When you will be settled down and will have the keys to your apartment, you will probably be in a rush to get an internet and landline subscription.

In the U.A.E., we have two main telecom companies : Etisalat and Du. Some buildings are already equipped with the internet access of Etisalat, which narrows down your choice, but also simplifies the process! In this case, you will still have to go to the Etisalat store in person and fill in an application form. You will need a credit card, a lease contract if possible (but not necessary, as long as you know the precise address of your flat), and a valid residence visa.
Etisalat's packages for home Internet and landlines are called Double Play. You will find here a list of the different options with pricing. If you don't own a router, which is necessary if you want wireless internet, you can purchase one from them. However, according to my friends, it is more expensive than if you purchase it on your own (Electra street has a lot of stores selling routers for all sorts of prices). A few days after your subscription (max 5 days), they will contact you to send a technician at your place to set up the whole thing. Oh miracle, it works instantly! I highly advise you to have the router ready so they can install it for you. It will save you a lot of time and pain in the b*tt! The internet conexion is fast and reliable, I'm really happy about it!
Du's packages for Internet and phone are called Talk and Surf. The price list is available here. If anyone has experience with Du, please share with me as I don't know anyone who uses their services.

Some websites are censored in the U.A.E.: here is a link to a PDF explaining the types of websites than are prohibited. Don't worry too much about it, though. Most common websites are fully operational : Google, Facebook, Yahoo, etc. Skype works, but I noticed that only Skype to Skype calls go through. Skype to phone seem to be blocked. It isn't a really big deal, though, because most phone bundles include international minutes. 

Not sure what their real name is, but that's what they make me think about!


Abu Dhabi, July 2012. Picture taken from Al Jazeera Sports Stadium

Various pictures taken in malls and at home :) 2012

Reem Island, July 2012

Reem Island, July 2012

You will see it by yourself when you will start looking for apartments (for example on Dubizzle), a lot of properties for rent don't have kitchen appliances. It can be quite unsettling because usually empty apartments for rent in Europe and the U.S. have an equipped kitchen : they're not literally empty :-D
So you will have three main options for your appliances and home electronics: Carrefour, Lulu, or your now best friend Dubizzle!

• Carrefour is a French supermarket company that sells food and also things for the house. They're kind of like the French Walmart. They have a great choice of appliances and electronics (TVs, home cinema, phones, cameras, computers and IT stuff). They have most of the brands that you would find in your home country. I'm not sure for electronics because I didn't buy anything there, but as far as the kitchen appliances are concerned, delivery and installation is free! The Carrefour store is located in Marina Mall, one of Abu Dhabi's main malls. To get an idea of the prices of all these items, you can check Carrefour's webstore IC4UAE. Carrefour sales staff is very knowledgeable about the products, and they have excellent after sale service. 
• Lulu is a Middle Eastern supermarket chain. They sell food in Lulu Supermarkets and all sorts of appliances and electronics either in the supermarket or in Lulu Department stores. These stores are usually located into important malls, so they're easy to access and to park to. Based on the Lulu stores I visited, they have a little less choice than Carrefour, but they seemed a little cheaper. They offer free delivery and installation of the kitchen appliances as well.
• Dubizzle is a cheap way to equip your home, but you'll have to install and deliver the items to yourself, so it might be a little bit of a hassle especially for kitchen appliances. As mentioned earlier in the post about furniture, lots of expats move away from the U.A.E. all the time and are willing to sell all of their stuff at once. Talking directly to someone is this situation might be more convenient for you than buying the appliances to different people. 

Now that we have considered the possibility of exporting your belongings to the U.A.E., let's see how it would be to buy everything new! Why not, after all? New city, new life, new home! And new furniture! If you're interested in home decor, this could be a fun experience!
There is quite some choice in terms of furnishing your new home in Abu Dhabi. I honestly don't know anyone who told me they didn't find anything that they like here. The only worry when you're still in your home country is that there isn't a lot of information available online, so here's a little help.

• Ikea : The Swedish God of furniture is very well settled in the U.A.E. They have one store in Abu Dhabi, and another one in Dubai. The stores are big, normal, pretty much identical to those you have in your home country. A lot of expats buy their furniture there, because it's pretty cheap (although slightly more expensive than in the U.S.A. from my personal experience), easy to assemble, and they have a lot of choice (I <3 Ikea!!). Be careful though, they might not have exactly all of the items of your home-store. For instance, they didn't have my mattress. But overall, they have a huge bunch of things. They provide free delivery and assembly when your purchases exceed 2500 AED (around 540€ or $680). It makes it as convenient as shopping in Europe of in the U.S., except that you don't pay for your delivery! I like the fact that all of their products are available online, which makes it easier to plan without having to visit the store. This is also how I managed to evaluate the value of my furniture when deciding if I should export my stuff or buy everything from scratch (see part 1 of this article)
• Homes R Us : They offer affordable, and more traditional furniture than Ikea. To each their own! They have one store in Abu Dhabi (located in Madinat Zayed mall, a very traditional Arabic mall) and several stores in Dubai. Just like Ikea, they have furniture and home decor items, linen, kitchen accessories (plates, pots, etc.). They have a few products visible on the website, but you will definitely need to go to the store to figure it out.
• Home Centre : They're a compromise between Ikea and Homes R Us. You can't see their collections online like on the Ikea website, but they have an online catalogue with prices. It will give you an idea of the style of their items. 

Depending on how attached you are in your home, you will probably start wondering very soon if you should send your personal belongings (mostly your furniture) to your new country. At least, it is one of the first things that I have thought about! ;-)
You basically have two options : either sending your stuff over to Abu Dhabi, or starting from scratch and buying everything when you arrive. Here are two questions that will help you take your decision:

• try and make a list of the items that are not replaceable, such as items that have a sentimental value, or items that are extremely expensive or rare. Do they take up a lot of room? Is it possible to pack them in one of your suitcase when you will fly to the U.A.E.? Do you have a place to leave them to in your home country in case you don't take them with you?
• try and make a list of the items that can be easily replaceable : kitchen appliances, any type of electronics (TV, computers, etc.), affordable furniture, clothing from international brands etc. How much are they worth?