How’s Dubai ?

My first month in Dubai, in answers…

It's been a little over a month since I moved to Dubai, and wow, it's gone fast. I've shared a few posts along the way, from stepping off the plane to finding my feet and my routines, but now that the dust has settled a little, I wanted to share more of the reality of living here.

Over the past couple of weeks, friends and loved ones have been asking me the same question: "How's Dubai?" So this post aims to share what life here is actually like, and hopefully help anyone thinking of making the move.

When I stepped off the plane at the end of August, the heat was intense and the roads were quiet. In the summer months, so many people leave Dubai to travel or head home to their families. But it's actually a great time of year to enjoy the city in a calmer way: the malls are quieter, the roads aren't as busy or chaotic, and there are some amazing deals on hotels and restaurants.

Now that we're heading into October, the city already feels quite different from the one I arrived in. The morning breeze is soft, and I don't want to miss it, and I can finally enjoy a morning or evening stroll without the heat getting in the way. The community I live in feels more relaxed and lively too, with children playing outside in the evenings. Everyone tells me winter is the best time of year in Dubai, so if this is the warm-up, I can't wait. I'll report back!

How's the new job?

I'm loving it. In one of my previous posts I shared how difficult the past year was professionally, so it feels really good to be able to say that.

I have a great team around me, I love the students I teach, and there's a lot of space for creativity and new ideas, which has made settling into a new country that little bit easier. Teaching internationally has been an adjustment, and there are moments when I'm reminded I'm still finding my feet, but it's been a really positive experience so far.

It's not a myth that Dubai has a faster pace of life, and I can confirm it. Things are extremely convenient, and the bar for service, in all its forms, is high. From my experience, it's a bit of a work-hard, play-hard culture, and I don't mind that. If I'm honest, I kind of enjoy it, because it makes expectations feel clear and transparent.

I've also noticed just how many opportunities there are to learn, meet people and try something new. Every week there seems to be a conference, workshop or event I could go along to after work, whether it's focused on education, creativity or personal development. I can't do everything, of course, but I'm loving the energy, and the mix of people from different professions makes it feel really exciting.

What do my weekends look like?

I don't sleep in at weekends. I like to get up early and nip out for a morning walk, usually making my way to a café close by. My ideal Saturday starts around 7am with a coffee and a bit of writing. I love how quiet the city is at that hour, and it gives me the space I need to write. It's where most of these blog posts begin.

Once the week's post is published, I take a moment to breathe and let myself imagine what I want to make next. Then I tick off the practical bits: sorting the washing, meal prepping for the week, and organising my planner for the week ahead. I know that might sound a little boring to some people, but it's exactly how I like my weekends to work. Working with young people is incredible, and with a classroom full of energy all week, I've come to treasure some peace and quiet at the weekend.

I'm still building my routine on the fitness side. I haven't found a gym I'm in love with yet, although a couple are on my radar, so for now I'm using the gym in my apartment block. It's quiet, and I personally can't stand a busy gym, so I'm happy with it while I find my feet. As we move into the cooler months, I'm hoping to get outside more, and I'm looking forward to exploring Dubai's wellness scene.

I recently joined Women Who Thrive, a community of women who come together through events covering wellness, personal development and professional growth. It's been a great way to start making friends here, and I've enjoyed meeting people from all walks of life and a whole range of professions. There's usually something on a Saturday that I'll go along to, and with church on Sunday, that's the weekend gone.

Where's my favourite coffee spot?

My favourite is Angel Cakes at Dubai Creek Harbour. It looks out across the waterfront towards the Dubai skyline, and it's such a peaceful place to escape to, whether that's to watch the sunset after work or first thing at the weekend. There's something about being by the water that I find deeply calming, and it's quickly become one of my go-to places to sit with a coffee, write or just switch off for a little while.

I also like to mix it up and try somewhere new. Brix Café, tucked away at Jumeirah Fishing Harbour, is lovely and does beautiful baked treats. It's definitely one for a slow breakfast or something sweet with a coffee. Flaky Pastry, also at Dubai Creek Harbour, is where I go when I'm in the mood for a really good croissant, and Backyard has a more relaxed, neighbourhood feel, with everything from coffee and matcha to breakfast bowls and sandwiches. I'd love to do a little more research on this front, so if you have any recommendations, let me know!

What's my favourite weekend treat so far?

A late-afternoon brunch at SAN Beach, a couple of weeks ago. After my usual quiet Saturday morning, it was the complete opposite: a lively atmosphere, a spot by the pool, and food that was genuinely beautiful. I ordered a few light bites, including a Greek salad with avocado tzatziki, and a couple of really delicious mojitos. It felt like a proper treat after a full week, and I'd happily go back. If you're planning a visit, you pay for a bed, which is 300 AED, but it's fully redeemable against food and drink.

Dubai also has an abundance of beautiful salons for facials and all kinds of beauty treatments. I'm planning to do a little more research on this, so that's definitely one for a future post. For now, when I've wanted a little time to relax, I've been opting for a Casmara facial. I have quite sensitive skin and haven't had any reaction to it, so it's become a really lovely way to unwind. My skin feels refreshed and clear afterwards.

The find I'm most excited about, though, is my hairdresser! Any woman will tell you there's no joy quite like finding one you love. I had the best blow-dry of my life at The Salon Dubai at FIVE Jumeirah Village, and Hannah Ludlam (@hair_by_hannahdubai) did a brilliant job with my colour too. I walked out feeling completely myself again.

Where do I like to shop?

My favourite so far is Dubai Hills Mall. I love the range of shops, and it's spacious and easy to navigate, so it's the perfect place to go when I want to get everything done in one trip.

Palm Jumeirah Mall is another one I really like, particularly for the food. It has a beautiful food hall called Depachika, and it's also where I made my very first purchase in Dubai: a little something from Sandro. I had a really tasty bowl of ramen at Daikan Ramen there too.

I've been to Dubai Mall and, if I'm honest, I found it a little overwhelming, so Dubai Hills and Palm Jumeirah tend to be the two I choose. And if you love a bargain, Dubai Outlet Mall is definitely worth a visit, with some incredible deals to be found.

What didn't I expect?

I didn't expect to feel so comfortable so quickly. It's only been just over a month, but when my family asks how I am, the word I keep coming back to is content. And it's a beautiful way to feel, especially after a season when I was pretty restless.

Dubai is ticking so many boxes for me, both professionally and personally. There's the chance to travel, to grow, and to try things I wouldn't have the opportunity back home, and I find a lot of joy in that. The flip side is that friends back home are going through big life moments, and it's hard being far away and knowing I'm missing something special and important in their lives. But I'm trying to show up in other ways: the long voice notes, sending photos, the flights home I'm already plotting. Distance changes how you stay close, not whether you do.

What don't I love?

This might sound petty, but it's the taxis. I don't have a car or a Dubai licence sorted yet, so I'm spending a lot on getting around. No single ride is expensive, since everything is roughly 20 minutes away, but I've been out exploring so much that it's really adding up. If you're thinking of making the move, I'd get a car as early as you can.

Do I regret it?

No. But since arriving, a few friends and women I know have said something along the lines of, "You're so brave. I wish I could just move country and do something like that."

I've thought about that a lot. I think there can be an expectation that by your thirties life should be settling into place: the house bought, the family started, the career established. You should be a good daughter, a good friend, a good partner, and somehow know what the next ten years look like. I understand it. Security is important. Relationships are so important. Building something that lasts is important. We only have so much time and energy to give.

But if I could shake that box a little, I would. Moving here has made me believe a little more deeply that choosing something new doesn't mean disregarding everything that came before. The people you've loved, the places you've called home and the experiences you've had don't disappear because you take a different path. They've helped form you, and you carry them with you wherever you go. But you also get to hold some things lightly. You get to discover what you've outgrown and what you want to carry forward, meet people you would never otherwise have met, and let your life become a little bigger than the version you had imagined for it.

And sometimes, you get to do the hard thing without knowing exactly what it will give you in return. Moving to Dubai hasn't suddenly given me all the answers. There have been moments when it's been incredibly humbling. I've found myself in rooms with people whose lives and careers are so established that I've thought, gosh, I wish I'd built something like that for myself by now. I've had to awkwardly make new friends, walk into rooms where I don't know anyone, and accept that sometimes I'll be misunderstood, and that's okay.

But there's something valuable in that too. Being humbled can be the beginning of learning. Awkwardly introducing yourself can be the beginning of a friendship. Being unknown gives people the chance to get to know you, and being surrounded by people who have built things you admire can expand your idea of what's possible for your own life.

So personally, I think courage isn't always feeling particularly brave. It's being willing to be a beginner again and probably look like a bit of an eejit in the process. Moving here has given me a fresh belief in my ability to grow, adapt and build something new. Not a completely different life, but an expanded understanding of myself, and I see a lot of value in that, whatever it looks like from the outside.

If you're thinking of making a change

If you're reading this in your thirties (or at any age, really) and you've been feeling a little stagnant, or wondering why things aren't as clear as you thought they'd be by now, this is the part I hope you take with you. You can still make a change.

You can choose something different, even if your life looks perfectly fine on paper. You can change direction without having every detail figured out, and you don't need to know what the new chapter will give you before you're allowed to begin it.

It might not look anything like you imagined. But a change of scenery, routine or direction can give you something just as valuable: a fresh point of view, and a chance to see your life, and yourself, a little differently, and to be proud of the small choices, good and bad, that brought you here. That's how I feel about this move. I'm excited, and grateful to be somewhere so different from what I knew, awkward moments and all.

So, how's Dubai? Good. Really good.