I’ve just moved here, and I was wondering what was the easiest way of receiving mail? The addressing systems are a bit confusing here, and my great aunt (who cannot use the internet) needs constant access to me. Help.
Well, addresses round these parts are likely not what you’re used to, and the system is notoriously confusing to expats. This issue continues to see improvement, but for the moment here are a few ways to get yourself sorted as far as mail is concerned.
The easiest way is to ask your great aunt to use a courier service. Most mail items sent internally are sent by courier, and that’s because a courier will call you and verify your address, and doesn’t mind if you say something like, ‘Near the old blood bank, opposite the supermarket and right behind the shoe store.’ In fact, he’ll be glad you did, and will probably find you sooner; but you can’t exactly write that stuff on the back of an envelope.
If your great aunt disapproves of couriers (or doesn’t want to cough up the money for it) then you can use regular mail. This isn’t as difficult as people make it sound. You just need to head to the closest post office location and rent a box. Mail boxes are currently on offer for Dhs200 a year for the basic package, plus a few dirhams for every key you pick up. You’ll need a couple of copies of your passport (you need to have a residency visa on there) and a couple of passport-sized photos of yourself. Of course, you’ll also need the payment in cash. For more information, as well as locations and phone numbers of the post offices closest to you, head to the Emirates Post website www.emiratespost.com.
Having said that, most people actually use their company’s post office box to receive mail, and you can probably do this as well. Most employers don’t mind, but it’s worth checking with your boss just in case. In all likelihood, your company already has a postal address and a mail room, so packages addressed to you under your company’s address should make it to you in one piece. If you do opt for this, make sure your great aunt doesn’t send you a new sofa or home-cooked meals; employers are less tolerant with items that clog up their mail system.
But you’re not fooling anyone here; if you really wanted to stay in touch with your aunt you would’ve taught her how to use the internet, and set up an email account for her. That’s what any self-respecting great-niece would do; myfavouriteaunty-intheworld41@gmail.com is still up for grabs, now why don’t you do the right thing and set it up?
