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Dubai

Living in Dubai is fabulous, particularly if you have small children. The climate is wonderful for eight months of the year, schools are of the very highest standards, crime is very low and there is a very active social life on offer for those who wish to take part. Best of all, there is no income tax.

Western ex-pats tend to live in either Jumeirah or Umm Suquiem. These two areas are between the coast and the Sheikh Zayed Highway, south of the Dubai Creek. There are many other residential areas but the majority of western ex-pats live here. Families tend to live in villas, either bungalows or two storey buildings.
Annual rental figures for villas in Jumeirah or Umm Suquiem do not differ wildly, though a good hunt through what is available might throw up some bargains. Furnished or un-furnished apartments are also widely available.

Ex-pats can now buy property in Dubai, which also gives them automatic right to a residency permit.

Climate

Winter sunshine averages eight hours per day, while the summer figure reaches as high as eleven hours a day. The climate of the UAE is generally hot and dry.

The summer months, from June to September, are too hot for comfort. Midday temperatures range from 35°C to 42°C, and occasionally top 49°C at the height of summer. From December to March the climate is considerably more equable, with midday temperatures ranging from 25 to 35°C and falling to as low as 9°C at night.
Whilst much is written about the fierce heat of Dubai in the summer, for eight months of the year the climate is extremely pleasant; warm, dry days and clear blue, cloudless skies.

Getting Around

Motor cars are tax free and as a result relatively inexpensive. Generally, Western expatriates tend to buy 4x4 vehicles as off-roading and camping are two very popular recreational pastimes during the cooler months. There is also the added bonus of the security and safety offered by bigger, heavier cars.

Petrol is very cheap. A litre of unleaded fuel costs approximately eight British pence. Leaded fuel is no longer sold in the UAE. In the UAE you drive on the right hand side of the road. Drink driving is a very, very serious offence.

Health

There are a number of private clinics and hospitals in Dubai offering a very high standard of health care. Private health insurance is a must for all expatriates, though this is generally offered by firms as part of the employee's benefits package.

The government hospitals are generally of a good standard. Of particular note is the Al Wasl hospital which specialises in Maternity and Paediatrics and which has an excellent reputation.

Entertainment

The social scene in Dubai is excellent; there are many great restaurants, bars and clubs. Certainly something to suit every taste and budget. The best guide to life in Dubai is 'Time Out' which takes a 'warts and all' look at what is on offer every month.

Cinemas here screen the most recent films, though any scenes with nudity or sex are cut.

A quick flick through some of the ex-pat guides show that there are clubs and social groups covering almost every interest and sport known.

Off-roading/dune bashing and camping are popular activities amongst the expats during the cooler months. A thirty minute drive out of Dubai will put you in the middle of rolling sand dunes with only the odd camel for company.

Most expats join a 'club' soon after they arrive. These clubs tend to be part of a hotel and offer swimming pools and other sporting facilities. In the hotter months weekends tend to be spent lying around the pools.

Dubai is not a 'dry' Emirate (Sharjah is the only Emirate that is) though the consumption and purchase of alcohol is controlled.

The law states that only hotels or private clubs can serve alcohol though it seems that the interpretation of this law is stretched pretty thin sometimes. Due to this restriction western ex-pat socialising tends to gravitate towards hotels and as a result, the cost of alcohol is high.

There are two companies licensed to sell alcohol for private consumption and their premises tend to be located near the main supermarkets. In order to buy alcohol to consume at home you are required to apply for a permit issued by, for some reason, the CID branch of the Dubai Police department. It is a painless process though the license has to be renewed annually.

Education

There are many English-speaking kindergartens, particularly in the residential areas of Jumeirah and Umm Suquiem.

Full-time education is compulsory for all children above the age of five.

Children of British ex-pats tend to go to one of three primary schools: Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS), Dubai English Speaking School (DESS) or Jumeirah Primary School (JPS). These schools take children from age five to eleven. All are based on the English school system and curriculum, subscribe to OFSTED and are inspected and reviewed every year by OFSTED inspectors.

The choice for secondary schools is slightly restricted though there are plans to build further secondary schools. Dubai College and Jumeirah College are the two most popular and sought after schools. Again they follow the English school system and they both submit their exam results to the British 'league tables'.

Tips

If you are moving to Dubai bring lots and lots of passport size photos of you and any family members. Initially Dubai can seem a bureaucratic nightmare with permits and licenses required for absolutely everything, and every single application must be accompanied with at least three photos.

Unmarried couples are not permitted to live together by law. The police don’t actively pursue unmarried cohabitants, but if it comes to their notice that an unmarried couple are living together, quite severe punishments (followed by deportation) can be imposed.

Girls should dress modestly. Whilst it is sometimes easy to forget that we are living in a Muslim country you should remain sensitive to local cultural issues.

There is no requirement for girls to wear an 'abaya' for instance, but for going out and about longish skirts or trousers and tops which cover the shoulders are preferable.

There is no home delivery of post in Dubai. If you are concerned about personal mail being delivered to your place of employment then set up your own post box at one of the Emirates Post offices.

Drink driving is a very serious offence. There is a 'zero' limit for drink driving and offenders are subject to an immediate one month imprisonment with the Court deciding on a fine or further confinement thereafter. Fortunately, taxis are very cheap and very easy to come by.

For further information on the legalmarket and job opportunities in Dubai please contact yournearest Taylor Root office:

London:
Mark Walters E: markwalters@taylorroot.com T: +44 (0)20 7415 2828

Dubai:
Shane Morton E: shanemorton@taylorroot.com T: +9714 448 7770

Hong Kong: 
Mark Coates E: markcoates@taylorroot.com.hk T: +852 2973 6333

Sydney: 
Karlie Connellan E: karlieconnellan@taylorroot.com.au T: +61 (0)2 9236 9000

Melbourne:
Tim Fogarty E: timfogarty@taylorroot.com.au T: +61 (0)3 8610 8400