ABOUT
Rui is from Portugal, works in Digital Marketing and speaks Portuguese, English and Spanish. He has always lived and worked in Portugal but he went to Angola for 7 months to manage a big project in 2017 and loved it. For almost 3 years, he’s been living in the UAE working in Social Media Management, and completing 8 years in Marketing.
Moving to Dubai
When and why did you move to Dubai?
I moved in April 2021 for the simple reason that I wanted more for my life and was highly motivated by my girlfriend.
How did you get set up?
Everything by myself but the processes are very automated.
Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance in Dubai?
It’s provided by the company, and mandatory by law.
What did you bring with you?
One piece of luggage with the essentials for 6 months.
How did you find an apartment in Dubai?
I found it online and the rent is 1.200€ per month.
What surprised you about life in Dubai?
The safety and cultural diversity.
Living in Dubai
What should people consider before deciding to move to Dubai?
The extreme heat in summer.
How can Portuguese people immigrate to Dubai?
You get a 90-day visit visa starting the day you arrive. After that, you’ll need a resident visa which is provided by your company.
What specifically is Dubai famous for?
The safety is definitely a visit card. You can leave your things on the table, your car unlocked with bags inside and no one will do anything. Some people even leave their apartments unlocked. And it’s not because it’s a super controlled city with cameras everywhere; yes, it’s controlled but for our safety. London, for example, it’s one of the most controlled cities in the world and crime is at a peak, so the most important thing here is the culture: people respect each other and feel appreciated about living here.
What apps do you find useful in your daily life in Dubai?
Everything here has an app. Everything. Even governmental services use WhatsApp and apps to make it more convenient for citizens to solve situations. Dubai is also known for its convenience, as everything is user-friendly, fast and easy to get.
What are your favorite places in Dubai?
Kite Beach and Marina.
Kite Beach gives me a vibe of vacation with all the palmtrees, music, food trucks and I love going there to ride my skate. Marina is the place where I live and it’s close to everything I need; I can just walk to everything.
What is the most recent thing you've read in the news about life in Dubai?
New construction projects that will take Dubai to another level, such as an elevated ring city around Burj Khalifa or flying taxis in 2026.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Dubai?
It’s more expensive to live in Portugal than in Dubai. It depends a lot on your lifestyle. Some people live here with low salaries and other people with higher salaries spend almost everything because of the temptations.
Do you feel safe in Dubai?
100%. Even my girlfriend walks alone at night.
What's your list of favorite restaurants and cafés in Dubai?
Saya Cafe and Scarlet for breakfast and Pier7 for dinner are my favorite ones.
How does Dubai compare to other cities in the UAE?
Dubai is really unique. The other emirates don’t even compare as they’re not as developed.
Final Thoughts
Can you tell us something else about Dubai or the UAE that we might not know?
It’s the 5th safest city in the world.
What books should people look at to learn more about Dubai?
The best book is to come here and try it 🙂 if you search online about a Middle Eastern country/city, you’ll get biased.
What do you know about music from Dubai?
It’s international music (90%) and Arabic music (10%).
How are Portuguese people different from Emiratis?
Emiratis are more conservative but they love Portuguese people because of Ronaldo. Portuguese people are used to being able to do everything and speak loudly because we’re Latinos; they’re more introverted and calm.
Are there any experiences there that surprised you?
The biggest surprise to me was the cultural diversity. To be able to meet and speak with people from Syria, Saudi Arabia and from around the world during my lunch break is really insightful.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people?
Mainly with Portuguese people but I’ve made some friends from other nationalities. It’s easier if you’re an extrovert but people here are very focused on their jobs and making money, and not so much on making friends; it’s a city to work.
What are some disadvantages to living in Dubai?
Everything is superficial and temporary. It’s not your home or nobody’s, so it’s difficult to gain roots here. Also, the extreme heat during summer makes you stay at home more often.
What are your plans for the future?
Just enjoying this chapter of my life and making the most out of it.
Thank you so Rui it is really insightful! Straight to the point. And I will definitely check your recommendations 🙂
His LinkedIn Here
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