Dubai’s population crossed the four million mark this week but it was more than just a number on a government register.
Behind the milestone lies a patchwork of individual decisions, including families searching for safety, professionals seeking new opportunities and young people determined to carve out a future in a city that promises ambition and stability.
The National spoke to some of Dubai’s newest residents who have moved there for a variety of reasons, an indication of the city's versatility.
Safe haven
For Rami Ismail, 34, a Palestinian-Danish leadership coach, the journey to Dubai began years before the family packed their bags in June.
“I first came here in 2018 and I just fell in love. Back in Denmark, I would dream two or three times a week that I was in Dubai," he said.
He returned each winter with his wife and two children, aged nine and six, spending weeks at a time to confirm it was the right fit for the family.
“I remember during one of my holidays seeing a woman walking alone at midnight with a baby in a stroller,” he said. "That moment stayed with me. I thought, this is where my kids can grow up feeling safe."
Dubai’s multicultural schools also offered his children a chance to learn Arabic and English alongside Danish, something he said was unavailable back home. And as Muslims, the abundance of halal dining options gave the family the peace of mind they lacked in Denmark.
Beyond family life, Mr Ismail said there are many business growth opportunities. “People here are so open," he said. "I can strike up a conversation in a cafe or on the padel court and within minutes we’re exchanging ideas or contacts. That spirit of helping one another is incredible.
“Back home, I would pay up to 60 per cent in taxes. Here I can focus on growth and on giving my kids an international upbringing.”
'Amazed I can walk streets at 3am'
That sense of opportunity is also what drew Zainab Abbasi, 20, from Islamabad, who decided last August to make Dubai her permanent home. She first came to visit for a month and, like Mr Ismail, was also struck by how safe the city felt.
“I was amazed that I could walk freely even at 3am,” she said. “That freedom, and the culture of always moving forward, really inspired me.”
The visit convinced her to pause her university studies and apply for jobs. Within months, she secured a role as a social media marketing manager at a real estate company.
“Everyone I meet is positive and growth-oriented," she said. "That’s not something I experienced back home, but here it pushes me to be a better version of myself."
Outside of work, she enjoys Dubai’s beaches and says the city’s convenience makes daily life simple, including doorstep deliveries and clean public spaces.
Like many newcomers, she admits the summer heat has been the biggest challenge. “I grew up in the mountains, so this climate is very tough for me,” she said.
Ms Abbasi works with many clients who are buying homes in the city she describes as the “new land of opportunities”.
She said: “Every day I talk to clients from the UK and US who want to relocate here. They see Dubai as calm in the middle of global chaos … safe, stable and full of opportunities. I feel the same."
Her family, initially hesitant about her living alone at such a young age, have since embraced her decision. “They saw how happy I was and how safe I felt here. Now they’re supportive, and I can continue my studies while working."
Childcare and education
For Enas Almasry, 31, the move to Dubai was motivated by professional ambition and family priorities.
The Egyptian communications specialist relocated from Cairo two months ago with her husband and two-year-old son, after her partner secured a new role.
“I feel completely comfortable leaving my child in nursery while I work,” she said. "The options here are excellent, and I trust the system. For me, safety is the most important thing about Dubai.”
Ms Almasry, who heads media relations at a PR firm expanding into the Gulf, says she has quickly discovered that Dubai’s professional scene is as competitive as it is rewarding. “It’s a challenging market with a lot of talent but that’s also what makes it exciting,” she said.
She hopes to raise her son in the UAE and build stronger connections in her industry. “The education system is very strong and I want him to grow up here,” she said. “For my career, being surrounded by high-profile professionals in communications and marketing is inspiring. It’s the right place to grow.”
Cost of living
Vlada Lomova, 31, from Latvia, moved to Dubai in January to boost her career. She is chief executive of prhub.ae, a marketing agency, after having worked in the Gulf market for three years and travelled frequently to the city.
“Last year I realised that to grow my business and community faster, and to be fully present in this dynamic environment, I needed to move here,” she said.
“Remote work gives you reach, but living in Dubai gives you real opportunities. I thought it would just be a business hub but it’s also a mix of opportunities, culture, community and even new hobbies. I even started wake-surfing here, which I absolutely love.”
She described Dubai as the centre of innovation and entrepreneurship in the region, where living in the city provides direct access to clients, partners and investors, as well as the chance to attend important events.
“In just a few months, I’ve met so many amazing people,” she said. "I feel that those who move here are very special: open to opportunities, friendly and ambitious.
“The cost of living is high but it comes with quality and opportunities. The UAE government is clearly thinking long-term about attracting talent and entrepreneurs.
“Getting my documents took just about a month. It makes planning life and business here much more secure. I’ve been here less than a year, but I already see it as a long-term base for my business and life. It’s a place where you can think globally and still enjoy a very high quality of life.”
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
