Dutch Expat Family in Dubai

Source: https://dewereldwijven.com/
Hi, I’m Sandra, and together with my family, I moved abroad in 2017. We were looking for a new adventure—really! Life in the Netherlands was fine, but we felt something was missing. Both of us had traveled and worked abroad before, so when the opportunity came, we didn’t hesitate. The destination? Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

When we tell people in the Netherlands that we live in Dubai, not everyone reacts positively. This might be because Dubai and the UAE often appear negatively in the Dutch news. Stories focus on Islam, criminals residing here, poor working conditions for Asian migrants, and the artificial "bling bling" created here. However, those who have visited us know better by now.

Living by the Arabic Calendar

The country is still young, having only become independent in 1971. Before that, the Emirates were under British protection. Besides Arabic, English is the second official language in the UAE. The British influence is still present with things like Sunday Roasts, brunches, UK schools, and more. Though we don’t drive on the left side of the road, British traditions remain strong.

Life here follows the Arabic calendar, which means public holidays revolve around occasions like Ramadan (Eid al-Fitr) and approximately two months later, Eid al-Adha. We don’t have time off for Easter, Ascension Day, or Pentecost. While schools close for Christmas holidays, the Christmas days themselves are not official holidays.

Many things here are organized differently than in the Netherlands. Many parents work full-time without family nearby as backup, so having a nanny is common. One in four women in the UAE is a nanny. In Dubai, you can book all kinds of convenient services, from cleaners and grocery deliveries to ironing and beauty treatments at home. You don’t need to plan far in advance—someone can show up at your door within half an hour after booking.

I personally love the doorstep fueling service. It’s a mobile gas station that refuels your car wherever you are—at home, work, or anywhere else. Never having to pump gas myself is such a luxury! Another great service is the mobile pet grooming service. With this, a fully equipped van comes to your home, and a professional groomer takes care of your pet.

If you’re at a party and the fun continues longer than expected, you can book a “safe driver” who drives you home in your own car. Very handy if you need your car the next morning!

Dubai: Empty Agendas, International Melting Pot, and Fun Outings

In the Netherlands, we constantly had to grab our agendas to schedule dates. Here, hardly anyone has a private agenda. It took some getting used to, but now we love it. For example, you might get a BBQ invitation on a Friday for that same weekend. With such flexible schedules, we can almost always join.

In contrast to the fixed holiday schedule in the Netherlands, holidays here depend on the lunar calendar. This means we often only know shortly in advance when a particular Eid will be celebrated. People live here by the mantra “Inshallah” or “if God wills.”

We find Dubai a very pleasant place to live. It’s incredibly international, with mutual respect for the 200 different nationalities and cultures represented here. The country is very liberal and the safest place in the world, especially for women and children. You can sleep with your door open or leave your phone or bag somewhere without worrying that someone will take it.

One downside? The extreme summer heat. But we’ve adapted and just carry on with life. Our kids even play sports outside at 40 degrees; they’ve learned how to handle it.

On weekends, we often go exploring. Over the years, we’ve taken adventurous trips to other Emirates like Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain. There are mountains where you can go hiking, mangroves for kayaking, forts to explore, and deserts for camping. We’ve also traveled extensively in the region, visiting places like Oman, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Kenya, and Thailand. All four of us love traveling and discovering new places.

Dutch Lessons in Dubai? Meet Master Max!

The kids attend an international school and are now both in secondary school. When we arrived, they barely spoke English. Luckily, they picked it up quickly at school, and now they even correct us in English!

The school system here is different from the Netherlands. For example, they wear uniforms, and the school days are much longer, often including sports or other activities before or after school.

At home, we always speak Dutch and try to maintain it by reading Dutch books and (mandatory) watching Dutch news programs or other shows. For the past year and a half, the kids have been taking online Dutch lessons with Master Max. They each have a one-hour session weekly, tailored to their needs with materials like texts, books, and assignments.

The lessons have significantly improved their reading and writing skills, vocabulary, and interest in Dutch culture. Most importantly, they enjoy the lessons and look forward to their weekly connection with the teacher—a lifeline to the Netherlands.

Last December, we met the teacher in person during our visit to the Netherlands. Fun fact: she lives just around the corner from us, so she came over on her bike! We chatted, played games, and had lunch together. It was a lovely experience for all of us.

Reflection: Seven Years in Dubai

We always return to the Netherlands for Christmas and summer. These visits are precious as they allow us to spend time with family and friends, and the kids get to speak Dutch with their cousins. That’s really the only thing we miss about living in Dubai: family and friends.

Oh, and the PSV championship—we’re big fans and regret not being able to celebrate it in person. During our vacations in the Netherlands, we enjoy the Dutch lifestyle, including festivals, amusement parks, football matches, and, of course, Dutch snacks. Even the rain and wind feel refreshing. It recharges us to return to Dubai with renewed energy!

How much longer we’ll stay in Dubai is uncertain. We initially left with a three-year plan, but now we’ve been here for almost seven years. We created a website to preserve our memories and share them with friends, family, and anyone interested in the expat and travel lifestyle: www.our-dubai-adventures.com.

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