Living in Dubai

[nathan060187]

Next month I shall be relocating to work in Dubai for two years. Can anyone give me any tips about settling in over there and are there any items you wish you'd taken with you that you can't get out there. I am 21 and its the first time away from the family home. I'm looking for any help I can get from those in the know to make this a little easier. Is there anyone who is saying "I wish I knew then what I know now?"

[boxtops]

duplicate post, answers on this one http://www.theanswerb.../Question1018121.html

[boxtops]

^ sorry, not quite duplicate, apologies.

I have friends in the Middle East and one thing they advise is to make yourself familiar with local laws and customs - I am sure that your new company will have guidelines for you - as infringing them by doing things we are used to e.g. kissing in public does not go down well in the Gulf States. Modest dress is advocated until you see how others are dressing. There is a huge ex-pat community out there and I am sure you will learn from their experiences. For you as the first time from home there will be quite a culture shock, so do learn as much as you can about the country before you go. It's a civilised city, very high tech.
Where will you be living, is it a company apartment?

[Buenchico]

Check out the links down the left of this page:
http://www.dubaiexpat.com/

There's also a forum dedicated to expats in Dubai, here:
http://www.expatforum...-expats-living-dubai/

Chris

[nathan060187]

thanks boxtops. For the first month I will be living in a company apartment rent free with a couple of others, then after that three or four of us will need to find a place to rent, so that we can share the cost four ways.

[chris1957au]

It's not a cheap place to live, and the traffic is some of the worst in the world. Drinking is not cheap but every big hotel has at least one bar, good but not cheap night life.
Not a place I would wish to live ok for a couple of days but not so sure about a couple of years

[nextqueen]

i went on holiday there years ago, admittedly in august. it was so hot, 47C after 8.30 am so we would get up at the crack of dawn to go into the sea which was like a lovely warm bath. the humidity was so high, we would only have stepped out of the hotel a minute or so to wait for a taxi and we would be drenched. so, i would advise lots of thin, cotton clothes and make sure your air conditioning is in good working order. the city is so modern, great shopping, i remember buying some shoes in debenhams. you can only drink alcohol inside hotels as there are no bars or pubs. hope you have a great time, enjoy it, embrace the change, it will broaden your horizons and give you great future prospects im sure. i would love to try it.

[Dee Sa]

when I lived in Dubai [ for 14 years] the rent was paid by the company, if you are paying your own rent its going to make a big hole in your budget I 'm afraid,it would probably be cheaper to rent in Sharjah but then if you dont drive you have daily transport problems, but the social life of ex pats is great & you will love it and you will soon get to know the "watering holes", you cant buy alcohol for home consumption until you get a liquor permit but that can be arranged by your employer.
You can buy everything &anything you want in Dubai, but its going to be much dearer than UK. Everyone speaks english so no problems there, what are you going to do out there ?
Good advice to learn their customs and keep to their rules, for instance if a man is praying in the street always walk behind them never in front if you do they have to begin their prayers all over again and its considered ignorant and disrespectful, you do get the odd obnoxious person who if you upset them will tell you "this is my country" but on the whole its a nice place to spend two years in.Good Luck.

[jamesnan]

Not sure if it is of interest to you, but my daughter and family have been on holiday there for the last 2 years and she said that things like sun cream is very expensive, so might be worth taking a few tubes.

[Eve]

Definitely get up to speed on laws and customs. I saw a programme not long ago about a man who lost his job and was at risk of defaulting on his rent etc... (something about post dated cheques being common) and it being a criminal offence with the risk of jail so he fled with his family back here in the middle of the night. Pretty sure it was Dubai but can't find the article to verify this. Not sure how accurate (or up to date) it is but shows the advantages of knowing the laws and being prepared for potential emergencies.