Drica Rodrigues is head of residential, sales and leasing at Clutton’s property consultants (02 441 1225). Here she tells us all about renting in the city.
Where in Abu Dhabi do you recommend as an up and coming area for renting?
There are three areas worth looking at: Al Reem, Al Reef and Al Raha Beach.
Where’s the best area for families and why?
It depends on the budget. If you have a big budget then I suggest Al Bateen or Between the Bridges near the Shangri-La. However, I think for most people I’d probably recommend Khalifa City A – I live there myself.
What sort of mistakes do people tend to make when looking for somewhere to rent?
Easy – the biggest mistake that people make is trying to find accommodation by themselves. You have to remember Abu Dhabi is still a growing market and is sometimes a bit unprofessional. There actually aren’t that many international, professional property consultants. People think they’re saving a lot of money by not paying the five percent agency fee but they forget that the agency will do all the work for them such as looking at the site plans and running checks on the landlord.
Why is Abu Dhabi such a great place to rent?
Put it this way, I’m from Brazil which is a wonderful, beautiful place, but if you told me I had the chance to go and live back home I’d say no. I prefer to live in Abu Dhabi through choice. It’s a very safe place; I can leave my car keys in the car. You can also hire affordable full-time help which is largely unheard of in Europe for most people because it’s too expensive. Some people find the weather difficult but if you lived in London you’d be complaining that it rains all the time!
