Good and Bad Things About Living in Dubai

As Dubai continues to change from an oil producing Arab Emirate into the ultimate luxury destination and pacesetter for the region, there are certain cultural differences that make life interesting for expats living in Dubai.c

As Western foreigners used to freedom of speech, movement and the right to live our lives without too much governmental control, living in Dubai, although one of the most moderate Arab Emirates, it can sometimes feel incredibly different and even isolating.

In this article we look at some of the good things and some of the not so good things about living in Dubai, so that if you’re contemplating a move, you can balance out the good, the bad and the ugly before you commit to relocation.

To lesser or greater degrees censorship exists in every country, and when living in Dubai it’s no exception.  Newspapers in Dubai tend to report only the good things in life - and as shown by the recent move of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing in restricting news of hotel occupancy rates during the recession, the authorities do not mind taking an authoritarian approach. 

Censorship does not just exist in local publications but also in overseas media publications and magazines.  Expats living in Dubai looking forward to receiving the latest copy of their favourite ‘lad’s mag’ will find areas of excessive flesh blocked out.  Each morning the National Media Council scans all foreign publications entering Dubai and decides what needs to be removed.  It is then up to the distributors to censor each article.  Usually the only censorship is with regard to pictures or articles which are deemed offensive to Muslims or the ruling family.

The internet is also censored; with the government blocking internet sites that they feel do not support Islamic values or beliefs.  Whilst this in itself is understandable, as a moderate state Dubai always needs to be aware of the intolerances of its neighbours, it has also been blocking VOIP sites such as Skype, so people living in Dubai are unable to use these systems for calling home.

On the plus side, if you are living and working in Dubai on an expat contract you are likely to be living on a tax free salary with good benefits.  Many expats working in Dubai are however now relocating to nearby Emirates such as Sharjah to live, as rental prices have been increasing rapidly in Dubai.  As an expat it is possible to buy property in Dubai either leasehold or freehold in the freehold areas.  In the non freehold areas all owners are citizens of the United Arab Emirates or Gulf Cooperation Council States - and they have not been slow in taking advantage of the local rental market.  With no price capping limitations the sky has been the limit and prices have surged over the last 7 years.

The situation with regard to rental property in Dubai may change as the Real Estate Regulatory Authority is now looking into rental prices in order to try to slow down rapid inflation, but it is certainly an expensive place to live – tax free salary or no tax free salary!

Living in Dubai can offer expats the chance to forge ahead in their careers and make some good, hard, tax free cash.  As with everything in life it is not going to be easy and will require some major adjustments though.  But if you are keen to become a part of this rapidly expanding nation for a time, you will be well rewarded at least fiscally.