Watching the UAE Grow Up

Watching the UAE Grow Up

Meet Delaine, she is an expat engineer who has watched the United Arab Emirates grow over the years.

We’re living in:

Hi, I am Delaine.I live in Abu Dhabi, UAE with my husband Jackson and two fur babies Whisky and Scotch.

A bit about us:

My husband and I are both engineers. We met at work almost 9 years ago. We’ve been married for 5 years now.

How long have you lived there?

I’ve lived in the UAE practically my whole life… say 25 years?  I was born in India and came here 8 months after my birth. I’ve been here ever since.

Why did you move?

I had no choice. I was just 8 months, so my parents made the decision for me. But now, I do have a choice … and I choose to remain here.

Why we like living here:

We love living here for many reasons - the choice of food, convenience to travel around the world, tax- free living, the warm weather, etc. UAE has given us so many things that we wouldn’t have been able to get in our own country.

• Meet the stylish expat who knows how to live loud
• Expat Man: how to search for a life less ordinary
• Become an explorer and discover something new

Accommodation Options?

Well, it all depends on your interest and budget. People here live in flats, villas and hotel apartments.  We have apartments ranging from AED 15,000 all the way up to AED 300,000 … or more maybe. It’s all upto you.

What do you enjoy doing with your time?

I love exploring the UAE. I’ve seen it grow from a sand pit into the high tech country it is now. During the week, I’m at the gym (sort of). This is to make up for the different restaurants I eat out at during the weekend.  My husband and I try to take as many vacations as we can in a year and visit new countries, but if we’re not travelling we’re exploring UAE’s hotels, nightlife and food scene.

What top tips do you have for anyone considering a move?

Always do your homework before moving anywhere. UAE isn’t just about glitz and glamour.  And while you’re here, you can’t sit around all day doing nothing. You have to work to be financially stable.  Check whether there’s a requirement for your kind of job before moving. If not, are your willing to work in a different field? Don’t expect everything to be a bed of roses in the beginning … but with time things do get better.

What do you wish you’d known before you moved?

Well, nothing really as I’ve been here my whole life and I love it here.

What’s the best thing about being an expat?

Being able to meet people from different countries and backgrounds.

How do you keep a little bit of home with you as an expat?

By the food I prepare. When I cook at home, I always prepare dishes from the traditional recipe books that I inherited from my mother and grandmother. In addition to that, some of the spice mixes that I use in my food are from my country.

Anything else you’d like to share with us about your expat experience?

This country is full of opportunities. Sure we’ve had our ups and downs, but at the end everything happens for a reason. When we travel around the world and introduce ourselves saying that we’re from the UAE, people look at us twice …  and we hear a lot of oh’s, ahh’s and wow’s! I’m proud to call UAE my second home.