Dubai Forums Dubai Expat Forums Dubai Expat Help Forum

Hi

Im moving over in August to work at a local school. I've done a lot of research about laws etc... but wondered if any expats living in Dubai could give me any other advice - you know the sort you can't find on an advice page.

FOr example - how do you get used to the heat, nightlife, general do's and dont's that sort of thing

Cheers
Kath

Follow this forum for the coming months and you'll have a reasonable outset of opinions coming in front of you that will explain the differences between the West and the East.

Just steer between some of the ranting and bashing. If you do that, you'll see some bright spots of facts (do's and don'ts) appear once every now and then

Good luck and have a great stay from August onwards in Majestic Dubai.

Dear Kath,

There are some very good samaritans and age old dubai residents on this forum. Nevertheless, if no one's giving you a reply it's simply because they have answered the same topic 100s of times in all its specifics and details.

In Dubai and the GCC given the many desperados and love struck romeos who get infatuated from the very first look, utter of word etc you will find the admiration from many a man here a tad superficial and at times psychotic. The term I have coined is "They will go HABIBI-GAGA over a woman"

This is a pretty user-friendly forum and thus using the SEARCH ENGINE with keywords such as : new, moving, female will get you appropriate hits.

Also there's a local bloke aptly called UAE kid who has posted a thingie called thread of the month that has a link in it to Dubai's do's and don'ts.
Look into that.

Lastly, this post should be in: Dubai Expat Help Forum - a sub classification under dubaiforums.com
Have questions about Dubai? Moving to Dubai or just moved recently and need help? This is the forum for you.

PS
If you are a british girl in your late 20s to early 30s with an exact demographic match to a moderator here called chocoholic she may lend her hand out for friendship. This statement is based on some distressed missy from ol' blighty who possibly had a similar demographic match to her and was highly depressed with dubai. Just like any place the propensity to like or hate this emirate is based on ones own personal cues.

well first off, no one here ever gets used to the heat. you just have to put up with it day by day for 10 months. night life is ok, though not that great depends on where youre coming from. dont do drugs, dont act drunk in public, dont pick fights with locals (infact just avoid them coz youll never win), have alot of patience when driving with idiots around you, do carry handkerchiefs to cover your nose with.

Robby's right, you'll pick up good gossip/info here, but as always on the internet ignore the extreme views in any topic (that could include mine!).

You have to acclimatise to heat, your blood thins, it can take 3-4 years I am told. I was quicker but I love hot climates anyway. Many people sleep with their a/c on all night, it's not a huge expense but an extra one nonetheless (unless your rental at Majestic is chiller free?). During the day you'll be in airconditioned apartment/car/mall/school so you only get blasted when you leave one to reach another, and even that for only say three months of the year.

Good luck! My daughter attends school here. If there are any questions you don't want to ask in the forums send me a private message. I promise you I'll answer as best as I can and in confidence (you don't know me so that's a dumb thing to say, but whatever....).

xero_ wrote:well first off, no one here ever gets used to the heat. you just have to put up with it day by day for 10 months. night life is ok, though not that great depends on where youre coming from. dont do drugs, dont act drunk in public, dont pick fights with locals (infact just avoid them coz youll never win), have alot of patience when driving with idiots around you, do carry handkerchiefs to cover your nose with.

Haha great outset of 'don'ts' Xero.
Now tell us what she is allowed to DO without losing her identity

katie31 wrote:how do you get used to the heat

Get used to it that you don´t.

Hi Katie,

Wow - August - hot, hot, hot. Where are you coming from?

You should be aware that Ramadan will start around the 3rd week of August. Please read up on it and what is expected of you. There is no eating, drinking, smoking in public during fasting hours. Also, you are asked to dress modestly but you will find that there are some expats and visitors who ignore that request.

The first thing you will have to deal with is being homesick. I know that there are a number of people who use Skype in Dubai and you would have to look into how to set it up in Dubai because it is not accessible, but people get around it. Try to set that up from your side.

Make sure you bring your driving license and get a UAE license as soon as possible. Rent a car initially. I know that there are some dealers that do a rent to buy.

You are coming at a time that you will probably find unbearable weather wise. Your body will acclaimate to the weather - in about a year's time!! Next summer will be horrible as opposed to absolutely horrible when you arrive. You will spend very little time outside and everything is airconditioned.

I am sure there are some good people here who will reach out with info. If you have any questions or need help with something PM me and I will get back to you.

Learn as much as you can about UAE law. Also, don't thing that everything works here as it does at home. Processing paperwork can be either fast or frustrating - usually the second!

Good luck to you.

Good luck in your new country Kath. As others have said, this forum is an absolute godsend for UAE/Dubai info. Pretty much any question you could ask has already been answered.

For everyone else, can I just ask an aside question and ask how last summer rated to the norm? I've only been here one summer. Was it particularly hot? Kinda mild? It felt like I was living inside a boiler room to me, but when you move from airconditioned house to car, work, shops, pubs it's not too bad I suppose.

Captain Australia wrote:Good luck in your new country Kath. As others have said, this forum is an absolute godsend for UAE/Dubai info. Pretty much any question you could ask has already been answered.

For everyone else, can I just ask an aside question and ask how last summer rated to the norm? I've only been here one summer. Was it particularly hot? Kinda mild? It felt like I was living inside a boiler room to me, but when you move from airconditioned house to car, work, shops, pubs it's not too bad I suppose.

Been here for 12 summers so I kind of gotten use to it so one summer is no different to another, but I did have fewer summer colds - going from the heat to AC to heat to AC...... So for you, as I said to Katie, extremely horrible last year will be just horrible for you this year. Stay cool.

Thanks to all of you for your advice - I really appreciate it. I've done a lot of research about laws and customs etc... Im working in a school so hopefully i'll make friends quickly.

Thanks again

Kath

p.s Captain Australia, I also have a cool pic of me with a cigar and wearing aviators - such a good look

Captain Australia wrote:Good luck in your new country Kath. As others have said, this forum is an absolute godsend for UAE/Dubai info. Pretty much any question you could ask has already been answered.

For everyone else, can I just ask an aside question and ask how last summer rated to the norm? I've only been here one summer. Was it particularly hot? Kinda mild? It felt like I was living inside a boiler room to me, but when you move from airconditioned house to car, work, shops, pubs it's not too bad I suppose.

CA, my wife and I both thought last summer was actually pretty mild, but then we do sit around the pool even at lunchtime in August (admittedly under shade, we're silly but not stupid).

Katie there are a lot of young teachers here and I can tell you they do have a good time as far as nightlife goes. My daughter has bumped into them in various clubs/bars (what happens in Rock Bottom, stays in Rock Bottom). I think you should make friends quickly and have a great time.

The UAE is really whatever you choose to make of it.

Sure it's great to go out and do all the free girly nights when you first arrive and do on, but there is so much more to do. The nightlife can be sooo overrated. Take some road trips around the rest of the Emirates.

Get used to being stared at by guys, you could pretty much be wearing a bin liner and they'll still do it. If you wander into some more local areas like the souks better to take a pashmina to dress more modestly, mostly to avoid the afore mentioned staring.

Don't be afraid of arriving in Ramadan, I personally love that time of year, it's very relaxed and chilled out, take advantage of the Iftars to meet new people. Most food outlets are open during the day, they just tend to black out the windows and many offices offices carry on as normal, so it's not like you are forced to fast aswell. Just don't go out in public doing things.

You'll go through bunches of superficial people when you first arrive, this is perfectly normal, until you find a good 'sound' group of 'normal' people to hang out with.

I don't find the heat much of an issue, what bugs me is being frozen to death inside.

Chocoholic wrote:Get used to being stared at by guys, you could pretty much be wearing a bin liner and they'll still do it. If you wander into some more local areas like the souks better to take a pashmina to dress more modestly, mostly to avoid the afore mentioned staring.

C'mon a woman should feel complimented wen a guy notices and admires her beauty!
An the UAE is a very safe place for the women folk! Nutin wrong with a lil harmless looking! I'm sure most women crave the attention!

Not when the stare literally bores through you and the guys staring are jacking off at the same time!

I would never stare to a woman. At most 3 seconds. Especially if they were a bit too Chocoholic for me: