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Cara Swann, 29, swapped Glasgow, Scotland for sunny Dubai three years ago to further her career as a secondary school English teacher.
She spoke exclusively to GB News about making new friends, how to spend your time in Dubai, and how the city navigates the scorching heat.
The expat had been dreaming of moving abroad long before relocating to Dubai. She said: “I always wanted to move away from Scotland. I thought about going to university in London but because it’s free in Scotland I decided to stay.
“After a few years of teaching, Dubai seemed like an easy place to move to. If you get a teaching job out here, they sort out your accommodation and flights, so it seemed like a simple move to make.”
The easy move turned out to be extremely worthwhile, and Cara absolutely loves life in the UAE city three years in.
‘Dubai is whatever you want it to be’
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She told GB News: “Dubai is whatever you want it to be. If you’re someone who wants to go out and non-stop party at a reasonable price, you can do that.
“If you want to come here and get really into your fitness, you can do that too. There’s a massive fitness community here – you name any sport and they’ve got it. There are so many things to do and many opportunities.”
Professionally speaking, Cara has been able to move up the ladder much faster than she would have back in Scotland.
She explained: “You have a lot more people leaving jobs to move to different cities or move back home, which means there are lots of opportunities to progress in your career with positions opening up. That’s a really big thing here. Back home you have people who stay in their roles for 20 years.”
This makes Dubai a great place for young people who have ambitious career goals.
Cara believes the UAE city is the perfect place for people in their 20s and 30s. She said: “I don’t think you would come out here if you were older, although there are older people here who are in high-up positions like heads of schools, or they’re semi-retired.”
Dubai has not only provided Cara with a flourishing career, it has provided her with a thriving social life.
Asked if it was easy to form connections with other expats, Cara said: “One of the things I love about here is that it’s basically an expat city. There are so many different cultures and everyone just gets along, which gives you a little hope.
“I’ve come out here and learnt about so many cultures, communities and religions.”
Cara’s job has also been instrumental in enabling her to form close friendships. She said: “When you move out as a teacher, you usually get the opportunity to move into staff accommodation with others from your school.
“If you don’t want to do this you can take a housing allowance instead and find accommodation by yourself but most people go into staff accommodation so they can make friends.
“Another way you can make friends is by playing a sport, either socially or competitively. In my first week here I joined a netball team and met lots of people that way. I also joined a Gaelic football club even though I had never played before. There’s definitely an opportunity to try something new.
“If you’re not into sports, there are book clubs and all sorts.”
One of Dubai’s defining characteristics is that it can get scorching hot, so while sports practices are never cancelled due to rain, the immense heat can dictate what activities people can do during different months.
She said: “There tends to be an outdoor activity season and an indoor activity season.”
Speaking to GB News in late May, Cara said: “In the last week or two, it’s as if somebody has flipped a switch and the humidity has increased by one million per cent – which is not nice.
“A lot of sports have specific seasons you play in. The Gaelic football season finishes in March, for example.”
Living in a hot, sunny country does have its perks though. Remembering the weather in Scotland, the expat said: “It was miserable 95 per cent of the time: rainy, windy, and there was barely any daylight for six months of the year.
“That just wasn’t for me, and I didn’t want to have that life anymore. From October to April the weather in Dubai is beautiful. You make a plan and know it’s not going to be cancelled because of the weather.
“From May to September, it is really warm, but Dubai is facilitated for the heat. Everywhere has AC, so you don’t deal with it unless you’re actually outside.”
When Cara isn’t playing sports, she enjoys soaking up everything that Dubai has to offer. She said: “Dubai really likes to try to be the best city in the world. It’s got a bit of an ego complex, which suits me perfectly because they always want to offer what other cities are offering and give you the best experience ever.”
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‘You definitely need to go and see the Burj Khalifa – I take for granted how impressive it is’
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From indoor ice skating to puppy yoga and board game cafes, “if you want to do something, they’ll have it in Dubai”.
For those thinking of relocating or just visiting Dubai on holiday, Cara gave one must-see recommendation.
She said: “I think you definitely need to go and see the Burj Khalifa. I’ve been here for so long that I take for granted how impressive it is.”
The expat also recommended visiting the Dubai Gold Souk, which is a traditional market consisting of almost 400 retailers.
Offering advice to other young people considering the move, the 29-year-old said: “You’ve got to fling yourself into things wholeheartedly. You kind of need to say yes to everything and put yourself out there. If you’re introverted, you might need to step a little bit out of your comfort zone.”
Cara plans on staying in Dubai for at least three more years before potentially moving on to pastures new. She’s looking for that “big city life” and is keen on exploring more of Europe.
Moving to Dubai
What you need to know
According to many expats, moving to Dubai is a glorious prospect for those who want to enjoy the sun and build their careers. Britons can settle in easily as English is very widely spoken and expat communities are huge. However, before relocating, there are some things expats must know.
Pacific Prime Insurance said: “Expats from the UK moving to Dubai will find that the cost of living is approximately 35 per cent cheaper than in the UK. Combined with the fact that Dubai is a tax haven, this makes the emirate the perfect place for UK expats.”
Britons looking to move to Dubai can consult GOV.UK for detailed information on living in the UAE and guidance on how to go about relocating. It is crucial to be aware that UAE laws and customs are very different from the UK, with GOV.UK warning Britons that “breaking the law can result in severe punishment, including the death penalty”.
For Britons looking to drive in the UAE, you can apply to exchange your UK driving license for a UAE license in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. They can consult the UK Government’s advice on how to do this.
GOV.UK warned: “It is illegal to drink and drive, no matter how small the amount, and your insurance is likely to be invalidated in the event of an accident.”
Guidance on buying property is available on the UK Government’s website, including how to choose a property and what to do if things go wrong, but prospective expats have been told that “buying a property that is being resold in the Emirates is similar to the process in the UK”.
Britons were advised: “You find a property and place a formal offer, normally through the agent. If the offer is accepted then a deposit should be paid (usually 10 per cent). You will also be expected to pay a transfer fee and estate agent fees.”
Renting is another option in Dubai, just ensure that you are using registered agents. In recent years, rental prices have significantly dropped, making the market more competitive.
As for obtaining citizenship in the UAE, Global Citizens Solutions explained that the pathways for attaining citizenship are descent, naturalization, marriage and exceptional merit.
There is also guidance on the Golden Visa programme for providing long-term residency in the UAE.
Why Britons choose to live in Dubai
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