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The First 100 Days in Dubai

Learning survival, friendship, and faith in the city of lights

By Emma FischerPublished 3 months ago 3 min read
A story of dreams, distance, and discovery in the desert city.

Life in Dubai

The first days in Dubai feel like stepping into another world. The city shines with tall towers, endless highways, and lights that never sleep. But behind the beauty, the first few months are never easy. Every newcomer feels it, the struggle to balance expenses, understand the system, and find a rhythm in a place that moves faster than anything they have known before.

Money disappears quickly. Rent, food, transportation, and small daily costs start to feel heavy before the first salary even arrives. Learning to use the Metro, figuring out which bus to take, and finding an affordable meal become small but important victories. Nights are often quiet and long, spent in shared rooms thinking about home and the reason for coming here. Dubai tests everyone in the beginning, and only patience keeps you going.

As the days pass, the city starts to feel a little less lonely. Work brings people from different corners of the world together. You meet people from Nepal, Bangladesh, the Philippines, India, and many other countries. Everyone has a story of leaving their home to build something new. Different languages fill the same space, but communication never stops. Shared food, laughter, and simple conversations after work turn strangers into friends. In a place far from home, these small moments become precious.

The workplace becomes a second home. The hours are long, but every day teaches something new. Some work under the sun, some in offices, some serve food, some build the towers that touch the sky. There is pride in working hard even when the job is not perfect. Every evening, the feeling of tiredness is mixed with satisfaction because effort always brings growth, even if it happens slowly.

Living spaces are often small, but they hold warmth. People share rooms, food, and stories. One might be cooking rice on a small stove while another video calls their family. Someone watches a show, another prepares for another shift. On weekends, they gather at the beach or by the creek, walking, laughing, and taking pictures. Even when money is tight, they find joy in simple things.

Outside of work, life in Dubai moves fast. People meet quickly, make friends easily, and sometimes relationships form and fade just as fast. Some chase luxury and status, while others look for real connection. There are stories of quick love, heartbreak, and also of strong bonds that survive everything. The city is full of different kinds of people. It teaches you how to trust, how to protect your heart, and how to see what is real.

Dubai is also a place for growth. Even if someone starts with a tough job, there are always ways to move up. People learn new skills, take training, change companies, or even start small businesses. The city rewards hard work. Nothing comes easy, but effort never goes unseen. Many who once shared tiny rooms now have stable jobs and send money home with pride.

For those who are doing well, life feels brighter. Weekends bring peace by the beach, dinner with friends, or long walks under the city lights. Dubai offers comfort and excitement, from quiet mornings to busy nights filled with energy. The balance between hard work and small joys makes life meaningful here.

Living in Dubai means learning to adapt. The city does not give success freely, but it opens every door to those who try. It teaches discipline, patience, and resilience. It also gives something valuable: the understanding that success is not only about money but about growth and independence.

Behind every shining tower, there is someone’s story of courage and change. The struggle of the first months, the friendships that form in small rooms, the lessons from work, and the moments of love and loss all become part of who you are. In the end, Dubai becomes more than a city. It becomes a teacher, a challenge, and sometimes even a home.

Life here is not easy, but it is real. It shapes people into stronger versions of themselves and proves that dreams can survive even in the middle of the desert. Those who stay and keep moving forward find that Dubai does not just change their life. It changes them.

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About the Creator

Emma Fischer

I’m an active writer based in Dubai, sharing stories of love, hope, and real life. ✨

My dream is to write tales that inspire people to see beauty in every chapter.

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