It’s easy to imagine the UAE as just Dubai’s skyline and flashy cars, but settling in long-term paints a very different picture. The glamour is still there, but day-to-day life becomes less about spectacle and more about routine, comfort, and convenience. For anyone living on a UAE visa, the perks go beyond weekend brunches and desert selfies.
Getting into the rhythm of the country takes a few months. The climate, for one, demands adaptation. You’ll shift most of your errands to the evening and find yourself timing your walks with mall openings. Grocery runs happen at 10 PM, and it becomes second nature. And don’t be surprised if you start to crave shawarma for breakfast. It’s just how things go.
Making Friends in a Transient Place
People come and go constantly, which sounds lonely but actually makes socializing easier. Everyone’s looking for connections. Colleagues become brunch buddies, and you’ll likely join a WhatsApp group or two within your first week. What’s unusual is how quickly people open up. It’s a fast-track friendship zone where no one wants to waste time.
Daily Routines That Just Work
Things function. Bureaucracy is digitized, deliveries are lightning fast, and you’ll get used to scanning your face to clear passport control. Supermarkets carry everything from Australian lamb to Korean noodles. Want something at 3 AM? It’s probably a tap away. Once you’ve had groceries dropped off in under 15 minutes, it’s hard to go back to anything else.
What the Week Actually Feels Like
Forget about the Monday-to-Friday mindset. The official workweek starts on Monday and ends on Friday afternoon, with the weekend running Saturday to Sunday. Fridays are slower paced, especially in the mornings, as many observe prayer time. Brunch culture takes over by afternoon, though, and by Saturday night it feels like the start of a new week already.
Spending and Saving in Equal Measure
Living in the UAE can be expensive, but it depends on your choices. Rent and schooling are the biggest expenses, especially if you’ve moved with a family. But there’s no income tax, and budgeting becomes easier once you settle into a routine. You’ll find ways to stretch your dirhams if you avoid tourist traps and imported luxuries.
Driving Is a Whole Different Experience
Public transport is improving but driving remains the default for most. Expect to adapt quickly to long, fast highways and roundabouts with multiple lanes. Getting your license might involve taking a few extra lessons depending on your country of origin. And yes, you’ll probably end up with a car that’s bigger than anything you drove back home.
Food from Everywhere, All the Time
The UAE’s food scene is deeply varied. Street food, mall food, fine dining, and late-night delivery all coexist. You could have Egyptian koshari for lunch, Turkish kebabs for dinner, and Indian chaats in between. If you like food, this place delivers in every sense of the word. You’ll never eat the same thing twice in a week unless you want to.
The Longer You Stay, the Calmer It Gets
What starts as a blur of heat, traffic, and new faces eventually settles into something stable. You find your barbershop, your go-to shawarma place, and your quiet cafe where they remember your order. Life on a long-term UAE visa turns out to be a lot like life anywhere else, just with fewer taxes and better hummus.
