Discover what moving to Dubai as a Consultant doctor is really like, from the cost of living and social life to safety, transport and settling into the UAE
Thinking about moving to the UAE? From making new friends and finding your feet to the cost of living, getting around and enjoying life outside the hospital, here’s my take on what you should know before making the move.
When people talk about moving to Dubai, the conversation often starts with the job, the salary, the sunshine and the lifestyle. And, of course, those things all matter.
But having experienced life in the UAE myself, I think there’s another side to the decision that deserves just as much attention: what is it actually like to move there, settle in and build a life for yourself?
For doctors working at Consultant level, moving to Dubai can be an exciting opportunity. After years of training, developing your speciality and building your career, the prospect of working in a new healthcare environment while experiencing a different way of life can be very appealing.
But accepting a new position is one thing. Moving to another country, leaving behind friends and family, finding your feet and eventually feeling at home somewhere new is quite another. As someone who has experienced living in the UAE, I wanted to share some of the things I think are worth knowing before making the move.
Not just the professional opportunities, but the everyday realities that can make a real difference to your experience.
It’s more than just a career move
One of the biggest things to consider when moving abroad is that you’re not simply changing jobs. You’re changing your surroundings, your routines and, to some extent, your entire way of life. If you’ve spent years working in the UK, you’ll probably have established routines, friendships, family connections and favourite places.
You know how things work, where to go and what to expect. Moving to Dubai means starting some of that again. The good news is that Dubai is an international city, with people arriving from all over the world for work, family and a different lifestyle.
You’ll meet people at different stages of their lives, many of whom have also made the decision to leave their home country and try something new. That shared experience can make settling in easier than you might expect. Of course, there will be things to adjust to, and not every day will feel like an adventure.
But if you approach the move with an open mind and a willingness to embrace something different, there is plenty to look forward to. My advice is to think about the move as a whole. The right job is important, but so is the life you’ll build around it.
The little surprises: Food, drink and the cost of living
One thing that surprised me about living in the UAE was just how much the cost of food and drink could vary.
Dubai offers a huge choice of restaurants, cafés and places to socialise, but eating out in certain locations can be expensive. Hotel restaurants, popular venues and some of the more premium establishments can add up quickly, particularly if you enjoy going out regularly.
It’s easy to see the lifestyle on offer and assume that everything will be good value, but that isn’t necessarily the case.
The cost of everyday life will depend heavily on your choices. Where you shop, where you eat, where you live and how you spend your weekends can all make a difference to your monthly expenditure.
For a Consultant considering a move, I’d recommend looking at the complete financial picture rather than focusing solely on the headline salary.
Think about the lifestyle you actually want. Do you enjoy eating out a few times a week? Do you like meeting friends for drinks, visiting different restaurants or spending your weekends exploring? These things can become a significant part of your budget.
Also, look carefully at your employment package and understand what is included, what you’ll need to pay for yourself and how your expected living costs compare with your current arrangements.
The aim isn’t to spend your time worrying about money. It’s to arrive feeling comfortable with the decisions you’ve made and able to enjoy the opportunities around you.
Meeting people and finding your social circle
One question people sometimes underestimate when moving abroad is how they’re going to meet people.
In the UK, friendships often develop naturally over time. You might have friends from university, former colleagues, family connections or people you’ve known for years.
When you move to Dubai, you may need to be a little more proactive.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to start meeting people. Facebook groups can be a useful starting point, particularly groups aimed at expats, newcomers or people with shared interests. Hotel functions, networking events and other social gatherings can also provide opportunities to meet people from different backgrounds and industries.
You don’t necessarily have to arrive knowing anybody. Sometimes, simply putting yourself out there, attending an event or accepting an invitation is enough to get things started. Dubai has a large international community, so you’ll meet people who have come from all over the world, each with their own reasons for being there.
Some have relocated for work, others for family or lifestyle, and many are building a new chapter in their lives just as you might be.
For doctors, particularly those in senior positions, having a social circle outside the hospital can be especially valuable. Consultant roles can be demanding, and having friends, interests and activities away from work helps you make the most of your time in the UAE.
My advice? Start building your social life early. Don’t wait until you’ve been there for six months before looking for ways to meet people. You may be surprised by how many others are in exactly the same position.
Dubai isn’t just about work
It’s easy to focus on the professional opportunity when considering a move to the UAE. But what happens when you finish work? For me, that’s an important part of the conversation.
Dubai offers a very different environment from the UK, with beaches, restaurants, sporting activities, shopping, entertainment and opportunities to explore other parts of the region. There’s a huge variety of things to do, whether you enjoy trying new restaurants, spending time by the sea, keeping fit, socialising with friends or simply making the most of the sunshine.
There’s also something interesting about living in an international city where you regularly meet people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Of course, living in Dubai isn’t a permanent holiday. There are bills to pay, errands to run, busy working weeks and the occasional frustrating day, just as there are anywhere else.
And the summer heat is something you need to take seriously, particularly if you’re used to spending a lot of time outdoors in the UK. But if you enjoy trying new things and exploring a different lifestyle, there is plenty to discover.
The important thing is to think about the life you want to lead, not just the job you’re being offered.
One thing I wish I’d known: Dubai isn’t always a walking city
This might sound like a fairly minor detail, but it can make a real difference to your everyday routine. Coming from the UK, you might be used to popping out for a walk, heading to a local shop or walking between restaurants and cafés. In many parts of Dubai, life works differently.
A lot of journeys are planned around driving, taxis or other transport. Places that look relatively close together on a map aren’t always practical to walk between, and the heat, particularly during the summer months, is a major factor in how people get around.
There are certainly areas with promenades, walkable neighbourhoods and places where you can enjoy being outdoors. But I wouldn’t assume that walking everywhere will be part of your daily routine in the same way it might be in the UK.
For me, this is one of those practical differences that you don’t always appreciate until you’ve experienced it yourself.
If you’re considering a move, think carefully about where you’ll live in relation to the hospital, where you want to socialise and how you’ll get around. Will you need a car? Will you rely on taxis? Are the places you want to visit easily accessible from your accommodation?
These are worth considering before committing to a property. Choosing the right location can make a real difference to how settled you feel, particularly when you’re balancing a demanding Consultant role with your life outside work.
Feeling safe: One of the things I really appreciated
Something else I’d highlight about my experience of the UAE is the strong sense of safety I felt living there. One example that sticks in my mind is the idea of leaving your wallet on a restaurant table while you pop to the restroom. In my experience, there is a reassuring feeling that you can return and find your belongings where you left them.
It’s a small example, perhaps, but it says something about how comfortable I felt going about my daily life.
Dubai is widely recognised for its strong safety record, and this can be an important consideration when you’re thinking about relocating, particularly if you’re moving with a partner or children.
Of course, no city is completely free of crime, and it’s always sensible to take normal precautions with your belongings and personal safety. But that feeling of security was a very positive part of my own experience.
When you’re moving to another country, there are already plenty of things to think about: a new job, a different healthcare environment, finding accommodation and building a social circle. Feeling comfortable in your surroundings can make that transition considerably easier.
It’s one of those things that doesn’t necessarily appear in a job offer, but it can have a real impact on your overall quality of life.
What about family, partners and life back home?
For many Consultant-level doctors, the decision to move isn’t theirs alone. You may be moving with a husband, wife or partner. You might have children to think about, or parents and other family members back in the UK whom you want to remain close to.
These are conversations worth having early. What would your partner do while you’re at work? Would your children enjoy the change? What schooling arrangements might you need to make? How often would you want to visit family back home?
Technology makes it easier to stay connected, and travel between the UAE and the UK is well established. But being able to call home isn’t quite the same as being there in person.
Equally, moving abroad can give couples and families the opportunity to experience something new together, build different routines and make memories they might never otherwise have made.
There isn’t a single right answer. Every family is different, and what works brilliantly for one person may not be right for another.
The key is to consider the move as a lifestyle decision for everyone involved, rather than simply a new position for one person.
Getting the practical details right
The personal side of relocating is important, but getting the practical details right can make settling in much easier.Before accepting a position, I’d encourage any Consultant considering Dubai to understand the full picture.
Here are a few things I’d want to have a clear answer to:
Your employment package: Understand the salary, benefits, allowances and any other elements of the offer. Make sure you know what’s included and what you’ll need to fund yourself.
Accommodation: Research the areas where you might want to live and consider the cost, commute and lifestyle each location offers.
Licensing and registration: Make sure you understand the relevant professional licensing requirements for your speciality and the likely timescales. Don’t assume that the process will be identical to the UK.
Healthcare and insurance: Establish what cover is provided for you and your family, where applicable, and what it includes.
Your family arrangements: If you’re relocating with a partner or children, look into the relevant residency arrangements, schooling and other practical requirements.
Your first few months: Ask what support your employer can offer while you settle in. Practical help with relocation, accommodation arrangements and local administration can be valuable when you’re getting established.
Every employer and individual situation is different, so it’s important to get clear answers rather than make assumptions.It’s also worth speaking to people who already live and work in the UAE.
They can often give you a much better feel for the day-to-day realities than a job description ever could.
Give yourself time to settle
One final thing I’d say to anyone thinking about making the move is not to put too much pressure on yourself to have everything figured out immediately.
You might feel settled quite quickly, or it might take a little longer. You may love certain aspects of Dubai straight away and need time to adjust to others. That’s perfectly normal.
Give yourself the opportunity to explore, meet people, find your favourite places and develop a routine that works for you. Keep in touch with friends and family back home, but make an effort to build connections where you are, too.
Try different things. Attend an event, explore a new neighbourhood or accept an invitation even if you’re not entirely sure what to expect. The aim isn’t to recreate your life in the UK exactly as it was. It’s to build a new life that works for you.
And remember, settling into a new country is a process. You don’t have to know everything on day one.
Is Dubai right for you?
Ultimately, nobody can answer that question on your behalf.
For some doctors, the opportunity to develop their career while experiencing a different lifestyle will be an exciting next chapter. For others, family commitments, personal preferences or the practicalities of relocating may mean that staying in the UK is the better choice.
Both are perfectly valid decisions.
What I would say is that if you’re seriously considering the UAE, take the time to explore the personal side of the move as carefully as the professional side.
Ask questions. Speak to people who have already made the transition. Be honest about what matters to you and your family. And make sure you understand what life could look like once the excitement of a new job has settled into everyday reality.
For me, the important thing is to go into the experience with your eyes open. Dubai has plenty to offer, but understanding the everyday realities will help you decide whether those opportunities are right for you.
Thinking about making the move to Dubai?
At Health Hunt Talent, we understand that finding the right Consultant position is about much more than matching a doctor with a vacancy.
It’s about understanding your ambitions, your circumstances and the kind of life you want to build.
We work with healthcare organisations across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, connecting experienced clinicians with opportunities that could be the right next step in their careers.
If you’re a Consultant considering a move to the Gulf, we’re happy to have an honest, informal conversation about the opportunities, the practicalities and the questions worth asking before making a decision.
There’s no pressure to make a move. Sometimes, the best place to start is simply by having a conversation and understanding what’s possible.
Health Hunt Talent — helping you make informed decisions about your next career move.
Alex Flowerdew