She fell in love with Dubai during a layover – now, she calls the city home

Dubai: When Indian national Nitika Mehta and her husband Hardik Verma moved to Dubai, they had no accommodations figured out, no safety net, and no plan B. They arrived in the city in May, with one-way flight tickets and packed bags.

Mehta said: “Moving to Dubai has taught us that the scariest decisions often lead to the best stories.”

Before coming to Dubai from Gurgaon, India, her 29-year-old husband already had a job secured as a high-frequency quant trader in the financial services industry, but they “didn’t finalise an apartment before landing.” They decided to stay in an Airbnb initially and figure things out as they go.

Spontaneity and adventure has always been the couple’s modus operandi. But although their post-arrival plans in the city had a spur-of-the-moment quality to it, their decision to move to Dubai has been years in the making.

A first glimpse that became a future plan

As a former flight attendant, 28-year-old Mehta has visited 16 countries and explored more than half of India. But it was during her first international layover, in Dubai, in 2019, that she first considered putting down roots in the city.

She said: “I was 22, standing by the Business Bay railing, looking at the skyline and the colours in the sky… it is a feeling I can never forget.” She didn’t know it at the time, but Dubai was also her husband’s first-ever international trip.

She said: “Those moments felt like hints, little nudges from the universe pointing us toward this place. So, when we decided to explore living abroad, Dubai was a natural choice… We manifested it and worked towards it intentionally.”

Both Mehta and Verma love travelling. In fact, their relationship started with travel – the couple met on a social app in July 2023, and decided on an impromptu, week-long trip to Thailand just three days after meeting. A year later, in November 2024, they were married. According to Mehta, “travel became our love language” – they visited five countries and went on numerous road trips before finally deciding to start a new chapter in Dubai.

Trading a cabin crew uniform for a new chapter

Mehta quit her flight attendant job in September 2025, and Verma came onboard to support her during her final flight as a cabin crew member. Funnily enough, a love for travel wasn’t what drew her to her career.

She said: “I became a flight attendant because I loved the work itself, the responsibility, the human connection, the ability to take care of people and ensure their safety. There is something deeply fulfilling about knowing that someone had a good journey because of you. I built genuine relationships with passengers, made friends from around the world, and those connections formed my character in ways I couldn’t have predicted.”

However, after five years in aviation, she decided to pursue content creation and user-generated content (UGC) full time, and travel for fun instead of work: “I feel most like myself when I’m traveling as a local, not as a tourist.”

Now, two months into her life in Dubai, Mehta is excited to be a resident in a city she has long admired.

Beyond the skyline: discovering everyday Dubai

The recent regional tensions have not deterred her in the least. Life goes on, as normal, in the city, and it’s something she’s grateful for.

She said: “I expected Dubai to be safe, with impressive architecture… But the first real moment of connection came at a zebra crossing, when I stopped, the cars stopped, a driver gave me a nod, and I smiled back. That simple exchange told me everything. This was going to be home.”

In her short time in the city, Mehta has already noticed how people Dubai-it in all arenas of life. From government processes to daily routines, everything runs seamlessly – it’s something that continually amazes Mehta. She said: “The visa process surprised me positively. I arrived on a tourist visa, and transitioning to a resident visa felt like it would be complex. It wasn’t. Most steps happened online from my apartment, and we got guidance at every stage. It was beautifully smooth.”

She also praised the many conveniences the city provides for residents: “The cabs are spotless and drivers are professional. Even small things, like fresh food quality and the fact that everything has an app for delivery, changed my daily life... The city has eliminated so many small inconveniences that I didn’t even realise were draining my energy until they were gone.”

Mehta finds the diversity and hospitality of Dubai’s community, especially, to be unique and uplifting. She said: “The multicultural exposure is unreal. I’ve already met people from 11 different nationalities, and the politeness is genuine. People hold doors, greet you at the grocery store, and it creates this warm feeling of belonging.”

Building roots, one step at a time

That’s not to say the couple didn’t face any challenges. Their biggest one came in the form of finding a home to rent.

She said: “When you first move to a new country, expenses add up quickly. Groceries are non-negotiable, but eating out three times a day isn’t sustainable. Cooking every day saved us significantly and made our transition smoother. But we wanted to feel at home, so having a full kitchen to cook in, was crucial.”

By day three in Dubai, the couple knew that it was time to find their own place. “We started house hunting online and arranged seven to eight viewings for the coming weekend. Over the next two weekends, we looked at 18 houses. By the end of the month, we found our place – the one we love. It sounds chaotic, but it actually worked perfectly. We wanted to find a home with an owner we could relate to, someone kind we could have a genuine relationship with. We found exactly that.”

Now, well settled in their home, Mehta and Verma have been growing their social circle. Mehta said: “We reconnected with friends we hadn’t been in touch with for years, and suddenly we have a little family here.”

Mehta has been documenting her entire move on her social media account, and she said the reception has been fantastic.

She explained: “The real surprise has been the response to sharing my story online. I receive messages daily from people planning to move to Dubai, couples, individuals, families, asking for advice on what to pack, how to house hunt, what documents to bring. Some neighbours reached out after seeing my apartment views, realising we live in buildings next to each other. People who’ve been here longer approached me, saying they wanted to be friends. It’s this beautiful cycle of community, and I realised I’m not just moving to Dubai, I’m helping others navigate their moves too. That sense of purpose and connection has been the most unexpected gift.”

After years of constant travel, Mehta is now content with seeing how life turns out for her in Dubai, with her spouse, her perfect home, and a burgeoning community of friends and friends-to-be.

She said: “Dubai is a goldmine of opportunities, and I want to explore everything: being a content creator, an entrepreneur, working in marketing, organising events, building relationships, making friends. Hardik and I both love working hard and living fully. We believe the harder you work, the better you celebrate. We want to live life to the fullest, and Dubai is the perfect place for that.”