Experience in Dubai, United Arab Emirates by Borna

What is it like to live in Dubai? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

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As someone that has lived in Dubai for 13 years, I would recommend it to everyone. The city is a landmark for human development and technology, there are amazing things being build here everyday and just seeing the city grow was an educational experience in itself for me.

Dubai is a city that is built on the work of many expats, it is a multicultural city and the best point about the city is that the people are mostly nice and open to different cultures, this is even more notorious at the Universities.

What is the student lifestyle like in Dubai?

The lifestyle in Dubai is one of the best things about living in the country. Whatever activity interests you, you can find it here. There are film festivals, art festivals, amazing concerts, loads of sport activities, many amazing night clubs and bars and also many educational events. The beach is beautiful and there is always something to do, which is perfect for students because studying and finding things to do in between can be a challenge in other places.

How much does it cost to live in Dubai?

This is a tricky one, there is plenty of different types of housing in Dubai, some universities like mine, have dorms, but many don't. Housing is quite expensive in many parts of Dubai but there are certain regions that have decent priced housing. And another problem in estimating costs is the lifestyle a person will have. For example, drinking is very expensive in bars and clubs and events, and I mean very expensive (around AED35-40 for a pint of beer, $10). And beer is by far the cheapest drink.

The events are expensive and have expensive tickets.

All this said, as a student that studies and just takes it easy going out and about, around AED2500-3000 which is $680-800 should be enough for a months cost including going out every weekend. Unfortunately, I do not have enough information about housing for students.

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Is it difficult to find accommodation in Dubai? Is there any advice you can give?

As I said above, unfortunately I don't have enough information about this.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The food is amazing in Dubai, you can find absolutely anything here. From Chinese food to American, from African to Swedish. There are 5 star kitchens all over the city and there are also many hidden gems that are my favorites as someone who grew up in the city.

I absolutely love food and to state my favorite is impossible, I love all eastern and southern Asian cuisines, I love Arab and Iranian dishes (Iranian dishes especially are underrated around the world), Turkish food is amazing, I love African and south american meals as well. Italian is of course one of the top favorites, but I think Mandi(the traditional Yemeni dish) and sushi are my most loved dishes.

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What places would you recommend visiting in Dubai?

This is a very hard question because there is so much to do in Dubai. I think finding a good group of friends and going camping and dune bashing in the desert is one of my favorite things to do. Honestly it all depends on what the person wants to do. I recommend searching online for literally anything you feel like doing, there is a high chance you'll find a top top quality company offering you that exact thing you want to do.

Dubai really is a consumer's City.

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Is it good to eat out in Dubai? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Haha this is where it gets interesting, as I said before, eating out is amazing in Dubai. My favorite spots aren't the usual spots, though. I like finding random hidden gems and trying new things. I have a usual spot in a very small restaurant that is actually made for taxis. It has the view of the famous Burj Al Arab and I have gone there for 10 years, it's called Bel Jafela and it serves from Pizza to boiled eggs and is a great place to get away from the busy places and just relax.

Is the nightlife good in Dubai? Where is it good to go?

Nightlife in Dubai is absolutely awesome. There are plenty of places to go and there is plenty of different music on offer. Unfortunately I haven't gone out much in the past year and in this city the places changed a lot in the past year due to my schedule. So I cannot name places, but the nightlife scene is massive and it is one of the main topics in Universities.

What advice would you give future students heading to Dubai?

Prepare yourself for not wanting to leave, to be open to loads of culture shocks, try to network a lot there, remember this is a city filled with kids of millionaires, company owners and government leaders. Don't just do things everyone does every weekend, spend some time online to find interesting things to do. Make friends, I have made friends from all over the world by just talking to all kinds of people in Dubai, its amazing how one city can be a bridge between so many different countries and people.