Population UAE: 4,496,000

British population: 55,000

The United Arab Emirates is a constitutional federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah, but for most Brits there's only one place to go: Dubai.

Long gone are the days when neocolonial expats toasted the sunset with a G&T from the leafy verandas of upmarket Jumeirah. These days, young Brits must compete with Arabs, Iranians, Antipodeans and South Africans for the best jobs in a booming economy that's riding the wave of a five-year petro-dollar boom. Fighting gridlocked traffic and ever-spiralling rents, they slip into decent-paying roles across the spectrum of Dubai's economy: from the ever-expanding Emirates airlines to the myriad international firms setting up regional headquarters in the city, attracted by the liberal, outdoors lifestyle, easy bureaucracy and great communications links.

The emirate's oil is almost spent, but Dubai's winning hand has always been a laissez-faire attitude to the trade of goods, services and manpower. The Dubai "model" is largely the work of the city's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, around whom a cult of personality has grown. But little wonder: in a troubled region, he's turned what was already a successful trading entrepôt into a global force. Criticism isn't tolerated. But there isn't much, anyway.

Only China has more cranes: the region's surplus oil revenues are trickling down into vast clusters of towers and sprawling, suburban developments, where many expats buy their square acre of desert Eldorado. Think a Barratt Homes development, squared several-fold, stretching out for miles into the desert. All-year sunshine - though offset by the five-month grind of the scorching, humid summer - is tempered by a crime-free existence, shopping aplenty and no income tax. Little wonder the Daily Mail is the only UK newspaper on sale at petrol stations, where 92p-a-gallon prices, plus minimal car taxes, encourage expat families to run their kids to school in tank-sized SUVs.

The many cultures rub along fine in the workplace, but come home time most people tend to socialise among their own kind. For Brits, that tends to be drinking, for which they are famed in the city, along with fine dining and, above all, the beach.

How is it for you?

Guido Omissi, 43, is a teacher who has lived in Dubai for four years.

Dubai is life in a desert, in more ways than one. Culturally, one thirsts here - everyone misses the cutting edge of real life back home: the music, comedy, sport and politics. Newspapers and the internet can inform, but they can never involve you in the same way as if you were back home. Dubai is a theme park being constructed around you. Sometimes you are seduced by it, but you are never fully convinced by it, rather like the scenery of early Star Trek episodes.

But what of a life without culture? As Woody Allen said, 'Sex without love is a hollow, meaningless experience; but as hollow, meaningless experiences go, it's one of the best.'

It could be worse, it could be raining.

How to do it

Residency visas are secured through an employer who sponsors the application, tying the expat to that job for at least a year; temporary visit visas can be granted for those who wish to move to UAE to find work. For British citizens, visas will not be granted to those whose passport is less than six months old or contains an Israeli stamp. Dubai's high standard of living is reflected in its prices. Despite the country's status as a tax haven and the government's restrictions on rent rises, living in Dubai can be expensive. A two-bed unfurnished apartment on the marina costs more than £1,000 a month to rent. But since last March, foreigners have been able to buy property in Dubai, and this automatically qualifies them for a residency visa. There are several British schools - most popular are the Dubai and Jumeirah English-speaking schools. These adhere to the British education system and they are inspected accordingly; they also command fees of around £4,000 a year.

For information, go to the UAE Embassy in London website,, and the British Embassy in UAE, For schools, go to and on moving to Dubai,

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