Abu Dhabi

For information regarding our Abu Dhabi office, click here.

Herbert Smith's Abu Dhabi offices are located in the Six Towers (building C2) in the Al Bateen area of Abu Dhabi. This is the oldest occupied area of the capital, with wonderful waterfront views.

Living in Abu Dhabi
The working week starts on Sunday and ends on Thursday, with a two-day weekend.

For a large part of the year, the weather is idyllic. There is sunshine all year round with agreeable temperatures during the cooler months of October to April.

Many individuals chose to live in apartment or villas, which vary in size. There are several compounds of villas, with facilities including swimming pools, gyms and tennis courts.

The four main supermarkets offer food from around the world, whether you need camel milk or Oreo cookies! As an Islamic country alcohol is prohibited, although it is available at licensed outlets including hotels. To purchase alcohol at the few off licences that exist, non-Muslim individuals need a liquor licence, which permits them to buy a specific amount of alcohol per month for personal consumption.

Entertainment
Abu Dhabi offers a wide variety of restaurants with every type of international cuisine. Most restaurants are located in hotels so are licensed to serve alcohol, but some of the best places to eat are the small street side restaurants.

There are pubs, clubs, golf courses, cinemas, hotels (including the world's most expensive hotel: the Emirates Palace) and a number of shopping centres housing the usual luxury goods stores. You can also take up off-roading, dune bashing and sand surfing in the desert.

The better quality beaches and pools are located within the hotel grounds. Many individuals chose to join the beach clubs associated with the hotels.

Abu Dhabi has a Frank Gehry designed Guggenheim and Jean Nouvel designed Louvre. The Yas Marina Circuit is also currently under construction to host the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix in 2009.

Benefits vary depending on your role with the firm, but can include life assurance, an end-of-service gratuity or 7% uplift on monthly salary in lieu of pension, health insurance, bonus scheme and an interest free housing loan.

Please note that ability to speak Arabic is advantageous, if not essential.