08 July 2009

Hectorspruit


Dubai


Personal Assistant


When we left our children, family and property behind in South Africa last year, we believed that it has to be for something better, and it is. Salaries are much better than in our home country, and the earnings are tax free. Fuel is very cheap, as it is in most Gulf countries. The city is alive at night, and public transport such as busses and taxis are available during the nights, cheap and very safe. Vehicle prices are also about one third cheaper than what we pay in South Africa. If you are a holder of a SA driver’s license, it is easy to get a UAE one, as you only exchange it Р it only takes a letter from your sponsor, an eye test and costs about 160 Dirhams (AED). Your driving skills don’t have to be tested again. We have left hand drive vehicles in Dubai, and driving on the right side of the road. Dubai is a huge city with hundreds of skyscrapers, it is very safe to live in Р there is no crime! We have lots and lots of shopping centres, making Dubai one of the world’s biggest shopping countries. The only thing that does not come cheap in Dubai is housing and accommodation. But after last years’ credit crunch, property prices have decreased a lot; it is now more affordable. With Dubai situated on the coast of the Arabian Gulf, the water is clear, warm and very safe for swimming, and the white, soft sand of the beaches are ideal for a perfect holiday.

As Dubai is situated in a Muslim country, there are big cultural differences between Dubai and SA. Our weekends are on Fridays and Saturdays, although some companies see Saturdays as a normal weekday, thus in many cases a six day week. The holy day in Dubai is on Friday, as it is the Muslims’ prayer day. Other religions, Christians also, are recognised and allowed in Dubai. We have an ‘Afrikaanse Christelike Gemeente’ in Dubai, and go to church on Fridays, instead of Sundays as we used to. This is one of the culminations we experience in Dubai. The law in Dubai is very strict regarding alcohol and the use of it. With only a few liquor stores in Dubai, you need a license to purchase, transport or keep alcohol at home. Without it, you can get big fines, even jail punishment. No drinking of alcohol is allowed in public, and very few restaurants serve alcohol with meals. If you go to a restaurant which serves alcohol, it is usually quite expensive. 20% of Dubai’s population are Emiratis, the rest are expats from countries all over the globe. In the UAE there are an estimated seventy to eighty thousand South Africans. The temperature is also very different from SA. Dubai is a warm country, situated in the Middle East, where it never really turns to winter. The winter temperature changes from 18 degrees Celsius in the morning to a maximum of 25 at night. The average temperature during a winter’s day is 36. In summer it is a totally different story. Morning temperatures start from 32 to 48 at night. The temperature on a summers day can rises up to 56 degrees Celsius.

Dune bashing is the one thing we are not familiar with in South Africa. It is one of the favourite activities to do with your 4x4 or quad bike on the many dunes of the UAE over weekends. Camping in the desert is also very popular with South Africans. After a long, hot day playing in the sand with your 4x4, the nights are a bit cooler and ideal to put up your tent for the night, make a big fire, and just relax and enjoy the quietness of the desert. Deep sea fishing and diving is another activity to do in the UAE. Whether you take on the Arabian Gulf in the West, or the Gulf of Oman in the East, the water is bright clear and warm. The most beautiful reefs and sea life can be seen in the water of these oceans.