We all know someone who has made the move to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is repeatedly telling us about the brilliant climate, great lifestyle and wonderful opportunities they’ve had since they stepped on the plane. But the question is, why are so many people moving to the UAE, and Dubai in particular?
Here I look at the most popular reasons for emigrating from the UK to live in Dubai – and some may be so compelling you might start packing your bag and preparing for the big move yourself.
Most people who move to Dubai do so because they’ve been offered a job there. As the Emirate is continually developing, career opportunities are growing all the time. Indeed, only 16.5% of the UAE’s population were Emiratis in 2010, showing just how popular the country is with foreigners.
Not only are there lots of available positions in Dubai, you’re likely to find roles in Dubai pay more than similar posts in the UK. Therefore, it’s not a surprise so many people are tempted to hop on a jet and start a career in the UAE, with most Brits there working in construction, oil, tourism and banking.
If you’re serious about moving to Dubai, your best chance of being able to do so is by having a work permit. With this, you can get a residence visa and an Emirate ID card, which will enable you to live in the UAE for up to two years. Typically, your new employer will organise your visa for you, making the entire process far easier.
A huge temptation for many people to move to Dubai is because it is good for your finances. Not only are you likely to earn more money than you could in the UK, but as there are many jobs available, you can continually try to get a better paying role, so long as this doesn’t interfere with your visa arrangements.
Another advantage of working in Dubai – or anywhere in the UAE – is you don’t have to pay taxes. It does not charge income tax on salaries, so you’ll save a considerable amount on your earnings. You might be used to getting taxed at least 20% in Britain, but you might even get charged 40% if you earn £34,371 or 50% for earnings over £150,000. Therefore, going from paying between one-fifth and half of your income to paying no levies at all will make a considerable difference to your take-home wage.
If you’re fed up of the cold, drizzly British weather, you’ll probably be really tempted to move to Dubai, as it is well known for its year-round sunshine. In fact, the weather can be so hot in the Emirate there are often highs of 48C in the summer.
January is the coldest month but even then the average temperature is 24C; 
the hottest months are between June and September when it is extremely warm and humid. Indeed, the average maximum daily temperature in July is 41C, so if you don’t like the sunshine, Dubai isn’t the place for you.
However, if you’re a sun worshipper, you’ll be able to bask in sunshine 12 months of the year. Something else Brits will appreciate is there is very little rain, so you can wave goodbye to heavy showers, frost, fog, snow and miserable grey days if you move to the UAE.
If you are concerned the heat might get too much for you, don’t worry as cars and buildings are all equipped with air conditioning and many places have swimming pools where you can cool off. Don’t forget that Dubai is on the coast, so you can take a splash in the sea on your days off, with water temperatures being 40C on average during the summer. Since 2007, more than 10,000 people have moved to the UAE, and I’m sure its excellent weather is a big factor in encouraging people to make this move.
It can be daunting emigrating, but one of the biggest appeals of Dubai is so many people have already moved there so you will never feel alone. You might already know friends, family or acquaintances who now live in the UAE.
Even if you go there knowing no-one, you won’t find it difficult to make friends; not only will your workplace comprise many expats from the UK and other places around the world, but your property in Dubai will also have lots of international residents who have come to the Emirate for the same reasons as you.
There is a thriving expat community in the Emirate, and many people hang out at the same places to maintain this atmosphere. As soon as you settle in, you’ll start to feel as though Dubai is a home away from home, with many people speaking English and reminiscing about things from the UK. This strong expat ambiance is not only one of the things that drive people here, but it is a major factor in what makes them want to stay.
Of course, your move to Dubai might be the result of a strong desire to have always wanted to live abroad. Unlike many other countries in the world, relocating to the UAE is a relatively painless process, and as long as you have a job here, the rest will fall into place.
Its fantastic climate, lucrative opportunities, excellent properties, the high-flying lifestyle it offers and the welcoming community make it among the most tempting destinations to immigrate to. So, if you’re interested in living in Dubai, don’t hesitate in making your move – it might be the best decision you ever make.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com’s Pavel L Photo and Video
I’m a Property Investment writer for Select Property collating the latest industry news about Property Investments in Dubai, the Select Property brand and information to help investors interested in buying property abroad. I am also a freelance journalist and am often published in offline and online media, as well as being a keen wedding blogger. I hope you find my posts useful and please feel free to comment share or tweet.
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