What It's Like To Be An Expat
In Dubai

Welcome to Dubai

Towering skyscrapers, a mix of cultures, futuristic design, and a city full of opportunity – Dubai has quickly become one of the world’s most popular destinations for expats.

Consistently ranked among the safest cities globally, it’s known for its cleanliness, pace of growth, and strong career opportunities – particularly across law, finance, and tech.

Whether you’re relocating for lifestyle, long-term career progression, or both, Dubai offers a setup that’s hard to match.

Relocating to Abu Dhabi

Cost of Living

Dubai isn’t a budget city but it’s also not as expensive as many people expect once you factor in tax.

With zero income tax, salaries often go further than in cities like London or Sydney.

Rent is typically your biggest cost, and this varies depending on location:

• Areas like JVC and Sports City offer more affordable options
• Marina, Downtown, and DIFC come at a premium but offer a more central lifestyle

Many landlords now offer quarterly or even monthly payment options, which helps with cash flow.

Day-to-day costs are generally manageable:

• Groceries and transport are often cheaper than other major global cities
• Eating out ranges from high-end dining to very affordable options if you know where to go
• Offers are everywhere – apps like The Entertainer, ladies’ nights, brunches and dining deals make socialising far more accessible

It’s not the cheapest move upfront but for professionals with strong earning potential, it can be a very smart one.

Popular Areas To Live

Dubai offers something for every lifestyle:

• Downtown Dubai – Premium apartments, walkable, close to DIFC and many law firms
• Dubai Marina / JBR – Waterfront living, cafes, beach clubs and nightlife
• Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) – Popular with young professionals, more affordable
• Arabian Ranches / Damac Hills – Gated communities, ideal for families
• Business Bay – Central, convenient, and continuing to grow quickly

Getting Around

Dubai is built for convenience.

While many residents choose to drive, transport options have improved significantly:

• The Metro connects key areas across the city (with ongoing expansions)
• Taxis, Careem and Uber are widely available and reasonably priced
• Car-sharing options like eKar and Udrive are becoming more popular
• Roads are well maintained, and fuel remains relatively inexpensive

New routes and infrastructure projects continue to improve connectivity including links between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The Lifestyle

Dubai isn’t just about work — it’s about how you live outside of it.

There’s a constant mix of things to do:

• World-class gyms, fitness studios and wellness communities
• Major events like the Dubai Fitness Challenge and international sporting tournaments
• Desert camping, beach clubs, water sports, hiking and more
• Global music tours, food festivals, and year-round entertainment

Whether you’re into fitness, socialising, travel, or just sunshine – there’s always something going on.

Travel Access

One of the biggest advantages of living in Dubai is how well-connected it is.

• Direct flights to 130+ cities worldwide
• Easy weekend trips to destinations like the Maldives, Jordan, Sri Lanka, Georgia and Zanzibar
• Abu Dhabi is just over an hour away

You can build your career and still travel regularly – which is a big part of the appeal for many expats.

Dubai offers a combination that’s hard to find elsewhere:

Strong earning potential
A high standard of living
And access to global opportunities

It’s not just a place people move to for a job – it’s somewhere people build a lifestyle.

What law firms look for when relocating lawyers

Contact us today for our full relocation guide.