Thinking of moving to Dubai? This British expat says the small things make the biggest difference

Dubai: British national Saba Haider knows something about building productive routines. The 28-year-old content creator and recruitment consultant at One Investments, moved to Dubai just a month ago. Before that, she lived in London, UK, for five years. She said: “My Mondays started with a packed Tube, a takeaway coffee, and the same commute across London. Now, a typical Monday for me looks like this – a workout before the day begins, coffee in hand while I plan my week, a full day of meetings, content, and catching up with the team, and an evening walk to switch off.” Haider believes it’s not the big things that help you settle into a new place – it’s the small things, like building a routine, finding places to enjoy, and creating habits that can make an unfamiliar place start to feel like home. It’s why, in such a short time, she’s already enjoying her life as a new Dubai resident. New place, new pace The change of pace has been the biggest surprise. Haider said: “Life actually feels a little slower here. London was incredibly fast-paced, and I always felt like I was rushing from one place to another. In Dubai, I feel like I have more time to appreciate where I am, and enjoy the moment. There's still plenty of ambition and opportunity, but the day-to-day pace feels much more balanced.” Now, she said she even has the time to end the day with a good book – a simple pleasure that adds value to her daily routine. Having family close by helps, too. She said: “I first visited Dubai in 2019 and officially moved here in July 2026. I relocated for new opportunities and to start my career in real estate. I moved on my own, but I have family here, which has made settling in much easier. The transition has been really smooth. I was debating whether to move during the peak of summer, but I'm glad I did, because now that I've settled in, I'll be able to enjoy the cooler months even more.” The recent regional tensions didn’t change her mind, although it did cause her move to be delayed. Haider said: “I was originally planning to move in April. I still decided to go ahead because my family and friends were all incredibly reassuring throughout the process. I haven’t had any regrets at all – if anything, moving has confirmed that it was the right decision for me.” A fresh start As she settles into life in the city, Haider is busy growing her career, recruiting talent, and collaborating with different teams. She’s also watching her office space come together from scratch, and finds it exhilarating to witness the start of something new. She said: “Building a career in Dubai has been a good mix of challenging and rewarding. It's definitely a place where you get out what you put in, and I've found that really motivating. So far, everything is going well, and it’s surprising how quickly Dubai has started to feel like home.” As someone who is responsible for welcoming new starters into the brand-new office environment, she’s looking forward to the next chapter in her career. Every day has been a learning experience so far, according to Haider: “I am excited to see where it takes me. ” So, what’s next for the newcomer? Haider goes back to building a comfortable routine that makes sense for her: “Personally, I want to focus on my fitness, find my new favourite coffee spot, spend as much time as possible with my family and friends here, and explore more of the Middle East.” Now that she’s on the other side of her move, and finding the transition couldn’t be smoother, she has some advice for people thinking about relocating to Dubai: “Don't let fear stop you from trying something new… you'll never know what opportunities are waiting unless you take the chance.”