{"id":2858,"date":"2022-11-06T09:11:05","date_gmt":"2022-11-06T09:11:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emiratesbd.ae\/blog\/?p=2858"},"modified":"2022-11-06T09:11:06","modified_gmt":"2022-11-06T09:11:06","slug":"21-things-to-know-before-moving-to-dubai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emiratesbd.ae\/blog\/21-things-to-know-before-moving-to-dubai\/","title":{"rendered":"21 Things to Know Before Moving to Dubai"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From its humble beginnings as a sleepy fishing village to becoming the Middle East\u2019s richest city, Dubai<\/a> has experienced quite the transformation over the past few decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re dreaming of sunning yourself in the scorching heat and living the lavish Dubai lifestyle, there are a few things you\u2019ll need to know before you hop on the plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily for you, we\u2019ve compiled a list of all the things you need to know before your trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. You can meet people from all over the world<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most major cities around the world are tourist-friendly, but Dubai\u2019s expat community is next level. Currently, about\u00a085% of this international city\u2019s population<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is made up of expats\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 great news for anyone wanting a fresh start, and to make friends from all corners of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. You\u2019ll have to ditch the phrase \u201cTGIF\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re moving to Dubai, you\u2019ll need to adjust to a new working week. Rather than having your weekend on Saturday and Sunday, it\u2019ll start on Friday and end on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why? Well, in Islam, Friday is a holy day \u2013 meaning work is off the table. It\u2019ll take some getting used to, but after a few weeks, you\u2019ll soon get in the swing of things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. English is widely spoken<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re not too hot on your language skills, you\u2019re in luck. English is widely spoken in Dubai, so you won\u2019t have to become fluent in Arabic to get around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, most people who\u00a0live in Dubai<\/a>\u00a0will pick up at least\u00a0some\u00a0<\/em>Arabic over time. For example, if a stranger starts shouting \u201cyalla, yalla, yalla!\u201d behind you in the street, you\u2019ll be quick to learn that it means \u201churry up!\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. The cost of living is very expensive<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The cost of living in Dubai<\/a> is roughly 100% higher than the national average in the UAE, which is perhaps why it tends to attract more wealthy and luxurious lifestyles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past few years, the price of rent has skyrocketed \u2013 especially in popular expat areas. Currently, the average house price in Dubai<\/a> sits at \u00a3478,128 ($670,000) \u2013 although if you\u2019re moving from the likes of London or New York, this might actually be a pleasant surprise. Plus, during 2020, house prices in Dubai dipped<\/a> by 6.6% \u2013 promising news for any future buyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of this, groceries and restaurants will also put a strain on your purse strings, since many products have import taxes on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re thinking of moving to Dubai, you\u2019ll probably need to convert some of your British pounds into Emirati dirham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why we\u2019ve teamed up with Wise, an easy-to-use online international money transfer service which uses the real exchange rate, and charges low fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much could you save? Well, its service can be up to 8x cheaper than high street banks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join more than 7 million people and\u00a0start using Wise today<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. It\u2019s ladies night every night<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once a Tuesday tradition, \u2018ladies night\u2019 has now taken over Dubai\u2019s hospitality industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hundreds of \u2018ladies night\u2019 deals are flaunted each night at various venues across the city \u2013 inviting women for free drinks, discounted meals, or complimentary shisha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not just limited to food and drink, either; select venues also offer women complimentary pool or beach access, or even mini-spa treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, gents are allowed to come along, but will be stuck with the full-priced experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. There are also women-only areas<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dubai has been hailed as the best place in the Middle East for women<\/a>. Not only is it an extremely safe city, but there are also various women-only facilities dotted about Dubai, including separate metro carriages and ladies\u2019 taxis. Some beaches even hold female-only days, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is by no means a law from the UAE government, but rather an option for any women who want their own space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. It\u2019s a very safe place to live<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2020, the UAE was the world’s only country to have three of its cities \u2013 Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah \u2013 all among the top ten safest cities<\/a> in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strict punishments, long prison sentences, well-publicised convictions, and the use of undercover police all contribute to Dubai\u2019s reputation as one of the safest cities to live in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not unusual to see an expensive car left outside a shop with the keys in the ignition, or a laptop left with no one around for half an hour or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. You\u2019ll need medical insurance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unlike the UK, the healthcare system in Dubai<\/a> is particularly difficult for expats to access. As such, it\u2019s wise to cover your back in terms of any ongoing or emergency health issues by investing in a good medical insurance plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re heading to Dubai for work, or land yourself a job whilst you\u2019re out there, it\u2019s worth discussing medical insurance with your new employer, as they might be able to cover it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. It\u2019s wise to follow the rules<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dubai\u2019s low crime rate boils down to its harsh punishments and zero-tolerance outlook. There are a lot of rules and regulations to brush up on \u2013 so make sure you do your research before stepping on UAE soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some strict rules include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n