Where can I find hardware stores in Abu Dhabi?

Tuesday, October 2, 2012 Category : , , , , 78

When I moved in, there was always something to fix in my apartment. And obviously, I didn't take my toolbox with me in my suitcase. Unless you don't have too many clothes and make up, you won't either, because the airlines will destroy you with excess bagage fees :-D
So during my first month I was always looking for tools, nails, screws, lightbulbs, that kind of things.
Here are a few examples of places where you will be able to find these items :

  • Lulu and Carrefour have some items (particularly light bulbs, powerstrips, etc.)
  • An Ace store openned in Yas Island, which will remind you of the big hardware stores from the States or Europe. It is accross the street from Ikea.

  • Electra street in downtown Abu Dhabi has a million little hardware stores. You can't park your car in the street, you will have to park behind the buildings and then walk around and find a store which sells whatever you are looking for. These stores are usually very cheap, and you can also negotiate prices if you feel confident enough. The people in these stores are very knowledgeable and carry a lot of inventory, so I would strongly advise you to go there, instead of supermarkets or Ace. You will find what you need for sure, don't be shy!

Pet stores in Abu Dhabi

Wednesday, September 19, 2012 Category : , , , , , , , , , , 145

Hello guys!
Today just a quick article to sum up the various pet stores I found in Abu dhabi. If you have any suggestions, or reviews, I'll be very happy to add them to the list. Just leave a comment at the bottom of the article. And obviously, every time I'll find out about something new, I will update the article.

So here we go!

Lulu supermarkets : food for cats, dogs, birds, fishes. Some accessories such as leash/collar, brushes, very lame toys for dogs. Plastic and metal bowls for cats and dogs. Litter boxes (not covered) and different types of little for cats.

Carrefour supermarkets : cat and dog food, litter, some accessories for cats and dogs.

The American Vet : cat and dog food, including premium brands. Grooming products (shampoos, conditioners, brushes, scissors for claws, etc). Some nice toys. Water fountains. A couple of small cat trees.

Daiso : it's a Japanese value store with cheap items. The quality is not amazing, but it is soo cheap! The Madinat Zayed mall store is really big (it is located inside the Homes R Us store), with a nice inventory of toys for cats and dogs, brushes and combs, leashes and collars. The store in Al Wahda Mall has a little less choice but carries the essentials.
For cats, they also have these really lame scratching pads that you can either leave on the floor or pin on a wall. My cat wasn't too impressed by it, but it was better than nothing when I moved in :-D

Ace (hardware store in Yas Island) : no food but a nice variety of cats and dogs accessories, compared to the usual lack of choice. Quite a few toys and choice of small kennels. There's actually more choice in store than what is displayed in the above link :-)
This is the only place where I found an amazing corrugated cardboard scratching post for Charlie, from the brand Imperial Cat. It was expensive (around 100dhs), but I haven't found anything equivalent elsewhere.

Excellence Pets, across the street from Abu Dhabi Mall, close to Subway restaurant : I thought they only carried products for birds and fishes (which they do) but they also have a bunch of cats and dogs products such as kennels, cat trees (lots of choice actually), cat and dog beds, toys, brushes. The store is very cluttered, which made me feel uncomfortable especially since they sell live animals... you could easily kick a cage with a bird on the floor or something like that if you don't pay attention. For that reason I'm not a big fan of the store, but they do have interesting items.

Dress code for women in Abu Dhabi

Monday, September 17, 2012 Category : , , , , , 289

Here is another question that comes back pretty often: as a woman, how should I dress up when I move to the U.A.E.? Can I wear makeup? Can I wear nail polish? Do I have to cover my head?
Well, you will basically be fine as long as your chest, shoulders and knees are covered. Depending on your job, the dress code can be more conservative, but for everyday life (shopping for groceries, taking your kids to school, etc.), it is plenty enough.

Personally, I usually wear long and loose dresses with a little sweater, or leggings + a long top and a little sweater if my top doesn't have sleeves. The best is to find short sleeves sweaters like this, that you can find in every women's store in the U.A.E.  :

Lots of women wear regular pants and jeans with a top or a skirt. I personally don't wear that kind of clothes even in the West ;-)
The idea is basically to wear clothes that are not too revealing... but then, other than that, it's pretty free : women wear make up, nail polish, jewelry, all sorts of colors and prints. You should avoir sheer fabrics unless you wear something underneath. But, unless you're a mini skirt addict, you shouldn't feel too oppressed, nor should you need to buy U.A.E.-proof clothes :-D 
And if you want to wear your mini skirt... make sure you put an abaya on top! (you don't need to wear the headscarf)



Getting a cell phone in Abu Dhabi

Category : , , , , , , , , 87

Hello guys!
I've been busy the past couple of weeks and I haven't been able to post too much. But in the meantime I got a lot of questions and requests for articles, so here I am, back with more information.
Today, I wanted to talk a little bit about mobile phones/cells phones. No matter if you're coming to abu Dhabi to look for a job or to get settled down, you will need to get a phone quite fast.
Just like for home phone and Internet, there are 2 providers in the U.A.E.: Etisalat and Du.

When you arrive, you will probably have to get a prepaid phone. That is because you won't have your visa yet, and your local bank account will not be set up. Here are the options given by Etisalat and Du.
To be honest, their offer is kind of complicated and cryptic... But here is how it works. You can purchase prepaid cards loaded with a given AED amount in their stores or in supermarkets. Then, it is up to you to see if you want to use these credits for local or international phone minutes, SMS, data (to have internet on your phone). To be able to use your minutes, you will have to type a certain code on your phone and the minutes will automatically be credited.
They also give you free minutes if you buy large amounts of credits. It might be interesting, but it depends on your consumption because these credits expire. I strongly advise you to bring your own phone to the U.A.E. so you can connect it with your new prepaid SIM. Make sure before leaving that this phone will work in the U.A.E. Obviously, the more modern and "smartphonish" the phone, the better it is.

Then, when all your paperwork will be done, you will be able to subscribe to a postpaid plan. Some people choose to stick with the prepaid and buy credits for phone, SMS and data. That way they don't have to worry about bills.
If you choose to get a postpaid plan, you will basically have to dive into Etisalat and Du offers and see what suits you best. Usually, their plans include international minutes.
Also, check with your company if any of these two carriers has special rates for employees. The plans are pretty interesting. This is the option I went for. I have a really good plan with a two years contract, and I got a Samsung Galaxy III for free. Pretty cool stuff ;-)
If you want to get a new phone for free or at a discounted price, make sure that you qualify for it. Some people I know sold their brand new phones prior to leaving their home countries. When they went to subscribe for a plan with Etisalat, they found out that they wouldn't be able to get a new smartphone (IPhone in their case) until they're Etisalat customers for 6 months... That created a lot of confusion and misunderstanding, because it didn't make much sense from a Western's perspective, but that's just how the system works.

A few additional tips :
  • Before coming to the U.A.E., a bunch of people told me that everyone here as a Blackberry - hence, that it would be easier for me to get a Blackberry and be in touch with people through BBM. That is not true. Lots of people now have IPhones or Android phones, and it is easy to stay in touch by using SMS messages or Whatsapp. A lot of people have more than one phone (a company phone which is usually a BlackBerry, and a personal phone)
  • Don't go crazy on your phone plan. You can always upgrade, but you can't downgrade.
  • Since everything... tends... to take... a lot... of time... in the U.A.E., even if your company promises you a company phone, I strongly advise you to get a prepaid plan when you arrive. That way you're not stuck without a phone for the first 4 months ;-)

How to bring your pet with you in Abu Dhabi - What will happen to your pet once he lands?

Tuesday, August 28, 2012 Category : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 21

When I prepared my cat's trip to Abu Dhabi, one of my biggest concerns was where he would stay while I would be looking for an apartment. During my first weeks, I was going to stay at a hotel, and pets were not allowed. To make it worse, I was going to arrive in the U.A.E. one day later than Charlie!

Charlie landed late in the evening, which was actually a good thing because we arrived in June, and the temperatures are so hot during the day. Upon arrival, he got inspected by customs and then was released to be picked up. Families can normally pick up their own pets, but they usually don't: they might not be in the U.A.E. yet (I wasn't), they don't have a car, etc.
I arranged with the American Vet Pet relocation team to get a pick up at Abu Dhabi Airport. They could also pick up my cat at Dubai airport for an additional fee, if it was more convenient for me. It's good to know, in case plane tickets to Abu Dhabi are too complicated to get from your city!
Then, they took Charlie out of his kennel and put him in a larger, more comfortable cage. They fed him and watered him, and he had a litter box - after nearly 24 hours of travelling, he probably needed it! Poor thing...
The next morning, the Vet team inspected him to see if he was alright. I got an email telling me that he was doing good, besides a little bit of stress (obviously!).
A few weeks before arriving in Abu Dhabi, I had also reserved a spot for him at the American Vet's cattery. It is basically a pet hotel, and I can assure you that it is a really awesome service. The availability is limited, so make sure that you make your reservation early enough.
I believe they have 4 rooms where they have several huge cages. Here are pictures that I took there, just so you see what to expect :

IMG-20120604-00255
This is Charlie's cage, in the corner. You can see my little boy meowing for Mommy ;)

IMG-20120605-00264
This is the cage of Charlie's neighbors


Every cage is really tall, a human can stand inside. They have 3 ledges inside, so your cat can jump and play. They are equipped with a litter box, bowls for food and water. You can bring your own food when you arrive in Abu Dhabi (but can't export more than for one day with the kennel, otherwise the customs will get suspicious). If your cat doesn't have a specific diet, the Cattery team has premium dry and moist food in fish and chicken flavor. They will try all of them with your cat and see what s/he prefers.
In front of each cage is pinned a list of instruction for each cat, as well as a recap table where the cattery staff notes down any daily relevant observation : for example Charlie stayed 2-3 weeks and his weight was regularly monitored. He had an ear infection problem, so that was also part of the things they had to check. They also cut his claws when needed.
You can also place any personal items you want in the cage (toys, a piece of clothing with your smell on it, etc.)
The cattery team usually turns the radio on during the day so the cats have a presence. They have a Feliway diffuser plugged at all times.
You can visit your pet whenever you want (the cattery has pretty long opening hours) and the cats are checked several times a day by the staff who is really, really dedicated. They're pet owners themselves and they know what they are dealing with. Trust me, I visited Charlie nearly every day, and every time I went someone was dropping by to see how the cats were doing.
If you have more than one cat, they can be placed together in the same cage. Otherwise, your cat will be alone for safety reasons. A curtain separates each cage so your cat has some privacy.
It is also reassuring to know that since the cattery is located inside the Vet's offices, your cat will immediately be checked in case something is going on (you need to give your consent for that on the application form, if you agree)
In case you're willing to export your dog, The American Vet also has a kennel service. It's located outside the city center, since dogs take more space and are more noisy than cats.

Honestly, I've been really happy with the Cattery's services. Without them, I don't know how I would have made it. I've done a bunch of research and I don't know any hotel in Abu Dhabi that allows pets. If you know any, please do let me know by posting a comment at the bottom of this article.

Now some of you may be wondering what was the cost for all the process. Here's a rough breakdown :

  • The American Vet : import permit + pick up at the airport : 2500 AED ($680, 545€)
  • Air Animal : plane ticket for Miami - Abu dhabi (with one connection in Dusseldorf) : $1400 (1120 €)
  • The American Vet : cattery for 1 month : AED 1790 ($490, 390€). Since I checked out Charlie after 3 weeks, I got a refund for the week I didn't use.


Total cost : $2570 or 2055€. Phew... Yeah, that's a lot of money, and a lot of people who don't have a heart, such as my Father, will strongly disapprove of such an expense. Well yeah, I love my cat, sue me!! :-D
Overall, it took me around 2 months to get everything ready for Charlie's travel (considering I didn't have to get the Rabies Serum Neutralizing test, cf. my first article about pet relocation paperwork). The import permit and other documents aren't that long to get, but coordinating the whole thing and figuring it out takes a while. Obviously, the earlier you start planning, the easier it is! Good luck to you!

How to bring your pet with you in Abu Dhabi - How to organize its flight?

Monday, August 27, 2012 Category : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 15

Yeah folks, it's getting serious! You pet's going to fly! :-D It may be a little bit scary at first but with the right organization, everything will go smoothly. At least it did for me!
The first thing you need to know, in case you didn't read my previous post about the import permit, is that your pet will have to fly cargo. It's U.A.E. policy and it won't matter what airline you will fly with. Most likely, your pet will not fly with you and will be on a different plane.
In order to organize your pet's fly, the simplest solutions are the following :

  • either coordinating it with your contact in Abu Dhabi (cf. Vet list in previous post)
  • either getting in touch with a specialized freight forwarder
If you decide to go with a freight forwarder, I suggest you check they are a member of IPATA, International Pet and Animal Transportation Association. I personally contacted AirAnimal, and I'm very happy with the service they provided. Note that not all freight forwarders are familiar with U.A.E. law, so in the interest of your pet, I recommend that you don't go with one that doesn't advertise on this specific destination. 
A good freight forwarder will:
  • reply to your emails very quickly; they understand that they're responsible for your baby ;)
  • find the best booking for your pet, i.e. : shortest trip as possible, for a reasonable price
  • take care of coordinating all the pain in the a** airlines regulations (for example, for safety purposes, airlines impose temperature restrictions)
  • send you advice and tips on how to prepare your pet for the flight
  • explain in detail how and when to drop off your pet or propose a door to door service (i.e. picking up your pet at home for you for an extra fee)
  • on the day of the flight, they will also keep you posted on the status of your pet's flight(s), and will let you know how your pet was doing when it got its "comfort stops" (i.e. feeding and watering between connecting flights, if any)
At least, that's the information I got with Air Animal, and I couldn't really ask for more!


Don't : 
  • contact a freight forwarder who is not specialized in animal transportation. They will not be able to assist you, and mostly they are not allowed to keep live animals in their premises
  • contact an airline yourself: as a private customer, it is very unlikely that the cargo department of an airline will bother talking to you on the phone
  • contact the airline that you or your spouse is going to work for. As much as they will want to assist you, they will most likely tell you to contact a freight forwarder (trust me, it happened to me ;)). Besides, in most cases, they will not cover your pet's relocation costs, nor give you a discount or anything. 
Really, go with the simplest and fastest options: arrange it with your Abu Dhabi vet, or with a specialist.

How to bring your pet with you in Abu Dhabi - paperwork and import permit

Saturday, August 25, 2012 Category : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 157


Hello guys, I'm back !
I know I promised an article about finding friends in Abu Dhabi... but yesterday I got a request for help with importing a pet in the U.A.E. from a really nice lady from my super cool forum expat-blog.com .
I was really nervous myself when I had to organize the import of my cat Charlie to Abu Dhabi, so I can understand her concern. It is not a complicated process, but it definitely is a process, and it takes time. So I figured I'd help her get all these formalities out of the way and write my pets-related article today ;-)

So first of all, let me introduce you to Charlie :

Sans titre

As you can see, he is an extremely adorable cat, so there was absolutely no way that I wouldn't take him with me on my big trip :-) Believe it or not, when it's time to move away, some people actually decide not to take their pets with them. Crazy, right? It's kind of like, " Oh yes, I love my kids! But since I decided to go on a vacation to Mexico for 2 weeks, I decided to place them into foster homes with Child Services. Oh yeah, they're doing great with their new families!" Seriously people, be responsible. When you adopted a pet, you also adopted the responsibilities that go with it. Moving away with a pet needs a lot of organization, but it's completely doable. Stop making excuses.
Okay, sorry for the rant...

In this article, I will give information about your pet's paperwork. Transportation and how things will go for your pet once it arrives in the U.A.E. will be covered in a later article. Please bear with me ;-)

Before I get started, you need to know that all animals that you want to send to the U.A.E. have to be shipped cargo. I repeat, cargo. No matter what airline you fly with, you can't take your pet with you in the cabin. It is not negotiable, and has nothing to do with the airline you will use. It is the U.A.E. custom's policy, and that's the way it is. Don't worry, your pet will be fine! Airline regulations are really strict about the comfort of live animals: they are always loaded and unloaded from the aircraft first (yes, before the luggage of the expensive First Class passengers ;-)), and during the flight they are placed in a specific compartment of the plane which is heated; the belly of the plane gets really really cold during the flight, but your pet will not suffer from it.

Now that I got this out of the way, let's talk about the papers. Yay! The most important document you need to get for the import of your pet to the U.A.E. is an import permit, issued by the U.A.E. Ministry of Environment and Water. You will automatically get it  within a few days of your application, as long as you provide the right documents. The requirements are the following.
  • Your pet must be microchipped
  • Your pet must have the following vaccines

DogsRabiesCanine Distemper Virus (CDV)Canine Parvo VirusInfectious Canine HepatitisLeptospirosis
CatsRabiesFeline Pan Leukcopenia (FPV)Feline Rhinotrachitics (FHV-1)Feline Calicivirus
These vaccines are the usual, normal shots your pets get on their annual visits to the Vet, so most likely, they're already vaccinated for these diseases. Just make sure that the vaccines are up to date.
  • You must provide a Rabies Serum Neutralization test
You are exempted from this requirement if you import your pet from one of the following countries : 
Australia, Austria, Andorra, Ascension Island, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bahrain, Bermuda,Belgium,  Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Fiji,Finland, French Polynesia, Falkland Islands, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland,Italia, Japan, Jamaica, KSA, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Malta, Montserrat, Mauritius, Mayotte, New Caledonia, New Zealand,  Portugal, Qatar, Saint Vincent & the grenadines, Saint Kitts & Nevis, San Marino, Singapore,  Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, U.S.A,Vatican City, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna.
It is really important to read this list carefully because a lot of countries are not part of it, including European countries, which will probably surprise a lot of you! (It did suprise me, hehe). In case you're exporting your pet from a country that is not in the list, you need to get the Rabies Serum Neutralization test. Unfortunately, you won't be able to get your pet tested at your vet's. It needs to be done in an approved laboratory, and there might not be one in your city. Here are lists of laboratories I found for European Union countries, and one list for the rest of the world. If you don't find your country in these lists, leave me a comment at the bottom of this article and I will see if I can help you. 

Now, here's the thing. You can apply yourself for the Import Permit on the Ministry's website. It is really cheap, it will only cost you 200 Dirhams (around $55, 45€). However, I strongly advise you don't do it yourself and use the services of a specialized agency. It will be more expensive, but it's really worth it. In case you apply yourself, and your pet's paperwork is not completely in order, two things can happen : 
  • your import permit will be denied, and it's going to delay all the import process, and also probably your move (what will you do if the import permit is denied and you need to leave your country? where is your pet going to stay?)
  • your import permit will be accepted, but the U.A.E. customs will deny your pet's entry in the country, which can result in really long quarantines...
Trust me, I really don't have that much money, but I contacted professionals and it was worth every penny. In the beginning, my cat's vaccine certificate was not done right, so I got to go back to my vet's twice to get everything presented correctly. Thanks to my contact in the U.A.E., everything went nice and smooth, and I can't thank them enough for that.
Here is the contact information of some agencies that take care of applying for your pet's import permit. They're all veterinarians in Abu Dhabi, so they really know what they're doing. 
  • The American Vet : this is the company that I used, and I recommend it strongly. They reply to your emails in a timely manner, which is a really big deal sometimes with the time difference. They've been extremely patient and helpful and replied to all my crazy-obsessive-cat-lady questions ;-) Really, I tried them, and they're awesome. 
  • The German Vet
  • The British Vet
In addition to the paperwork, these companies can help you schedule your pet's flight, pick up your pet at the airport for you and provide pet-sitting services while you find your accommodation in Abu Dhabi. Really, really priceless, people! (Well it does have a price, don't get me wrong! It is quite high, tee-hee! But your peace of mind during the move is really important, and so is the comfort of your pet!)

In addition to the import permit, you will also need to go to your vet 10 days before you fly and get a health certificate. It is basically a document that shows proof that your pet is good health and able to fly. All airlines require this document. Usually, this document will need to be stamped by your country's   Ministry/department of Agriculture (for the USA, it has to be stamped by the USDA of your state).
There might also be documents to prepare for the exportation of your pet from your current country.
You will be guided through these steps with your contact in the U.A.E. and/or with your contact in the airline your pet will fly with.

Hope this helps, don't hesitate to comment on the article if you have any questions. The other articles will follow soon, but you don't need them to start taking care of your pet's paperwork. Be proactive and contact one of the U.A.E.'s vets right now! Good luck!

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