Living in Abu Dhabi: An Insider's Guide to Expat Life
2012 was the first year that I was properly introduced to the mysterious world of the United Arab Emirates. Of course, I was aware of its existence, its vast oil reserves and the renowned Burj Khalifa being the tallest building in the world, but that’s pretty much it. It’s now 2023, and I feel that the United Arab Emirates, specifically, its two most famous emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, are now so frequently featured on social media – with beautiful images of the country’s spectacular mosques, white sand beaches and vast desert plains often making their way onto many of our feeds.
The Process of Moving to Abu Dhabi
So how did we eventually end up moving to Abu Dhabi? To be honest, it came out of nowhere. One day last summer, my husband was headhunted for a role in Abu Dhabi by a UK recruiter. He didn’t quite get the role he applied for, but was referred for another position within the same company and was successful! I’ll never quite forget the day we received the offer email, as it truly was a day that changed the course of our lives.
Understanding Visa Sponsorship for Expats
If you are looking to move to Abu Dhabi or Dubai as an expat, the first thing you need to know is that the vast majority are going to need a sponsor. Most foreigners who come to live in the UAE are there thanks to work-based visas, meaning that an Emirati-based firm or the Emirati government is acting as their sponsor. The good news is that they’ll likely handle all the paperwork for you. Furthermore, if you are travelling with a wife or husband and family, the person who was offered employment will essentially be the sponsor for the rest of the family.
There are criteria that will need to be met, and these criteria influence whether you’ll be granted a short-term or long-term visa. To help organize your transition, keep in mind these essential categories:
- Movers in Abu Dhabi
- The Cost of Living in Abu Dhabi
- The Best Place to Live in Abu Dhabi
- Expat Life in Abu Dhabi
The Abu Dhabi Lifestyle
We knew we had fallen in love with the easy luxury lifestyle that the Emirates offered expats and we knew we wanted to be a part of it. Black women love the U.A.E., and looks like Marjorie Harvey is no exception. While serving pure travel goals, she was living her best life in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi.
I want to stress that this is our story – what we experienced or how we feel about the pros and cons is very much personal, and not everyone’s journey and feelings will be the same. As we always say, it’s important to find your own version of luxury – whatever that means to you. Whilst a lot has changed in the 10 or so years since our first visit, we are still as in love with the country as our very first visit all those years ago.