New to Dubai? Here’s How to Make it Feel Like Home

Practical Tips for Building Connections and Feeling at Home in a New City

Photo by Valiant Made on Unsplash

Moving to a new country can be overwhelming, especially when you’re doing it alone. The key to settling in and feeling at home is finding your community.

When I moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2017, I didn’t have any connections here. I soon realized that if I was going to stay, I needed to find a community, and fast. In those first few months, I made it my mission to seek out like-minded people and make connections.

These are the four best ways I’ve found to make Dubai feel like home:

1. Use Social Activity Apps — Leverage social networking apps that help you discover local events, meetups, and groups. The Meetup app worked best for me.
2. Say Yes to Everything — Even if it’s an invitation to a rooftop yoga class at 6 AM (trust me, it’s worth it). The more you put yourself out there, the sooner you’ll feel at home.
3. Join a Team or Club — Whether it’s a sport, art, or something you’ve never even tried before (I’m looking at you, Dragon Boating) finding groups that share your interests will increase your sense of belonging and give you regular meetups to keep you connected.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Try Something New — Stepping out of your comfort zone can be tough. Whether it’s attending a social event alone, trying out a new sport, or exploring a local club, these challenges lead to the most rewarding experiences

Find your community, and you’ll soon turn any new city into your home.