More and more people are emigrating to Dubai and are raving about the metropolis on the Arabian Gulf. Sun, beaches, palm trees, safety, and no taxes attract many to Dubai. But does this city only have advantages, or are there also significant disadvantages when one decides to emigrate to Dubai?
After almost 10 years in Dubai, we offer an insight into what it's actually like to live in Dubai and what negative aspects or disadvantages can arise when living in Dubai.
Moving to Dubai: 6 Disadvantages
Disadvantages, in a certain sense, have to be weighed up individually or some people perceive them more strongly than others. Nevertheless, here are the most common negative aspects that arise when emigrating to or living in Dubai.
Traffic
The biggest disadvantage, which is frequently mentioned, is traffic. Dubai has become so popular in recent years that more and more people have emigrated to the metropolis. This has resulted in the city now struggling with regular traffic jams.
Especially during rush hour, you should avoid certain routes to avoid getting stuck in traffic for hours. In the evening, the route from Marina to Downtown can take around 1-1.5 hours.
However, the government has recognised the problem and has started to widen roads and rebuild certain intersections and junctions so that traffic can flow better. Additionally, public transport is being expanded, and the metro is getting more lines and new stations.
Summer
One negative aspect that will probably never change is the Hot summers in Dubai. During the summer months, the thermometer rises above 40 degrees Celsius daily, and all activities have to be moved indoors. These are generally the months of June, July, August and sometimes also September. In addition, the humidity is very high.
During this time, you either have to stay indoors or travel to other countries where it is much cooler. The latter is purely a matter of money. Those who can afford it leave Dubai and don't have the problem in the first place.
Build quality
The building quality you find in Austria, Germany, or Switzerland, for example, you won't find anywhere else in the world. Many emigrants have this problem, but it's unfortunately global. In Dubai, this is often criticised, as most developers use cheap materials and are unprofessional in their execution.
Therefore, it is absolutely essential to choose the right property developers and to pay attention to quality during viewings to avoid any nasty surprises later on. Among the poorer, but also cheaper, property developers are Azizi, Damac, or Samana, among others. Better quality, on the other hand, can be found with Ellington, Shoba, or Meraas.
Nevertheless, as a general rule, the construction quality in Dubai is poorer than in the DACH region.
Spam
Once you carelessly provide your phone number in Dubai, it can have annoying consequences. Spam calls are an everyday occurrence for many who are happy to provide their phone number (online). You should definitely bear this in mind and, ideally, be cautious from the outset about whom you give your phone number to or where you provide it. You are often contacted by real estate agencies, insurance companies or internet providers, and this can be very annoying in the long run. However, those who are careful can avoid this.
No mountain sports
This disadvantage is rather subjective and affects some more than others. Especially for all those coming from southern Germany, Austria or Switzerland, they will notice that mountain sports in the UAE are incomparable. There are mountains, of course, but for Austrians and Swiss, they aren't worth mentioning. The ski hall in the Mall of the Emirates should also be seen more as a one-off fun experience.
Anyone who enjoys hiking, ski touring, or climbing should rather fly home for their holiday.
Prices
The most obvious negative aspect of all is the price level in Dubai. Living in Dubai has become more expensive in recent years and is definitely more expensive than in most European cities. This is especially true when it comes to rent and groceries. The former is increasing due to rising demand, and the latter has to be imported.
The The cost of living is in Dubai much more expensive after emigrating, but still more is left over due to the high tax savings.
Experiences
In our experience, the positive aspects of emigrating to Dubai strongly outweigh any negatives, and the city continues to hold significant future potential. Safety, cleanliness, tax advantages, and brilliant infrastructure in particular foster a very strong overall package for the city. Many of our clients and community members remain very happy in Dubai, or are glad about their decision to emigrate.
Summary
No city is perfect, and Dubai is no exception. There are a handful of negative aspects that you have to live with if you emigrate to Dubai. These include, first and foremost, heavy traffic, hot summers, and rising prices. Nevertheless, Dubai offers enormous advantages and a high quality of life, and the number of emigrants is increasing year by year. Furthermore, the government is working hard to solve these problems.
