Dubai Lifestyle: Explore Life in Dubai for Indians in 2024
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Dubai, the city often referred to as the “Pearl of the Gulf” has been becoming one of the top destinations for Indian Skilled professionals and students to build their careers abroad. One of the important points to note is that nearly 85% of the total residents in the city are expats, thanks to the Dubai lifestyle that brings in a unique blend of innovation, modernity, and Western comforts.
In today’s blog, we will delve into detail about life in Dubai - from the pros and cons of living in Dubai to the advantages of working in Dubai. So let’s get started.
Introducing Dubai Lifestyle
As Dubai continues to thrive in innovation and attract many new-age businesses majorly into Tech, eCommerce, and Digital marketing, it is essential to first understand what are the dynamics of the city and what are the benefits of working in Dubai.
- Dubai ranks among the top 25 cities in the world for best quality of live and happiness ranking under the UN World Happiness Report 2024
- The Crime and Safety Index ranking 2024, ranks Dubai as the 4th safest city to live in the world
- Dubai has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world, at just about 0.5% the best advantage of working in Dubai is that there are numerous job opportunities in various sectors like technology, finance, retail, and real estate.
- Dubai has one of the longest metro systems in the world, facilitating about 1.5 million daily riders.
- In 2023 alone, Dubai welcomed more than 16 million international visitors, and it is currently ranking among the top 10 most visited cities in the world.
Dubai Lifestyle: 16 Important Things to Know
Dubai standard of living has been quite often termed as unmatchable and unique. To deep dive into the Dubai lifestyle, it is important to consider the 16 key pointers mentioned below that give you a detailed elaboration about work, life, and much more in Dubai
1. Tax Free Earnings
The best perk of working in Dubai is the UAE tax system, which completely exempts your salaried earnings from tax. This means whatever you earn it stays with you. Citizens in Dubai are also not required to pay taxes for property or capital gains. Some of the businesses like Oil businesses etc might have to pay taxes as applicable.
2. 5 day Work Week
We all are aware of 5-day work week, but what makes Dubai’s 5-day work week different? The difference here is instead of having holidays on Saturday and Sunday, which is common around the world, Dubai has a new weekend i.e. Friday and Saturday. This is because Friday is considered a holy day in Islam, which means working is off the table.
3. High Standard of Living
Dubai City is the best synonym for a luxurious and high standard of living. They boost some of the world-class infrastructure and amenities making it a comfortable place to live. The cost of living in Dubai is comparatively affordable to cities like New York, London, etc and a single might need around $1,975 while for a family of 4, the average is around $4,546 respectively.
Also Read: Experience High Standards of Living in UAE and Their Benefits
4. Medical Insurance is a Must
As per the healthcare system in UAE, all foreign working professionals would need to buy medical insurance. Dubai Health Insurance Corporation is responsible for regulating the health insurance sector or market in Dubai and ensuring the rights of the insured.
On average it is estimated that for an individual the medical insurance cost might be between AED 3,000 to AED 4,000, while for people opting for family health insurance generally ranges between AED 7,000 to AED 10,000 respectively.
6. Rules are Strictly Followed
Dubai’s low crime rate is a result of the country’s zero-tolerance outlook and quick response to punishments and penalties. Be it capturing pictures of a person without their consent, spitting in public, or eating or drinking on all forms of transport, etc, is strictly prohibited and the person is subjected to harsh punishments.
Dubai mandates that all its residents should be law-abiding to ensure a safe and secure life in this Emirates.
7. Easy Transportation Access
Dubai is a well-connected city offering various modes of affordable transportation like buses, Metro, cabs, etc, to its residents. The Metro line of Dubai is famous for being the longest Metro network in the world spread over 75km.
Traveling a single ride in the metro would only cost you around AED 3.5 and thanks to apps like the Dubai Uberesque Smart Taxi app, that reduces the effort to run down and hail taxis for travel.
8. About Alcohol Licence
Consuming alcohol even at home in Dubai is not acceptable. You have heard it right, in Dubai to consume, store, or transport alcohol, you would need an alcohol license. In case you are caught consuming alcohol in a public setting, irrespective of the fact that you have a license, you could be charged a hefty penalty.
9. Safest City in the World
Dubai is considered one of the top 5 safest cities in the world in 2020 UAE was the one country with 3 of its cities ranking among the top 10 safest countries in the world. Strict rules and punishments, well-publicized convictions, etc, ensure that Dubai’s reputation as the safest city stays intact.
Also Read: UAE: The Second Safest Country in the World
10. All Nights are Ladies Nights in Dubai
Dubai along with being one of the safest cities, also hosts some of exceptional women-only facilities like ladies’ taxis, separate metro carriages, etc. Some of the tourist places like the beaches also promote ladies-only days.
Though this is not an initiative/law imposed by the government this is however the biggest benefit when weighing the pros and cons of living in Dubai considering options for women who look for their own space.
11. English Accepted City
English is one of the widely accepted languages in Dubai hence it reduces the burden of becoming fluent in Arabic to work or manage your daily necessities. However, the benefits of learning a second language are quite many, hence you should consider them too as it could be your motivation to pick up Arabic faster.
12. No Dress Code
Dubai is quite a liberal country and you are free to wear whatever you prefer or to your comfort. Unless you plan to visit places near the religious buildings you do not need to wear an abaya or Kandura or need to cover your head.
However, the only precaution that you would need to take is to dress modestly complimenting the local people while ensuring that you are comfortable.
13. Ease of Doing Business
As per the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business report, UAE is considered as 16th best country to start or invest in a business. The advantages of doing business in UAE include
- Business-friendly policies
- Low to Zero Tax System
- Thriving Economy
- Stable and globally accepted currency
- World-class infrastructure
14. Islamic Holidays
In Dubai like every other Islamic country, the list of holidays fall around the Islamic traditions. Majorly during Ramadan, the working hours are reduced to 6 hours per day, and also many employees prefer to take time off during this period.
A few precautions here to be ensured is that during Ramadan time eating and drinking in public places in the daytime is forbidden and people caught in the act might receive backlash from the authorities.
15. Accessible Visa Processing
The visa process to Dubai is very much accessible and hassle-free. Dubai is known to be one of the most friendliest in terms of visa processing. UAE offers a range of visa options to choose from to suit individual preferences and requirements.
16. Weekend Tourism Getaways
Dubai is one of the most attractive destinations for tourism. It has many tourist places that offer unique and varied experiences like desert safaris, theme parks, beaches, architectural heritages, Burj khalifa, world's largest shopping centers, the largest indoor ski resort, and many more options for all age groups to explore.
Dubai also hosts a vibrant nightlife, like clubs, theaters, and high-end restaurants. Dubai is also famous for its nonsense attitude towards narcotics making it a safe party getaway destination.
Also Read: Top Best Places to Visit in Dubai in 2024: Explore the Desert Jewel
Apply for UAE Job Seeker Visa & Experience Dubai Lifestyle
Considering the pros and cons of living in Dubai would help with your informed decision-making. If you are looking for opportunities in Dubai one of the best ways to experience the Dubai lifestyle while searching for the right job opportunity could be through the UAE job seeker visa.
All you need to do the schedule a call with GetGIS and our immigration assistance team will take you further with details of the application process and all your immigration needs to Emirates.
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