Dubai Forums Dubai Expat Forums Dubai Expat Help Forum

Hello all,

After a month reading this forum in all topics regardinds expat information in Dubai, I think a have all details regarding : cost of living, car, house, medical insurance, places to live/visit, benefits, well all the details to negociate my package.

Prior to finalise my negociation I reallly would like to know your comments about good and bad things about a expat in Dubai/UAE.
I dont know if I am clear in my questions because I know that you had a forun about it (good : tax free, weather,.....bad: traffic,....) but I really would like to receive some feelings about live in Dubai. (work environment, how expat is feeling for the loca governament,....)

I am moving from Brazil and I need to make sure I will be selecting the correct country to live, I know that money is interesting but is not the must important in my life. I am interesting to live in a place where secutiry/safe is good, when I can walk safely in the street, where expat should be live in good atmosphere, where I can follow the rules but not be paranoic about doing some wrong.

Well, all comments will be welcome because it is always complicate when I need to move again, specialy to a very different local as Dubai (language and culture).

Thank you in advanced for any help.
Caca

Food - Excellent restaurants
Traffic - Keeps you alert
Cars - Cheap
Accom - Can be bad, there are great areas, but it depends on budet and whether you are willing to share with others
People - Other expats are generally very friendly and welcoming

Shopping - grocery shopping is a world of choice but quite stressful
Other shopping - this is what dubai is famous for
Weather - Its not that bad seeing you're indoors most of summer
Nightlife - great bars and clubs

Nature - You miss seeing lots of trees
Travel - Centre of the world - can go anywhere quickly and cheaply
Relationships - you'll miss your family/friends no matter where else you go in the world

Career - great to have added international experience on the CV
Permanance - You know you are not moving here forever, but good to be in a growing city of the world
Sand - if you don't like it between your toes?

Culture - That's why you move? - people in my office and scoial situations are from all over the world
Language - Business & shopping is English

Hope this helps

<EDITED>

Nick that's rude! I think in Portugese it's prounounched casha

scarlet wrote:Nick that's rude! I think in Portugese it's prounounched casha

I've got a dark side that I can't control at times...

scarlet wrote:Nick that's rude! I think in Portugese it's prounounched casha

Ditto and correct.

Fixed


Gives mic back to Topic Creator

Welcom. Kind of a hike all the way from Brasil!

First off thank you for taking the time to search through the threads for information. Second Dubai is leaps and bonds safer then Brazil. I actually got offered a job in Sao Paulo just as I was moving to Dubai. I’d say one thing you’ll really appreciate coming from Brazil is the safeness of Dubai.

I see a lot of people with Brazil shirts on here but I'm not sure how large the Brazilian community is but Latin dancing, lifestyle are big here so you'll probably feel more at home than you think.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Welcome to the forum, and if you come to Dubai with the right attitude you will enjoy it. However if you are set on bitching and moaning about everything you will ruin it for yourself. This place is far from perfect, but for sure much better than alot of places i have been to.

BTW, there is a good brazilian community here i have met quite a few brazilians who are cabin crew with emirates. But i encourage you to come here with an open mind to meet other nationalities since you will find people from all corners of the earth here.

Best of luck with your decision.

Dear all,

Thank you so much for all answers and information. Sometimes when you need to decide about a new place we need to search much more than packages details.

I was expat in almost 3 different continents and now a new proposal to Dubai, for me was a surprise.

Can someone tell me a little bit more about, how do you fell about the gov.services like : register (when you arrived), take licence drive,....

Well, I am not looking for information regarding how to do it but how this kind of service is provided to expat/ foreigners. Because during my last experience as expat in Europe every single day in a gov.service was a nightmare.

Thank you again and I hope if I decide to move to Dubai maybe whe can setup a meeting/party.

If someone else is interesting to share more information, of course, will be welcome.

Regards from Sao Paulo,
Caca

Caca, govt is slow here and there are many processes. However! 80% of the population are expats so the systems are in place to get all those things done that you need.

Reagrding residency: you cannot buy a car or set-up a bank account till you get it. Depending on your company this will take 1 week to 3 months. Howver it is not really a problem as you can rent a car, and transfer your cash to your home bank account

caca wrote:Dear all,

Thank you so much for all answers and information. Sometimes when you need to decide about a new place we need to search much more than packages details.

I was expat in almost 3 different continents and now a new proposal to Dubai, for me was a surprise.

Can someone tell me a little bit more about, how do you fell about the gov.services like : register (when you arrived), take licence drive,....

Well, I am not looking for information regarding how to do it but how this kind of service is provided to expat/ foreigners. Because during my last experience as expat in Europe every single day in a gov.service was a nightmare.

Thank you again and I hope if I decide to move to Dubai maybe whe can setup a meeting/party.

If someone else is interesting to share more information, of course, will be welcome.

Regards from Sao Paulo,
Caca

Hi caca,

Firstly welcome to Dubai Forum.

The initial information posted by Scarlet was very good.

Your additional questions I will try and give you some insight.

If you are coming to Dubai to work for a local company (or Foreign registered company) most of what you need will be taken care of by the Company PRO.

When you arrive on a visit visa you can drive using an International Licence. Once you have got your residence permit you can apply for a regular licence, however what happens next will depend on which Country has issued your current driving licence.

No problem to meet for a coffee when you arrive to give you some additional info.