Outer limits

Despite everything the UAE capital has going for it Emirates Palace, the Corniche, the simple grid layout of the streets it's no secret that Abu Dhabi's housing situation is out of control. With the completion of the Al Raha Beach development and the Al Reef villas scheduled for later this year, more and more buyers are hanging their hopes on communities that once seemed unfeasibly far away. Thankfully, a plethora of renters have paved the way over the bridge and out into the suburban desert. Here's what some of them have to say about moving off the island.

Khalifa City A: The next hub

When Anna and Paul Haines arrived in the UAE 14 years ago, there was no question that they would live right in the heart of Abu Dhabi, but once the singletons married and had children, the parking and madness of the city became less attractive.

They now live in their dream house in Khalifa City A, which is in many ways similar to the freehold Al Reef villa community, which is scheduled for completion in just a few months time.

"Living out here we're very lucky; we have this gorgeous big house with a pool, a huge garden, four bedrooms, and a whole apartment on the third floor for our nanny," says Anna, mother of Charlotte, seven, Emma, six, and Ben, four.

There are a few downsides to living in this quiet suburb, explains social butterfly Anna. "Going out can be quite difficult. We often drive into town and pick up the car the next day. Al Ghazal Taxi (02-444-5885) is generally pretty good; you can call and book a taxi but you may spend half an hour on the phone trying to explain where you live." Those who have lived in central Abu Dhabi, however, know that at peak times, you can wait for hours and never get a cab.

Still, Anna and her family find the benefits of living off the island far outweigh the negatives. "Even though the taxi issue can be a pain, I love my house and as a social person, I have people around all the time now. Every weekend, we have a barbecue, we'll have friends over or go visit, and we're out in the garden or in the pool. Now we entertain at home more than we ever did before," says Anna.

"At the end of the day, I had to think where I spent most of my time and for me that was at home with my family. It's the quality of life that pushed me out here and I do like it."

Khalifa City flat: The compromise

While many might trade the convenience of living in the city for the luxury of a giant villa, Chris and Henriette Esterhuizen have found being off the island is more attractive than the city, even living in an apartment.

"It's very difficult with the kids living in town," says Chris, father of Natasha, eight, and Keanan, five. "My kids are completely different since we've moved out here. They sleep better at night. They can move around outside, we've got a trampoline in the courtyard, they've got their bicycles. Even just playing out on the lawn kicking the ball around makes a huge difference."

After years of living in a company flat, the Esterhuizens jumped at the chance to move into a villa that has been converted into flats in Khalifa City A.

"Living out here is fantastic; we've never looked back," says Chris, who hails from Pretoria, South Africa. "We're really thoroughly enjoying it. It's so nice and quiet, even just to sit outside on the patio, especially now when the weather is so nice. You know the old saying that change is as good as a holiday, but it's just nice to know you don't have to be stuck in your lounge all day." Although there is a common perception in Abu Dhabi that Khalifa City is 'really far away', the Esterhuizens don't mind the distance. "Doing the shopping is no problem," says Henriette. "There's the Spinney's right at Mangrove Village and The Deli at The Souq in the Shangri La."

On the contrary, the relative absence of traffic means the Esterhuizens spend a lot less time driving now than they ever did living in the city. "It takes me less time to get to Carrefour now than it did living in town," explains Henriette. "Also, it takes me less time to get to work from here than it did from our flat on Airport Road because there's no traffic."

Anyone moving to the freehold communities off the island will welcome the colossal Dalma Mall with its huge Carrefour moving in near Mazyad Mall in Mussafah later this year. And with everything coming to Al Raha Beach, residents of the mainland will have even fewer reasons to go over the bridge. Even better, Ibn Battuta Mall is only 45 minutes down the road and the starting point of Dubai's upcoming Metro a meagre 30 minutes. "If there was only one single reason for me to move out here, it would be the parking," says Chris. "Before, I didn't want to go out in the evening at all because I knew there wouldn't be any parking when I got back. When you have to schedule your whole life around your parking place, there's something wrong."

Khalifa City B: So far?

With freehold communities proposed as far away as Ghantoot, Khalifa City B keeps getting closer and closer. In fact, when Niklas and Lisa Lundqvist decided three years ago that their Khalidiya flat was just too cramped, the distance didn't deter them from topping up their housing allowance from their own pockets to get their Khalifa B villa.

"Apart from getting taxis, the only problem is the desert," says Niklas, father of Liberty, four. "When it's windy, we have the whole desert in the house. We put in our own lawn so the grass helps but even though we have a big wall it doesn't really stop the sand when it's windy. When there's a shamal, I can barely see my car outside my window."

Despite the ubiquitous sand, the Lundqvists are still pleased with their choice. "The size of the house makes it worthwhile living there," says Niklas, who hails from Gothenburg, Sweden. Even better, Lisa, who is a photographer, now has the space to have her own studio at home, which would have been impossible living in an apartment.

Having had a few years to adjust to life off the mainland, the Lundqvists should have no problem with their next big move to their own freehold property in Al Reef. And while the Al Reef villas are even further from town, the Lundqvists are still looking forward to putting that housing allowance towards their own equity rather into a landlord's pocket.

Mangrove Village: The future?

As the first community just over Mussafah Bridge, Mangrove Village barely qualifies as being off the island. Even so, it's the model freehold buyers can look forward to once their properties are finished. Though rents at Mangrove Village have risen exponentially over the course of the last three years, the waiting list is still a mile long. Why? In a word, amenities, say New Zealanders Claire and Andrew Short.

"The facilities are fantastic," says Claire, mother of Madeleine, three, and Harry, nine months. "We've got two gyms, two pools (one is indoor), tennis courts, a play ground area, a walking trail that goes around the whole community, lots of families, nice parking. Plus we've got a Spinney's and a café, which is nice."

The great community feel of Mangrove Village is no accident; like the majority of the freehold projects in the works, this friendly neighbourhood was designed to work as a unit. The blend of commercial and residential properties in Mangrove Village is a lot more similar to what developers have planned for Al Raha Beach and Al Reef.

images: Silvia BaronKishore Kumar/ANM

The Shorts say the facilities at Mangrove Village are its main drawcard

The Esterhuizens love the peace and quiet of Khalifa City