'Came for a year, stayed forever': Why expats chose to build lives, raise children in UAE

When Mohammed A. first came to Dubai in 1977, his goal was clear. He wanted to stay in the UAE for two years and return to his home country of India. More than 48 years later, he is still in the country living here with his family including his children and grandchildren. “For the first several years, I kept thinking that I would go back,” he said. “But then I got married, had my children and the UAE was the perfect place to raise my family.”

He said that now, he can’t imagine leaving Dubai. “We have built our entire lives here,” he said. “The infrastructure and safety in this country are second to none. I had several friends who came around the same time. We all had planned to retire and settle in India together. All these years later, several of my friends are still here. There is a certain attraction to this place that once you live here, you can’t think of living anywhere else.”

Many expats come to the UAE expecting to stay here for only a short period but end up making it their forever home. For some, it is the high quality of life the country offers that attracts them while for others, it is the ease to do business and support for innovation. Earlier this year, a global survey ranked the UAE seventh in the overall index of best countries in which to live. While 18 per cent of expats plan to remain in the country for the foreseeable future, while 39 per cent are still undecided about their long-term plans.

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A short visit that changed

In 1987, Barakat El Magboul was living a stable life in Sudan, working two jobs, as a college professor and private tutor at his hometown school when he decided to visit a friend in Al Ain. Arriving in the country with just $300, he was encouraged by his friend to apply for job. “He kept telling me, ‘You have potential, just try,’” Barakat recalled. “At first I hesitated, but I decided to give it a chance.”

He got the job and decided to try it out. What began as a short trip turned into a 35-year career that saw him steadily climbing from an engineer to becoming manager of the company’s northern region. “I never planned to stay that long,” he said. “But the opportunities kept growing.”

After getting married, Barakat brought his family to the UAE and raised five children here. Today, three of his kids are also building their careers in the UAE. “This country gave us stability and a sense of belonging,” Barakat said. He now divides his time between the UAE and Egypt, while maintaining strong ties to both.

Earlier this month, media professional Binesh Babu Panicker launched a podcast to put the spotlight on such people who made UAE their forever home. Titled ‘One Way Ticket to Dubai’, the series will feature investors, professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who will address misconceptions, and highlight the market's unique advantages. The podcast will be produced and broadcast in eight different languages.

Nothing else compares

American expat Aaron Jon moved to the UAE in 2020 with the plan of staying for just a year. Six years later, he and his wife have just welcomed their first baby, and a move is nowhere on the horizon. “I thought I would explore the country and save up a little money before moving on,” he said. “But once I moved here, I started to get really comfortable. There was access to so many things like fitness, wellness, socialising and entertainment. The public holidays gave us time to travel and the UAE being such a hub, made it easy to go to so many places.”

He said that he and his wife have been to several countries all over the world but still consider the UAE home. “We started comparing every city to Dubai and nothing was just as good,” he said. “So, till I find somewhere much better — which to be honest, I doubt I will — this is home. I am looking forward to raising my daughter in the safety of Dubai.”