Life in Dubai is often portrayed as glamorous and lavish. But what is life in Dubai really like for expats and are there only advantages or disadvantages in the largest city in the Arabian Gulf?
This article looks at all aspects of Dubai. From the advantages and disadvantages to the typical everyday life of expats, including costs and popular residential areas for Germans.
Living in Dubai - advantages and disadvantages
Life in Dubai is very special and hardly comparable with any other city in the world. Mostly for the better, but in some respects for the worse. No place in the world is perfect, but here are the most important points that speak for and against life in Dubai.
Advantages
Living in Dubai has numerous advantages. Here is an overview of the main aspects that speak in favor of Dubai.
Taxes
The first thing many people think about is, of course, taxes. From Dubai offers numerous advantages from a tax perspectiveespecially in direct comparison to Germany, Austria or other (European) countries. At a private level, you enjoy complete tax exemption and pay no taxes on income, capital gains, dividends and all other income.
At the entrepreneurial level, depending on turnover, you pay 0-9% tax with an allowance of USD 100,000, which is still excellent by international standards.
The bottom line is that much more of the money earned is left over to live on, even if the basic costs of living are somewhat higher. More on this later.
Security
More and more people are missing safety in Europe, especially in major European cities. On the other hand Dubai among the safest cities in the world. Crime is lower than in any other place. Dubai is no exception, as 5 of the 10 safest cities in the world - half of them - are in the United Arab Emirates.
Many people are already familiar with the numerous social experiments on social media in which valuable watches, bags, cell phones or even cash are deliberately forgotten in public places. This actually corresponds to reality, as Dubai is so safe that everyday crime such as theft or burglary hardly ever takes place. Of course, you don't have to provoke it, but you don't need to be afraid if you forget something or deliberately leave your luxury watch on the beach lounger to go for a quick dip.
Infrastructure
One of the biggest aspects in Dubai's favor is definitely its infrastructure. This can be broken down into many areas, but in general it can be said that Dubai has an excellent infrastructure. Here is an overview of the most important areas:
- Healthcare Dubai offers an extensive infrastructure when it comes to healthcare. Numerous international TOP hospitals have established themselves here. These include the Mediclinic, the Saudi German Hospital, King's College Hospital and more. These hospitals also attract top international doctors from different countries and you get excellent service in various medical fields.
There are also numerous alternative medical facilities in the field of regenerative medicine. - Schools / Education One point that is attracting more and more families and motivating them to emigrate to Dubai are the excellent schools and universities. Most of these are private and internationally recognized. These also include purely German-speaking schools such as the German International School Dubai.
- Sport & Leisure The range of sports and leisure activities in Dubai is diverse and you will find every sport that can be practiced indoors, as well as an extensive range of water sports. Popular sports in Dubai include weight training, martial arts, yoga, padel, tennis, golf and cycling.
- Transportation Uber and cabs are relatively cheap and available at any time of day in just a few minutes. This is also the reason why more and more people are choosing not to buy a car. There is one more point to mention, and that is DXB Airport. It is one of the best-connected airports in the world.
Location
Another key advantage of Dubai is its geographical location. Dubai is located in the Middle East between Asia and Europe. There are direct flights to all relevant cities in both directions. Dubai or DXB is usually a transfer airport for numerous flights. This means that from a flight point of view, Dubai is very well connected to the rest of the world. There are now also numerous direct flights to the USA, South America and Australia.
From the perspective of war, Dubai is also in a safe position, as the UAE is a neutral country and has deep political and economic agreements with both Western and Eastern countries. The current conflicts in Europe, Ukraine and Russia are completely unnoticed.
Disadvantages
As previously mentioned, there is no perfect place to live. Dubai also has certain disadvantages that you only become aware of when you live in the city for a longer period of time. However, the disadvantages here are also somewhat subjective, depending on your personal feelings and lifestyle.
Heat in summer
The main disadvantage of living in Dubai is probably primarily the Heat in summer. Temperatures climb to over 40 degrees in the summer months from mid-May to September and it doesn't get cooler than 30 degrees at night in summer either. During these months, life primarily takes place indoors or many expats travel and take summer vacations in cooler regions. Those who can afford it work remotely during this time or spend it at their second home in Europe.
However, most people stay in Dubai and spend most of their time indoors. Work, sport and leisure take place in air-conditioned buildings.
Road traffic
Even though Dubai has a very good infrastructure, public transport is still not very well developed. As a result, many people choose to travel by car, which leads to heavy traffic. As a result, traffic jams sometimes stretch for miles during rush hours.
In the meantime, however, the government has reacted and is investing heavily in additional roads and the expansion of public transport. At the moment, however, you should definitely avoid the rush hours.
Experience
In our experience, life in Dubai is very different compared to European countries and is also very much a matter of personal choice. The city is not only ideal for working and running a business, but also for starting a family in a safe environment. This is also the reason why more and more families are now emigrating to Dubai and why more houses and townhouses are being built.
The fast-paced party city for singles is slowly transforming into a residential area that is becoming very family-oriented and where more and more people are living long-term. As a result, not only young people are moving out, but also older people up to retirement age.
FAQ
Here are the most frequently asked questions when it comes to living in Dubai.
Where do Germans live in Dubai?
Communities have now formed in Dubai that are very popular depending on their origin. Dubai Hills, Creek Harbour and Emaar Beachfront are currently particularly popular with Germans, Swiss and Austrians.
What is life like in Dubai as a woman?
Life as a woman in Dubai has many preconceptions, most of which tend to be negative. In reality, however, things are different. As a woman in Dubai, you enjoy almost all the same rights as men. Of course, women are allowed to drive cars, open bank accounts and move and dress as they wish. In addition, a woman's life is far safer than in many other major European cities.
Do I have to speak Arabic to live in Dubai?
No, it is not necessary to speak Arabic in Dubai. English is a recognized official language and is perfectly adequate.
Summary
To summarize, life in Dubai is unique and offers many advantages for expats. It is not for nothing that more and more people are emigrating to Dubai. The city on the Arabian Gulf impresses with its low taxes, high level of security, excellent infrastructure and good connections. Those who can cope with the warm temperatures in summer will enjoy life in Dubai.
