Ask long-time expats what skill they have acquired during their stay in the UAE and the answers will be somewhat identical. There is a process to it of course. At first, the whole thing feels like being in a different planetnew procedures, new ways of doing things, new circle of people. Even trivial matters like…
Most cities loudly announce their complexity. Traffic jams, long lines, dealing with slow paperworklittle reminders that systems are working behind the scenes, sometimes struggling to keep up. The UAE is different. At first, newcomers notice the obvious things: wide roads, clean metro stations, airports where you go through immigration surprisingly fast. But after living here…
People usually focus on major aspects when they talk about life in the Emirates. The skyline, the airports, the ambitious construction projects that one hardly believes to be real. Those things are certainly impressive. However, they usually are not the main reasons why residents decide to extend their stay beyond their original plan. The genuine…
Something strange happens to many people about twelve months after they come to the Emirates. Initially, everything seems temporary. The buildings look like a dream. The heat is very uncomfortable. Even the grocery stores are not like the ones you are used to. You tell yourself you are only going to stay here for a…