8 Reasons Why Expats Live and Work in Dubai

Dubai, like the GCC area, is now a hot spot for expatriates. Being a a state member of the UAE, a recent report by the Dubai Statistics Centre reveals a 5% increase in population over 2012 to 2.1 million.

Interestingly enough, most of them are expatriates. Given that Dubai and Abu Dhabi have ranked first and second in the best places to live in the Mena region, this is hardly a surprise. It is not surprising either that the most populated areas in the city are actually those where workers live and work.

Other estimations indicate that over a million people travelled to Dubai daily in 2012, which represents 2% more than in 2011. This number includes commuters and other people who also live in the region.  

Dubai certainly seems to be a busy area. Let’s have a look at some of the reasons why professionals live and work in Dubai.

1. Trade is thriving and employment is on the increase.

Dubai is currently an international market which is viewed in the same light as London or New York. According to Dubai's government, their international trade has been growing by an average of 11% since 1988.

Employment is also on the increase in the whole UAE. The Vice President of Sales at Bayt.com said that the GCC area’s broad mass appeal seems in the increase only. A January Job Survey showed that 67% of employers in the MENA region planned to hire during 2013.

Another interesting fact is that they don’t mix business and politics, as their trade with Iran shows.

2. Stable economy in a safe area.

The recent Consumer Confidence Index published in March showed that professionals expected their personal finances to improve during the next 6 months. It is also worth noting that salaries are tax-free and higher in some industries than in the same industries in other areas in the world.

Safety might be a concern for expats. But, Dubai is a low-crime area. Also, the fact that most of the population are professionals makes this area safer than many others.

3. Strategic location.

It is a bridge between the Far East and Europe on the East-West, and the CIS and Africa on the North-South.  Dubai boasts good infrastructure, including a solid airline carrier. This certainly helps international business, with numerous companies headquartered in the area. 

4. High-quality facilities and services.

Expats living or working in Dubai are enjoying high-quality services in most aspects of life, eg, automations of bills, etc. As IExpats.com mentions, Dubai and UAE offer a high standard of living.

Medical facilities are also good. However, expats would only enjoy this service free of charge in case of life-threatening cases or emergencies. That’s the reason why expats need international medical cover if they wish to live or work in that area. Talking to a specialist health insurance broker can only be beneficial for them.

5. Entertainment.

Business conferences aside, events and outdoor activities are easy to find. Dubai is a buzzing city, and expats feel that there is always something going on. Anything from sporting activities (there are many sports clubs available), exhibitions and music concerts can easily be found. Acts as varied as The Killers or David Guetta have played there.

6. Breath taking buildings and scenery.

Source: Palordinia

7. Multicultural society.

Expatriates can do business with and live alongside people of different areas of the world. This tiny area is a global village where expatriates learn to appreciate and live in a multicultural environment.

8. Weather.

If expats are looking for a warm, sunny place to live and work, this seems to be the one. It is warm for about eight months a year. 

Any others that you might have? Thank you for reading.