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Living in Dubai
About the city of Dubai
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Day to Day Life in Dubai
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Accommodation
- Education
- Health -
Working -
Lifestyle -
Some Rules
Please click here for
details on buying foreign currency and live exchange rates for
money transfers.
A guide to life
in Dubai for anyone interested in visiting or moving to the city
Dubai is one of the seven states that make up the United Arab
Emirates (UAE); it is located in the Middle East. The UAE
borders the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf and is situated
between Oman and Saudi Arabia. The United Arab Emirates was
formed in 1971 by the then ‘Trucial States’ after their
independence from Britain.
Background Information to the United Arab Emirates and Dubai: -
The UAE is governed by a Supreme Council of Rulers, the council
is made up of the seven emirs and they appoint the prime
minister and the cabinet for the country. Despite being
ultimately ruled by the Supreme Council, as with the other six
states, Dubai maintains a large degree of autonomy from the UAE
when it comes to general decision making for the city’s
development.
Oil was first discovered in the United Arab Emirates in the
1950s, before that the country’s economy was built on fishing
and pearling, since 1962, when Abu Dhabi became the first of the
emirates to begin exporting the oil, the country’s economy has
been completely transformed.
Sheikh Zayed, who has been the president of the UAE since its
inception, quickly understood the economic potential for the
country from the oil industry. He has continued to ensure that
each of the emirates benefits from the oil generated wealth, he
has insisted on the reinvestment of oil revenues into the
healthcare system, the education system and the general national
infrastructure.
The development of the oil industry has led to a large influx of
foreign workers to the UAE, in fact Dubai’s population is the
fastest growing in the world and the foreign population makes up
about three quarters of the entire UAE population! As a direct
result of this fact the UAE is one of the most liberal countries
in the Gulf, with other cultures and beliefs tolerated. Dubai
has also been quick to understand the need for diversification.
Oil in the region is only projected to last for about 30 years
and so Dubai has successfully embarked upon a major
diversification program aimed to at developing industries and
commercial enterprises to take the place of oil as the
predominate commodity of the state’s economy.
The climate in Dubai is sub-tropical and arid or desert like.
The city enjoys almost year round sunny blue skies. Rain is
infrequent and if it does fall, it falls in the winter.
Temperatures range from lows of 10oC to extreme summer highs of
48oC. The average maximum daily temperature in January is 24oC and
the average maximum daily temperature in July is 41oC when
humidity is very high.
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About the city of Dubai
Dubai is recognised as the commercial and tourism capital of the
UAE and is globally regarded as one of the most sophisticated,
futuristic and cosmopolitan cities in the world, in fact Dubai
is something of a phenomenon! It is an Arab Muslim society with
the fastest growing foreign population in the world, and it has
successfully developed harmony through ethnic diversity. It is a
city with unrivalled levels of economic energy and architectural
ambition, a unique city of contrasts where the most modern and
architecturally stunning skyscrapers stand alongside traditional
beautiful Arabic structures.
The experiences and attractions available in Dubai are many and
varied. From the miles of immaculate beautiful white sandy
beaches to the richly exotic Arabian heritage, from the awe
inspiring majesty of the desert to the lively international
bars, restaurants and nightclubs - a visitor to Dubai is
guaranteed an incredible, never to be forgotten experience.
In 2003 Dubai was voted safest holiday destination in the world
by Conde Nast Traveller magazine, and in fact Dubai is
recognised globally as one of the safest cities in the world.
Living in Dubai you will find that it is virtually crime-free
with the Dubai police ensuring personal safety and security.
Anyone found guilty of committing a serious crime will be
severely punished. Alcohol and drug related offences are
considered serious.
The economy of the city of Dubai is a mainly service-driven
economy, with every business amenity from banking to
telecommunications offered. International trading and
industrialisation are actively encouraged through the provision
of favourable taxation advantages, offshore status, specialist
free trade zones etc. Recent innovative projects in the city
include the foundation of Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet
City, bringing 21st century technology to Dubai in the world’s
very first ‘Free Zone’ wholly dedicated to e-business.
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Day to Day Life in Dubai
Map of Dubai
Accommodation
If you are considering moving to Dubai one of your first
thoughts will no doubt be finding somewhere to live. This is not
something you’ll find too tricky, there are many companies
advertising rental accommodation in the classified sections of
local newspapers and they offer everything from private villas
to luxury apartments or even shared accommodation. Whatever your
budgetary and lifestyle requirements are, the specialist
relocation and
housing companies will be sure to have something
to assist you. If you prefer to find your accommodation
privately and avoid any agency costs, many people use
supermarkets notice boards to advertise or request
accommodation.
In terms of which areas of the city offer the type of
accommodation you are after, Jumeirah, Umm Sequiem and the
Safa
Park areas are upmarket and offer villa type accommodation.
Satwa and Garhoud also offer villas but are slightly cheaper.
Rashidiya, Mirdif and Al Quoz are mainly Arabic areas and they
actually attract a lot of expats.
If you are after an apartment the most popular areas are around
Bur Dubai, the Sheikh Zayed Road with cheaper flats are
available in Deira, Satwa and Karama. Some of the more exclusive
apartment developments offer shared gym and pool facilities
together with garaged car parking and the like.
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Education
If you are considering moving to Dubai with family and are
interested in finding out about the education system and the
availability and quality of schools, one of the best ways is to
ask around! Because of the numbers of expats in Dubai there is
actually a large number of primary and secondary schools from
which you can to choose. Most schools are private fee paying
schools and really the best way to get an idea of the reputation
of a school is to ask friends, colleagues and other expats who
live in Dubai. Many of the schools also have their own websites
where you can learn about the curriculum they follow, after
school programs etc.
When it comes to enrolling your child in the UAE there are a few
restrictions you should be aware of. For example you are not
allowed to change your child’s school during the academic
year...unless approval is given by the Ministry of Education and
the circumstances are ‘special’. This means that you have to
make sure the school you choose for your child will definitely
suit them. Another restriction you should be aware of is that is
you move to Dubai on or after the 1st May each year you can’t
enrol your child into the schooling system for that year.
Instead you’ll have to enrol for the beginning of the new school
year which is usually the beginning of September.
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Health
Another consideration you may have if thinking about relocation
to Dubai may be the state of the health care system available
there. It is fair to say that Dubai has many very well equipped
hospitals and surgeries. Dubai’s Department of Health and
Medical Services runs Dubai, Rashid, Maktoum and Al Wasl
hospitals, with Dubai Hospital one of the best medical centres
in the entire Middle East. Al Wasl is a maternity and
gynaecology hospital.
The Department of Health also run out patient clinics or
surgeries and in addition there are a number of quality private
hospitals in Dubai offering in and out patient facilities -
e.g., The American and Welcare Hospitals. Overall both the
private and publicly offered health care services in Dubai are
first class.
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Working
Working in Dubai you will enjoy a tax free salary and all shop
goods can be bought at tax free prices, making it an incredibly
attractive city to international workers and international
companies. Job opportunities in Dubai and diverse and plentiful,
particularly since the additions of the Media and Internet
cities...Dubai is a city expanding its horizons at an unrivalled
rate.
It is important to mention that some countries worldwide have
tax laws enabling them to tax their nationals on their worldwide
income. It is important to check your status with an
international accountant before taking up employment in the
city.
Lifestyle
Dubai has a thriving expat population who make the most of their
tax free lifestyle in this amazing city of opportunity. The
nightlife in the city is excellent, with cocktail bars, wine
bars, themed bars and typical British or Irish pubs available,
many of which offer food and entertainment as well.
High standard international cuisine is available in the city’s
many restaurants and if you are looking for lively evening
entertainment there are numerous night clubs around the city.
Some of the clubs attract international DJs; there are also
Middle Eastern, Indian and Asian nightclubs offering
entertainment with singers and dancers. Dubai also welcomes
international touring singing and entertainment acts which cater
to all tastes and ages...from traditional theatre groups to
ballet, from opera to international rock and pop bands - all are
regular visitors to the United Arab Emirates.
You can be assured of an exciting pace of life in Dubai and a
high standard of living.
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Some Important
Facts & Rules in UAE
Becoming A UAE Citizen (forget it!!)
Becoming
a citizen of a western country can take between three to five
years, while becoming a citizen of the UAE, similar to all the
GCC countries, is practically impossible even if you have stayed
there for fifty years. One clever way around it is that if you
become a citizen of a GCC country, such as Bahrain, which offers
nationality after a few years, you have a right to live and work
in UAE. GCC citizens who wish to live/work in the UAE have the
full rights as a local Emirati would have since the formation of
the GCC Common Market in January 2008. The common market offers
equal opportunities for all GCC citizens including the right to
work in all government and private institutions in member
states, buy and sell real estate and make other investments,
move freely between the countries, and receive education and
health benefits.
Your
Own Business
In
the United Arab Emirates, if you are to accept money from
people, you have to be a registered company. To register a
company, you have the option of owning it all in any of the
government
free zones
or else to have a 49% of the business and the other 51% goes to
your partner, who has to be a UAE national, usually known as 'watni'
(local).
Renting
and Owning Property
Rent
in the UAE differs from emirate to emirate and also differs in
the different areas of each emirate. Rent in the UAE can range
between Dhs. 6,000 to Dhs. 100,000 per year and the highest rent
is found in Abu Dhabi (the capital). Unfortunately, only UAE
nationals can own property in Abu Dhabi, while GCC nationals are
permitted to own property in the rest of the UAE. They have
started to allow non GCC nationals to own property in various
areas in the UAE, which include
Free Zones and Freehold Areas
in Dubai, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah.
Here is a
list of
in Dubai, but these are holiday rentals only.
Television
In
the UAE, the majority of local channels are government owned and
as a result have very few commercials. Most people have
satellite dishes as the local channels do not provide sufficient
entertainment unless you knew Arabic. The satellite distribution
companies that are available are Showtime, Orbit, and Al Awael.
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Streets
and Directions
Roads
in the UAE were built simply to be able to get from one location
to the next unlike in the west, were roads were planned out in
detail before their construction. Because of this lack of
planning, roads are continously being rebuilt and modified.
Because of British influence in the country, most of the streets
are connected by round-abouts. When people give directions, they
always quote known landmarks and then given directions from that
landmark.
Transportation
In
the west, the modes of transportation very from walking, biking,
rollerblading, skateboarding, cars, buses, subways, and trains.
In the United Arab Emirates, the most used means of transport is
by car. One of the factors for this is because of the weather.
Biking is rarely seen as you are not allowed to ride on
sidewalks and the streets don't have sufficient regions which
could be used to ride safely. Transport by train is not possible
and most likely will not be any time soon. In Dubai, Abu Dhabi
and Al Ain, you will find public buses.
Gas
Station
In
the west, you get out of your car and fill up the gas, wash your
windows and then pay for the gas. In the UAE, you stay in your
car, a gas station employee fills up the vehicle, washes your
windows and you pay him for the gas.
Car
Wash
As
explained above, to provide a service where people will pay you
money for, you will need to be a company to do so. So you wont
find a bunch of kids in a parking lot willing to wash cars to
make some extra cash. Car wash services are available at gas
stations or else at particular car washing companies.
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Drinking Water
Be
careful when drinking public water and tab water as most of the
emirates do not filter their water enough to be drinkable. Only
water in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are clean enough to drink from.
People living in the other emirates obtain their clean water in
bottles and jugs.
Stopped by the Police
In
the United Arab Emirates when you are pulled over by the police,
you need to get out of your car and speak to them. It is the
opposite from what happens elsewhere.
Drinking
Alcohol
Most
of the emirates permit the buying and drinking of alcohol and
their consumption within private premises. If one is found
drinking in public (Gulf
News) or is driving drunk (Gulf
News), they will either be fined or put in jail. If
one is found possessing alcohol or drunk in the Emirate of
Sharjah, they will be lashed.
Driving
Issues
You
drive on the right hand side of the road as in Europe and/or USA
etc. It is compulsory for both front seat drivers to wear seat
belts and a child under the age of 10 can't sit in the front
passenger seat. It is also not permitted to drive a car while
talking on a mobile phone and driver's caught driving through a
red light will spend a month in jail.
Driving licenses from most European countries including UK can
be used to obtain a UAE license. If you are only visiting and
wish to drive then you can only do so if you get an IDP
(International Driving Permit) from major Post Offices in the UK
before you leave.
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Public
Affection
It
is not permitted for individuals to kiss publicly, and you will
not find any nude beaches or communities in the United Arab
Emirates. (Gulf
News)
Drugs
As in most countries, narcotics drugs is illegal, and in the
United Arab Emirates it is illegal to bring it into the country,
sell it, use it or grow it in your home, etc.
Walking At
Night
Young
males, and occasionally young females, found wondering the
streets at night are sometimes picked up by the police and spend
a night in jail. This is done to reduce the amount of crimes
that happen at night and after the night in jail, they are
released the next morning after being finger printed.
Being with
the Opposite Sex
It
is not permitted for a male and female to share a closed space
(a flat, room, tinted car, etc) away from the sight of other
people, unless they are blood relatives or legally married.
According to the Islamic law governing the Emirates, offenders
will be being jailed and deported, and possibly lashed. (Gulf
News) This law is not implemented in Dubai.
Eating in
Ramadan
During
the Islamic month of Ramadan, people can't eat, drink, or smoke
in public during the time of fasting (Sunrise to Sunset). People
found doing so may either be jailed for a maximum of one month,
or fined up to 2,000 Dirhams
Useful Sites for British Expats for information and networking
www.BritishExpats.com
http://www.british-expats.com
Top 15 places to watch the Premier League
click on the link or check
out
TimeoutDubai.com
for more information.
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