“It’s hard to explain how good it is”: Why Dubai left a lasting impression on this expat

People are happy. I’ve had amazing conversations what’s not to like?’” she told Emirates 24|7.Her husband’s response came instantly: “Are we moving country again?”“And I said, why not? We’ll bring the dog and let’s make it happen,” she laughed.By February 2025, her husband had relocated to Dubai. Sarah followed later that year after completing the sale and refurbishment of a property in the UK, arriving in October with their dog Maureen.Sarah and Maureen – her seven-year-old Miniature Australian Labradoodle – on their way to Dubai.Today, the couple live in Dubai Hills with their seven-year-old Miniature Australian Labradoodle.“She’s gotten into it as well, and that makes me happy,” Sarah said, laughing.Professionally, Sarah now works in Dubai’s luxury real estate sector and also represents global artists, including renowned British photographer Rankin.She says Dubai’s blend of ambition, creativity and international connectivity made it a natural fit for both industries.For Sarah, who grew up in Lagos and has lived in Hong Kong, Jaipur, Mumbai and the UK, the emotional connection she formed with Dubai caught her by surprise.“When I moved to Dubai, I never expected to feel a deep bond with the place,” she said.Now, she says, the hardest part is trying to explain that feeling to people who have never experienced the city themselves.“When I am in the UK, I tell my friends about it, and a lot of them don’t understand. It’s the fact that I’ve got a government I can trust. And, if you never come, you’re never going to know what this feeling is. It’s really hard to explain to people how good it is,” she said.She also spoke about how the recent regional conflict further confirmed to her why she chose to stay in Dubai.“There’s an energy here that you don’t find anywhere else. There’s an acceptance of different nationalities and cultures. The media, too, plays such a big role. In other countries, they breed fear and division. Here, even when we had the missiles, we weren’t being fed fear, we were being given facts. So, then, you just go about your day and you trust them to sort it out,” she said.Sarah Verity An ‘upward spiral’For Sarah, that feeling of stability and optimism does not exist in isolation. She says it is reinforced by the constant sense of momentum across the city — visible in the projects, infrastructure and long-term vision unfolding around residents every day.“And then when you look at the announcements that are being made – Dubai International Financial District set to double in size, the Metro Gold Line which will connect 55 different communities you have so many positive announcements, and they’re going ahead with it. They’ve got their 2040 plan in place and they’re sticking to it,” she said.And a big factor, Sarah says, is the trust people here have in the government.It's the most valuable currency in the world. Trust is everything in life and its nice to be in a country where we have that trust, she said.She added that this trust and the constant sense of progress has a wider effect on the people living here.“In a country where the majority of people are positive, it creates an upward spiral,” she said.“You get more productivity, you get better work – it’s basic human economics and behavioural science. Everyone is very open to meeting, sharing their work and helping each other and therefore that breeds more business opportunities. You meet people from all backgrounds, all walks of life and you can reinvent yourself. That’s the feeling you get here – that you can be anything and that’s what so wonderful about it. It's a powerful thing.”Sarah says she now sees her future firmly rooted in the UAE.“I just want to grow business through real estate and art,” she said.“I don’t know anywhere else I’d go in the world. This is home now. We’re here for the long term.”Asked to describe life in Dubai in one word, Sarah pauses before answering.“Content.”Then, after another pause, she adds another.“Optimism.”