When I first arrived in Abu Dhabi nine months ago, my decision to move into an apartment in Khalifa City A was questioned by my friends and colleagues living ‘on the island’. I was bombarded by comments along the lines of: “but it’s so far from the Corniche”, “you’re not going to get a real sense of life in Abu Dhabi living all the way out there” and “there’s nothing there; you’re going to be so bored.”

Nine months on, I beg to differ and, if anything, ‘off the island’ seems to be the place to be in 2011.

Not only do I now have Al Forsan International Sports Resort at the end of my road – with its restaurants and state-of-the-art sports facilities – I’m also now only five minutes away from one of my favourite spas (Tips and Toes’ new three-villa beauty haven).

In the other direction, also at the end of my road, is the new Gardens Plaza at Al Raha Gardens and (trumpet call) the latest branch of Jones the Grocer.

And with the opening of the Yas Tunnel I now have all the restaurants and leisure facilities on Yas Island just a 10-minute drive away (including the wonderful Cipriani and Allure), plus a new Spinneys at Al Bandar.

Add to this the new developments at Al Raha Beach – Al Zeina and Al Muneera - and Saadiyat Island coming online towards the end of this year, and I’m going to be spoilt for choice.

Plus, the Corniche is only 20 minutes drive away over Saadiyat and my rent is one third of what I’d pay to live ‘on the island’. I think I made the right choice.

Megan Wynes