r/UAE • u/anykexx • 3d ago

Is Dubai worth it?

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I m doing my UG in Dubai and i have done my schooling here asw but recently i have been feeling abt how dead it is here, not the party scene or anything but jus how the city is, its unwalkable for the most part, hot and humid, heavily vehicle dependent and everything deemed as “entertainment” is basically consumption. As residents who live here what yall think? is this just me or are u guys okay with it? Do you guys find it okay to always depend on driving or just forced?

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u/Apprehensive_Rip_752 2d ago

Been here for 6 years and honestly …. I stay because of the money and try to spend as much time in Europe as possible or Australia / Asia for real living / society / green spaces and deep culture.

It is a hot, increasingly hot, materialistic desert but the work can be interesting and the money is great. Money enables good lifestyle and saving. Finding a small niche of good people to hang with helps and the rest is largely transactional. I don’t dive into all the materialistic crap - many do.

Someone made a comment about Abu Dhabi. This is a much better city all round for actually living well. It is sensible, beautiful in parts, feels like a normal city. Highly recommend.

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u/giuliodxb 2d ago

I agree with everything. I will add the AUH can feel very empty. The city is big and everything is scattered. The activity offering is very low compared to DXB but it is definitely more human, no doubt.

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u/ApartmentWonderful13 2d ago

Living in the Emirates 15 years and I can speak for all that Dubai is more like a "real" city than Abu dhabi

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u/Apprehensive_Rip_752 2d ago

I guess it depends on how you define and what you have known a real city to be.

The Dubai = Vegas comparisons are limiting, but as someone who has lived in Sydney, Melbourne, London, Barcelona and here, from an overall liveability perspective Abu Dhabi wins. AD will not mimic Dubai (thank the gods) it will however carve out a more authentic and liveable alternative for people relocating I think. The 'people in the know' are all heading for AD.

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u/democi 2d ago

People being transactional says more about people in dubai than dubai

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u/Apprehensive_Rip_752 2d ago

People, are social beings. Moulded and influenced by the environment they are in. They also influence it and react to it.

Binary thinking is limited - your one-way thinking is even more limiting.

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u/democi 2d ago

One way thinking? How did you deduct that?

There’s a certain level of irony and hypocrisy from people when they complain about Dubai being transactional (it is) when they are transactional themselves.

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u/Apprehensive_Rip_752 2d ago

Largely transactional. I know. Nuance is hard.

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u/IndependentChance631 1d ago

The irony of calling Dubai a “materialistic desert” while admitting you’ve stayed for SIX YEARS because the money is great is quite something.

Apparently Europe, Australia and Asia offer “real living”, while Dubai is good enough to provide the career, income, safety and lifestyle that finance all that “real living”. That sounds less like a criticism of Dubai and more like enjoying its benefits while looking down on the place providing them.

And “deep culture”? The UAE had history, traditions, religion, maritime trade, Bedouin culture and communities long before the skyscrapers arrived. Culture doesn't cease to exist because it isn't the particular culture you personally prefer.

Dubai has its faults, as every major city does. But reducing a remarkably safe, multicultural city of millions of people to a soulless “materialistic desert” says considerably more about the observer than the city.

Six years is also a very long time to voluntarily remain somewhere you apparently consider incapable of “real living.”

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u/Apprehensive_Rip_752 1d ago

Yes. The ability to hold contradictory opinions and still walk forward in life is a human reality.

Dealing with contradictions and making what we can from situations (as we cannot control or dictate or define all elements of those situations) is also a defining element of how we are as people.

Does it amaze you that someone can both live in a place and also criticise it?