6 Months Living in Dubai: Expectations vs Reality
🎥 Detailed Timestamps:
00:00 - Why we moved to Dubai
01:34 - First 6 months overview
02:39 - Dubai weather (July-December)
05:33 - Choosing schools and areas to live
07:58 - Renting vs buying a home
10:03 - Driving in Dubai
13:26 - Food delivery and cooking at home
14:23 - Must-have apps: Privilee, Entertainer, Careem
17:14 - National holidays and working schedules
17:48 - Coworking spaces
🏖️ Our Motivation for Moving - Move to Dubai:
- Better weather and quality of life
- Safety for the kids to grow up and explore
- Tax benefits enabling a great education for the kids
😎 The First 6 Months - Live in Dubai:
- Felt like an extended holiday at first, especially during kids' summer break
- More routine and feeling settled after kids started school
- Making friends and leaning into the community is key
- Be patient with building friendships, especially during summer travel season
🌡️ Navigating the Weather - Live in Dubai:
- Summer is hot! Expect to go from A/C to A/C, with pool time in mornings/evenings
- Humidity lasts until mid-October, then temperature cools Nov-Dec
- Pack a light sweater for winter mornings, you acclimatize quickly!
- Temperatures rise again January onwards
🎓 Education Insights:
- Do school tours in-person, don't just rely on online ratings
- Consider location and commute times, traffic can be heavy
- Fees vary widely, budget accordingly (we pay £36-38k per year for 2 kids)
- Pick school first then decide where to live nearby for an easier routine
🏡 To Rent or To Buy? Move to Dubai.
- We're renting now but considering buying within 2 years
- Keep in mind rental price increases upon renewal (5-20% is possible)
- Research developers thoroughly if buying off-plan
- Factor in higher per sqft prices for properties near schools
🚗 Driving Tips:
- Get used to multi-lane highways and assertive drivers
- Maintain focus, check mirrors frequently
- Expect tailgating and flashing if you leave space or don't exceed the limit
- Fines are easy to accrue, use apps to track parking fees
- Some leeway on speeds in Dubai, zero tolerance in Abu Dhabi
🥗 Dining In vs Eating Out:
- Food delivery is fantastic and affordable, local groceries are high quality
- We rarely cook, it's been cheaper to order in or grab easy meals
- Download all the delivery apps and compare for best deals
📱 Essential Apps:
- Privilee for beach/pool/gym access (pricey but can be worth it)
- Entertainer for 2-for-1 deals on dining and activities
- Careem for rides, delivery, services - the "super app" of the region
🗓️ Working and Holidays:
- Be aware of different holiday calendars and coordinate leave accordingly
- Coworking spaces vary in price/amenities, I pay £450/month for a great spot
💰 The Real Cost of Living - Live in Dubai:
You can live a very flashy, spendy lifestyle here - this place will happily "extract money" from you. But you can also find a wholesome, affordable family life if you choose.
🗝️ The Key to Success:
Come with clarity on your goals and finances. Find your community early and lean into it. Stay true to your "why" and you'll love it here. Get swayed by the glitz and you may leave disappointed.