Pros and Cons of Living in Dubai - Expat life in Dubai

When we think about moving to another country, one of the first things that comes to our mind is how beneficial it will be for us, for our future. I’m a big believer in planning ahead (at least when it comes to moving to another country). That’s why a proper consideration of the pro’s and con’s of living in Dubai, can lead to a decision you won’t be likely to regret.

We all come here for certain reasons, whether it’s earning money to complete a master’s degree, getting international working experience, practicing and improving English, while working here. Maybe supporting family financially, maybe you want a little business and need starting capital. Perhaps you just want to come here for one year and experience life in the Middle East.

No matter what your intentions are, you probably need to weigh up the pros and cons of living in Dubai before coming here. I thought about this, and came up with my personal list of pro’s and con’s of living in Dubai from an expat’s point of view. I’m sure this will be very similar to what other expats think, at least some points.

Pros:

1. The weather from November to March…. Beach and the sea….

That is definitely my number one among all the pros and cons of living in Dubai. If you are from a cold country then you will especially appreciate Dubai’s warm winter. It’s an ideal time to have lunch outside on the terrace with a light breeze, perfect for outside sporting activities, long strolls on the beach, safari camping, barbecues with friends. November and March are my favorite months for the beach while the water might feel a little bit cold. The sun is just perfect for you not to get sunburnt but get a suntan. The best time to explore the city, go on picnics, go to food festivals, go to desert safari or just be outside.

This is the time of the year when Dubai is full of tourists.

The temperature may vary from one year to another, however overall the night temperature drops to 15C during the coldest period and daytime it’s around 25C, on average. The sun in Dubai stays strong even during coldest days, So if the sun is out you will never get cold. Rain is a very rare event in Dubai, normally it rains in January and February and won’t rain more than a few hourS, a few days in a year.

2. You can get almost everything you want, services are more affordable.

Starting from the enormous size of the malls with thousands of shops inside, to a huge choice of activities, the restaurants of all the world’s cuisine. Honestly, it’s hard to think of something that is not available in Dubai. Of course, the prices are expensive, so be ready to pay a dollar or two more. The bright side is that some services seem to be priced reasonably, for example cleaning services, laundry services, babysitting.

3. It’s a very safe place

I never, ever felt insecure or unsafe in Dubai, no matter if it’s nighttime or daytime. I Definitely would not suggest visiting certain areas of the city unless a male accompanies you. Even in this case, if you find yourself alone, probably the most you can expect are glances from the people around. The reason behind this is the strict laws, with punishment, and very responsible and strong police force. Amid all of pros and cons of living in Dubai, this one is surely important, considering the unstable situation in the world today.

4. Endless opportunities

The number of international companies, as well as startups, is huge. Every day new hotels and restaurants are being opened, and obviously all of them need to hire employees. The competition is very tough and if you want to get your spot under the sun you have to be ready to work hard. But if you are ready to step up, I would say it’s comparatively easy to make a career here. As with new job openings and growing companies, the doors are open for those are ready to develop themselves, constantly learn new things, grow and have the right mindset.

5. Constantly developing city

If you ask someone who has lived here 10-15 years, how much Dubai changed over this time, you will hear “rapidly”. Not only new buildings, but new areas are built here within 3-5 years. Once you are here you will truly understand that construction literally never stops. And it’s not only physical development, implementation of new innovations and technologies is happening every day and The UAE government is very ambitious about it.

6. Multicultural environment

Dubai is an expat-friendly city and it’s super multicultural. No matter where you came from, you will find your own national communities with whom you can speak your language and feel closer to home; you can order your national food. At the same time, when you want to get familiar with other cultures you have this unique opportunity in Dubai. You can get friends from different continents with different cultural experiences. This helps to open your eyes very wide and see the world from a different perspective.

7. Dubai is a fun and happy city

Maybe because that’s an image which attracts tourist, maybe it the fact that we have sun shining 360 days a year on average, or maybe because the majority of Dubai’s population are ambitious, young people. But Dubai has this happy vibe. The Government is trying their best, and even opened a position of Minister of State for Happiness and Minister of State for Tolerance. The idea is to promote social satisfaction and tolerance amongst its citizens. There are always different events and activities where people are just having a good time. No question, it’s all of us working hard to get where we are, But it does not stop people being happy.

Plus, despite being under Muslim rule and being situated at the center of the Middle East, Dubai tolerates other religious and makes a big difference for all the expats from all over the world.

8. Everything is new

Coming back to the fact that The UAE as a country was established in 1972 and is only 46 years old. Dubai started to grow in the 1960’s. The Majority of the buildings for rent are new, facilities, public transportation. Even since I came during these 4 years some new apartments have been built. Yes, no one likes constant construction noise, blocked roads or closed metro stations, but that how cities are getting built.

Cons:

1. The weather from April to October

As much as you might enjoy winter weather, the summer is really hot here. This one is surely a minus among the pros and cons of living in Dubai. The temperature during the daytime can reach 45C. You truly realize what it takes to live in the desert. It’s not only about the heat, it’s also the humidity, which makes it hard to breathe and even be outside. Particularly July and August, you would really like to stay out of Dubai. Even the nighttime is not comfortable for being outdoors. That’s why you might see many residents and locals going on long vacations.

Be ready for sand storms from time to time. They do not happen often, hoverer 3-4 a year, so you can truly feel and understand what it takes to live in the middle of the desert.

2. City makes you feel lonely

Most of us who come here for work live miles and miles away from our families and close friends. Regardless of all the amazing opportunities and entertainment Dubai offers, sometimes you just want to be with your relatives, you miss family gatherings and the birthdays of your parents. Over time the excitement of trying new things goes away. All you want is to have someone by your side. I do not want to sound too sad because you will certainly find friends here who will help you out and support you. Just be ready to feel lonely sometimes when you are far from home.

3. The prices

Dubai is a very expensive city. Before you move you need to carefully calculate your expenses considering your salary. As your wage can be much higher compared to your country but once you realize how much the dinner or a movie ticket can cost you will get a different perception of the money in Dubai.

4. Hustle and bustle

All big cities are noisy and busy and Dubai is no exception. That why hustle and bustle is one the disadvantages among the list of pros and cons of living in Dubai. It’s quite hard to find a silent place considering 3 million people live here. Plus, thousands of people coming every day for vacations and business trips. Therefore, be ready to face busy people around you, being in the hurry all the time. Also, be ready to experience the rhythm of urban life by yourself. Every day in the morning and evening, traffic and noise surround you and make you feel like you just want to escape to nature.

5. Unchallenged Laws

As much as Dubai government shows tolerance and understanding to the different cultures, traditions and lifestyles, there are still some restrictions and regulations that apply. At end of the day it’s still a city in a Muslim country. If you come from a Western culture you have to realize some rules in advance. I will not list them all, but something that I found useful? for myself when I just moved to Dubai.

If a lady gets pregnant outside of marriage, police will arrest her and keep her in prison until the baby is born and after they both will be deported from the country
It’s not permitted to live with your boyfriend/girlfriend until you’ve registered your marriage
Drinking and keeping alcohol at home is not allowed unless you have got license,
No public display of affection (hugging and kissing in public, holding hands, etc)

Of course lots of people do not follow these rules and even coming to Dubai as a tourist you might see people cuddling each other and holding hands. However, I sincerely suggest sticking to as many rules as you can, Because deportation and a ban from the country is the lightest and easiest punishment you can receive. The earlier you understand the details and regulations, the smother and more pleasant your time in Dubai will be. You can find out more here https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/bizarre-crimes-tourists-have-been-accused-of-in-dubai/news-story/d7538068943723e7ef20e9a2cbd9a7ed.

6. The lack of transport

Of course, we have to give a credit to Dubai as it does not have 500 years of history. But public transportation has A very limited number of routes. Most of residential communities are relatively far from metro stations. Unfortunately there is no connection for bus routes at most of the areas. And even getting a taxi in new district might be a little problem, as cab drivers simply do not know how to get there sometimes. Be ready to have your GPS with you when you get an RTA taxi to drive your around.

Summary:

As you can see I have managed to find more pro’s than con’s for myself. Ultimately, that’s why I have lived in Dubai for 4 years. And the list of the positives of living here can go on and on. However, it’s always good to understand all sides before you decide to begin your journey in Dubai.