The Unmissable Guide to Enjoying Everything Life Has to Offer
After 7 years as an ex-pat in Dubai, I can say I’ve pretty much seen this small city grow into a major player on the world’s stage… the biggest building in the world, the only 7* hotel, the uninterrupted sunshine, the best hotel and leisure brands, and all of the world’s most popular eateries located in one place…lifestyles of the rich and the famous!
To start with, I’ll explain about the City. Firstly there is no main ‘city centre’ there are just parts of town, which are distinct in their own unique ways and separated by the Creek, which runs through the city, very close to Dubai International Airport. Your closeness to the ‘centre’ of Dubai is judged by distance from the airport. The general consesus is that the south of the city comprising Bur Dubai, Satwa, the eternally famous Jumeirah located by the beach and The Palm Jumeirah, and ‘The World’ projects, make up the ‘better’ part of Dubai.
Bur Dubai is very close to the airport, and pretty much built up. It is a fairly old part of town and the dated apartment blocks and offices echo that, compared with ‘new Dubai’ located near Jumeirah and the Palm, with their state-of-the-art office, business and residential complexes. It is an area popular with Indian and Pakistani nationals.
Satwa is a bizarre mix. Located in between Bur Dubai and Jumeirah, it is multi-ethnic community and houses lots of the Phillipino expats. You can find numerous tailors and cheap food outlets, catering to the cultural mix who live there. Accommodation is generally for expats who share 4 or more to a room and are on a low salary.
Very close by, Jumeirah begins. This is a complete contrast and offers some of the largest and most expensive villas and is built along the famous Jumeirah beach. It is very popular with Western expats and coined the phrase of ‘Jumeirah Jane’s’ for women that go shopping with their husband’s credit cards all day. Just a stone’s throw away, you can find ‘The Palm Jumeirah’ – one of the Palm Trilogy, which is essentially a man-made island off the coastline of Dubai in the shape of a palm tree, and visible from space. This area offers stylish villas and apartments directly on the beach, along with deluxe hotels and Marina’s - an excellent lifestyle.
The Palm Jumeirah is close to the ‘freezone‘ business areas of Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City and Knowledge Village. Continue on for the luxurious Dubai Marina area.
This end of Dubai – sometimes labelled ‘New Dubai’ is simply where it’s happening.
The property boom; which only started in 2002 when foreign investors were allowed to buy in certain ‘freehold’ areas, has caused inflation to surge, making Dubai life a much more expensive option these days.
I will update this lens regularly with the choice of jobs (endless), the areas to work in, salaries, visas, schools, real estate and lots more.
It’s definitely the time to visit, and to help you find the cheapest flights to Dubai or any destination Click Here!
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