I’ve talked a lot about the fact that I love living in the UAE, but what exactly is it about the UAE that we love?
Reasons we love the UAE:
- The weather – it’s (very nearly) always sunny! The Brits are famed for talking about the weather, but those amongst us now have to find some other small talk to rely on here in the UAE!
Beautiful weather, beautiful skies, beautiful beaches!
- It’s tax free. What’s not to like about that?
- It’s in a great location to travel the world from. If you look at a map, it’s slap bang in the middle meaning just about everywhere is in within easy reach of Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
- The lifestyle – adventure or high end, it’s your choice and it’s all on your doorstep. Ladies who lunch, shopping and spa treatments, luxury meals and hotel stays, quiet beaches, private beaches, beach clubs or dune bashing, desert camping, climbing, water sports, indoor sports and off-roading – there’s something for everyone at both ends of the scale and everything in between. If you’re bored – you’re doing it wrong and you need to get out more.
Luxury on your doorstep
Adventure on your doorstep!
- It’s safe here. The Global Social Progress Index recently ranked the UAE as number one for the lowest level of violent crime and the lowest homicide rate. And if you look at the comparison on safety on their website, when comparing the UAE with the UK and USA, you can clearly see that the UAE wins hands down on safety between the three countries – the only factor being lowest is the ‘perceived level of criminality’. So yes, it’s safe here, but for some reason, people who don’t live here simply perceive it as dangerous.
- You meet people from all over the world – it’s a true multicultural melting pot. Of course, if you’ve come from London or New York or somewhere similar you’ll be familiar with the terms ‘multicultural’ and ‘melting pot’ but prepare for your eyes to be opened here in the UAE – and that’s a good thing!
- It’s exciting – we are part of a history in the making. Things are constantly changing here… new buildings going up, new places opening…. even the roads can change overnight as the development goes on, but it’s all part of an exciting work in progress, and we’re right in the middle of it, living it as it happens.
- The UAE is a very tolerant place. Many different cultures and religions all live here alongside one another and happily co-exist.
Meet new people, learn about new cultures
- The UAE offers fantastic opportunities – not only to save money but to travel, to learn about a new culture and even career opportunities. The UAE is your oyster if you want it to be!
- Impossible is nothing here. Think it can’t be done? Or maybe that it shouldn’t be done?! Well think again, the UAE’s imagination and vision for the future knows no bounds. An indoor ski slope in the middle of the desert? Tick. The world’s tallest building? Tick. If you can dream it, they can make it happen – and are probably already planning it.
- Petrol is cheap!
- It’s the kind of place that makes you feel as though anything is possible and that you can achieve anything.
Any other thoughts? Is there anything I missed that makes you love the UAE?! I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
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Having lived there for a couple of years, I loved the fact that you could have someone pick up your dry cleaning from home at 9pm at night and deliver it back by midnight if it was urgently required for the next day.
Yes, that’s another good one!
Ummm…..wow I live in UAE sooo……uhhh yeahh
And the cost of living?
Post coming on that very soon – stay tuned! 🙂
This looks absolutely amazi g! Cant wait to go …!
And I’m sure you’ll enjoy – you won’t want to leave! 🙂
I lived in Dubai for 3 years, loved it and sti miss it! All of the above is true!
Thanks for your comment! We lived in Dubai too and then left for a couple of years before coming back to Abu Dhabi – the call of the UAE is just too strong to stay away too long!
I’ve lived in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi…I’d add that the expat community is AMAZING- always eager to help out, answer questions, and show the ropes to new expats. I’ve made friends from all over the world, which means a place to stay and a tour guide whenever I visit their home country. That’s pretty fantastic. 🙂
http://www.oregonianinthedesert.wordpress.com
Yes I agree, it’s one of those things about living overseas – everyone’s in the same boat and knows how it feels to be the newbie since we were all that person once!
I visited Abu Dhabi in 2008 as my best friends fmaily were living there and in honesty it was one of the best holidays I have ever had. It was so totally different to what i was used to, the weather was amazing in late October and there was so much to do. We had a blast.
I’m so glad to hear you had such a great time out here! The city is changing all the time too and just keeps on getting better and better in my opinion! 🙂
If you’re willing to overlook the fact that there is an extremely marginalized working class that makes all of the wonderful things possible, then yeah, it’s a lovely place. I had a wonderful lifestyle there, for 8 years, then my soul could no longer handle it.
The working class you meant include mainly those who: 1. would be unemployed in their home country, 2. if they had jobs there they would earn MUCH less than what they earn in the UAE, and 3. they are met with full respect and appreciation by the Emirati people. Else why would they come and work here?
I have lived 8 years in Abu Dhabi and still LOVE IT and the country as whole and, above all, the wonderful Emiratis. I have been to many places around the world but this is absolutely the best of all. I am never bored here even though my family is still living in Sweden!
Some good points and some rose coloured glasses. The inability to get anything done when it should be? The cost of accommodation and rip off property management? The archaic attitude toward women only seems tolerant compared to other Middle East countries? The lack of seasons? The laziness of locals? The plain landscape? Everything needs to be in a mall and is about commercialism?
I think there are always pros and cons to life no matter where in the world you choose to live. Yes, the cost of accommodation is high, though probably no more so than a city like London or many other major world cities. The lack of seasons is not necessarily a negative depending on your point of view, as a Brit I quite enjoy the fact it rains so rarely and is (nearly!) always sunny! In terms of landscape look beyond the surface – Al Ain is known as the garden city and the landscape around Jebel Hafeet is beautiful. I’d also suggest trips out to Liwa, Bani Yas Island, The Hajar mountains, Ras Al Khaimah, the mangroves of Abu Dhabi, any one of the several wetlands famous for wildlife in the UAE and to explore some of the uninhabited islands of Abu Dhabi if you haven’t before.
Abu Dhabi was great, the beaches are good and the water temp is just right
Abu Dhabi is lucky to be blessed with beautiful beaches 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed!
I love UAE bcoz it provides bread and a decent living for me and my family. I’ll forever be indebted to this land, it’s kind rulers and the loving nationals who allow outsiders and share in the nation’s prosperity and happiness. I’m ready to lay down my life if required for this great land.
i am in love with the uae. Living here since i was a baby.
many reason to cherish in UAE