How life has stayed the same in UAE and how life has changed in UAE. Give the answer like this:
How life has stayed the same:
How life has changed:
Answers
a 20s something yuppie with middle- level income in Dubai, I can honestly say that life in Dubai FOR ME (and emphasis on that) is so-so, if not on the boring side. I can’t speak for the majority of those living in Dubai, but I can only give you an opinion based on my experience.
Having lived here in Dubai for a year or so, looking back, I realized that 75% of my time here was spent on work. Yes, working hours here in Dubai are long, and normally we only get one day off, which is on a Friday. I work from 9 am to 7 pm, and add 2 hours of commute to and fro so that is a total of 12 hours everyday from Saturday to Thursday. So, on my day off, I’m either just sleeping all day at home or going out (which I prefer the former), so maintaining social life is kinda hard here.
Second, friendships here are very artificial and they literally are come and go. And I noticed that people here prefer making friends with their own nationalities. Despite it being a hotpot of races, residents mainly prefer their own. It’s hard to make lasting friendships here, as people are just here on a transit, and are going somewhere else or going home soon.
Prices are expensive here in Dubai, especially the rent. As someone with mid-level income, almost 40% of me and my husband’s salary go to rent. Consumer goods are expensive as well. So this leaves us with a small change for savings and a small portion of that to leisure. You need to prioritize well, as Dubai can suck your bank dry fast if you spend your money wrongly.
Dubai is small, and after being here over a year, I have run out of things to do. Yes, there are many things to do here in Dubai depending on your interests, but most of them are expensive. After you’ve done the obligatory touristy visit to Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Miracle Garden, Souks, etc., you realize there isn’t much to do in Dubai anymore. And then you get bored. Not to mention that weather in the desert is 60% hot and 40% warm, so the temperature also dampens your interest in going out. But on the plus side, there are 6 other emirates in the UAE that you can visit easily and cheaply via bus. Also, if you’re like me and want to go to Europe, tickets to the EU is extremely cheap. So if you have a long weekend, planning a side trip to France or Prague is extremely doable.
All of that is just an icing of the cake here in my life in Dubai. How your life in Dubai will depend greatly on your income, sadly to say. For some, life is great and for some, like the labourers and some Asians, life is horrid. Dubai is a great place, if you are going for a visit. But as to living there and permanently residing, it’s not that great. Five years tops for me, or else it will kill my soul.