Deux Bhais in Dubai
Looking out of the 33rd story of my hotel room onto a 14-lane superhighway lined on both sides with glass-clad skyscrapers, bright lights, and billboards, I felt like I had stepped into the future. Rahnpreet Sandhu and I had just landed in the UAE ahead of a weeklong trip with Durlston Partners that saw us meet with clients and candidates, both new and old, and dive headfirst into the lifestyle – a scouting mission ahead of DP opening an office there at the start of 2024.
There’s enough food for everyone
A dynamic and fast-paced environment characterises work in Dubai. There’s a prevailing sense that there’s enough opportunity for everyone, fostering a collaborative atmosphere where people are happy to help each other. However, this fast-paced lifestyle means there’s not much room for those who prefer to sit back and take it easy.
Dubai places a strong emphasis on collective achievement, encouraging individuals to work together to achieve common goals. It’s a place where hard work and collaboration are keys to success, making it a vibrant hub for ambitious professionals.
Builders in Crypto
Builders in crypto are flocking to Dubai thanks to favourable regulations – compared to the US, for example.
Imtiyaz Miah explains further that “Dubai’s crypto landscape is flourishing and dynamic, with talented builders from around the world congregating here to develop innovative projects. The city’s welcoming stance on crypto, coupled with the forthcoming regulatory framework, provides much-needed clarity and confidence, setting the stage for Dubai to ascend as the global hub of cryptocurrency.”
Conducting business is pleasant
Have you ever found yourself in a coffee shop in The City, only to be seated next to a human megaphone proudly donning their Patagucci gear? Well, in Dubai, you won’t encounter such a scenario for two main reasons.
Firstly, the majority of people in Dubai tend to be discreet and value personal space. Secondly, most places in this city have been meticulously designed by claustrophobic architects. As a result, you’ll never find yourself uncomfortably close to a stranger, sparing you from unintended eavesdropping.
Not to mention economic development is at the top of the agenda, which attracts foreign investment and businesses, including Durlston Partners. Everything just works, and it’s refreshing.
People are friendly
Outside of London, there are these things called villages. It’s a strange concept. Some 1,000 people live side by side using the same amenities and seeing the same faces each day. Because of this, they’re normally quite friendly to each other. When you walk your dog, they stop and say hello. When you forget your £1 coin for the shopping trolley, Mavis rummages through her purse and offers you her last one.
Dubai is like this, except instead of it being 1,000 people, it’s 3.5 million people. There is not a single person I met during my trip who was negative or who intentionally made my life difficult. Perhaps they had heatstroke. But I like to believe it’s because they’re genuinely happy.
For the first time, I experienced a client visibly gutted that we paid for the lunch bill while he was in the bathroom. One person I met goes for a swim in the sea before work each morning. He then rides an electric scooter 15 minutes to the office. Once a month he opens his payslip to see zero tax reductions. Life is good.
Nightlife
While you may find the streets of Mayfair and The City lined with people from 5 p.m. on a Thursday and Friday, sipping a few jars, the lack of walkability around Dubai and the price of alcohol means that going out is more of an occasion there.
On Friday, we stopped into McGettigan’s, JLT (an Irish pub) to mix with an after-work crowd of expats from the DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre). Sorry, not expats. Immigrants. Come on, let’s call it what it is. You don’t get a special term just because you have a higher socio-economic status and live in a waterfront villa on The Palm.
At the time of writing, this Irish pub was serving a pint of Amstel for 39 AED or £8.73. Guinness was 50 AED or £11.19. When you put it into perspective, the amount you need to earn in the UK to afford a £6.60 pint of Guinness at your local, it’s pretty comparable.
Nights out in Dubai are more like sparklers in champagne bottles than pub pints and crates at your mates’. One of the most cost-effective ways to have a night out is to pay a fixed amount for a wristband that grants you unlimited drinks all night, eliminating the need for card transactions inside. Pure efficiency.
Downtime
The lack of green space in Dubai means that on the weekend, you’re unlikely to spend your time going for a walk through a park, wearing Salomons and a beanie hat, sipping a flat white.
In Dubai, you’re more likely to hang out at the beach, do something touristy, or take a day trip somewhere. Or, if you’re Ben Gesoff, you might leave the city at 5 a.m. for a 6 a.m. start time on the Al Qudra cycle track: 86 km of road only for cyclists winding through the desert. Mad man!
The plus side is that due to the location of the UAE in the world, you can access new parts of the world with convenience. Mumbai is 3 hours away. Oman takes 50 minutes. Dubai International Airport is the busiest airport in the world outside of the US so there are plenty of cheap tickets to explore Asia, Africa and other Middle Eastern nations.
Safety First
The lack of crime in Dubai is a breath of fresh air. The majority of the population comes here for a better income or a better lifestyle compared to their home countries. Risking legal issues could result in hefty fines or deportation orders and could potentially wreak havoc on families dependent on the UAE’s income or disrupt their lifestyle here. These kinds of repercussions change behaviours.
I left my phone in a sandal on a busy section of the beach to go for a swim for half an hour, only to return and find it in the exact same spot. When viewing an apartment in Marina Pinnacle Tower, I was surprised to find that the property agent didn’t have a set of keys. The front door was permanently left unlocked, so he let himself in.
Conclusion
In summary, Dubai is a glimpse into the future where work is fast-paced, collaboration is key, and efficiency rules the day. The lack of political red tape allows for rapid development, and the city’s friendly, positive atmosphere is a breath of fresh air. The nightlife is a unique experience, and downtime is all about exploring this dynamic city.
Written by Joshwa Shah
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