How to find a house in Abu Dhabi

Well, at least how to generate utter panic and frustration.

Believe it or not, we started looking back in March, long before either one of us had full-time job offers, to get a sense of the neighbourhoods, availability, prices, and general layout of properties.  This was amazingly difficult, particularly when the real estate agents found out we weren't ready to sign a contract and present a check (for all the money in the world) immediately.  As I mentioned in a previous post, it was difficult even getting them to ring back when they discovered it was nothing more than a recce trip.  Only one agent (not surprisingly the one we ended up using when we became ready!) drove me around Abu Dhabi to see some exemplars.

There are effectively three categories of rental accommodation in Abu Dhabi (well, four, if you count labour camps):

A.  Villa built to western expat spec

B.  Villa built to UAE national spec

C.  Apartment in a high rise

You might think that A and B are the same.  They are not.  The "expat" type of villas in compounds like Khalidiya Village, Al Raha Gardens, Mushrif Gardens, and Golf Gardens can be enormous (four or five bedrooms, all with en suites, and potentially around 2,500-3,000 sq. ft. or more in living area).

The "UAE national" type of villas are larger.  I saw one in Mushrif that had not one, but two living rooms (one for the ladies with a separate entrance, and one larger room that was reminiscent of the ballroom in The Sound of Music.  The kitchen was the size of a slightly smaller ballroom, four immense bedrooms were on the next floor, and the top floor had two maid's rooms, each with a bath.  I came away from it thinking that all of our personal belongings would fit nicely in the main living room.

While this all sounds fantastic, the fact is that many expats don't actually want such a place.  They can't wrap their heads around those dimensions, which are likely built for entertaining extensive groups of family and friends.  And they may not be shipping most of their worldly goods across the seas, so obviously want something that will look slightly cozier than a barn once they've filled it with local purchases.

We are not in that category of expat.

Big is good, and bigger is even better, particularly when you look at the inventory of antique rugs that are still rolled up down in our cellar here in the UK.  Or when you consider that I want a kitchen that I can put a sofa (or two) in.  And since both of us do a substantial amount of work from home, those extra bedrooms come in handy for office space.  (No, we could not share office space.  Those of you who know us know why.)

Right, so last month my other half starts scouting around Abu Dhabi for a villa with the following specifications:

• a garden
• a big kitchen
• parking
• within walking distance to something other than a highway

This is harder than it sounds.

At the time, a villa in the enormously popular Khalidiya Village compound had become available and cost less than... well, let's just say less than it did in January.  (I don't think one had been vacant for years, and there has been a waiting list).  I was excited.  Wow!  Walking distance to Khalidiya Mall!  Being able to buy a pint of milk without having to get in a car!  Sadly this was too good to be true.  The thing about these compounds is that they've got one way in and out -- you know, for tight security in a practically crime-free city.  So if you're on the end of the compound farthest from the gate, even though you might be able to throw a baseball at Khalidiya Mall, you'll end up driving to get that pint of milk.  So much for Khalidiya Village.

The next stop was a non-compound villa in Al Karama.  That's the neighbourhood smack in the centre of Abu Dhabi -- potentially within walking distance to all sorts of things.  It has a garden!  A huge kitchen!  Parking for two cars!  It's next to the Palestinian Embassy!  (Ok, maybe that wasn't exactly on our wish-list.)  And at the moment it looks like this:

And not only did the previous tenants live like this, they LEFT it in this condition.  I'd show more pictures, but I think it would be more relaxing if you went out and rented a horror movie.

The funny thing is, we decided it was perfect.  Because when you're moving to a place like Abu Dhabi, "perfect" takes on a whole new meaning.