Three months before their big move, Connor and Jessica joined us on the podcast to share their relocation plans. Now, three months after arriving, they're back with the full truth of what life in Dubai is really like as a young family.
This conversation is packed with honest insights, laugh-out-loud stories, and practical lessons. From shipping containers and schooling to shopping, community, and hiring help – here's everything they've learned.
Shipping Your Stuff: How They Moved a 3-Bed House for £2,900
Connor and Jessica shipped the contents of their three-bed semi from the UK to Dubai. Here's how it worked:
- Container size: Half a 40ft container
- Cost: £2,900 all-in
- Time: 8 weeks door-to-door (picked up Wednesday, delivered Wednesday 8 weeks later)
- Service: They pack furniture properly, create an inventory, then 6 guys in Dubai assembled everything and took the boxes away
"I did the maths on replacing everything versus shipping. I couldn't get near it. And I hadn't even factored in things like our £500 Dyson hoover."
Pro tip from Jessica: She packed their favourite UK laundry detergent in the container. "I knew I wouldn't find it immediately, and I've got the container space – why not?"
They slept on a mattress on the floor for 6 weeks in the UK to time the delivery with their arrival in Dubai.
Why They Chose Villanova (Over Ranches 3 and Town Square)
They looked at three communities:
| Community | Their Verdict |
|---|---|
| Town Square | Lovely, spent a full day there with a friend |
| Arabian Ranches 3 | Living space too small – dining, kitchen, living all in one cramped area |
| Villanova | Bigger villas, close to their chosen school, has a pub! |
The Bolt Hole pub was definitely a factor. "I use that pub," Connor admits.
Kids Settling In: Summer Camp & School
Their kids (aged 3.5 and 5) went straight into summer camp the week after landing.
Summer Camp Costs
- Duration: 4 weeks, 5 days a week
- Hours: 8am-5pm (flexible drop-off/pick-up)
- Cost: ~£2,000
- Result: "They cried every time we picked them up because they didn't want to leave"
Lunchbox Rules (Nobody Tells You This!)
This caught them off guard:
- No pork – no sausage rolls, no smoky bacon crisps
- No gelatine – check your sweets!
- No chocolate or candy (at their nursery/school)
"We were scrambling around one night – of course you can't put pork in! Our daughter loves a sausage roll and won't eat any other kind of sausage."
School Hours
Shorter days than UK – their kids do 7:45-8:15am drop off, then pick up between 1:15-1:30pm. Half day on Fridays.
School clubs: £30 each per week. Unlike some UK schools where you get free clubs, here they're all paid.
The Real Cost of Groceries (The Biggest Shock)
This was their biggest adjustment:
| Item | UK Price | Dubai Price |
|---|---|---|
| 4 pints of milk (Yeo Valley) | ~£2 | £7 (45 AED) |
| Bag of organic carrots | ~£1.50 | £9 |
| Walkers Crisps (UK brand) | ~£1 | £6+ for a 6-pack |
"We tried the local milk. Even our three-year-old said 'I'm not drinking that.' It was the tea – the cup of tea was disgusting."
How to Save on Groceries
- Buy local alternatives: Lays instead of Walkers (same thing)
- Skip organic veg: Buy normal veg and use organic fruit/veg wash
- Use Spinneys hot counter: Whole roast chicken for £4, amazing salads by the scoop
- Meal kits like Spring: Connor now cooks most nights following the instructions
The Villanova supermarket downside: Giant is fine for basics, but it's not Spinneys. The fresh food counter doesn't compare. Most families drive to Arabian Ranches 3 Souk for Spinneys.
Hiring Help at Home: Their Honest Experience
This was one of their main reasons for moving – to get help they couldn't afford in the UK.
The Setup
- Found via: Peekaboo app (filter by experience, ethnicity, salary expectations, video profiles)
- Hours: 6 days a week, 7am-7pm
- Type: Live-out (doesn't stay in their home)
- Cost: 3,500-4,500 AED/month + ~400 AED for her bus
- Visa: Done through MaidCC, additional cost
Total monthly: Roughly £800-1,200 depending on extras
What's It Actually Like?
"It is weird. Someone touching my underwear and folding them up – colour coordinated! But every morning I pick up a crispy pair of Calvin Kleins and I'm like... okay, I can get used to this."
The benefits:
- "We argue a lot less because we're not scrappy on a Saturday morning about who cleans the toilet"
- Connor's mum visited and said: "You're both happier. Much happier."
- The mental load of housework is gone
- Connor now cooks dinner while Ruby tidies up
The challenges:
- Some days Jessica just wants everyone out of the house
- What does she do when there's nothing to clean? (Can feel awkward)
- Haven't given her a key – feels too personal
- Took 2 months before they felt comfortable leaving kids with her (now do occasionally)
Their tip: Monthly review meetings to give feedback both ways. Small things matter – Jessica had to ask Ruby to put the toilet seat down after cleaning!
A Warning About Nannies
"We've seen kids acting like absolute terrorists, hitting the nanny. The parents are to blame – they've told the nanny not to discipline. So the kids never learn consequences."
Their approach: "Mine isn't there to bring my children up. That's my job. Her being there allows me to be more present as a parent."
Driving and Buying a Car
Getting Started
- First step: U-Drive rental (WhatsApp customer service is brilliant)
- UAE License: Once you have residency, takes ~10 minutes. Quick eye test, done.
- Important: In UAE, the CAR is insured, not the driver. Anyone with a UAE license can drive your car.
Buying a Car (Private Sale Process)
- Check it's GCC spec – Chinese/American spec cars are cheaper but have smaller radiators (overheat), less paint protection, fewer filters for sand
- Go to auto testing centre – 55 AED, car goes on ramp, full inspection, you watch on screen
- Transfer ownership – Need the "Mulkiya" (UAE log book), ~200 AED, must use UAE bank account
- Insurance first – Must be insured in your name before transfer
- Annual registration – Yes, every year. Must clear all fines first.
Insurance Costs Vary Wildly
Connor paid ~£1,000 (5,000 AED). We paid ~£500 (2,000 AED) for similar cover. "One of us hasn't got the right insurance and I hope neither of us finds out!"
Driving Culture
"Someone said to us – indicating is weakness. You want to move lane, you just move. You don't indicate."
The roads: Sheikh Zayed Road is 8-9 lanes wide. People join in the middle. They're building overpasses while you drive under them. It's intense but you get used to it.
Fuel: 51p per litre. You can get it delivered via app to wherever you're parked. Super cheap, but you'll drive double the miles you did in the UK.
The Villanova Downsides (Honest Take)
Connor and Jessica live in La Violeta. Here's what they'd change:
- The gym: One tiny gym for 8+ clusters. You won't get on the machines.
- The supermarket: Giant is okay but not Spinneys. The fresh counter doesn't compare.
- Distance: La Violeta to the Bolt Hole/gym is 2.5km. Not walkable.
- That road: The shortcut road to Arabian Ranches 3 is tarmacked but blocked. Being used as a service road until more clusters are built. When it opens, game changer.
What They Love
- Made friends really easily – pool days, pizza nights, WhatsApp groups
- Kids play outside safely – scooters, basketball, making friends
- The Bolt Hole pub (major pro!)
- New clusters mean everyone's in "let's make friends" mode
Things That Surprised Them
- Nothing is a quick pop. Everything is a 20-minute drive, minimum.
- The driving adds up. They were doing 120km/day at one point.
- UK admin was easier. Setting up Stripe for business? Still not done after months of paperwork.
- Road rage is serious. You can be reported for giving someone the finger – guilty until proven innocent.
- Renting feels unsettling. After owning in the UK, being in someone else's property with a lease renewal looming feels strange.
The Best Moments (After 90 Days)
Connor's Moment
"Swimming lessons. My son doing front crawl in four weeks. That would have taken months in the UK – expensive, chlorinated leisure centres, fogged-up glasses. Here I sat by the pool watching him swim, thinking: we can come back tomorrow and practice again if we want."
Cost: £200 for 9 one-to-one lessons. The coach comes to your community pool.
Jessica's Feeling
"It's not one moment – it's a feeling. I'm not on edge thinking my children are going to be taken. We lived in Southeast London. There was always that fear. I don't have that here. The kids know the neighbours, they play outside, and I just feel... calm."
Connor's mum noticed it when she visited: "You're much happier as a family. Much calmer. Much more content."
Their Advice for Anyone Moving
A guy in the Bolt Hole who'd been in Dubai for 5-6 years gave Connor this advice:
"Get in your lane and stay in your lane."
He was talking about driving, but it applies to life here too:
- Find your people
- Don't compare yourself to what everyone else is doing
- There's always someone on the Palm, always someone spending more
- Find your rhythm and you'll love it here
Timeline to feel settled: About a year. "It took me a year to feel like I'm probably not moving back."
Don't underestimate the weather: Waking up to sun every day is good for your soul. It outweighs the annoyances.
Quick Cost Reference
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Shipping (half 40ft container) | £2,900 |
| Summer camp (4 weeks) | £2,000 |
| School clubs | £30/week each |
| Maid (live-out, 6 days) | £800-1,200/month |
| Car insurance (annual) | £500-1,000 |
| Car registration transfer | ~£200 |
| Fuel | 51p/litre |
| Swimming lessons (9x 1:1) | £200 |
| Yeo Valley milk (4 pints) | £7 |
Thinking about making the move? Take my neighbourhood quiz to find your perfect area, or check out my relocation package if you want hands-on help with every step.
And if you want to watch Part 1 where Connor and Jessica shared their plans before moving, check out the Dubai Diary YouTube channel!