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- Before moving to London to start a new job with Insider, I lived in Dubai.
- While the two cities are of course very different, what has surprised me most are the similarities.
- Both boast plentiful public art, lots of free activities, and expensive places to shop, like London's Harrods or the Dubai Mall's Fashion Avenue.
- Where I live now near London's Canary Wharf also looks a lot like where I lived in Dubai's Princess Tower.
- Some of the differences, though, are downright bizarre, like the fact that free internet calling services like Skype and WhatsApp are incredibly popular in London, but blocked in Dubai.
- Dubai also has an even bigger version of the London Eye.
- Here are a few of the things I've noticed both cities have and don't have in common — from the obvious to not-so-obvious.
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I recently moved to the UK for a job with Insider, but before that I lived in Dubai. Obviously, it's synonymous with skyscrapers...
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I spent more than 16 months in the steel and glass forest that is Dubai. For those who haven't been themselves, let me just say: yes, the buildings are very, very tall. The building I worked in at my last job had "only" more than 40 stories above ground, making it relatively short for the neighborhood it was in. But I lived on the 88th floor of an apartment building that had 97 stories above ground— which, until a few years ago, was the tallest residential building in the world.
... Though where I now live near Canary Wharf has a lot of those, too.
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I only live on the 17th floor of an apartment building now. But the view is still pretty cool — and just like Dubai, I'm surrounded by skyscrapers, which gives things a nice, familiar, vaguely science fiction-like feel. Though it does seem strange to have to look up at them rather than down at them, like I could in my old place.
Of course, there's water all around Canary Wharf ...
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It's water, water, everywhere. Not that I'm complaining — even the constant squawking of seagulls carried on the fresh breeze is enough to get the heart swooning amid the vaguely maritime atmosphere.
... But as the name suggests, water is plentiful around the Dubai Marina, too.
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A few years ago, the Dubai Marina was just empty desert along the Arabian Gulf. Now it's home to countless skyscrapers, beautiful walkways, a plethora of hip bars and restaurants, miles of sandy beach — really anything your heart desires. It's a true marvel of engineering.
With large numbers of immigrants, I really like how London is very diverse, like Dubai.
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People from every country, of every ethnicity, speaking every language, of every gender, of every orientation, of every age, of every ability — like most large cities with significant percentages of the population being immigrants, diversity is everywhere in London, and Dubai. It's a very beautiful thing.
Many of the stores, restaurants, and hotel chains are the same — which makes sense, since huge numbers of Brits live in Dubai.
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It's estimated there are between 100,000 and 200,000 British expatriates living in the United Arab Emirates, with the majority of them in Dubai. Mostly working in white-collar jobs and living in areas like the Dubai Marina, at times it can feel like you're in a warmer, tax-free city in England — one where credit cards are accepted everywhere.
But London seems to have way more small kiosks to quickly grab a bite on the go — and a greater diversity of choices.
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While recently passing the Tower of London, I passed a food cart selling doughnuts and crepes. Stalls like this are everywhere in London. While Dubai has them, too, there are nowhere near as many, even in areas with lots of Western expats.
You can go ice skating in London — outdoors.
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Dubai is in the Arabian Desert, with temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit for much of the year. You cannot ice skate outdoors in Dubai.
You can go skiing in Dubai, though — but indoors.
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Ski Dubai is one of the most famous attractions at the Mall of the Emirates. Even if you don't know how to ski or are not a fan of winter sports, it's well worth the visit just to see the sheer oddity of a ski slope inside an enormous shopping mall in one of the hottest inhabited cities on earth — and also to see the penguins waddling around.
Believe it or not, quirky art is almost as common in parts of Dubai as it is in London ...
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The ceiling of the lobby of the Arjaan Hotel in Dubai's Media City area is covered with dozens of colorful umbrellas. Over in Tecom at a chain restaurant serving Mexican-inspired fare called Taqado, they have empty bottles of Coca-Cola hanging overhead. Colourful murals — depicting everything from popular cartoon characters to UAE founder and Father of the Nation Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan — can be found on walls and facades in every neighborhood, and some of them are many, many stories high. And fascinating sculptures are all around.
Both cities feature lots of bars and nightclubs where celebrities regularly pop in.
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Like London, Dubai is chock-full of places to grab a drink. Sure, most of them are located inside hotels, but quite a few — like Soho Garden, Drai's, WHITE, Nammos, Zero Gravity, Nikki Beach, Sky2.0, BASE, and more — not only feel like a club you'd find in Europe or America, but can stand toe-to-toe with London's legendary nightlife any day.
The only downside, in my opinion: Dubai doesn't have quite the same variety yet— there's no equivalent of London's Slimelight (the world's oldest still-operating goth/industrial club, which beyond music serves as a meeting place for a very specialized community), for example.
London has its famous markets ...
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From Leadenhall, to Borough, to Camden, to Brick Lane, to South Bank, to Covent Garden, to Portobello Road, and many, many more, there's no shortage of fascinating markets in London to wander through.
... While Dubai has its souks.
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Dubai is famed for its malls — but its souks are often even more interesting. Selling everything one can possibly imagine (and then some), they bear similarities to some of London's markets.
Though of course very modern, both cities also have lots of old architecture, like Dubai's Al Bastakiya area.
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It's known there are old things to see in London, like the Tower of London and Westminster. In Dubai, areas like Al Bastakiya and the Al Fahidi Fort (which dates to the 1700s) are overshadowed by the glitz and glam of the ultramodernity the city is famed for. But they are there — and they are amazing to visit. It's especially fun to wander into the "hidden" cafes and restaurants contained within, like XVA Cafe.
Construction in both cities is seemingly ubiquitous.
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Construction seems to be everywhere in Dubai — and is showing no signs of slowing down. Still, the amount of construction in London that has really surprised me. The short version: there's a lot more than I was expecting.
Both Dubai and London are home to plenty of rich people who like to show off their wealth with things like bottle service at clubs ...
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I was amazed at the number of Dubai clubs that had Hennessy, Cristal, and even Dom Pérignon available by the bottle — and the number of people who would actually pay to order several bottles for a table they'd already paid hundreds or even thousands of dollars to reserve for the night. After a while, seeing someone spend more than $1,000 for a night at a club stopped seeming extraordinary.
... Fancy yachts ...
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The waters in and around Dubai are choked with yachts. There's so many, renting a yacht for a party or other event is a popular activity for visitors as well as residents. Log into Tinder, Bumble, or any other dating app in Dubai, and seemingly every other photo will be of someone on a yacht; there's so many, "person on a yacht" is the new "man with fish" in Dubai. From small vessels available to be hired for just a few hours to large ships you can sail on for weeks at a time, there's something for every taste and budget. Including very, very big budgets.
... Or trackside suite tickets at the finish line at exclusive events like the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Formula One race.
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While obviously there are people who do the same in London, I generally found people in Dubai liked to show off their wealth (or supposed wealth — many Western expats rack up enormous amounts of debt because they try to live a lifestyle beyond their means like they've seen on social media) a lot more.
At no time was this more true than at events perceived to be "high profile," offering the chance to see and be seen, like the annual Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Formula One race, held in neighboring Abu Dhabi in November. People would pay tens of thousands of dollars — and sometimes far more — for private trackside boxes next to the finish line.
There are also plenty of expensive stores in both cities, like London's Harrods or the Dubai Mall's Fashion Avenue.
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There's money in London. And there's money in Dubai. What do people with money often do? Spend it, of course. That's why places like Harrods exist. Though, as I learned recently, you don't have to have a lot of money to go there — and it can still be a lot of fun.
You won't see many homeless people or beggars in Dubai like you do in London.
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In Dubai, begging can get you sent to jail and/or deported. Obviously, this is not the case in London.
Rents in Dubai are generally cheaper than London — even for places with a view, like the Princess Tower.
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At 1,358 feet, the Princess Tower is the second-tallest tower that's open in Dubai, behind only the world's tallest building, the 2,717-foot Burj Khalifa. Until 2015, the Princess Tower was also the tallest residential building in the world, when its crown was swiped by 432 Park Avenue in New York City.
But unlike 432 Park Avenue — where, as Katie Warren wrote in February, penthouses can cost many millions of dollars— rent for apartments in the Princess Tower are surprisingly affordable: for 5,000 United Arab Emirates dirhams ($1,362) and under per month, they come in at barely half the monthly median rent in New York City (which is now more than $2,700).
I lived there for more than year— and would recommend it to anyone. Unfortunately, I would not be able to afford it in London — if such a place even existed. As Business Insider's Hillary Hoffower reported in May, the median monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment in London is now $2,338 a month, according to Deutsche Bank's annual "Mapping the World's Prices" report — making it one of the most expensive large cities in the world to rent an apartment in.
The UAE used to be ruled by Britain, which explains a lot of the similarities.
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The UAE gained independence in 1971. Until then, it was a British Protectorate known as the Trucial States.
Though still more much more conservative than London, many people in Dubai will wear bikinis at beaches and pools.
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While the dress codes are relaxed, many pools and beaches will have women-only hours, when men are forbidden to visit.
Dubai even has its own Ferris wheel based on the London Eye — but bigger.
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Due to open in October 2020, Ain Dubai — which translates to "Dubai Eye"— is set to be the world's largest Ferris wheel. According to Dubai outlet Emirates Woman, it will be about 690 ft. tall — a full 246 ft. taller than the 443 ft. London Eye. Most of it has already been built, but some work remains — including testing to make sure it's completely safe for visitors.
Unlike London, Skype and WhatsApp calling are blocked in Dubai, as are many websites — among other restrictions.
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Free voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) services are blocked in the UAE. Long criticized by expats and Emiratis — including influential Emiratis — the ban has been in place for a number of years. To get around it, most people use VPN services — which themselves are also technically illegal.
A number of internet restrictions also exist in Dubai that don't in London. Websites promoting LGBT+ rights, discussing Israel (which the UAE does not recognize), or any sites deemed to be promoting drugs, violence, or anti-Islamic values are blocked. And it goes further than that: call somebody a name or say something harmful on social media or by text or a WhatsApp message, and you can actually be charged with a crime in Dubai.
In London, you're free to discuss if the monarchy is even necessary anymore ...
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People criticize the British royal family all the time. In fact, many former colonies have questioned whether they should even recognize Queen Elizabeth II as head of state anymore.
... Which you certainly cannot do in Dubai.
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Statements seen as critical of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum or the royal family are very serious offenses in Dubai — even a single critical social media comment can see expatriates receive lengthy jail sentences or be immediately deported. Put simply: dissent is not tolerated.
Public transport in London is integrated, but in Dubai there are special metro carriages only for women — and even some "premium" seats you can pay extra for.
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Like India and many other places, there are special carriages on Dubai Metro trains where men are not allowed, so that women can ride without being harassed. But there's also a special "gold class" area that's quieter, and with far nicer seats, than regular carriages. It's a common theme in Dubai: almost every attraction and service has a "premium" option you can pay a lot more for that's nicer.
London's public transportation network is far more extensive than Dubai's — but also more expensive on average.
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London's tube network alone has about 270 stations — not including the 100-plus overground, 45 Docklands Light Railway (DLR), and thousands of bus stops. The Dubai Metro has fewer than 50 stations — and even with the opening of a much-hyped line going to the sprawling site of the Expo 2020 exhibition (set for next year), it will only add about seven more stations. We should probably take age into account, though: while the London Underground opened in 1863 (making it the world's first underground passenger railway), the Dubai Metro only opened in 2009.
There are some similarities between the two, however. For instance, both have been featured filming locations for major sc-fi franchises with the word "star" in their name: while parts of London's Canary Wharf tube station feature in the 2016 "Star Wars" film "Rogue One," the Dubai Metro was a major location for 2016's "Star Trek: Beyond."
London also remains a much better city to walk or cycle in.
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Partially due to the cooler weather, partially due to a better public transit system, partially due to better urban planning — while Dubai is getting better, London remains a far better place to take a stroll in. Simply taking a walk might be one of the best ways to experience the city — and even better, it's free.
Both cities have a reputation for being expensive, but fortunately there are plenty of free activities in both, like a visit to Dubai's Marina Beach.
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From days at the public beach to exploring the souks to checking out the jaw-dropping architecture to — of course — checking out the malls, there's a lot to see in Dubai for free. That's also the case in London, of course — a fact I've found pleasantly surprising.
The UAE's official language may be Arabic, but everyone speaks English in Dubai — just like they do in London.
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In 16 months of living in Dubai, and meeting countless people, I did not once meet someone — regardless of education level or where they were from originally — who did not speak English. In fact, English was so ubiquitous, the opposite was a problem: I knew people — including British expats — who had lived in Dubai for decades and still did not know basic Arabic.
London being the capital of the UK — and England — almost everyone speaks English, of course.
Unfortunately, LGBT+ rights are not respected in Dubai the same way they are in London.
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Homosexuality is illegal in Dubai, and throughout the UAE. Trans people can be jailed — or worse — simply for being who they are. Not only that, cross-dressing can also get you thrown in jail, or anything perceived as cross-dressing. And conversations about pronouns? Unfortunately, it's a subject many people do not understand — at the very least.
While I knew many queer people in Dubai who liked living there (even if the vast majority had to be closeted for safety reasons), I also knew a lot who absolutely did not, and were actively looking for work elsewhere.
Kissing in public maybe fine in London, but it's not in Dubai.
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Kissing or other public displays of affection can land you in serious trouble in Dubai. In fact, every now and again you would hear of cases of people being arrested and deported for that very thing.
In London, strikes and protests are commonplace. In Dubai, they are rarely tolerated.
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Put simply, workers' rights are not the same in Dubai as they are in London. Stories of employers withholding wages, holding on to employees' passports, or even letting workers go with no warning are common.
Donald Trump is reviled by most Londoners. But in Dubai, many people speak positively of him — especially his daughter Ivanka.
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It was very weird to be in a place where Donald Trump and his family were spoken of favorably — and it was especially weird to hear people speak favorably of Ivanka Trump. In the west, she's criticized for her shallowness, disingenuousness, being in the White House with no actual qualifications, getting rich off the family name, and support for her father and his policies— among many other flaws. But in Dubai, many people I spoke with said they admired her for some of those very reasons. Magazines like Harper's Bazaar Arabia would regularly run stories about what designers she was wearing, especially if they were Middle Eastern designers.
And, naturally, the biggest difference is the weather.
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What Dubai has lots of: palm trees.
What London does not have a lot of: palm trees.
Overall, it's not the differences that have surprised me — it's the similarities.
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Sure, they may be thousands of miles apart, have dramatically different weather, be governed in very different ways, and have very different local cultures — but, as I've noticed in my short time in London so far, there are far more similarities with Dubai than I would have initially thought. Whether I still hold such an opinion in a few months remains to be seen, but for now, it's certainly made the transition of moving to a new place much easier.
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