Living a dynamic life in Dubai
Michelle Lee, 48, enjoys the fast pace and ambition of her adopted homeland.
Where are you from?
Auckland. I am in Dubai with family – my husband and two children, aged 15 and 17.
When and why did you decide to move to Dubai?
We moved to Dubai in August 2016 from Dublin, Ireland.
We left New Zealand in 2008 for a career opportunity in Australia, then moved to Doha, Qatar, in 2013. While in Doha, we visited Dubai frequently and always enjoyed our visits.
When I was approached about a role in Dubai, we decided to move because of the weather, financial and business opportunities, and the chance to live in an international, multicultural hub that allowed us to travel because of its proximity to the rest of the world.
What were your first impressions?
The amazing Dubai skyline! And how modern and integrated Dubai is with the rest of the world. I was very impressed with the vision and ambition of Dubai, and the leadership of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
How did you find settling in?
It was easy as there were many other expats in a similar situation. And since we had moved so many times previously, we were accustomed to the process of moving and settling in. Also, after living in Doha, we were acclimatised to the summer weather, cultural differences and the way of doing things in the region.
What do you do there?
I initially worked for a large UAE company in the retail sector, in a senior marketing role. I now work for a multinational company in the financial services industry, still in a marketing leadership role.
How do you find it?
I initially found working very different from other work environments because of the multicultural workforce. Even though English is the common language, with different cultures, the interpretation of words or sentences can be very different, so it was a lot harder to get things done.
How do you spend your free time?
We are very busy with our kids’ activities. We also spend time with friends at brunches, dinners, relaxing at the beach, going to the cinema, and visiting different parts of the UAE, such as Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
How easy has it been to get to know people and make friends?
We found it easy, especially through the kids’ school and expat networks. Some of our best friends are the parents of our children’s friends. We also got to know people through work and there are many types of expat communities and events.
What are the best things about living there?
The weather, everything is open all the time, the energy, and the buzz of Dubai. There is always something going on, from mall shopping to water activities to hiking.
Entrepreneurship is actively encouraged and supported – there are many access points and tools to help you.
And the hardest?
Missing our family and friends in New Zealand and Australia, beautiful green New Zealand scenery, and the Kiwi sense of humour. I have also found it difficult to adjust to the level of conservatism in creative thinking, especially in my line of work.
Have there been any surprises?
I knew Dubai was a busy place but the biggest surprise was how fast life is in Dubai. You are always on the go and it changes your expectations about speed when you visit other countries. Though Dubai is a relatively young city, I am still surprised at how it continues to grow and evolve at a rapid pace.
There are always new buildings or roads under construction, new restaurants opening up, new communities being built, and the skyline is always changing.
Were there things you found difficult to adjust to?
The cost of living was higher than expected so we needed to recalibrate and be strict with our money management.
What are some of the biggest misconceptions about Dubai?
That everyone is earning millions of dollars! That Dubai is not as progressive as it is and just a spot in the desert. In reality, Dubai is a dynamic city and a thriving, multicultural, international business hub.
Is there anything New Zealand could learn from Dubai, or vice versa?
There are a lot of similarities. Both encourage outside thinking and innovation. However, an area New Zealand could learn from is the high level of automation in Dubai and how it has fully embraced technology.
Also, Dubai has a very strong purpose and a big focus on customer service. Dubai could learn to take a less conservative approach and be more creative in problem solving.
Overall, how happy are you there?
We are very happy. We deeply miss New Zealand but our life here continues to be an exciting adventure.
What advice would you give to other Kiwis contemplating a move to Dubai?
Be open-minded and patient, and make sure you do your homework in understanding the total costs of living in Dubai.