• A man from Northern Ireland looks set to spend Christmas in the UAE following his arrest.
• Authorities in Abu Dhabi arrested Craig Ballentine after he posted a negative Google review about his former UAE employer.
• Ballentine's family said the situation is "a living nightmare."

A man from Northern Ireland who was arrested after posting a negative review about his former employer in Dubai looks set to spend Christmas in the United Arab Emirates.

Craig Ballentine was arrested in Abu Dhabi's airport in October over a negative Google review he posted about his former workplace — a dog grooming salon in Dubai, according to Radha Stirling, an advocate who helps foreigners navigate legal trouble in the UAE.

Ballentine spent about six months working at the salon in 2023. He said he needed time off due to illness and presented his employer with medical certificates as proof of his condition.

But the employer reported him as "absconded" with UAE authorities after he missed work, and he was hit with a travel ban.

After getting the ban lifted, Ballentine returned to Northern Ireland, where he wrote a Google review detailing the issues with his former employer.

He was arrested after returning to the UAE for a holiday and now faces charges of slander.

Ballentine, who said he had paid a fine and was given a one-month social media ban, had hoped to get his travel ban lifted and return to Northern Ireland ahead of Christmas.

But he told the BBC that while on the way to a police station to get the ban lifted, he was told authorities wanted to appeal his case and had set a court date for February.

"While I was in the middle of the transit going there, I got the email that the court was not happy and they wanted to appeal again," he said. "I called friends and family and couldn't stop crying, because you're holding on to those emotions, you're just trying to focus on 'let's get out of here.'"

A GoFundMe set up by Ballentine's family has raised nearly $2,500 to help with his legal fees.

"What started out as a holiday to catch up with friends for Craig has turned out to be a living nightmare," the family says on the page.

"At present legal fees are crippling and any money raised will go to help clearing these costs," they added.

Ballentine has also appealed to politicians to support his case with the help of Radha Stirling, a representative from the campaign group "Detained in Dubai."

"The amount of support Craig has is quite incredible," Stirling said. "Charging someone for an online review is something everyone can imagine happening to them. We've received an influx of worried tourists contacting us to check their police status in Dubai and it's certainly a good idea."

Stirling has helped several tourists held up in the country on exaggerated charges and forced to pay costly fees as a resolution. She previously told Business Insider that it's relatively easy to file a complaint that can prevent someone from leaving the country.

"There's been a lot of cases in the past where people have been accused of road rage or flipping the middle finger and that kind of thing, even when they haven't," Stirling previously told BI. "Then someone goes down to the police station, and whatever they say is automatically believed. They don't need evidence."

In one case Stirling worked on, a female college student lightly nudged an airport security officer during a security screening search. They accused her of assault, and she was unable to leave the nation for months.

In another case, a woman was detained after she was accused of screaming, which her accusers said violated a vague law criminalizing "offensive behavior" like rudeness or swearing. She paid $1,000 to have the travel ban that prevented her from leaving lifted, though her accusers initially demanded $10,000.

"It's actually culturally widespread, and the police haven't done anything to clamp down on that sort of extortion," Stirling previously told BI.

• In May 2023, Jennifer Kusch relocated to Dubai for a job opportunity.
• Her teen sons were initially against the move and said she was "ruining" their lives.
• But she says the experience of living abroad has brought them closer together.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jennifer Kusch, 47, who works in talent acquisition. Kusch moved from Idaho to Dubai with her kids in 2023. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Early last year, my company approached me about a job opportunity in Dubai.

At first, I said no. I had just bought a house in Idaho, where I was raising three kids. As a single mom, moving to the Middle East sounded hard, so I declined. But my boss at the time encouraged me to apply, and I thought, "Fine, why not?"

I got the job and was set to start in 30 days. My daughter was 18 then, and my sons were 15 and 13. When they came home from school, I read them the book "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Seuss and then said, "Guys, we're moving to Dubai."

My daughter was about to graduate from high school but was excited about an adventure. My 15-year-old, on the other hand, said, "You're ruining my life. My people are here. This is where I belong." And my 13-year-old echoed his brother.

The job commitment was for two years. I said, "We're going to go for two years. We're going to see what happens."

I remember crying in my bedroom after thinking, "Oh my gosh, I'm doing this selfishly. I want to do this for my career. Am I ruining my kids' lives?"

But then I thought about how many other teenagers must have said the same thing to their parents.

And so I had another discussion with my children a week later and said, "I hope that you can look at this as an adventure."

It was a big move for all of us

I had traveled outside the US but never lived abroad or been to Dubai. I traveled to the city alone last April while my kids were finishing the academic year.

When I arrived in Dubai, I tested out the public transportation so I could teach my kids how to ride the bus, hop on the metro, or take a taxi.

I found a townhouse-style villa away from downtown Dubai and spent six weeks furnishing the place so that all the kids would have to do was unpack their suitcases. My company provided an allowance to "settle in." While it didn't cover rent, it helped me set up a home for my family. They also covered the flights and most of my kids' school fees.

When I was done, I flew back for my daughter's graduation. I decided to sell everything I owned — apart from my house — as I didn't want to have to pay loads of money for storage.

Although my initial commitment was for two years, I was on a local contract and could stay in Dubai as long as I had a job. It was a calculated risk, selling everything and anticipating my love for living abroad.

In May 2023, I flew with my kids to Dubai. We arrived at the beginning of summer when many expats tend to leave the city because of the heat. The high temperatures in Dubai between May and August range from around 100 to 105 °F.

That summer, my kids didn't have any friends. However, they had one another. I was grateful for that.

Before I went to work, I said, "While I'm gone, I want you guys to make your bucket list of things you would like to do in Dubai."

When I got home, our wall was full of sticky notes with things to do. We planned fun outings, like visiting Warner Bros. World in Abu Dhabi and having an Emirati dinner. When we were done, we would move the sticky notes on the wall from "to do" to "done."

So, instead of sulking and being sad inside, we were excited about what we could discover.

My kids have benefited from living in Dubai

My sons now attend a school with an American curriculum, but they are the only American students. It has allowed them to meet people from all over the world.

They also have independence here that they never had in the US. My 14-year-old son will get in a taxi and go wherever he wants. There's freedom and safety that they have not experienced before.

This has all contributed to why they now love Dubai. On Thanksgiving last year, my older son said, "I'm so grateful that you moved us here." That was music to my ears because I've watched them grow up a lot.

Nothing is the same here. But they've navigated it with resilience, agility, and grace.

The experience brought us closer together

It can be lonely to be an expat in a new place.

But having to rely on each other and experiencing new things together have made us closer. My kids enjoy my company, and I am so grateful for that.

I miss my family and friends, and I know they would like us to come home. At this point, however, I love Dubai and our quality of life here.

My daughter has since returned to the US for work, and my sons will soon leave the nest as well.

I don't know what the future holds, but for now, Dubai is home.

• Dubai is scrambling to build opulent mansions and apartments to accommodate a wave of rich expats.
• If you can find one up for sale, a luxury home in Dubai is still cheap compared with New York or London.
• The priciest property on the market is a $134 million coastal villa with views of the Burj Khalifa.

The world's rich have a soft spot for Dubai for its prime location between the East and West, its golden visa scheme — and lack of income tax.

The rate at which they're moving to Dubai, with businesses and families in tow, means developers are scrambling to build more luxury accommodation.

Property prices in the emirate are expected to rise by 8% in 2025, but real estate agents tell Business Insider that Dubai is still a buyer's market.

"When you put Dubai on the global stage, and you're looking at relative affordability and affordable luxury, it's still reasonably priced compared to elsewhere in the world," Faisal Durrani, Knight Frank's head of research for the Middle East and North Africa, told BI.

Seconding Durrani's perspective is B1 Properties, a brokerage catering to ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

It's listing the most expensive property in Dubai —  a 495 million dirhams ($134 million) villa on Jumeirah Bay Island, one of the city's four prime neighborhoods.

Take a look inside.

The $134 million villa is one of seven nestled by the water within Dubai's Bulgari Hotel and Resort.

Branding and scarcity are two of the most critical factors in determining real estate prices in Dubai, a B1 Properties representative told BI.

They said this property has both as its under the Bulgari Hotel and Resort umbrella and one of only seven villas on the coastline.

The mansion, which covers about 20,000 square feet, is a touch less than the 12,500-square-foot penthouse in New York City that reportedly broke the record for Manhattan's most expensive sale in 2024 at $135 million.

"Dubai is still considered buyer-friendly when it comes to price per square feet compared to key metropolitan or coastal cities like New York, Miami, London, Singapore, and Hong Kong," the B1 representative said.

The two-story villa has appliances and interiors from the likes of Hermès and Baccarat.

The villa, which is being sold fully furnished, underwent an extensive renovation to exude "luxury in its every element," the B1 Properties representative said.

Appliances, furnishings, and interiors, products from some of the most luxurious brands on the market, including Hermès, Baccarat, Steinway & Sons, and Miele, can be found in the kitchen, living areas, and bedrooms.

The villa has four bedrooms, six bathrooms, and amenities including a gym and sauna.

All four bedrooms are on the second floor. Other amenities include steam room and sauna, cinema, massage room, and a gym.

Since listing the sale earlier this year, B1 Properties said that most of the attention was from families, aligning with the neighborhood's demographic.

"We've had interest from buyers of various nationalities, predominantly billionaires, entrepreneurs, and global business owners with families," they said. "This particular community is more suited to families, given the secluded nature of these villas."

Acircular cabana overlooks the pool and has views of Dubai's cityscape.

The covered circular seating area with a fire pit is steps away from the 141-foot-long pool, which is fitted with an underwater sound system, per the listing.

The patio area offers views of Dubai's skyline, dotted with skyscrapers including the Burj Khalifa.

Finding a waterfront property in a prime neighborhood in Dubai is "extremely rare".

Dubai may be a coastal city, yet growing demand means upmarket accommodation by the water that's ready to be occupied is increasingly hard to find, the B1 Properties representative said.

"Luxury properties, particularly those offering unique features, rarely stay on the market long due to their scarcity and the targeted demand. Buyers are eager to secure properties quickly, often outbidding one another due to limited availability."

• The United Arab Emirates experienced torrential rainfall and flash floods, beginning late Monday.
• Videos appear to show planes taxiing down flooded runways at Dubai International Airport. 
• Some blamed a practice to address water scarcity, but many meteorologists doubt that was the case.

Torrential rainfall pummeled the United Arab Emirates this week, resulting in flash floods that caused air travel chaos, closed schools, and deluged homes.

The rain began late Monday, flooding the UAE with more than half a foot (6.26 inches) of water in 24 hours, according to the Dubai Meteorological Office and cited by ABC News. That is more than two years' worth of rain in one day, the outlet noted.

There are claims that cloud seeding may have played a role in the flash floods. The practice sees planes inject clouds with chemicals that can increase rainfall. Scientists say it's unlikely cloud seeding caused the flooding, though.

One fatality was reported by police at the time of writing on Wednesday: A 70-year-old man died in Ras al-Khaimah when his vehicle was swept away in the flooding.

Flooding also occurred in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. In Oman, 19 people died in flash floods, according to local media.

Dubai International Airport — recently named the most luxurious airport in the world — said planes were diverted. Some services now appear to have restarted.

Unverified videos on social media appeared to show heavily flooded tarmac, with large passenger airplanes creating waves and taxiing through several feet of water.

The airport did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider about the videos.

"We advise you NOT to come to the airport, unless absolutely necessary," an airport spokesperson wrote on X on Wednesday.

They added that planes continue to be delayed and diverted.

An unnamed couple told the AP that the situation at the airport is "absolute carnage," with some passengers sleeping there or at the Metro station.

Dubai recieved more than 5.6 inches of rain by Tuesday evening, around the amount it typically gets in a year and a half, according to Sky News.

It marks its heaviest rainfall in 75 years, according to a WAM news agency cited by Sky News.

In a post shared on X, the UAE's National Centre of Meteorology showed the regions that have been most affected.

The UAE has been cloud seeding since the '90s

While images of extreme flooding can show the consequences of the climate crisis, this particular event may have been worsened by a direct attempt to play rainmaker — literally.

To address water scarcity in the typically dry country, the UAE started using a practice referred to as cloud seeding in the 90s and early 2000s.

Cloud seeding is a method designed to increase the amount of water that falls from a cloud. It involves identifying suitable clouds and then using aircraft or ground-based generators to introduce a chemical agent that facilitates the production of snowflakes.

Cloud seeding has been used in countries worldwide, including in western US states dealing with drought, like California, Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, and Texas.

The practice has long been controversial, with critics dismissing it as an attempt to "play God" or being potentially harmful to the environment or public health. Scientists have not documented the harmful impacts of cloud seeding, and recent studies have suggested that the practice works.

Ahmed Habib, a specialist meteorologist, told Bloomberg that the UAE's cloud seeding operations contributed directly to the heavy rainfall that fell this week.

Habib told the outlet that two planes conducted cloud seeding operations on Monday and Tuesday and that seven seeding missions had been carried out in two days.

Flight-tracking data analyzed by the AP suggested that an aircraft affiliated with the UAE's cloud-seeding project flew around the country Sunday.

"For any cloud that's suitable over the UAE you make the operation," Habib told Bloomberg.

The UAE's weather bureau said no cloud seeding had taken place during Tuesday's rain, according to the National News. It did not immediately respond to a request by BI for comment.

Chris England, a weather producer at Sky News, said he didn't believe cloud seeding to be a reason behind the floods, adding that evidence of it working was "pretty slim at best." Tomer Burg, an atmospheric-science researcher, told the Associated Press that days before the downpour, computer models forecast several inches of rain.

"When we talk about heavy rainfall, we need to talk about climate change. Focusing on cloud seeding is misleading," an Imperial College of London climate scientist, Friederike Otto, told the AP. "Rainfall is becoming much heavier around the world as the climate warms because a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture."

Despite warning citizens to remain home during the heavy rain, the UAE government's press office said they were "rains of goodness," as the country has dealt with a rise in heat-related illnesses and deaths that some hope can be alleviated by an increase in rainfall.

Schools across the UAE continued to be closed on Wednesday, and employees are working from home, according to the Sky News report.

Correction: December 5, 2024 — This story was updated to better contextualize speculation linking cloud seeding to flooding in the UAE. Many scientists say it's unlikely cloud seeding had a role in the flooding.

• Dubai is a haven for rich expats seeking business opportunities and low tax.
• Its real estate market is struggling to keep up with demand for luxury housing.
• Property prices keep rising as Dubai scrambles to build thousands more villas to meet demand.

Dubai is hot with the rich. The emirate has become an economic hub for entrepreneurship, business, and networking, while its lack of income tax is also a lure for many international ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

Geopolitical instability and tax policy changes in other hubs have only made Dubai more of a haven for the superrich. The influx of wealthy folk is causing a problem, however: there aren't enough houses to meet demand.

In its latest Dubai Market Review, property company Knight Frank found listings of luxury properties valued at more than $10 million plummeted by about two-thirds to 460 this year.

To meet surging demand, Dubai is scrambling to build more homes. Almost 9,000 villas will be completed by the end of the year, and another 19,700 are expected to be built in 2025.

Developers will have to build even more upmarket properties to meet demand. Knight Frank suggests that Dubai will need between 37,600 and 87,700 houses by 2040 to help accommodate a population set to reach about 5.8 million by then.

At the same time, prices in Dubai prime neighborhoods such as the Palm Jumeirah and Emirates Hills have soared, rising by 20% in the most recent quarter compared to the same period last year.

"Last year, we had 37 homes available for over $50 million," Faisal Durrani, Knight Frank's head of research for the Middle East and North Africa, told Business Insider. "This year, it's dropped to nine."

"We're talking quite small numbers here, but it's helping to paint this picture of a shortage of homes at the top end of the market."

Although Dubai's real estate market is buoyant, Durrani said the housing bubble could burst if the global economy slows or oil prices falter.

A global recession would mean "a very real risk of job losses, population reduction, and therefore reduction in demand for housing," he said.

Prices are expected to rise by 8% in 2025, yet luxury property in Dubai is still a relative bargain. Knight Frank found that $1 million buys 91 square meters of prime property there, compared with 33 square meters in London and 34 square meters in New York.

"When you put Dubai on the global stage and you're looking at relative affordability and affordable luxury, it's still reasonably priced compared to elsewhere in the world," Durrani said.

• Victoria Blinova worked in Dubai for four years at a boutique marketing firm and later at Nestlé.
• She grew up in Cyprus and moved to the UAE in 2013 to attend NYU in Abu Dhabi.
• Expats don't pay taxes, but Blinova found saving in Dubai hard because of the luxury lifestyle.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation and emails with Victoria Blinova, 30, about living in Dubai and moving to London. The below has been edited for length and clarity.

I grew up in Cyprus and moved to the UAE in 2013 to study at New York University in Abu Dhabi.

While there, I studied Arabic. A significant part of my day-to-day was being immersed in the culture. I wanted to stay in the region after graduation to continue my immersion.

I spent four years in Abu Dhabi, and then I worked in Dubai for four years. Initially, I worked in management consulting in a boutique firm. Later, I got a job at Nestlé and worked there for a couple of years before moving to London.

In Dubai, people are very transient. Everyone's an expat. By my fourth year, most of my friends had left the city. I felt like I needed to explore somewhere new.

Dubai has amazing work opportunities, and I plan to return at some point. There are so many complex and exciting projects you can work on. People are so generous, open to learn, and hungry for opportunities.

For entry-level jobs, if you are at the right company, Dubai is one of the most lucrative markets.

At Nestlé, back in 2019, I was making a good salary tax-free.

When I left Dubai, I had saved around 30% of my salary over four years. But I was constantly biting myself thinking I could have saved even more.

It's easy to get sucked into a glamorous life in Dubai

A lot of people in London are like, "I'm going to move to Dubai. It's like 40% to 100% more salary."

But I had a period in my life where I spent a lot more in Dubai than I spent in London. In London, you can be very thrifty, and that's not frowned upon.

When you're in Dubai, it's not part of the culture. Luxury is very affordable. Because of that, everyone automatically opts into that luxury.

I very often went overboard.

I remember clearly booking a five-star hotel to treat myself randomly for 200 dirhams, which is $54. I'd do stuff like book a five-star hotel for one night, and that's quite normal.

It was also very common to go to yacht parties. I've been to so many.

In 2021, I remember paying £80 for a yacht party. When I told this to my friends in London, and they were like, "But that's 80 pounds?" I responded that it was cheap for a day on a yacht.

Bottomless brunch is also very common. You would spend every weekend going to very luxurious bottomless brunches. It would be like £100 to experience something unforgettable.

In Dubai, if you go out, you're not just going to go to a cheap little place around the corner. There are more expectations on gifts.

You can't walk outside your house in Dubai and not spend a significant chunk of money.

Whereas in London, I feel like everything is so unaffordable, you end up not spending. The lifestyle in London differs because social plans can be going on a walk or spending a day in the park. You're not expected to drop £100 on a dinner. You don't have spend money to enjoy your weekend.

Saving choices like getting a roommate or buying a used car weren't the norm

I was renting for 70,000 dirhams a year ($19,058) divided by two. I had a flatmate, which is not very common in Dubai.

I remember my Nestlé colleagues in Dubai asked me, "Why do you live with a flatmate?" They weren't bullying me, but they thought it was a bit weird.

I also drove a used Nissan Juke, which is a nice car in London. But in Dubai, people would ask, "Why are you not driving an Audi?"

My response was, "I'm 25. I'm not going to buy a Mercedes or an Audi, especially I'm not going to buy it new."

I didn't club, and if I did, it was very rarely. Clubbing is a big deal in Dubai, and lots of people spend a lot on it. I also didn't spend money on luxurious brands, clothes, or handbags, because I didn't really care for them.

My mindset is that if I have money to spend, that means I have money to save.

But I'd say 80 to 90% of my surrounding peers, even the smartest people I knew, would literally live paycheck to paycheck. People opt into luxury automatically because it's relatively cheap.

It becomes part of your lifestyle, and this is when you spend all your money. I found it an ongoing problem.

If you're a family, I think it's easier to spend less. You're probably more accustomed to staying at home.

As long as you're staying at home, I think you can make Dubai work and make it very affordable.

But if you're in your 20s or your early 30s, and you're single or a young couple, and you like going out — prepare to spend a lot more than you ever imagined.

• The United Arab Emirates wants to become an AI leader by 2031.
• It's leveraging its oil wealth to attract new talent and fund new research initiatives.
• The UAE's AI minister believes we'll have "centers and nodes of excellence across the world."

The AI revolution is expanding far beyond Silicon Valley.

From the shores of Malta to the streets of Paris, hubs for AI innovation are forming worldwide. And the United Arab Emirates is emerging as a key center in the Middle East.

In October, the UAE made headlines by participating in the most lucrative funding round in Silicon Valley history: the $6.6 billion deal closed by OpenAI. The investment was made through MGX, a state-backed technology firm focused on artificial intelligence and semiconductors.

The move was part of the UAE's bid to become a global AI leader by 2031 through strategic initiatives, public engagement, and research investment. Last year, the country's wealthiest emirate, Abu Dhabi, launched Falcon — its first open-source large language model. State-backed AI firm G42 is also training large language models in Arabic and Hindi to bridge the gap between English-based models and native speakers of these languages.

Another indication of the UAE's commitment to AI is its appointment of Omar Sultan Al Olama as the country's AI Minister in 2017.

The minister acknowledges that the UAE faces tough competition from powerhouses like the United States and China, where private investment in AI technology in 2023 totaled $67.2 billion and $7.8 billion, respectively, according to Stanford's Center for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence.

So he says he is embracing cooperation over competition.

"I don't think it's going to be a zero-sum game where it's only going to be AI that's developed in the US, or only going to be AI that's developed in China or the UAE," Al Olama said at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council, a DC think tank, in April. "What is going to happen, I think, is that we're going to have centers and nodes of excellence across the world where there are specific use cases or specific domains where a country or player or a company is doing better than everyone else."

The UAE's strengths are evident.

It is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, mostly due to its vast oil reserves. The UAE is among the world's 10 largest oil producers, with 96% of that coming from its wealthiest emirate, Abu Dhabi, according to the International Trade Administration.

Abu Dhabi's ruling family also controls several of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds, including the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Mubadala Investment Company, a founding partner of MGX.

These funds have been used to diversify the country's oil wealth and could now be diverted to funding new AI companies. AI could contribute $96 billion to the UAE economy by 2030, making up about 13.6% of its GDP, according to a report by PwC, the accounting firm.

But capital is only part of the equation. The bigger question is whether the tiny Gulf nation can attract the requisite talent to keep up with Silicon Valley.

Recent developments show promise. Between 2021 and 2023, the number of AI workers in the UAE quadrupled to 120,000, Al Olama said at the Atlantic Council event. In 2019, it rolled out a 'golden visa' program for IT professionals, making entry easier for AI experts. It's also making the most of its existing talent. In May, Dubai launched the world's biggest prompt engineering initiative. Its goal is to upskill 1 million workers over the next three years.

However, it's also faced criticism for its treatment of workers, especially lower-skilled migrant workers. Migrant workers comprise 88% of the country's population and have been subject to a range of labor abuses, including exposure to extreme heat, exploitative recruitment fees, and wage theft, according to Human Rights Watch. The UAE has responded by passing several labor laws that address protections for workers around hours, wages, and competition.

Abu Dhabi, meanwhile, has — over the last decade — become a nexus for AI research and education.

In 2010, New York University launched a branch in Abu Dhabi that has since developed a focus on AI. And, in 2019, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence opened as a "graduate research university dedicated to advancing AI as a global force for good." Professors from the university also helped organize the inaugural International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence in August, which drew students from over 40 countries worldwide.

"Abu Dhabi may not directly surpass Silicon Valley, however, it has the potential to become a significant AI hub in its own right," Nancy Gleason, an advisor to leadership on AI at NYU Abu Dhabi and a professor of political science, told Business Insider by email. Its "true strengths lie in the leadership's strategic vision, substantial investments in AI research and compute capacity, and government-led initiatives in industry. The UAE has also made strategic educational investments in higher education like the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and NYU Abu Dhabi."

Beyond that, she noted, it's "very nice to live here."

• Jessika Roso Malic got a job as a stewardess for Emirates in 2010.
• She moved from Phoenix to Dubai and worked there for six years.
• Malic said life in Dubai was glamorous, but she got burned out at work and missed parts of Phoenix.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jessika Ros Malic, a former Emirates stewardess from Phoenix, about living in Dubai. It's been edited for length and clarity.

Moving to Dubai was a whirlwind. In 2010, I heard that Emirates was hiring. After going through the interview process, they notified me of acceptance in April, and I moved to Dubai in August with my life packed up in two and a half suitcases.

It was my first time over the Atlantic.

There were so many international businesses and restaurants that it was almost as if the entire globe was in one city. That's what I loved most about Dubai — the many different cultures in one place.

Living there was a crash course in global interactions. But I moved back home to Phoenix permanently in 2017.

I had a glamorous life in Dubai and loved traveling

Upon arriving, Emirates housed me in an apartment. I had two and a half months of intense training before starting a hectic work schedule. My monthly schedule was only released at the end of each previous month. This meant I could only plan my life for a month at a time, and I was rarely in town.

When I was home, I spent much of my time socializing. Working 11-hour shifts was difficult, and back then, all there was to do in Dubai was party, go to bars, and shop.

You could go anywhere and meet people from, say, 10 countries speaking 15 languages. It's a fascinating city because only about 20% are local nationals, and 80% are a complete mix of expats of other nationalities. Temperature-wise, Dubai is comparable to Phoenix, but Dubai is much more humid because of the ocean.

Once in a while, we'd go out to the desert.

Some things were better in Phoenix

I missed that there was much more to do in Phoenix besides nightlife, such as hiking, visiting nature preserves, camping, museums, festivals, and more.

In Dubai, I found it impossible to get anything done over the phone. There was also no address system back then. I had no idea how their local mail system worked and never learned how to mail something to anyone living there.

We took taxis everywhere as they were affordable, and the lack of addresses meant you had to know exactly where you were going. If it wasn't a well-known location or destination, I often had to tell the driver to head to landmarks or direct them exactly where to go.

We're so spoiled in Phoenix. We live on a grid, so you can easily get from one place to another. In Dubai, it's like someone took some crayons, swirled them on a page, and said, "This is the highway system."

My job gave me perks, but the physical toll was too much

Luckily for me, housing was provided for Emirates crew members. Another perk is the live-out allowance — a stipend for living away from home. Because of Emirates, Dubai was affordable for me.

At the same time, I was sick every month and got food poisoning at least three times a year. The physical toll made me tired of flying, and I just wanted to go home. I met my husband in Dubai and married in 2013. He was also ready to move, so we explored purchasing property in Phoenix.

Moving back to Phoenix made me happy

We bought our first house during a visit back home to Phoenix in 2015, although we didn't move back permanently until early 2017. It was located in South Phoenix in a new development and was a dream find.

Our home was 2,500 square feet, close to the freeways, had a three-car garage, and had four bedrooms. We paid $187,000 cash with my husband's parents' help. I loved that house, but we eventually sold it after we divorced this year.

I miss my glamorous days of traveling and living in Dubai, but I'm happy to be settled and close to friends and family in Phoenix. These days, I'm working as a communications and events manager at a nonprofit, and the work is satisfying.

If you moved out of the US for a dream job and want to tell your story, please email Manseen Logan at [email protected].

• When I visited Dubai for the first time, there were some things I wish I had known beforehand.
• The weather during my stay was amazing, so I think the winter season is the best time to visit.
• The city is bigger than I expected so I'd recommend hiring a guide to see as much as possible.

I visited Dubai for the first time and loved my time there. However, there were a few things I wish I had known before I went on the trip.

Here are a few things I would've wanted to know before I went to Dubai.

Now I know the winter season is the best time to visit, mostly because of the pleasant weather.

Dubai has year-round sunshine, but I now know the best time to visit the city is during the winter, which, according to US News, spans from November to early March.

When I went in January 2022, the temperature ranged from 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit without any humidity. It was warm enough to enjoy touring and being out and about.

The temperature was also perfect when I stayed in the city and went to the desert. There was a slight breeze by the sea and marina, but nothing that required a jacket during the day. The sundresses and lightweight dresses I packed worked perfectly, but I advise bringing a jacket or long-sleeve shirt since it can get a bit chilly in the evening.

There are so many activities that you likely won't be able to do them all.

I didn't realize just how big Dubai was until I visited. There is an endless amount of activities, so I would suggest trying to identify your priorities before landing in the city.

Based on my experience, I recommend visiting the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world), going on the Ain Dubai, wandering the souks, and strolling along the Jumeirah Beach Residence Walk.

At night, it's worth snagging tickets to see the La Perle show and walking around the Dubai Mall to see the fountain show and lights around the Burj Khalifa.

Dubai is filled with record-breaking attractions but also tons of history and culture.

Though the world's tallest building and highest observation wheel were worth seeing, don't skip the historical part of the city. Visiting Al Seef, the souks, and taking an abra (a boat) across the river were definitely highlights of the trip.

Parts of the city are extremely innovative and new, but older areas showcase its history and culture. Seeing both allowed me to appreciate how the city has evolved over time.

Abu Dhabi is definitely worth a day trip and is only about an hour and a half away.

Though I originally planned on visiting only one of the seven emirates, the emirate of Dubai, my friends told me I had to incorporate a day trip to Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and is located in the eponymous emirate. We hired a tour guide to take us on the hour-and-a-half drive to Abu Dhabi and around the main sites.

Dubai isn't the only city with gorgeous sites and history — there are incredible places to visit nearby.

In Abu Dhabi, we visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Qasr Al Watan (a working Presidential palace), and Heritage Village.

I loved the emirate so much that I'd love to go back just to see more of it.

In addition to offering traditional Middle-Eastern food, Dubai seemed to have every other cuisine imaginable.

I'm allergic to sesame, so I was worried about what I'd eat on this trip since Middle-Eastern food and Emirati cuisine often use this ingredient.

However, Dubai had every cuisine I could imagine. Everything from Italian food to Chinese options was available, so my choices were not limited.

Though everything we tried was delicious, the food could be pricey.

 

Palm Jumeirah and Dubai International Financial Centre are closer to the main attractions than some other popular areas where visitors stay.

Since Dubai is such a large city, I think it's best to stay close to its attractions. I selected the Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre because it was only a two-minute drive (or a 20-minute walk) to the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall and close to restaurants and shops.

Since it was in the center of the city, grabbing taxis and finding transportation was easy.

Many visitors also opt to stay in Palm Jumeirah, which has waterfront hotels with larger properties and private beaches. It's still close to the city but has some privacy.

Hiring a tour guide ended up being the best decision I made on my trip — and it was quite affordable.

I hired tour guides to maximize my time in Dubai, which was one of the best decisions I made. 

We hired guides to take us around the city on our first day, as well as on our day trip to Abu Dhabi, the desert, and a nightlife tour. We made the most of our time in the city and we saw a ton.

We booked most of the guides through the hotel or by recommendations from friends and family who had visited. Each guide was relatively affordable and was accompanied by a driver.

You must bring appropriate attire for mosques and other holy sites.

The holy sites we visited had a dress code. Men should wear a shirt with sleeves that are at least elbow length with long trousers. In mosques, women need to wear an abaya and shayla, which covers their body and hair.

You can purchase an abaya and shayla at many tourist sites or borrow them ahead of entry. I didn't realize the mosques had a dress code, but I would have planned my outfit beforehand if I had.

Don't let your worries about sand and heat cause you to pass up a trip to the desert.

I typically stay away from deserts, but dune bashing — driving at varying speeds over sand dunes — in Dubai was one of my favorite activities on the trip. It was almost like riding a roller coaster on the sand and we got to see a beautiful sunset before heading back to the city. 

Don't miss dune bashing if you take a trip to the emirate.

 

Souks are some of the best places to buy souvenirs or spices.

You can grab souvenirs from just about any attraction in Dubai, but I think you'll get the best prices and selection at the souks, or marketplaces.

Dubai has a multitude of open-air souks, ranging from one for gold to a market for spices, and they each sell a wide variety of items. I purchased spices, jewelry, and souvenirs from different souks and strongly believe they're worth checking out.

This story was originally published on September 12, 2022, and most recently updated on November 20, 2024.