The city of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates is fast becoming one of the most popular places for expatriates and those looking to relocate in search of a new and exciting way of life. It is not surprising as the city has a high standard of living, great food and plenty of sun. Let’s take a good at your housing options should you choose to move to this exciting metropolis…

Housing in Abu Dhabi
Accommodation varies wildly in Abu Dhabi, and because of an extremely competitive housing market due to the heavy influx of migrants, it is wise to get in there quickly as soon as you have found a property that you like. Housing options in Abu Dhabi come in three types; apartments, stand alone villas and villas in compounds. Compounds are generally pricier as they come with security, swimming pools and gyms.
In terms of how much you can expect to pay in rental for a property, 1 bedroom apartments cost around AED 40000 (7,038.20 GBP), 2 bedrooms cost AED 70000 (12,317.00 GBP) and 4 bedrooms could set you back around AED 140000 (24,634.01 GBP) a year. Property rentals normally ask for the full 12 months’ rent up-front, although some will accept 6 months’ rent and a few will take 4 months. Villas vary in price depending on the facilities that they provide and how near they are to the city centre and popular amenities and schools.

Housing Allowance
If you are moving to Abu Dhabi to take up a job offer then you will be pleased to know that your employers are legally bound to provide a housing allowance. Although, confusingly, there is no set rate on the amount in which they are required to give, and because house prices have been steadily rising in recent years the allowance doesn’t usually match the rental price. Unfortunately, this will mean you will probably have to dip into your salary to make up the difference.

Abu Dhabi has some beautiful properties that are fairly affordable when you consider the help you receive through your employer’s housing allowance contribution. Whether you are moving to this great city for work or retirement, you are certain to have a great time – it is a multi-cultural cosmopolitan city with endless things to do and see – you certainly won’t look back! Good luck in searching for your perfect Abu Dhabi property.