Abu Dhabi - Post Report Question and Answers
What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
It is safe, clean, and developed. If you go to a mall or amusement park or other activity, it is never super crowded (like Dubai). Traffic jams here are exceedingly rare, you can get anywhere in the city within 25 minutes. - Jun 2022
It is modern, safe and has all the shopping options one could ever want but less crowded than Dubai. - Feb 2020
There are so many fun things to do. And you can do as many things with others as you want or do your own thing. I absolutely love the grocery stores here that I’m sure I will miss one day when we’re at a different post. For a big city, driving is pretty easy here and there is rarely any bad traffic, which I find very surprising for a capital. - Jun 2019
It is almost like living in any other developed big city. Lots of opportunities. - Sep 2017
The UAE has all the "amenities" of the U.S. and more. The culture here is not Arab, but a mix of Arab, Western, various Indian, South East Asian, Philippines, etc. The UAE is only 20% (generously) Emirati with the rest being expats. Everything is available, though all is imported. You can even buy a Chritmas tree from Canada! There are lots of things for families, singles, couples to do at all times of the year-- with the exception of summer when the wealthier expats clear out. All this comes with the caveat that you have to PAY for your fun. The UAE is not cheap. - Jun 2015
The Emirates are what you make of it, and those coming with fewer expectations will be happier than those who take the shiny surface of things at face value. While the UAE is pretty short on anything authentic (the whole place has been more or less invented in the last 40 years), it is a fast (though often not cheap) hop to Asia, Turkey, Africa, and more. - May 2013
A wonderful opportunity to experience a different culture and meet people from all over the world while having access to most of the comforts of home. - Jul 2012
Abu Dhabi blends the feeling of a big city with a surprising amount of greenery, easy access to the beach, and (although you have to work to find them) pockets of traditional Arabic culture. Although the city feels sprawling and spread out, few things are more than 20 or 30 minutes apart. For Westerners, most conveniences of home are easily available and the majority of concessions to local norms aren't terribly onerous (alcohol is readily available in many places; all but the most exposed styles of Western dress are tolerated, if not welcomed).The winter (approximately November through March) is lovely, with evenings cool enough at times to require a jacket or sweater. Dubai, which is flashier and has more silly things to do, is only an hour or so away, and lots of destinations are a short flight for long weekends. It's an expensive place to live, but once one knows how to shop economically and where to take advantage of specials and discounts, not outrageously so. - Aug 2011
You can make a lot of money in the private sector; non-American G8 earn tax-free; work holidays are in abundance. - Jul 2011
This is definitely not a hardship post. Life is quite comfortable if you have a good salary package that includes housing. - Nov 2010
This is a good post for virtually anyone. - Jan 2010
