The Shock of Dubai

For new arrivals coming to live in Dubai the city can at first be a difficult prospect. However, the shared experience of arrival in Dubai is one thing that brings people together, as Explorer's Pamela Afram discovered when she recently moved to the UAE from London.

New to Dubai? It’s important not to underestimate the effects of culture shock that most people experience when leaving their home cities to live abroad. Culture shock usually begins with a honeymoon phase, where you’ll feel lucky to be living in such an interesting new country. But that is quickly replaced with a period of homesickness and sadness as it finally sinks in that you are not just on holiday, you’re here to live. Finally, you enter a period of acceptance, which is hopefully how you’ll stay until one day it’s time to move on.

There are many factors that can contribute to the negative phase of culture shock in Dubai. Firstly, transport is one of the major challenges for any newcomer – with the absence of an elaborate public transport system and a crazy level of roadworks on the go, traffic can be difficult to navigate. A newbie must learn how long it will take to get from one location to the next, and they must also learn the inevitable lesson that in Dubai, a short journey on your map can stretch out forever if it happens to include a poorly chosen road, or if you’re travelling during one of the many (and ever changing, thanks to Ramadan, school holidays, summer, or even day of the week) rush hours.

Secondly, the bureaucracy and length of time it takes to arrange documents such as visas, leases, or a driving licence is an unavoidable, yet ultimately frustrating, aspect of settling in. Dealing with government officials can be intimidating because of language and cultural differences, and the unfathomable queuing system in many government departments is tricky too.

Thirdly, while the future of Dubai looks bright, the present is filled with dusty construction sites and more cranes than you’ll see anywhere in the world. It can be hard for a new arrival to see beyond the dust and the concrete, and some new expats may feel a sense of disappointment that the reality is such a far cry from the ‘unspoilt beaches and desert greenery’ shown in the marketing brochures.

Fourthly, shopping may be Dubai’s national sport, but it can be pretty overwhelming to a newcomer. For someone used to shopping on England’s high streets or in the smaller-scale malls of other countries, the gigantic proportions of mega-malls like Ibn Battuta or Mall of the Emirates can be daunting (not to mention hard on the feet).

Finally, the expense of Dubai can be the biggest factor of all in increasing culture shock. All the promises of a tax-free salary in the sunshine can crumble when you get here and realise that rents are almost prohibitively expensive, going out for a drink will cost you a pretty penny, and that road tolls, municipality charges, and other administrative expenses will eat into the money you’re not paying in tax. Often you’re no better off than you were back in your home country, which can be a bit of a shock. However, there are also many very reasonably priced items in this city, as anyone who has eaten an Indian meal in Karama or filled their car up with petrol will be all too aware of.

Culture shock can obscure the benefits of this city, but once you get certain things out of the way and you can start the acceptance phase, then it gets easier to enjoy the pleasures of living in Dubai. Whether it’s discovering the beaches, enjoying the excellent food, relaxing in a world-class spa or dune bashing in the desert, there’s much to celebrate in your new home city.

Whether you’re considering a move, have just arrived or have been in Dubai for years, arm yourself with the Dubai Explorer. It has great tips and advice on starting out in Dubai together with information on the best the city has to offer.

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