‘What began as an opportunity became a home’: An expat’s 21-year life in Dubai

It was the year 2004.

When a friend approached Sascha Winter and asked for his help setting up a business in Dubai, he had to Google the emirate. The German national had heard of this fast-growing metropolis emerging from the region, but didn’t know much about it – was Dubai a city, or a country? What did it look like, and what was life like there?

A few weeks later, Winter accompanied his friend to the emirate to see it for himself; his friend was going to exhibit at an expo, and needed help. But the event never happened. A few days after Winter arrived in Dubai, the UAE’s beloved founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, passed away – and the whole country suddenly pitched into mourning.

The expo was cancelled. Schools were shut down. There was a pervading sense of grief everywhere.

Winter said: “For me, that was quite a unique experience because, in my country, although we mourn, life usually continues relatively quickly. Seeing an entire nation come to a standstill out of respect left a strong impression on me.”

Winter returned to Germany, but decided to fly to Dubai again a few weeks later. After his planned three-month stay in the UAE was completed, he flew back, but he felt that he “had not seen enough, done enough, or experienced enough of the country. I decided to stay until I felt ready to return to Germany. Fast-forward 21 years later — I am still here, and I still love it.”

Today, Winter works as a public speaking and presentation coach at Catalyst Management & Training in Dubai. He said he feels at home in the UAE. It’s the place where he met his Arab fiancée, and where he successfully established his own business.

When the recent regional turmoil began, the 51-year-old talked about his respect and loyalty for the UAE in one of his LinkedIn posts: “What began as an opportunity became a home. Over the years the desert, the cities, the traditions, and the rhythm of life here stopped feeling foreign and started feeling natural. The values of hospitality, dignity, faith, loyalty, and family are not just things observed from the outside; they are values that shape daily life in this region.”

In his two decades here, Winter has experienced both ups and downs, right alongside the UAE community, and he is confident the country has the leadership and infrastructure to rise to every challenge.

He said: “I experienced the financial crisis of 2008 first-hand, right at the time when I was setting up my own company, while many people considered me completely crazy for doing so. Then came the economic slowdown in 2014, when oil prices dropped dramatically. Of course, there was also the COVID-19 pandemic… then came the massive rainfall in 2024, and now, of course, the current geopolitical conflicts affecting the region. But I can wholeheartedly say that Dubai is remarkably resilient. The resilience of its people, the leadership, the foresight in anticipating potential crises, and the implementation of preventive measures, are truly extraordinary.”

For Winter, the true heart of the UAE is its community, and the kindness with which people treat each other.

He explained: “There was a particular incident about two years ago that has stayed with me. I was in the Ras Al Khaimah mountains, taking my son quad biking. As we were leaving, an Emirati man parked his car outside his home, stepped out, saw us, and greeted us with a big, genuine smile. I still think about that moment — the warmth, the friendliness, and the sincerity he showed us without hesitation. It left a lasting impression on me. In fact, it affected me so deeply that I’ve even thought about going back to find him and thank him.”

Winter said the incident led to the realisation that this was the famed Arabian hospitality he had read or heard about. He added: “This kind of warmth isn’t limited to the UAE alone; it’s something you can feel across the Arab Peninsula. The kindness, generosity, and genuine spirit of the people is truly special — and it’s something I’ve come to admire deeply. In many ways, experiences like this have made me a better person.”