Deposits
Abu Dhabi Distribution Company will want at least Dhs1,000 deposit, refundable when you move out. The management company of your new home will also want a deposit, which can be as much as Dhs2,000.
Furniture
If you’re buying furniture from Ikea, ask at the store about the free delivery which can take a few days to arrive. If you want your items the day you buy them, a separate company which operates out of the Yas Island store will deliver them for you: for a price, of course.
Curtains
Don’t forget 99 percent of the time you rent an apartment in Abu Dhabi, you literally are only renting the walls. No beds, no cooker, no sofa and not even curtains. Plenty of shops around Madinat Zayed sell drapes and blinds and a good set of black-out curtains will cost round Dhs2,000, although you can haggle the price down a bit.
Air con
Most management companies look after this in new buildings, but if you’re renting an older villa, you may have to set up your air con yourself and you’ll be billed by the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Department. If your unit breaks down, you’ll need to get it repaired. Try York Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Inc (02 641 3001).
Liquor license
If you intend to drink in your new home, you must apply for a liquor licence and you can now do this online at www.auhsl.ae.
