Connor and Jessica are a UK couple relocating their family and business to Dubai this July. We sat down for an honest conversation about their journey – the fears, the research, the costs, and everything in between.
If you're in the planning stage of your move, this is for you. They're living the research phase right now.
Why Dubai?
Connor and Jessica have two very different drivers – and that's probably true for most couples.
Connor's Perspective
"I love the glitz and the glam. If you've got a few quid, Dubai is the place to go and spend it. You'll get the service in the restaurants, the respect from other people. If you want to be flashy you can, if you want to fly under the radar there's so many other people being flashy that you will."
Jessica's Perspective
"Mine's completely opposite. The safety, the beaches for the children, being able to walk out in the evening. We live in Southeast London and it's not that safe. I don't want my children to grow up thinking that's a normal way of life. I want them to have the freedom to go and play like they should be able to – which you can in the communities here."
The key insight? You can choose the Dubai you want. It can be shiny and glamorous, or completely under the radar. That's one of its biggest strengths.
Safety: Expectation vs Reality
Safety was a major driver for both our families. Here's what we've found after nine months:
- Kids can play outside – Just going down to the grass area in our building to play football with friends. They never had that freedom in the UK.
- Confidence grows – Reggie's confidence has massively grown from more freedom and socializing with different children and adults.
- Kids are king – Adults openly speak to children here. In restaurants, staff make a fuss over kids. It took adjusting to – but once you understand it, it's wonderful.
"The way we're conditioned in the UK to think it's odd or strange for someone to say hello to your children – that's abnormal. Here it's normal. Kids are included everywhere."
The Timeline
Connor and Jessica's approach:
- March 2023: Started their business
- 6 months later: Decided to move to Dubai (hadn't even been yet!)
- One week later: First exploration trip
- 2024: Business was "too much of a baby" – delayed one year
- July 2025: The move
Jessica's advice on setting dates:
"If you don't have a set date it's just going to roll and roll. I said we're going in July – that's it. The school year timing works, we'll have a couple of weeks to settle before it gets too hot, and if we need temporary accommodation it'll be cheaper in summer."
Schools and Nurseries
Key Differences from UK
- Mandatory school age: Not until 6 (similar to Nordic countries)
- No flexi-schooling: Once in education, KHDA requires set hours – even for pre-school
- Year groups: Can feel like secondary school size (six classes per year group vs two at home)
Their Strategy
Put both children (ages 3 and 4) in a smaller nursery for Year 1, then transition to a larger school. This makes it:
- Less overwhelming for young children
- Easier logistics (one school run)
- More transitional before the big school environment
The Nursery They Chose
Maple Bear – Canadian curriculum nursery with multiple Dubai branches.
What impressed them:
- Purpose-built facility
- Child-sized sinks and toilets ("she could wash her own hands without being lifted up")
- Brand new facilities
- Branches in Arabian Ranches 3 and Town Square
Costs
"It's really on par with the UK – potentially a little bit cheaper. I pay £1,200 a month for four days a week at home with funding. Here it's about £1,100 a month for five days a week with no funding. The days are slightly shorter but it's comparable."
Shipping Belongings
Jessica did extensive research after hearing horror stories about customs delays.
The Numbers
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cost | £2,900 |
| Container size | Half a 40ft container (20ft) |
| Timeframe | 6-10 weeks door-to-door |
| Service | Part-pack: you box small items, they wrap furniture |
What They're Shipping
- Super king ottoman bed
- One sofa
- Garden furniture ("I've heard it's extortionate here")
- Dining table (not chairs – need new ones)
- All kitchen items ("£800 worth of pans")
- All kids' toys
- Kids' mattresses
Key Tips
- Find a company with a local team in Dubai – they have someone at customs ready to clear your container
- Be honest about timelines – 6 weeks best case, plan for 10
- Get recommendations from people who've done it
- They wrap soft furnishings professionally (no need to cling film mattresses yourself!)
Community Selection: Ranches 3 vs Villanova
They viewed both communities with their children. Here's their comparison:
Arabian Ranches 3
Pros:
- Brand new souk with Costa, Joe & The Juice
- Maple Bear nursery on-site
- Vision of walking/scootering to school
Cons:
- 3-bed living space felt small
- Kitchen and living area combined (no extra space)
- "Where would the children's toys go?"
Price: ~150-160K AED/year (brand new)
Villanova
Pros:
- Bigger living spaces
- Greener feel, more space
- The Bolt Hole pub with garden and BBQ
- Pool right next to the pub
- Kids playing outside at 6pm ("exactly what I wanted")
The Deciding Moment:
"We drove out at 6pm and I heard this noise – it was like a school playground. Kids playing outside. That's exactly what I wanted. I know it sounds silly, but having a pub with a garden on your doorstep where you can walk, and the pool right there as the kids get older... that appealed to me."
Their Decision: Villanova
Plan: Rent for one year, buy in Year 2.
Business Setup: Mainland vs Free Zone
Connor and Jessica run a quantity surveying company in the UK. They're setting up a Dubai entity.
Why Mainland?
They chose Mainland over Free Zone for one reason: hiring flexibility.
"Surveyors are notoriously expensive in the UK and difficult to employ. I saw an opportunity here – if we're on the ground we can train them, do it our way, and for a lesser salary. I wanted that choice."
The Costs
| Setup Type | Cost (GBP) | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland | ~£11,500 | Company formation, visas (family), virtual office |
| Free Zone | ~£6,800-8,000 | Company formation, visas (family), virtual office |
Their Strategy
- Keep UK head office and staff
- Continue growing UK business (main focus)
- Let Dubai business develop organically
- Potential to hire Dubai staff to service UK clients (salary arbitrage)
- Explore local market (renovations in older communities like The Lakes)
What to Do with UK Property
This is the question everyone asks. Here's their logic:
Why They're Selling (Not Renting)
- Expat mortgage rates aren't friendly – You must tell your mortgage company
- Can't offset mortgage as cost anymore – Tax rules changed
- Management fees + insurance + hassle = "left with next to nothing"
- They wouldn't go back to that house anyway – If Dubai doesn't work, they'd buy somewhere different
- It was built to live in, not rent – They spent extra making it their home
"We ran the numbers: rental value minus management fee minus rent insurance minus the headache... and you can't offset the mortgage anymore. We were like, let's just get rid of it."
Driving in Dubai
Connor was honest: "Sheikh Zayed Road is 14 lanes. It terrifies me."
Our Experience
- You get used to it – Within a couple of weeks
- Start in communities – Practice before hitting main roads
- Cars are left-hand drive – No importing right-hand drive vehicles
- Use Waze, not Google Maps – It tells you which lanes you need
- Side mirrors only – Honestly, we barely use the rear-view
Budget for Tolls (Salik)
100-150 AED per month – Factor this into your budget.
Speeding Fines
- Dubai: 20 km/h allowance above posted limit
- Abu Dhabi: ZERO allowance – one km over = ticket
- Fines text you within 5 minutes (everything's connected to your Emirates ID)
True story: A friend drove back from Abu Dhabi and got nearly 5,000 AED (~£1,000) in speeding fines in one day. On the same road.
Can You Live Without a Car?
Short answer: No.
"Taxis are reasonably priced and easy to get. But we couldn't navigate normal family life without a car – rugby commitments, Aquaventure at the Palm, just having independence."
Making Friends
Jessica's worry: "I put a lot of pressure on myself thinking I'm going to be lonely."
What We've Learned
- It takes one person – Sara set up a coffee morning with school mums. They'd been here years and never done anything like it. Everyone was grateful.
- Brits have something to bond over – We all know what the UK is like. Similar reasons for leaving.
- Not everyone finds it easy – An Australian family we met said they've struggled to find their tribe after 3 months.
- Put yourself out there – The reserved ones struggle most.
Schools: Sports vs Academics
This came up in our honest conversation about our current school.
Our concern: The sports and competitive push isn't what we'd like.
"Riley's goal is to be a professional rugby player. My fear is if we don't put him in a better school for rugby, we're doing him a disservice."
Key Insight
Most conversations about Dubai schools focus on academics. But if your kids are sporty:
- Some schools push sport much harder than others
- Rugby club parents are great sources of school recommendations
- Sports start earlier here (age 3 vs 5 in UK)
- Quality varies significantly between schools
What Success Looks Like in 12 Months
Jessica
- In the process of buying a home
- Exploring home education community
- Kids settled and happy
Connor
- Fit and healthy (fresh start)
- Not replicating UK life – building something new
- Actually socializing again
- Business processes in place, more free time
Key Takeaways
| Topic | Their Approach |
|---|---|
| Timeline | Set a hard date or it rolls forever |
| Shipping | £2,900 for 20ft container, 6-10 weeks |
| Business | Mainland (£11.5K) for hiring flexibility |
| Community | Villanova (bigger spaces, pub, kids playing) |
| Schools | Smaller nursery first, then transition |
| UK property | Selling (renting doesn't work financially) |
| Strategy | Rent Year 1, buy Year 2 |
We'll Check Back In
Connor and Jessica are moving in July 2025. We'll sit down again in 12 months to see how it all worked out – did the shipping arrive in 10 weeks? Did Villanova live up to expectations? How's the business transition going?
If you're in the planning phase right now, you're not alone. These conversations help everyone.
Planning Your Move?
- Take the neighbourhood quiz – Find the right community for your family
- Explore Villanova – Full community guide
- Read: Tax-Free Living Myths – What UK business owners need to know
- Relocation Package – If you want hands-on help navigating the process
Good luck Connor and Jessica – see you in 12 months! 🇦🇪