Dubai

[balanced view]

If someone wants to buy an apartment for himself it is rather the matter of finding the right place.
In fact there are still plenty of possibilities to do business in Dubai or rather in the Gulf countries, and to have a base in Dubai might still be a great idea.
The place is not finished yet as it was planed, but already offers nod bad facilities in regards to the entertainment, schooling ... Also some of the development are better quality than the others, even from the same developer you can get better or worse product.

Good luck and don't rush with your purchase.
Someone I knew was selling his apartment in JBR and he was asking 50% of the current 'advertisement price'. It still took him few months to sell even that his place was great furnished with the exceptional lay out.
You can be picky now.

[DubaiisBest]

As i wake up this morning (it is 8.30), I notice that the conversation has veered off track to discuss property issues.

Quality of life matters more: it is 25 degrees, slightly cloudy and I can only admire the totally unobstructed view of my garden with a few noise birds; this is much better than Scotts road traffic jam (if you are used to go to Marriott for a swimm, you know how much time you can waste on that road), or the PIE which is nearly as bad as Emirates road.

[balanced view]

yes, quality of life matters and this is something what you can find everywhere in the world, just everyone is into different things. I really admire the quality of life here in Singapore and this is why:
1. My kids can use public bus to commute. Not a complicated journey, but few bus stops. This gives them the great feeling of being independent.
2. I am fine with having my teenage daughter going by herself by taxi. I would NEVER do this in Dubai.
3. My kids can see older people here - they can have their own life too. In Dubai you hardly see people older than 70 years old
4. My kids can walk to the shop for the ice cream. Here are proper side walks
5. I am fine with my younger child going by himself to the bathroom in the shopping center (we don't go to the big shopping malls)
6. Our weekends are not limited to beach, movie, bowling or other attractions in the shopping mall. I have noticed we spend better family time here; our bicycles have not been used in Dubai and for the rollerblading  we could only go to the beach by the Jumeirah Mosque, still for the limited time only.
7. There is existence of multiple museums, exhibitions and concert.
7. I don't need more than 10 minutes to buy a bottle of wine.
8. As a family we only drive not more than 800 km per month total, so the time we spend in the car is dramatically reduced.
9. Looks like we will have a greater chances to travel in the region, I think this part of the world offers few more sightseeing.
10. Greenery and the rain - oh, yes, I am sure you miss it too 

This are the good points only, I just made this summary to point out why a family might consider Singapore a better place to live than Dubai.

Cheers

[balanced view]

just out of interest:
I totally agree that the prices in Singapore are higher than in Dubai (looking mainly at the food items). Our few months experience shows me that our monthly expenses are not higher in total comparing to Dubai.
How does it work for you ? I start to think that the whole Dubai is arranged like a smart shopping mall - everything seams to be cheap, but at the end the bill is high.
Our quality of cooking did not change, but it might be we save now on the weekends, I am just not sure ...

[ToBalancedView]

to balanced view:

"Our weekends are not limited to beach, movie, bowling or other attractions in the shopping mall".

Just wait a few more weeks to see how many things you can do in SG compared to Dubai without having to take a plane. Here at least I can take my car and go for a long ride. In SG, the same would require to cross the check point in Johor.

"I don't need more than 10 minutes to buy a bottle of wine".

In my case, I do not drink so it is a non issue.

I agree that Sg is better with a family

How does it work for me ? The expat package is better here.

Coincidentally, I have seen more people moving from SG to Dubai than the other way around. It could be just luck. My Singaporean friends working here are not eager to return to SG.

The other good point: there is no jealously from locals (they all make far more than expats).

[Doesbuy]

Not many girls in Dubai though, mostly men.  Singapopre is better for a young single guy.

[ToPreviousPoster]

I agree with you, but I found the girls I met more talkative than SG girls, and a bit more well-travelled and politically aware, which was a great change compared to SG.

Overall, I met fewer girls but I had stronger relation.

I am not at all into smssing as it is the norm in SG. Here, it is just easier to sit at a coffee shop for a simple talk without having to deal with all the prejudice that affect SG girls who date caucasians.

The "talk culture" in the arab world (as opposed to the "sms culture" in SG) make it easier to sit and chat with those you like.

[wondering nomad]

I am not at all into smssing as it is the norm in SG. Here, it is just easier to sit at a coffee shop for a simple talk without having to deal with all the prejudice that affect SG girls who date caucasians.

The "talk culture" in the arab world (as opposed to the "sms culture" in SG) make it easier to sit and chat with those you like.

Gee, I just wonder what kind of crowd you are hanging out with...

[balanced view]

You said:
"Just wait a few more weeks to see how many things you can do in SG compared to Dubai without having to take a plane. Here at least I can take my car and go for a long ride. In SG, the same would require to cross the check point in Johor."

I would say wait few more weeks to see how long you can enjoy a long ride in the desert.
I also have to admit that for the first 2 years we had great fun with this.

Don't miss the chance to go to Musandam or Dibba for a dhow cruise to see dolphins. In Dibba the fjords are less attractive, but coming back about 4pm there is a fish auction by the local fishermen's.  All in Arabic of course, but if you make friends with someone on the market you will have a chance to buy a basket of gorgeous fresh fish for something like 50 AED (about 7 KG). Great fun in participating and later with having an incredible dinner.
Yes, local people are very friendly and it is not only because they have greater income, not all of them have.
Enjoy!

[Doesbuy]

I like Dubai...I like Sing too. Either is good and offer different stuff.  I think Dubai is going to go quiet for many years now if the press articles are correct.

[aö]

can anyone guess the nationality of Nakheel's chief investment officer and (former) chief financial officer?

[doesbuy]

was he german ?

[IDubIsBest]

Can't we celebrate what is happening ?

Imagine if the cost of accomodation was divided by 2 in SG ? That would be great. Do you know that 5 years ago, a 3 bedroom appartment costs 1,700 SGD a month ?

If 20 % of the population was leaving, that means you would not be late for the movie.

Let's celebrate and hope for the same thing to happen in SG (do not forget to convert your SGD into Euros before)

[Celebrate]

Why celebrate? Many of us investors do not agree with you tosser!

[afraid not]

was he german ?

Well as a clue he is called Dr Yu Lai Boon and is a property consultant in Singapore for Jones Lang Lasalle....