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LIVING IN

Welcome to Abu Dhabi! This guide contains basic information for getting settled and living in Abu Dhabi compiled by fellow ACS families. We hope it’s helpful! This is a parent-to-parent created list of products and services.

The American School is not responsible for any of the recommendations, links, products or services listed. ■ HELPFUL WEBSITES, APPS AND FORUMS

FACEBOOK FORUMS Abu Dhabi City Guide, arts & culture, ACS PTA things to do, restaurants, bars, hotels The ACS PTA is an organization and where to go that works in support of the ACS Visitabudhabi.ae community of members: the students, their families, and the faculty and Official tourism site staff Whatson.ae ACS PTA Community News & Further city information and things Marketplace to do A page created by the PTA of the Real Estate Sites American Community School of Abu Dhabi to post information about local dubizzle.com, propertyfinder.ae events in and around Abu Dhabi, and items for sale that might be of interest to members of the ACS community , , Khaleej Times, NY Times International Edition ACS Moms Uniform Exchange General Online Shopping Buy, sell, exchange uniforms Amazon.ae, Noon.com, Desertcart.ae Abu Dhabi Women’s Group Used Stuff for sale online Our main goal is to create a place to socialize and help other ladies figure abudhabi.dubizzle.com (can be out Abu Dhabi sketchy but mostly good - furniture, cars, appliances, etc.) American Moms in Abu Dhabi Apps A forum for American moms who live in Abu Dhabi. This is a place to , Talabat, network and meet new friends, ask Coupon App questions, share information, and offer support The Entertainer- 2 for1 Discount Offers throughout the city based on Best Bites Abu Dhabi an annual membership (really useful) Abu Dhabi Food experiences, access theentertainerme.com to promotions and discounts Online Grocery Delivery Abu Dhabi Q&A kibsons.com, carrefour.com, All kinds of random questions about (app) life in AD

timeoutabudhabi.com MAWAQiF

2 Electronically pay for city parking - text 3009 to your phone with your username OR download the app FURNISHED APARTMENTS

■ HOSPITALS AND CLINICS (Note: kids over age 14 are considered adults) Al Noor Hospital Health Point Tel: 02 444 6655 Tel: 02 492 9000

SKMC (Sheikh Khalifa Hospital Gulf Diagnostic Hospital Medical City) Tel:02 665 8090 Public hospital - good for Emergency Visits, Tel: 02 610 2000 Cleveland Clinic 02 659 0200 (will see kids in Harley Street Medical Center Emergency room) Tel: 02 613 3999 SEHA Clinic behind ACS Cure Clinic Tel: 02 711 4719 Tel: 02 667 5050

■ DENTISTS American Dental Sno Dental Whitefield Dentists ICDE Smilerite Dr. Firas Dental Center

■ SETTING UP YOUR HOME

Conrad Abu Dhabi Beach Rotana Etihad Towers Residences hilton.com/en/hotels/auhetci-conrad- rotana.com abu-dhabi-etihad-towers Sofitel Grand Hyatt sofitelabudhabicorniche.com hyatt.com Rosewood Edition rosewoodhotels.com editionhotels.com

3 RELOCATION/MOVING Heritage Touch Furniture COMPANIES heritage-touch.com - local and indian Emovers furniture and other products. At Mena Port, behind ACE Hardware emoversuae.com

‎Delight MATTRESSES the-relocator.com There are a variety of places to buy mattresses, including stand-alone Crown Relocations mattress stores (e.g. in Khalidiya crownrelo.com/uae/intl-relocation‎ Mall), but also IKEA, Marina Home, and even Carrefour FURNITURE STORES The ONE CURTAINS/UPHOLSTERY/ Next to Cafe Arabia, across from Um PAINTING Al Emarat Park (Note: for curtains and upholstery, ask a parent who’s been here a while Marina Home - we all have our “guy” and many of marinahomeinteriors.com - Abu them are terrific and very affordable.) Dhabi Mall Andona Interiors 2XL andonainteriors.com (all of the above) Marina Mall Odd Jobs Pottery Barn/West Elm (painting only) Located in Galleria Mall and Yas Mall IKEA Home Center (curtains only) Various locations, Marina Mall Best Furnishings Homes r Us (for upholstery or curtains) Khalidiya Mall

ZARA HOME WHERE TO BUY Marina Mall and Yas Mall APPLIANCES Jumbo Electronics IKEA Various malls Next to Yas Mall on (new branch opening soon in ) Carrefour Marina Mall ACE Hardware Next to Yas Mall and at Mena port (some indoor and outdoor furniture) Lulu

4 Khalidiya Mall, and The telecom company others OSN Sharaf DG Local cable television company Various malls ELECTRICITY/GAS Amazon.ae ADDC Plug ins Electronics www.addc.ae/en-US/residential/ pages/Home.aspx Various malls ROYAL GAS HANDY MAN AND www.royalgas.com CLEANING/MAID SERVICES Odd Jobs UAE WATER DELIVERY (oddjobsuae.com; 02 582 6638) (Note: You can drink the tap water good all around service, they do here, best with a filter, but often it’s repairs, install lights and pictures, easier to get a water dispenser and paint rooms, move furniture and also bottle delivery service.) have cleaning/maid services Oasis Water TELEPHONE, TV AND Tel: 02 558 2030 INTERNET Nestle The Abu Dhabi telecom company. Tel: 800 4404 Will provide internet, cable TV, land line services and mobile phones: Masafi etisalat.ae (outlets at most malls as Tel: 800 5455 well) Du MALLS AND SOUKS

■ DAY TO DAY SHOPPING

IN ABU DHABI wtcad.ae Marina Mall Khalidiya Mall marinamall.ae khalidiyahmall.com Nation Towers Mall Galleria Mall nationtowersmall.com thegalleria.ae World Trade Center Mall

5 WTC (World Trade Center) Mall abudhabi-mall.com and Souk One side is a modern mall, the other Mall is a touristy but fun Souk dalmamall.ae MALLS IN DUBAI Yas Mall Dubai Mall yasmall.ae HUGE mall near and The SOUKS at Mena Port Dancing Fountain There is a Plant Souk (affordable Mall of plants, pots, and gardening supplies); Has indoor ski and snow park a Fruit and Veg Souk (great and cheap - you can also use the InstaCart App Dubai Marina Mall to order for delivery); and an “Iranian Souk” with pots, pans, camping gear, DragonMart outdoor seating, etc. You must bargain ENORMOUS mall of discount items at these places! and everything from crafting beads to plumbing supplies to light fixtures.

■ GROCERY STORES Spinneys Khalidiya (and other locations) Abelas Supermarket A British market - fresh produce, Many American products can be meat and other groceries (also their found here higher-end shops are called Waitrose in, e.g. Jumeirah Etihad towers) Abu Dhabi COOP Mena Port, Downtown, Khalidiya Carrefour Marina Mall (and (various locations) other locations) A French hypermarket chain SOUQ Planet - groceries, electronics, home - fresh produce, meat appliances, mattresses, paper goods, and other groceries clothing Mina Fish Market Lulu Hypermarket - Khalidiya Fresh fish Mall and Al Wahda Mall (and others) Groceries, electronics, home appliances, toys, paper goods

6 ONLINE/DELIVERY Kibsons OPTIONS: kibsons.com

InstaShop Secret Fine Food Download this app from the App secretsfinefood.com High-end Store. Helpful way to order from a european meats, cheeses, fish and VARIETY of local supermarkets, baked goods (if you’re missing your pharmacies, fresh produce markets, favourite stinky cheese or piece of butchers, pet shops, flower shops etc. cod - this is the place!)

■ RESTAURANTS Third Place Cafe Near Corniche (ACS parents receive Cafe Milano 10% discount - show ACS ID) High-end Italian (Four Seasons Hotel, ) Emirates Palace For gold cappuccino or gold sprinkled Butcher and Still ice cream High-end Chicago Steak House (Four Seasons Hotel) Tashas Amazing food, outdoor space in al Dai Pai Dong Marsa area (al Bateen Marina) Chinese (great outdoor space and amazing bar called Dragon tooth) Cafe Arabia Wonderful local independent cafe Zuma near Um al Emarat park and The One High-end Asian food (Near The Rosewood Hotel, al Maryah Island) CATCH Seafood on the water near Nation Villa al Afia Towers Emirati, Moroccan and Turkish Food (Al Khalidiya near Khalidiya Village) Tarbouche Turkish (ACS family-owned - in Marmellata WTC mall and in khalidiya ACS family-owned pre-order Pizza joint: choicebymarmellata.com Petek Turkish - Marina Mall (excellent L’ARTE Turkish Delight) Italian restaurant, lovely garden, at Manarat al Saadiyat Wafi Gourmet Excellent Levant cuisine and market for spices, dates, sweets, etc. 7 ■ SCHOOL AND PARTY SUPPLIES

Jarir Bookstore PARTY SUPPLIES in Nation Towers - carries most of the Party Center school supplies required by ACS Al Wahda Mall

All Prints Daiso (Mezzanine Floor, Shaikh Saif Al Wahda and Khalidiya Malls Building, Al Nasr Street, Al Hosn) - school, art and craft supplies and CUSTOM BIRTHDAY CAKES nice selection of books in English and Arabic La Cuisine de Manou Tel: 02 552 6608‬ Borders (various locations throughout Abu La Torta Cakes Dhabi) Tel: 056 123 3312‬

Magrudys Magnolia Cafe (various locations throughout Abu Galleria Mall Dhabi) Bloomsbury Kinokuniya Bookstore Various malls Galleria Mall uae.kinokuniya.com

■ SCHOOL UNIFORMS (Note: see ACS website for specific information) Land’s End Pants/Shorts They are the primary source for ACS Carrefour, Matalan, Zara, Marks & logo’d uniform elements, and they Spencer, Gap (in Dubai), Brands for DO deliver to the UAE. Less, H&M

■ HAIR & NAIL SALONS Tips and Toes Glamour Salon Various locations (Marina Mall, (in Tower) Khaleej al Arabi Street and others) Nail-a-holics Sugar (near school on Al Bateen Street) (near Al Ain Tower)

8 Beauty Spot NStyle Beauty Lounge (for hair) - in Anantara Eastern (nails) - (Galleria Mall, WTC Mall) Mangroves

■ PHARMACIES

Boots There are pharmacies at every Marina Mall and other locations medical facility

Medicina Carrefour and Lulu Online and local outlet Carry over-the-counter items, like medicinaonline.ae pain medicine, first aid supplies, etc. but do not have pharmacies to Instashop (app) dispense prescription medicine. Includes pharmacies that deliver too

■ ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS AND ADULTS GENERAL CLUBS AND Body Tree Studio ORGANIZATIONS ACS parent-owned - women only, American Women’s Network yoga, pilates, barre classes - Khalidiya area: bodytreestudio.com AWN Abu Dhabi awnabudhabi.com Yoga One American Chamber of ACS parent-owned - yoga, pilates Commerce Mangrove One compound: amchamabudhabi.org yogaone.ae

SPORTS CLUBS, GYMS, Inspire Sports DANCE, YOGA, FITNESS ACS paren-owned - Women only (for Adults and Kids) fitness club, PLUS dance and fitness Rugby classes for kids; Khaleej al Arabi Boys, girls, adults: Street: inspiresports.ae abudhabiquins.com THE ROOM AD Tri Bells Full service gym at Zayed Sport City Women’s triathlon training group: facebook.com/tribelles/ Haddins Fitness A Crossfit box, co-ed, some classes for kids and teens at Zayed Sports City: Haddins Fitnesshaddins.com

9 Little Stars Gymnastics GOLF Kids gymnastics Contact Abu Dhabi City Golf or littlestarsabudhabi.com Saadiyat Golf Course for lessons; Yas Links golf course Zayed Sports City zsc.ae BEACH CLUBS Saadiyat Beach Club COBRA Fitness saadiyatbeachclub.ae Near al Zeina - mostly martial arts, Thai boxing, Crossfit Nation Riviera Beach Club nationrivierabeachclub.com Jump Sports Gymnastics jumpsports.ae Emirates Palace Beach Membership Abu Dhabi Country Club mandarinoriental.com Classes for various ages The Club The British Club the-club.com; Also known as The Tennis, sailing, squash British Club - oldest in Abu Dhabi, very family friendly with lots of Royal Stables activities Horseback riding for all ages - boy only until age 11 Privilee Membership with access to a variety Al Forsan Stable of beach/pool sites privilee.ae Horseback riding for all ages PUBLIC BEACHES Tennis Baked at (50 AED per Abu Dhabi Country Club, Zayed adult), Family Beach on the Corniche Sports City, Emirates Palace (15 AED per person), All other Corniche Beaches are free, Al Bateen Beach

■ MUST-SEE CULTURAL SITES

Louvre Abu Dhabi Warehouse 421 Amazing architecture, lovely Cultural center, galleries, classes collection, sunset lounge

Manarat al Saadiyat Cultural center, galleries, Art & Photo studios, L’ARTE restaurant

10 Al Ain Grand Mosque About an hour and a half drive from Abu Dhabi - amazing zoo, Falcon Hospital old presidential palace (now museum), various forts, Discover Abu Dhabi- Big Bus (mountain), and more. Tour Qasr al Hosn Camel Races Original fort and residence In Al Wathba and Al Dhafra in November and December New presidential complex Sheikh Zayed Center for The Mangroves Culture and Education Either via Al Jubail Mangrove walk or Al Bateen near Al Bateen Marina kayaking at Eastern Mangroves

■ OTHER FUN STUFF TO DO

YAS waterworld Fireworks Water park During National Day weekend and New Year’s Eve Warner Bros. Studios Indoor amusement park Nurai Island Resort accessible only by boat - great Tea at Observation 300 day pass idea Jumeirah Etihad Towers Ski Dubai in Mall of Emirates, Ferrari World Dubai Indoor amusement park with fastest roller coaster in world Dhow ride or boating to small island Yas Marina Circuit F1 racing, Go karts, ride along Um al Emarat Park experiences, etc. Really lovely park with playgrounds, water features, food kiosks, and Arabian Nights Village afternoon yoga and food and craft Desert adventure hotel market on Saturdays in good weather Qasr al Sarab Very elegant Anantara Desert Hotel

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