Challenges of Saving Money as an Expat in Dubai

Victoria Blinova, a 30-year-old expat, shared her experiences of living and working in Dubai. Blinova moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2013 to attend NYU Abu Dhabi, where she immersed herself in the local culture and learned Arabic. After graduating, she worked in Dubai for four years, first in a boutique marketing firm and then at Nestlé.

Blinova found that saving money in Dubai was challenging due to the luxury lifestyle that was prevalent in the city. She was making a good tax-free salary at Nestlé, but she felt that she could have saved even more. The temptation to indulge in lavish activities, such as weekly bottomless brunches, yacht parties, and stays at five-star hotels, was hard to resist. Blinova often found herself spending more than she had planned, and she felt that being frugal was not part of the Dubai culture.

Blinova's experience in Dubai was quite different from her life in London. In London, she found that it was easier to be thrifty, and social plans often involved free activities like going for walks or spending time in the park. In contrast, in Dubai, Blinova felt that she couldn't go out without spending a significant amount of money. She also found that renting a used car or having a roommate were not considered normal money-saving tactics in Dubai, as her colleagues often questioned her choices.