City Profile

There are certain descriptions of Dubai that are frequently used: pearl of the Gulf, sleepy fishing village transformed into modern metropolis, tax-free expat haven, headquarters of luxury living, and so on. The truth is that, behind these cliches, Dubai is for most people a wonderful place to live, with some excellent career opportunities, a readily available network of social contacts, some unique activities and, apart from a few sweaty months in summer, brilliant weather. Most expats will tell you that their standard of living is better here than it was back home, they can travel more, spend more time with family, enjoy outdoor living and make more friends. This chapter is here to help you, whether you are making the decision to move or not, you’ve just arrived and don’t know where to start, or you find yourself faced with an overwhelming amount of red tape. Just remember, procedures and laws do change regularly, often in quite major ways. While these changes are generally announced in newspapers, they are often implemented quickly so it’s a good idea to be prepared for the unexpected.