Raising children in Dubai? Would love to hear your thoughts

Hi Yellow, you've been given a very good overview in the replies. I wanted to add that Dubai is not, on any level, environmentally friendly. Recycling generally doesn't happen. This may or may not be something that bothers you. Solar power is very sparingly used. As mentioned before, the air quality is very poor mostly. In saying that my child's Asthma trigger is damp so his Asthma has improved since moving here. I believe having young children here is great. It is very safe on a day to day basis although you do need to carry on being as vigilant as you would in your home country. There are lots of things to do here with little ones and lots of Mums with young children wiling to make new friends. If you do think you many stay here longer than 3 years, bare in mind that children start school here younger than they do in Scotland or indeed Ireland. This may seem premature but people often come here for a year and stay for 10! Education here is hit and miss. The Scottish system and indeed Ireland's is better and more solid than the UK system which is the most common here. (OECD Reports confirm this). It would be a great adventure to live here for a while, especially when your child is young. I think its easier to be a Mum here on some levels, number 1 being that home help is abundant and affordable! Another thing to consider is the tier system in Dubai. Where you come from dictates how well you will be treated. Poor labourers, their pay, their accommodation and the fact that they work outside in 40+o heat during the Summer has been well discussed on these boards over the years. It will bother you though, the unfairness of it all. Regarding drugs, yes, drugs are available here sadly. You won't however read too much about it as the Media is censored here. I have friends living in Meydan Heights who really like it. Good luck with your decision :)

I guess no drugs is an understatement. There are considerably less drugs here than in my home country. I've lived here 3 years and have never even smelt the skunk odour of weed. Back home if you walk downtown for 1 hour you will smell countless joints and will even see people shooting up on the street. In highschool I remember some teachers drinking and smoking with the students while on lunch break. I can't imagine it being an easy thing to explain to a young child the bad things are going on in the world. At least here these explanations can be prolonged until a parent feels the child is more ready to heat about them. Same idea goes for the censorship on t.v.

Dubai is an awesome place to raise children. It's so brilliant for them to have friends of every nationality, culture, religion and to appreciate each festival as it comes around.

Of course there are drugs, alcohol etc, but it's a long way away.....and it happens all over the world, I do think it's more protected here, but teenagers can get punished if caught.

Yep..def agree not much different from back home but contrary to what lots of people think drugs and alcohol are widely available to those teens who choose to partake. Repercussions can be severe although possibly some consequences are more urban myths...I do know kids who got off very lightly ly

Not scaremongering - there have been numerous discussions on here over the years about disastrous pool parties, the milkman, activities between the s3xes and general teen issues...I know of one case in particular that my son told me about where I would have been certain the family concerned would have been deported but they weren't so maybe the warning tales of extreme repercussions are exaggerated..Drugs and smoking in school is an issue - search for dokha.. Having said all that, my son did very well at school here and is currently in university, an outcome that would never have happened had we stayed in his crummy comprehensive back home. Just don't google Daily Mail and Dubai teenagers !!

I'm sure kids party, experiment with drugs and misuse alcohol - just like teenagers the world over! England - or indeed Scotland are not immune. Time enough to worry about teens wearing inappropriate clothing, playing loud music and drinking too much in the future. Enjoy what the country has to offer now for your little ones as they are now without scaremongering about their teenage years.

Brie03 Yep..there are drugs in Dubai..several of my daughters classmates take drugs. Kids get alcohol easily from someone called the milkman. Landlords often leave empty properties open..teenagers find them and arrange parties in these premises. Once kids become teenagers in Dubai they tend to fall into two categories ..either don't party etc and don't do much independently of parents or as someone else said they go down the party, alcohol route. Just because it isn't meant to happen here, doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Consequences when things go pear shaped are much worse.. I personally think Dubai is a fab place to being up primary aged kids and then in secondary it really depends on the kids..if kids are very sporty then Dubai can be great. If they aren't sporty then the options can be limited. It's not impossible but it is more difficult to find parttime work. Air quality is a big concern for me and it seems to be way worse in last year or two. Gosh, that's really interesting. I actually believed that Dubai was quite a sterile environment for a teenager! How naive am I?!

Brie03 Yep..there are drugs in Dubai..several of my daughters classmates take drugs. Kids get alcohol easily from someone called the milkman. Landlords often leave empty properties open..teenagers find them and arrange parties in these premises. Once kids become teenagers in Dubai they tend to fall into two categories ..either don't party etc and don't do much independently of parents or as someone else said they go down the party, alcohol route. Just because it isn't meant to happen here, doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Consequences when things go pear shaped are much worse.. I personally think Dubai is a fab place to being up primary aged kids and then in secondary it really depends on the kids..if kids are very sporty then Dubai can be great. If they aren't sporty then the options can be limited. It's not impossible but it is more difficult to find parttime work. Air quality is a big concern for me and it seems to be way worse in last year or two.

Just wanted to add that Dubai is one of the most polluted cities in the world, yes, the roads are clean but the air is absolutely terrible. Just something to consider, especially if you and your baby are susceptible to these things.

From reading your post, I must say that it does not sound as though you would like it here. Some people are Dubai people, some are not. And, based on the things you seem to hold very dear to your happiness, you do not sound like someone who will take to Dubai. Your husband's career, as a pilot, most certainly would be better for working here, but if you are miserable at home and hate everything about being here then you will not have a nice family life, so he will e in the position of choosing happy family or successful career. A lot of wives come here and while they do not love the lifestyle they adjust to it for the betterment of the family finances and soldier on, others come and complain everyday to the point where there family is at breaking point.And it sounds as though, in your heart, you have already had the DO NOT GO THERE feeling, and that may create a very unhappy life for you here - especially if things are fine for you back home and this is only for a career advancement. Not the nicest, or fairest introduction to this forum I must admit, and difficult for me to read without taking personally. To everyone else, thank you kindly for taking the time to respond and give me your feedback about your experiences in Dubai. Your honestly and insight has been very helpful. I should say first off that my partner and I are in the process of arranging the necessary paperwork to get maried if he is successful. The big day I guess will have to wait ? I am completely open to this, and see it as an adventure, but naturally enough I have concerns and questions, especially now we have a child there is a lot more to consider, and weigh up. Sue B I love your positivity, it's infectious, I got excited just reading your post. There does seem to be an excellent expat community, which would be so fantastic considering the amount of time he will be working away. From what I've read here it does sound like the new pilots will be doing a crazy amount of hours! My partner and I will be flying over together after his assesment to get a feel for the place, right now it's hard to even imagine what Duabi is like! For those who have made the move, did you bring much from home? (apart from suitcases), does anyone have an idea of the costs of shipping from the UK? Again ladies thanks so much. ? Hey Yellow G, We moved here at the beginning of the year and are loving it so far, it hasn't been without its challenges but I can honestly say that our new neighbours in our EK compound have been wonderful and have helped us settle in, provided practical (and sometimes emotional!) assistance when needed. I come from very near to where you are living at the moment and I think overall you will spend more time outside here than in Edinburgh over the course of the year. Obviously in the summer you will be exclusively indoors but you will be able to eat your dinner and socialise outside a lot more than in Edinburgh! When you move here with EK you will have 100kg of air freight each for you and your partner plus your normal checked in luggage allowance. It is less for infants, possibly 25kg but I don't have children so didn't pay too much attention to their allowances at the time. I have previously shipped items from the UK with a company called Doree Bonner who were recommended to me. They were priced competitively, did what they said they would and most importantly all of my belongings arrived in one piece at the other end! Hope this helps :)

Good Morning Yellow G :) Firstly, like any forum, their are some "characters" on here. Some people are very helpful, and some...I struggle to describe. But, I would certainly advise being choosy about whom you pay attention to, much like real life I suppose. Secondly, I think Dubai is, as others have said, what you make of it. There are many opportunities here, and pitfalls too. Much like England in fact. It is though, in terms of a little one, clean, healthy and generally very safe. You mentioned driving. The roads trouble me most of all in terms of children (car seats etc) because frankly some of the drivers here are hyper aggressive sociopaths. They are simply best avoided. I would also advise to get a big chunky car and a big chunky baby seat to mitigate any bumps. I don't want to make too much of it though as simply not driving in the outside lane keeps you away from 90% of the nutters. Other than that the outdoor space matter can be an issue some of the time as the heat during the warmer times is oppresive. However this is seasonal. There are certainly many months when it's lovely here and there are many places to go with a baby/toddler. The community here is very varied and mostly very friendly and welcoming. It can be, sometimes, a bit cliquey but certainly not all the time and you can avoid those people easily enough. There are a lot of nice normal mums here :) One thing we found we needed to be careful of with our own children was not letting them become mini racists...There is quite a division here between labourers and others and, well, we didn't like that. It's not a huge deal but it was something we noticed as a family. Your children are young so I won't go into the teen things (I think Geordie expat is right though) as they don't apply. For a little one and mum though, you will like Dubai I suspect :)

Totally agree with GE. Some of the spoilt kids here frequently rent out villas for weekend parties, order alcohol online and there are all the usual bad influences but it is not widely reported and it is less widespread than elsewhere. Dubai is a nice place with young children but we plan to get out of here and back to UK for high school. I think that it is hard to be a teenager here. If your parents are very protective, you don't get a chance to be independent and prepare for work/university - part time job, public transport, etc. If your parents allow too much freedom - then the consequences are drastic if you stuff up and make a mistake. Overall I think it is a great place here with many advantages - clean, safe, lots of facilities, always improving and developing, good multicultural mix. However, I don't want my child to think the lifestyle here is "normal" and will be doing our best to keep her feet on the ground.

From reading your post, I must say that it does not sound as though you would like it here. Some people are Dubai people, some are not. And, based on the things you seem to hold very dear to your happiness, you do not sound like someone who will take to Dubai. Your husband's career, as a pilot, most certainly would be better for working here, but if you are miserable at home and hate everything about being here then you will not have a nice family life, so he will e in the position of choosing happy family or successful career. A lot of wives come here and while they do not love the lifestyle they adjust to it for the betterment of the family finances and soldier on, others come and complain everyday to the point where there family is at breaking point.And it sounds as though, in your heart, you have already had the DO NOT GO THERE feeling, and that may create a very unhappy life for you here - especially if things are fine for you back home and this is only for a career advancement. Not the nicest, or fairest introduction to this forum I must admit, and difficult for me to read without taking personally. To everyone else, thank you kindly for taking the time to respond and give me your feedback about your experiences in Dubai. Your honestly and insight has been very helpful. I should say first off that my partner and I are in the process of arranging the necessary paperwork to get maried if he is successful. The big day I guess will have to wait ? I am completely open to this, and see it as an adventure, but naturally enough I have concerns and questions, especially now we have a child there is a lot more to consider, and weigh up. Sue B I love your positivity, it's infectious, I got excited just reading your post. There does seem to be an excellent expat community, which would be so fantastic considering the amount of time he will be working away. From what I've read here it does sound like the new pilots will be doing a crazy amount of hours! My partner and I will be flying over together after his assesment to get a feel for the place, right now it's hard to even imagine what Duabi is like! For those who have made the move, did you bring much from home? (apart from suitcases), does anyone have an idea of the costs of shipping from the UK? Again ladies thanks so much. ? I brought personal items Books DVDs Photos in frames Cushions Quilts/pillows, bedding/ curtains DVD player Some kitchen utensils I rented my house out furnished so left a lot of stuff there for the tenant I bought the bulky items over here as there are some cheap furniture shops etc and many great second hand ( Almost new sites) I used a company in the UK ( Many years ago) to ship it all but cannot remember the name now sorry Expensive items here are Clothes but the sales are better than at home and we now can order online here and have it shipped for a small fee Alcohol, stock up at the airport British food items if they are air freighted in

I know it's a long way off for the OP but a number of my friends with young children are planning to go home when they become teens. They feel that there is no room for their children to "make mistakes" out here without having to face very dire consequences.

I dont have babies yet, but I know that I would much rather raise them in UAE then in North America. a few reasons: - there are no drugs here - its MUCH more difficult for a teen to get their hands on liquor - there are no topless girls on magazine covers in the lineup at the grocery store (except the odd cosmo at waitrose...), and no half naked men on billboards while driving along the high way - there is much less pressure on teens to do adult activities I think Dubai has a lot more flexibility in parenting then a lot of other countries! No matter where you go, someone will always judge the way you do it, but here there are sooooo many nationalities and cultures mixed together that you wont be the only strict parent if you decide not to let your daughter our to the mall at 13, and you also wont be the only parent in the school that allows their child to run around the neighbourhood alone at 8 if thats what you decide to do. Brie03 Drugs very much available here Alcohol easier than you think Don't need half naked people on magazines kids do what most kids do, send half naked selfies The belief that teenagers are more sheltered here isn't as spot on as believed. Don't get me wrong they aren't exposed to all that they would be in other countries but to believe they aren't exposed to the 'regular' teenage things is a misconception. There is a lot more going on amongst this age group than a lot of people realize, some supported by parents (alcohol). OP you are a VERY long way off from these concerns but please don't come thinking this Utopia. It is great with little ones, great weather to be out a lot, a lot of groups for little ones and often an abundance of moms looking for other moms to get together with. I was fortunate to be able to stay home with my little ones, a gift really, Dubai allowed this to happen. Life changes and you adjust to those changes. Again good luck

I think children are aloud to be children for longer in Dubai, I am quite shocked how some children are dressed and what they speak about in Europe and it's normal for them to read about s*x positions and stuff in regular newspapers. We are happy here, but we have missed a bond with cousins etc with living away from home.

I dont have babies yet, but I know that I would much rather raise them in UAE then in North America. a few reasons: - there are no drugs here - its MUCH more difficult for a teen to get their hands on liquor - there are no topless girls on magazine covers in the lineup at the grocery store (except the odd cosmo at waitrose...), and no half naked men on billboards while driving along the high way - there is much less pressure on teens to do adult activities I think Dubai has a lot more flexibility in parenting then a lot of other countries! No matter where you go, someone will always judge the way you do it, but here there are sooooo many nationalities and cultures mixed together that you wont be the only strict parent if you decide not to let your daughter our to the mall at 13, and you also wont be the only parent in the school that allows their child to run around the neighbourhood alone at 8 if thats what you decide to do.

Ok Yellow, here's more poop lol. Come, stay the 3 years and see how you are faring. You don't have to worry about Uni right now because your child is 9 months. You sound like the gal who will just get on with it, no moaning, learn to navigate the traffic, which is doable and since you don't have to do a school run right now there might even be a school built where you are moving to. Yes, the girls are right about the shortage of pilots. But Emirates still has to stick within the law of 90 hrs/month so no, they do not fly 100 hrs as far as I know( have been known to not know if the GCC has changed legal flying hours). I do know the holidays have been slashed but it s not all doom and gloom. Think of it as a short term job, save what money you can, enjoy the sun and sand, bring with you the stuff you love or opt for emirates furniture. Really, it is an adventure. A lot of pilots are tired but does it break up marriages??? well, unless someone has found somthing cuter, younger or whatever why would it? seriously, I have supported my husband for 35 years as he being a pilot who was often tired, where he was gone a month at a time, don't even get me on the 4 hour commute he did for 2 years...by car!! in the winter!!! talk about tired!!, where things went right to **** and we both grew up in the marriage. We worked hard at the really rough times, I would never leave because of the hours my husband worked or that I had to do child care single handedly at times (maids are cheap here) You marry for better or worse, and sometimes the worse might last longer but pull up those socks and get with the program and support each other and you will get through it. just my 10 canadian cents lol Good luck to your husband on the Assessment. Let us know when you arrive for the 'look see' someone might grab you for lunch lol "feeling positive about Emirates, maybe it is my age?" but we came for a job and we stayed for the job, we did not necessarily come for the adventure but for the money !!! honest!!! can't lie, airlines in canada went in the toilet so here we all were :) happy for the most part and happy to go home as well :)

Dear yellow g2015, I haven't moved out yet but we are likely to landing in August or September. Our children are nearly full grown so we need to condsider them but not quite as much as you. I wouldn't take it personally. I have had some ghastly judgemental comments when I have asked questions but some sound advice and kindness too. You are absolutely right to think through what your new life might look like. Ignore comments that you won't like Dubaim- how can they possibly know from a simple question? I suspect even abroad it is easier to make the move and settle with little ones. Never done it abroad but moved around uk many times when they were little and never had problems. Enjoy the sunshine!

I honestly thought I would stay out of this because of my age and not having kids here but, me being me. well, I have to ask, why a few of you are still here if it is so horrid. We have been here 13 years, on our way to retirement. No children. But lots of friends with little ones and big ones :). My suggestion is this...your baby is 9 months. Your husband will be here for 3 years anyway if he is with Emirates to work off the bond. So,,yo have time to figure out if you want to stay :). I feel, from my friends discussions that it is a great place for kids :)...lots to do, as women, we always find things to do and make friends etc because as wives of pilots we know we will be along a lot :)...that is the life :)e Meydan is new...a lot of friends were just relocated there. I think the villas are pretty good...they will grow, facilities will eventually and quickly be installed, just like Silicon Oasis, you get used to the drive, the kitchen is big, yards are small but so what... you will make friends and your child will find friends...you have nothing to lose, really. you are 5 hours from UK...family can visit...the sun shines...I would go for it. You are young, baby is young and you can work here as a teacher if you choose. You sound like a gal who will just jump in once the decision is made...do this if only for 3 years...;.really, honestly...if we could have, we would have done this 20 years ago....come!!! get those bells out!!!

I wish my LO was growing up in Europe. Dubai is maybe a good place for babies and toddlers in terms of entertainment, but definitely not in terms of climate. Climate and AC air are quite unhealthy here, my LO was suffering from asthma between ages 2 and 3, despite no cases in the family. I also notice elder children are spoiled and misbehaved. The abundance of toy shops, play areas and fun activities make them crave for more and more and if you choose not to buy a new toy every week, they question you why their friends get more then they do, get envious. Parents of some cultures here also don't care much how their kids behave in public and the society is generally much more tolerant to what children do than in Europe, so be prepared your kid is going to acquire some bad habits. And the last but not least, raising children in Dubai is very expensive. School fees, transportation, afterschool activities are all private and get more and more expensive each year. Check carefully your school allowance and school prices before you decide to relocate. I know everything I mentioned might seem far away for a mom of a 9 months old, but time flies. you cannot blame children 's behaviour on culture...That's just plain ignorant..

Yellow_g_2015, if you are able to come to Dubai with your partner for his assessment, you will get a better feel for the place. You will get the full range of views on this forum, from those who love Dubai to those who hate it, and everyone can only speak for themselves because we all live different lifestyles. Like everywhere else, life here is what you make of it and how well it sits with your values. Come and have a look and bear in mind that if you come now, you will be seeing Dubai at its best and most vibrant. It's much quieter in the summer and you can't do many outdoor activities then. Good luck with your decision!

Hi everyone , My partner is going for an assessment next week with an airline that will be based In Dubai, he is a pilot so ur would be a big boost to his career. We have a 9month old son, I am a teacher but not planning on returning to work until March. We live in Edinburgh and absolutely love it here, we are both Irish so it means we are v close to home when we want to be. If we did move to Dubai I would most likely be a stay at home mom, at least until we find our feet . I've always supported my partner when it comes to his career, and I do see a possible move to Dubai as a good opportunity for our little family but have so many concerns. I am worried what life will be like for a stay at home Mom over there. The airline provides families with Accomodation in a compound and I am worried about how isolated I would feel living in a gated community like that. I enjoy being able to walk with the buggy, to parks and local shops and cafes etc, going to mum and baby groups etc. I have never visited Dubai but I picture it to be a place where you have to drive everywhere? Is there much green space? And are there many things to do such as baby grouos etc. I would love to hear from women who have been in similar positions, and how they are finding life in Dubai with their children. Thanks for reading x Take it one step at a time, my hubby moved here 4 months prior to the kids and myself arriving, and we hated being apart, I have now been here a year, and yes there is ups and downs, and lots of hoops to jump through, with getting all the paperwork etc sorted out. As a Aviation wife as I call it, we all know the times we spend alone, or not during the silly schedules as they all have, it is an experience that you will never forget, Little one is still young and as much a an AC can be bad so can the UK weather, and yes you will miss the thunderstorms and yes the Snow, I know we do, So good luck, and there is plenty of stay at home moms and there will be plenty to keep you busy.. :)

From an employer point of view: you'll be most probably located in Meydan. There will be no choice in the near future. Meydan South is still under construction, has no facilities (pool, gym etc) and nothing else around. This will change, but it will take a few years. Meydan Heights is a bit more established. Pilots are leaving, and recruitment isn't catching up. This results in lots of flying hours for the current pilots. Months with 100+ flying hours are now the norm, not the exception. Be prepared that you and your children won't see much of your husband. Take the above heavily into consideration before you start thinking of the climate, schools, babygroups etc.

I wish my LO was growing up in Europe. Dubai is maybe a good place for babies and toddlers in terms of entertainment, but definitely not in terms of climate. Climate and AC air are quite unhealthy here, my LO was suffering from asthma between ages 2 and 3, despite no cases in the family. I also notice elder children are spoiled and misbehaved. The abundance of toy shops, play areas and fun activities make them crave for more and more and if you choose not to buy a new toy every week, they question you why their friends get more then they do, get envious. Parents of some cultures here also don't care much how their kids behave in public and the society is generally much more tolerant to what children do than in Europe, so be prepared your kid is going to acquire some bad habits. And the last but not least, raising children in Dubai is very expensive. School fees, transportation, afterschool activities are all private and get more and more expensive each year. Check carefully your school allowance and school prices before you decide to relocate. I know everything I mentioned might seem far away for a mom of a 9 months old, but time flies. These are some interesting points but there are two sides to every coin. Interestingly, our child suffered from severe asthma as a toddler, in Europe, despite no asthmatics in our family. Cold, damp weather and central heating are also not ideal.... She has not had a single attack since we moved to Dubai. I agree that SOME children are spoiled here and some young children can run riot (as I have seen in every country), but you can avoid "spoiled syndrome" by careful parenting and school selection-- in my own experience I think the ethos of a school (and of the peer group) makes a huge difference. I have witnessed terrible behaviour in Europe as well-- young teens kissing/fondling each other in cafés and on public transport, putting their shoes all over the seats, cursing... At those times I am grateful we live in Dubai. School fees etc. are all indeed significant costs, so do check your school allowance. (Although that said, our daughter goes to a top school and we pay half of what we were paying in school fees in Europe!)