Chances are the hardest thing you’ll ever have to do in the UAE is leave.
The country is a haven for travellers — but that also means that packing up and bidding farewell is all part and parcel of the overall journey.
Obviously, everyone has their own experiences and memories of the UAE, and given that its diverse population will be dispersing to countries around the world, it’s hard to generalise about what people will miss most.
As someone who has recently relocated, here’s what I miss.
Perennial sunshine
Yes, UAE summers may not be for everyone. But it’s a small price to pay for brilliant blue skies all year round.
Every single day, you can step out of the house without having to check the weather forecast or wear a million layers (like I do in my new Canadian home). That also means that on the handful of days that it does rain, it’s considered rare enough that you actually appreciate the novelty.
The ease of everyday life
One of the biggest things I miss about the UAE is the sheer convenience the country provides. Need the house cleaned? You can hire a cleaner for a nominal rate. Maintenance? There’s a guy for that and you can book him via an app. Fancy a cup of tea well after midnight? Some late-night spots will even deliver it to your car for a mere dirham or two.
Let’s face it, this country spoils you, and it’s hard to adapt to a life less convenient after moving on.
Everything delivered
Going out of your house isn't a necessity, but a choice. After all, you can get everything under the sun at your door. I’m not just talking about Zomato and Talabat or Amazon and Noon.com. I'm thinking of haircuts, massages, laundry, pet grooming, PCR tests and even fuel (thank you, Cafu).
You can even call the local grocer to ask for a packet of crisps or milk (as I’m ashamed to admit I’ve done on several occasions).
Every cuisine under the sun
Thanks to the marvellous diaspora (there are more than 200 nationalities in Dubai alone), you can find just about every cuisine your heart desires. With options such as Peruvian-Japanese-French or an Omakase with Emirati-Japanese flavours, it’s easy to feel spoilt for choice, especially since sometimes it’s all under the same roof, too, as in the case of food halls.
And thanks to the ever-evolving food scene and home-grown players, the options are only getting better.
The ridiculously delicious and cheap street food
While UAE is known for it’s pretty high standard of living, you really do get the best of both worlds. The street food, in particular, is eccentric and highly affordable.
Anyone who has lived in the UAE for any length of time knows that shawarmas, falafels and hummus are delicious and found on every corner, while cafeterias will prepare everything from Szechuan chicken noodles to colourful sundaes.
From Emirati regag and luqaimat to Dh1 chai and pani puri, you don’t need to break the bank for a delicious and hearty meal out.
The nightlife
Restaurants and clubs are open late, beach clubs are bustling and, thanks to the warm weather and great security, going out at night is easy and, well, fun.
If you’re always looking for your next party, the UAE — and, in particular, Dubai — might be a hard place to get over.
The technology
In terms of life admin, processes are fine-tuned, easily deciphered and everything is online. All you need is a mobile phone and internet to do everything from banking and paying off driving fines to making bookings and clearing utility bills.
It really does feel like you’re living in the future sometimes, especially if you then move to a place that has a lot of red tape.
Road trips
The UAE and its residents love their cars. Fuel is more affordable than most other parts of the globe, plus long stretches of roads and affordable insurance makes this a great place to own a car.
Some of my favourite memories involve long drives with no end destination.
The views
With sandy white beaches around every corner, gorgeous desert views (if you drive to the outskirts) and rocky mountains as you get closer to Ras Al Khaimah, there’s a lot of gorgeous natural beauty to explore.
On the flipside, if it’s sparkling skyscraper views that make your heart beat faster, it doesn’t get better than Downtown Dubai at night.
Easy and quick travel
Thanks to its central location, you don’t have to spend a bomb to satisfy that wanderlust. There is a plethora of countries less than a four-hour flight away and this also translates to affordable tickets and impulsive weekend getaways. My top tip? Be sure to take advantage of those offers and air miles while you can.
Dubai's best family-friendly tourist attractions - in pictures:
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 390bhp
Torque: 400Nm
Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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The biog
Hometown: Birchgrove, Sydney Australia
Age: 59
Favourite TV series: Outlander Netflix series
Favourite place in the UAE: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque / desert / Louvre Abu Dhabi
Favourite book: Father of our Nation: Collected Quotes of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Thing you will miss most about the UAE: My friends and family, Formula 1, having Friday's off, desert adventures, and Arabic culture and people
UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
The specs
Common to all models unless otherwise stated
Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi
0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)
Power: 276hp
Torque: 392Nm
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual/ 8-Speed Dual Clutch FWD
Price: TBC
The Rub of Time: Bellow, Nabokov, Hitchens, Travolta, Trump and Other Pieces 1986-2016
Martin Amis,
Jonathan Cape
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
WISH
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