
Dubai is the most famous emirate in the UAE. Moving to Dubai as an expat can be exciting. But relocating and living in Dubai, like any new nation, can be intimidating, particularly if you don’t have a practical understanding of how things work there. The UAE and Dubai introduced exciting developments targeting foreign inhabitants in 2020.
These expat-friendly changes have attracted more into the city. We shall examine the facts, benefits, and drawbacks of residing in Dubai. Let’s get on with it.
Living in Dubai can be fun and daunting at the same time. It’s increasingly becoming a popular choice for expats. What makes Dubai so alluring to expats is the remarkable quality of the local lifestyle, fantastic climate, great recreational activities, and high education standards.
Facts about Living in Dubai
Let’s look at some facts you must familiarize yourself with when you move to Dubai as an expat.
The Hustle
The people of Dubai are constantly busy. The lifestyle is non-stop, and friends routinely use the word hustle in conversations. Everyone has a vast to-do list, including things they need to accomplish for work and errands they need to run.
Nobody can escape the hustle and bustle of Dubai. Therefore, being ready for a busy and frequently chaotic schedule is essential. The pace of life is quick here.
Cost of Living
Some people are unaware of how expensive life in Dubai is. Not being fooled by a high wage is crucial because it may only be enough to meet basic expenses like rent, bills, and groceries. Many people who go to Dubai assume they’ll soon be driving Lamborghinis and drinking champagne daily, but this is usually untrue.
Rules
To avoid problems, you must always follow the rules for living in Dubai. For instance, the fact that public display of affection shows is forbidden may seem unusual at times, but laws like these are a normal aspect of life in Dubai, and breaking them can result in arrest or deportation. Avoid being intoxicated in public, make sure you never purchase phony items, and refrain from snapping pictures of strangers to stay out of trouble.
Weekends
In the UAE, weekends do not occur on Saturday or Sunday. Weekends are on Fridays and Saturdays here, and the work week begins on Sunday. People do not work on Friday, a sacred day in Islam. Expats typically need a little time to adjust initially, but they get the hang of it within a few weeks.
Unending Construction
Every year, massive skyscrapers and new attractions keep coming up in Dubai. Everywhere in the city, enormous cranes will be working on the latest, biggest project in the world. This is frequently inconvenient because your usual route home can vanish overnight or become impassable.
Traffic Snarl-ups
This one will surprise you, especially if you come from a city with excellent public transportation. The Dubai Metro only reaches some parts of the city, with only two lines. As almost everyone owns a car and there is so much traffic, taking the bus isn’t any better, since it might take twice as long as renting a cab. A 20-minute drive can last over an hour during rush hour, so you’ll need to learn how to cope.
Tax
Skilled expats worldwide find it convenient to move to Dubai because of its tax-free lifestyle. The oil sector primarily drives Dubai’s economy, and it leverages its tax-free status to entice highly qualified foreign workers and multinational corporations to diversify further and bolster its economy.
Living in Dubai Pros and Cons
Dubai is an excellent place to live in. But just like any country, it has its pros and cons. Here are some of them.
Pros
Dubai is a relatively tolerant Emirate. It overlooks some of the laws of Islam that apply to everyone’s day-to-day activities. For instance, expats can purchase alcohol and consume food and beverages during Ramadan.
Dubai is the best place for you if you want to live your social and professional life in the fast lane. The emirate is easily accessible, with flights from around the world arriving at its main international airport.
The emirate experiences eight months of sunshine in a year. Most days have clear, blue skies complemented by beautiful, warm sea waters.
The social aspect of life in Dubai is wonderful and diverse. Most expatriates enroll in a hotel or exclusive beach club and spend much of their free time using the amenities.
Eating out in Dubai is wonderful. Restaurants offer local and exotic mouth-watering meals. There are more sports clubs in Dubai than anywhere else in the world where you can indulge in different drinks and beverages.
You can earn a good wage in Dubai and transfer part of it to your home country because money repatriation is straightforward.
Most major multinationals have a base in Dubai. That’s an indication that there are numerous job opportunities. The best part is that your income is not taxed.
Education standards in Dubai are very high, and new institutions and schools are being built virtually every year. That’s a good thing, especially if you relocate with your family.
Although the standard of living is high, crime is unheard of. Vehicles and petrol are also very cheap.
Cons
Dubai is currently under construction. The emirate has areas of tranquility and islands of peace, but constant, fast-paced growth can occasionally be exhausting and unpleasant.
Multinationals based in Dubai, in particular, tend to demand a lot of their expatriate employees, and working hours can be extremely lengthy.
Government censorship of movies, website access, and even services like Skype is a reality. This is limiting and frustrating to some expats.
Summer months between June and September are almost unbearable. Some expats take this time off from work to travel back home.
Conclusion
There is never a dull moment in Dubai. You’ll have a new adventure every day, whether rushing around the city attempting to accomplish tasks, making new friends from all over the world, or trying to stay within the rules.
Every single person who lives in this city will have unusual stories to share. It can be entertaining, hectic, or just plain crazy at times. What you create of your life in Dubai is ultimately up to you. If you plan to move to Dubai, at least you know what to expect.

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