeirah Primary School (JPS). These schools take children from age 5 to 11. All three schools are based on the English school system and curriculum and all schools subscribe to OFSTED and are inspected and reviewed every year by OFSTED inspectors.

The choice for secondary schools is slightly restricted though there are plans to build further secondary schools. Dubai College and Jumeirah College are the two most popular and sought after schools. Again they follow the English school system and they both submit their exam results to the British 'league tables'.

Islam is heavily promoted in Dubai and the teaching of the basic tenets of Islam is compulsory at all schools

Tips

If you are moving to Dubai to live bring lots and lots of passport size photos of you and any family members. Initially Dubai can seem a bureaucratic nightmare with permits and licenses required for absolutely everything to start life and every single application must be accompanied with at least three photos.

Unmarried couples are not permitted to live together by law. Whilst the police tend to turn a blind eye to such behaviour if in the course of investigating a burglary, for example, it becomes apparent to the Police that an unmarried couple are cohabiting quite severe punishments (followed by deportation) can be imposed.

Girls should dress modestly. Whilst it is sometimes easy to forget that we are living in a Muslim country you should remain sensitive to local cultural issues.

There is no requirement for girls to wear an 'abaya' for instance, but for going out and about longish skirts or trousers and tops which cover the shoulders are preferable.

There is no home delivery of post in Dubai and if you are concerned about personal mail being delivered to your place of employment then set up your own post box at one of the Emirates Post offices.

Drink driving is a very serious offence. There is a 'zero' limit for drink driving and offenders are subject to an immediate one month imprisonment with the Court deciding on a fine or further confinement thereafter. Fortunately taxis are very cheap and very easy to come by.

Register with your embassy/consulate as soon as possible.

April 3, 2005 at 11:22 AM in Middle East | Permalink | Top of page | Blog Home