Homefront: 'Where are the best family-friendly areas for a three-bedroom home in Abu Dhabi?'

I'm relocating to Abu Dhabi from Belgium in January. I have a company housing allowance of Dh120,000 and need to find accommodation for myself, my wife and my one-year-old daughter. Ideally I would like a three-bedroom home in case the family expands any further. I would consider a villa or an apartment in the right area. What family-friendly areas do you suggest? TD, Belgium The residential rental market in Abu Dhabi has seen prices softening throughout 2019. This was mainly down to the handing over of many completed units. The outlook going into 2020 may change as there is not a significant amount of supply scheduled to be delivered which means there could be a better balance between supply and demand that in turn will lead to a more stable market. With reference to your request, I will highlight three family-friendly areas for villas and three areas for apartment living. This area is divided into two major districts: Khalifa City A and Shakhbout City (formerly Khalifa City B). The area has spacious villas making it a popular choice for young couples and families with children. With its proximity to some of the best schools and nurseries, parents need not worry about long commutes. Both these districts have good local shops and supermarkets, as well as excellent facilities and amenities. In Shakhbout City there is a park, which has a dedicated kid’s play area. Here three-bedroom villas start at a very reasonable rent ranging from Dh95,000- 120,000. The MBZ City area is among one of the newer family-friendly locations of Abu Dhabi, which feature appealing villas that have some of the best facilities and amenities around. Here you will enjoy a calmer environment as it is located more on the outskirts of the city. The properties for rent are one of the most affordable and start from under Dh100,000 for three-bedroom villas going up to Dh115,000. Many of these are close to some great schools. This location offers an ideal environment for raising children as it has many great schools and plenty of shopping facilities within its environs. Al Mushrif is located in the city’s centre, but it also has a quiet residential feel to it making it ideal for families. Nearby attractions include Mushrif Mall, Mushrif Palace and the Umm Al Emarat Park. Rents start at Dh60,000 for a three-bedroom apartment up to Dh120,000 for a villa. Residents for apartment living in this area enjoy the fact that it has everything going for it in one location, with properties closer to the corniche having amazing sea views. Parents will be spoilt for choice with the options for schools and nurseries. There are also various recreational activities that would appeal to families such as the beach at Al Sahil and Al Khalidiya Park. Large three-bedroom apartments start from Dh60,000 but the properties with sea views are renting from Dh120,000. This beautiful waterfront development features clusters of high rise buildings with luxurious amenities and state-of-the-art facilities making it one of the best places to live for families looking for a modern lifestyle. This location has many good schools and nurseries for parents to choose from. Spacious three-bedroom apartments start from approximately Dh85,000 going up to Dh120,000. This central location is highly sought after for families as the apartments are close to numerous schools and nurseries and Abu Dhabi's business hub. There is a wide range of retail shops, restaurants and supermarkets, including Al Wahda Mall close by. Three-bedroom apartments can be found from Dh60,000 — Dh100,000. Mario Volpi is the sales and leasing manager at Engel & Volkers. He has worked in the property sector for 35 years in London and Dubai The opinions expressed do not constitute legal advice and are provided for information only. Please send any questions to mario.volpi@engelvoelkers.com

Homefront: 'Where are the best family-friendly areas for a three-bedroom home in Abu Dhabi?'

The soon-to-be UAE resident is moving from Belgium with his wife and young daughter