We moved to Dubai on July 4th. Today is January 4th – exactly 6 months. It was Riley's birthday yesterday (he's 11, which feels absolutely crazy), and we'd always planned to do this honest review at the 6-month mark.
Here's what was expectation, what was reality, and what we wish we'd known.
Why We Moved to Dubai
Sara's Reasons
- The weather – Waking up to blue skies, the sun, just being outside
- The service – It's second to none, beats the UK hands down
- So much to do – We never don't have something to do, and the weather doesn't stop us
- Quality time together – More family time, better quality of life
Adam's Reasons
- Safety for the kids – Having two young boys who can just be young boys, explore, play without those dark thoughts that creep into your head as a parent
- Education – I was lucky to get a great education thanks to my parents and some teachers who backed me. With the tax situation here, giving the boys the same opportunity becomes much more accessible
"I was pretty casual about the move – Sara was driving it. She burned the bridges, never going back. For me, it was a 2-year experiment."
The First 6 Months: Honest Overview
Weeks 1-6: Felt Like a Holiday
We moved during the kids' summer holiday. Came from a family home in the UK with loads of space to an apartment. I'd never been exposed to the kids as much in my life.
Normally I'd work, come back, have a couple days off, join bits of their holiday. Here I was with them 24 hours a day, bouncing from coffee shop to coffee shop trying to be productive while supporting Sara, supporting the kids, supporting the move.
Would we still move during summer holiday? 100% yes. We had that settling-in time, could still do stuff (weather limited some things but didn't stop us).
The Relief When School Started
I didn't feel settled until the kids started school. One – they were out from under my feet. But two – seeing how quickly they settled and made friends, that first morning assembly at Hartland International... that was when it clicked.
"For me, that was the welcome. Like, yes – we've made the right decision here."
Adam's Exit Strategy
I'll be honest: I had an exit strategy. If the kids didn't like it here, if they weren't settling, that was my way back to the UK. In my head I was like – if they're not settled, we won't be settled, and I was on the fence anyway.
Sara disagrees with this approach. But I think it's important to note: especially if you're moving as a family, the whole family needs to feel settled.
Weather: Month by Month Reality
July-August (Summer)
It is A/C to A/C. You can be in the pool in the morning, then not in the midday heat.
But honestly? A lot of people make it out to be worse than it is. I'd seen TikToks of bumpers melting off cars. It's not that. It's hot, you'll get sweaty fast, but it's bearable. Not enjoyable heat, but liveable.
Mid-October
The humidity lasts until mid-October. That's when you're out in the day, go back, shower after the pool, walk down to the shop and feel like you need another shower.
Then comes... mozzie season. I got bit to shreds. They're worse at night and anywhere with greenery or water. Get the spray. If you do get bit badly, go to the pharmacy.
November-December
Temperatures properly cool down. Mornings and evenings get nippy – you could do with a hoodie.
When I tell people back home "it's a bit nippy" they think I'm being sarcastic because it's still 14-19°C. But you acclimatise. You genuinely do need a hoodie in the mornings.
January Onwards
Temperature starts picking up again. (Just Google the weather for specifics – that's how we felt about it!)
Schools: What We Learned
Do Tours In Person
I would really lean against anyone just doing research online and choosing a school based on ratings. Yes, use ratings to shortlist. But it's about the feeling you get.
We did multiple tours. One felt homely, one felt clinical, one was just meh. That feeling matters.
Our School Costs
We chose Hartland International School (British curriculum). It's relatively public knowledge:
| What | Cost |
|---|---|
| Annual fees (2 kids, Years 4 & 6) | £36,000-38,000 |
Fees vary by year group. Check the school websites – ratings → pricing → tours is our recommended order.
School First, Then Location
We based our decision of where to live on the school. We specifically wanted to be able to walk. I'm really glad we did.
I hear about kids having to leave at 6am for school buses. The traffic here is no joke. Be super mindful of where school is when you choose where to live.
The Trade-Off
If you're living near the school, you pay a higher price per square foot. Simple as that. School buses aren't cheap either – about £800/month from what I saw.
We might move slightly inland in the next 18 months to get more space for the money. But for Year 1, being walking distance was worth it.
Renting vs Buying
Our Current Situation
We're renting. Got a reasonably good deal, good broker, landlady seems amicable. But we'll see at renewal time.
What Makes Me Uneasy
I don't like the idea of 5-8-10-15-20% increases. I know there's a range of what's allowed, but I've heard horror stories of landlords finding ways to navigate that, jack the price up, if you don't pay they can get you out.
If we're here for another 18 months (two-year marker), I can see wanting to put roots down and actually buy. There's lots of different options – developers vary in quality, buying structures vary. When I get to that, I'll share what I learn.
Driving in Dubai: The Reality
We Weren't Going to Have a Car
Our plan was to taxi everywhere. That quickly changed.
We've been renting on a 30-day rolling contract. Had a few different cars. For a reasonable motor (nothing fancy), expect:
| What | Cost |
|---|---|
| Monthly rental | £450-650 |
| Includes | Both drivers, insurance |
| Deposit | 1,000 AED |
The Fines Situation
I get so many fines. It's offensive. Parking in wrong places – solved that by downloading the RTA app (tells you if you should pay parking fees).
I keep getting "failure to comply with lane management" – 450 AED a time. How many times? More than I want to admit.
In the UK, you know what fines are for, you pay or argue. Here I'm not brave enough to contest – I just pay.
Pro tip from a friend: They don't pay their fines all year, then settle at year-end when the government offers discounts. Not sure if that's officially true, but it made me smile.
Dubai vs Abu Dhabi Speed Rules
- Dubai: There's a bit of wiggle room on speed limits
- Abu Dhabi: Zero wiggle room. Zero.
Driving Culture
"There's no courtesy here for any other drivers. Your side mirrors are your best friend."
Cars come from everywhere. So many lanes. Concentration is key – you can't daydream like in the UK.
Key points:
- If you leave space between you and the car in front, someone will cut in
- Get something high up (SUV style) – you feel safer, you'll be less bullied
- If you're in the fast lane at the speed limit, someone will be behind you flashing lights
- The horn isn't aggressive here – it's just a signal ("I'm here, can you see me?")
Buying a Car
Secondhand market is buoyant – people change cars frequently here. You can get 6-12 month old cars way below list price. We were looking at Cars24.
Important: For any form of credit, you need 3 months salary into your bank account. Also, we use Wio (like Revolut/Starling) – those banks don't allow standing orders, which you need for car finance. We've just opened an NBD account for that.
Traffic: The Reality
Anywhere touristy, we try to avoid:
- Dubai Mall / Burj Khalifa
- JBR / Marina / Bluewaters
Normally 20 minutes becomes an hour. We resent it. First consideration for going out is always traffic now.
Pro tip: Dubai lives for afternoons, evenings, and nights. Malls are dead at 10-11am. Go early, shop in peace.
Food: We Don't Cook
Since July 4th, we've used the hob three times. Once to test it. Twice for scrambled eggs.
Why? Food delivery is fantastic. Local supermarkets like Spinneys (think Tesco Express) – you can shop cheaply, feed the family with fresh food.
It's been cheaper for us not to cook compared to UK big shops. Spinneys' fresh deli counter does cooked chicken, salads, everything.
(We did just buy an air fryer though. Friend guilted us into it.)
Essential Apps to Download
Privilee
Paid membership giving access to hotel pools, beaches, gyms, fitness classes, beach club discounts across Palm, Downtown, Abu Dhabi, everywhere.
| What | Cost |
|---|---|
| Per person per week | ~40 AED |
| Kids | Included |
| Our monthly cost (family) | ~£300 |
Looks expensive on face value. But we'd been spending money every weekend anyway to get different scenery, be out in the sun, do something different. This consolidates it. We've got a 3-month trial to see the value.
Entertainer
~£120/year for 2-for-1 deals at restaurants, activities, kids' places like Trampo Extreme.
Easily the best value you'll ever get. We use it to decide where we're going – "let's find somewhere in this area with a deal." Saves an absolute fortune.
Careem
"Best app ever. Everything apart from a person you can order. Actually, probably a person too."
Takeaways, pharmacy, groceries, Christmas trees, cooked turkeys, cleaners, cars – it's a super app. Pay 19 AED/month for Careem Plus, get discount savings. No-brainer.
Cafu
On-demand everything for your car. Most people use it for fuel – park up at a restaurant, click a button, someone fills your car. Also good for emergency services (tyre inflated, etc.).
Food Delivery
- Deliveroo
- Uber Eats
- Talabat
Get all of them. Shop around. Because of restaurants constantly popping up, there's always a deal on some app some night of the week. 5-10 minutes finding a deal = eat well inexpensively.
Working & Holidays
Different Holiday Calendars
We work to UK calendar (UK clients). But UAE has different national holidays. Just be aware – Sara wants to take annual leave on both UAE holidays AND UK bank holidays!
Co-Working Spaces
I was bouncing coffee shop to coffee shop. Sara's always on Zoom, so am I – can't both be in the apartment.
I tried a few co-working spaces. If you're used to WeWork or Soho Works quality, you can get similar here at similar pricing.
| My Space | Details |
|---|---|
| Nasab | £450/month |
| Includes | Gym, open 7 days, decent coffee |
| Also has | Pool, paddle courts |
Everything done to really high standard. Great value for what we pay.
The Biggest Lesson: Know Your Why
"I think of Vegas as the best place in the world to extract money from gamblers. I think Dubai is one of the best places in the world to extract money from you."
The Two Sides of Dubai
This place has negative connotations – "no heart, just for Instagram millionaire weekends." That's not true. With a caveat:
If that's what you want, you can absolutely have it. Go to the Palm, Marina, all those places, have a very flashy, expensive lifestyle.
But you can also choose a wholesome, community-driven, family-driven lifestyle. You can make this place what you want.
The Warning
If you don't come here with clarity around WHY you're moving, this place will chew you up and spit you out.
You'll do your brains on costs. You'll get carried away because it makes spending money so easy – the quality of service, the technology, everything designed to make spending effortless.
Our Advice
- Know your numbers – Get concrete on what you'll spend
- Know your why – Why are you actually moving?
- Find your people early – Lean into communities, find people with similar goals
- Stay true to that – Don't get swayed by the glitz
I know it sounds cheesy, but it's really important. This place is awesome, but it's exactly what you make of it.
Come focused with a goal and a clear "why" – you'll love it here.
Come without that clarity – you'll spend a load of money, potentially be lonely, not build communities, and leave after a few years saying "Dubai isn't for me."
Quick Reference: 6-Month Summary
| Topic | Our Experience |
|---|---|
| Weather | Summer hot but bearable, proper cool Nov-Dec |
| Schools | Tour in person, school first then location |
| Education cost | £36-38k/year for 2 kids (British curriculum) |
| Renting | Easy but watch for renewal increases |
| Driving | Get a car, get SUV, watch the fines |
| Food | Delivery cheaper than cooking for us |
| Community | Lean in early, find your people |
| Overall | Know your why, don't get swayed by glitz |
Planning Your Move?
- Take the neighbourhood quiz – Find the right area for your family
- Browse neighbourhood guides – Detailed breakdowns of each area
- Relocation Package – If you want hands-on help from someone who's been through it
If you're in Dubai and see us around – say hi! We love meeting people. Drop us a message, grab a coffee or an offensively overpriced beer. 🇦🇪