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Dubai - is unrelentingly hot! currently almost winter - the minimum temperature goes down to about 23 degrees. I love the city - it is fast and vibrant and chaotic. Fast cars, fast people, unbelievable drivers, lots of money, amazing buildings and hotels - the most fantastic spas - so cheap! and petrol is even cheaper...... |
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Locals are extremely tolerant towards Westerners. The dress is from one extreme to the other. All western women can dress however they please - there are no restrictions. However, don't be rude to locals as you could end up in jail! Nothing feels negative - everything feels positive. Its a great city for families, singles and even couples. Homosexuality and Lesbianism is not accepted in the UAE and is "illegal". There don't seem to be any gender, religious or racial prejudices in the UAE. As a westerner you can dress however you feel appropriate - women run around in shorts and flip flops in the malls where local women dress with obeyas or even the burqa. I do know though (having talked to a local man) that the way western women dress is not appealing to local men! No security concerns - it is seemingly crime free - however you take your life into your hands driving on the roads!!! |
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You have to be sponsored by your company with a job offer in order to get a work visa and only certain countries citizens are allowed into UAE without visas. |
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Expensive, expensive, expensive!!! Average 2 bedroom apartment costs AED140,000 per annum to rent and you have to pay upfront with 1 cheque. Occasionally two cheques are acceptable. Make sure the suburb is ok.... there are some yucky suburbs in Dubai.... The average villa costs AED250,000 per year - this has 4 bedrooms and plenty bathrooms.... |
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Yes, its very common to have help = mostly philippino or indian = maids, drivers, nannies - they are badly paid here and the cost varies from AED1000 to AED3000 per month. |
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It is best to have a home line - mobiles are relatively cheap but mobile plans are expensive to start up, as all expats are expected to pay a big deposit. The two providers are DU and ETISALAT. The quality of the service is not bad - it depends which country you are comparing it to! Internet service is also provided by the two listed above and wireless is available everywhere - lots of cafes and shopping centres have wireless hook up - as do most new apartments. This is normally included in the rent (so don't know what it costs) - a lot of sites are blocked by the government (they are strict on anything that has even remote sexual connotations) - but in the outlying areas these can be reached via wireless connection - i.e. Skype or Expat.com All magazines and newspapers are available in English - there are plenty and the English speakers are well catered for - Dubai is truly bilingual.
The postal service leaves a lot to be desired - compared to say Argentina, the service is good! |
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Bilingual Arabic and English - English is spoken everywhere and hardly any local don't speak it. The workers here - i.e. Philippino and Indian speak and comprehend English extremely poorly - so it is difficult to communicate - especially telephonically! |
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Water is mostly drinkable from the taps - but most people drink bottled water which is cheap - 1.5 litres is about 1.5 AED don't know the costs of gas or electricity as that is also included in the rent |
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Employment is relatively easy here. There are headhunter and plenty recruitment agencies. Gulf News is available online and lists jobs - a good expat website is |
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Currency is Dirrhams (AED - Arab Emirate Dirrham) - bank accounts are very hard to open!! The banking service here is terrible and you need 6 months of bank statements, copy of work visa, and also bank applications completed. |
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Expensive! Good doctors - I visited one this week - AED265 for one visit and medicine (antibiotics and other prescribed drugs) is not readily available and is terrifyingly expensive! The visa requirements for health are a lung/chest Xray (can only be done in local clinic!) and an AIDS blood test. |
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| Cannot comment - don't have children |
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Easy to own a car - they are cheap - easy to rent one - also very cheap. A small car - ie.e. Toyota Yaris costs approx. AED1750 per month to rent. Depending on the country where you come from - if it is acceptable in the UAE - you can easily get a drivers licence. I come from NZ so it is interchangeable - costs AED125. However if you come from the Cayman Islands you have to retake the drivers test and that is very costly as they demand you take driving lessons - so could get into the thousands of AED's and many fail the test over and over again! Challenging!
Taxis are cheap and they drive like maniacs - as does everyone in this city.
No other public transportation at this stage, but the metro will be completed in 2009 - buses are notoriously unreliable. |
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Everything is available in Dubai - it is very international in this department and beauty care is cheap - i.e. spas and pampering. Everything (apartment from RENT) in Dubai is cheaper than in other major cities...... you can find everything here - it is far cheaper to buy new things than to ship all your old goods. The Mall of the Emirates has everything - from everyday inexpensive to designer. Clothes, furniture - well known international name brand stores. |
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don't know - its hot - so gyms are used more than outdoor sport
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| and type Dubai into for other helpful information |
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City Description
Healthcare
