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Six Reasons Why Dubai is So Popular with Expats
Dubai is fast becoming one of the world’s biggest tourist attractions – and also one of the most desirable places to go and work. Only one in six of the city’s working population was born in the United Arab Emirates, with many people moving here from around the world.
Hamiltons arrange international removals to all parts of the United Arab Emirates. Here we look at six of the principal reasons why the city has proved to be such a big draw for expats.
The Transport Connections
Dubai is one of the easiest destinations to get to, as the airport is the busiest in the world when it comes to the number of international passengers. In 2018, more than 88 million people used it, beating London Heathrow (75million) into second place.
The main carrier, Emirates Airlines, provides regular services to other parts of the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, South and North America, Australia and New Zealand. This means, if you are based here, you have a wide choice of holiday destinations, and you should find it easy to travel back to your home country. Once you are in the city, you have plenty of choice of how to get around – by car, bike, taxi, boat, metro, tram and monorail.
The Economy
Originally Dubai’s economy was founded on oil, but in the past few years it has developed into one of the world’s biggest centres for high-tech, tourism and financial services. In order to sustain this growth, the economy relies on a large international workforce, and companies are prepared to pay well to attract the right sort of candidate. This means many people need removals from the UK to Dubai for work reasons.
The country also has an extremely low level of taxation, as the authorities don’t impose any individual taxes, although there are some indirect taxes, such as toll roads and alcohol duty. Most goods, including food, are tax-free, so you should be able to treat yourself to the odd luxury – and there are plenty of shopping malls full of designer names – or boost your savings.
The Weather
If you don’t like rain or snow, then Dubai could be the place for you. The city enjoys, on average, 342 sunny days every year. Daytime temperatures have been known to exceed 40C, so the advice to newcomers is to drink plenty of water, exercise early or late in the day, and wear loose, comfortable clothing. Wearing too little, particularly in public places, can cause problems as the city’s main religion, Islam, requires people of both sexes to dress respectably.
The authorities have recognised that the climate can create problems for non-nationals, so there are plenty of swimming pools and water parks where you can cool off. You can also take a dip in the sea – Dubai is on the south-eastern coast of the Persian Gulf and there are plenty of sandy beaches to choose from. In addition, most of the public buildings and shopping malls are equipped with air conditioning.
The Lifestyle
This is one of Dubai’s big draws. The culinary scene, for instance, is notable not just for its quality but its variety. Because there is such a cosmopolitan workforce, you should be able to find cuisine to your taste. And many Michelin-starred and celebrity chefs have bases in Dubai as well –Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay both have eateries in the city.
There are plenty of leisure pursuits to enjoy if you are worried about your waistline. And there are three football teams competing in the UAE Pro-League, while sports fans can also see many of the major stars – there are top-level tennis and golf tournaments every year, while the Meydan Racecourse hosts the Dubai World Cup for thoroughbreds.
It’s Child Friendly
Dubai isn’t just a place for the corporate high-flyer with no family commitments. The city is home to a number of high-quality international schools, for infants right up to further education level.
There are plenty of family-friendly attractions throughout the city, including an aquarium, an underwater zoo, ice rinks, trampoline parks and even an indoor ski centre with classes laid on for children.
The High Levels of Safety and Security
If you live in Dubai, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about your personal safety – in 2018, one study ranked it the eighth safest city in the world. because you should be aware that the country is extremely strict on certain offences such as alcohol sales, public displays of affection and swearing. Any crime tends to be fairly low-level, with traffic offences, petty theft and cybercrime among the most common.
The ever-increasing expat community has also created a more tolerant attitude to religion, and it also means that you should find it easy to settle in the city – with every nationality having its own social scene.
International Removals to the United Arab Emirates with Hamiltons Removals
Hamiltons have more than two decades’ worth of experience in organising international removals to the United Arab Emirates, and have helped move people to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and Al Ain as well as Dubai. We give you the choice of a dedicated service, where you have sole use of one of our shipping containers, or a groupage option, where your items are shipped as part of a consignment if you don’t need a container of your own.
We can pack and unpack your items for you if required, and we are also move large or specialist items as well. If you would like to know more, follow this link or call us on 01379 855203.
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