u/DangerousExpert8187

I’m currently interviewing with a UAE company founded by former Huawei employees, and I’m curious what kind of work culture I should expect.

I can speak Mandarin, but I’m not from mainland China. For anyone who has worked at a Chinese-founded company or a company with a lot of ex-Huawei leadership, what was your experience like?

In particular, is speaking Mandarin enough to integrate well, or is there still a noticeable preference/favoritism toward mainland Chinese employees when it comes to communication, opportunities, promotions, or being part of the inner circle?

Would appreciate any firsthand experiences.

I’m currently interviewing with a company founded by former Huawei employees, and I’m curious what kind of work culture I should expect.

I can speak Mandarin, but I’m not from mainland China. For anyone who has worked at a Chinese-founded company or a company with a lot of ex-Huawei leadership, what was your experience like?

In particular, is speaking Mandarin enough to integrate well, or is there still a noticeable preference/favoritism toward mainland Chinese employees when it comes to communication, opportunities, promotions, or being part of the inner circle?

Would appreciate any firsthand experiences.

I’m currently interviewing with a UAE company founded by former Huawei employees, and I’m curious what kind of work culture I should expect.

I can speak Mandarin, but I’m not from mainland China. For anyone who has worked at a Chinese-founded company or a company with a lot of ex-Huawei leadership, what was your experience like?

In particular, is speaking Mandarin enough to integrate well, or is there still a noticeable preference/favoritism toward mainland Chinese employees when it comes to communication, opportunities, promotions, or being part of the inner circle?

Would appreciate any firsthand experiences.

Serious question… what do you guys do for fun during the summer in Abu Dhabi?

It’s way too hot to be outside, I’ve completely hit mall fatigue, and there’s only so many cafes and museums one person can visit before they all feel the same.

Any cheap (or free) ideas?

I’ve been a software engineer for about 7 years and have spent the last couple of years at a government-owned company. Before this, I worked at fast-paced startups, so landing this role felt like a huge relief.

The job is stable, the work-life balance is great, layoffs are rare, and the culture is generally relaxed. During my first year, it honestly felt like I got my life back. I finally had the time and energy to get my finances in order, build a consistent gym routine, cook more, develop hobbies, and invest in my relationships.

Lately, though, I’ve started feeling conflicted.

I still have ambitions to become a lead engineer or engineering manager someday, but promotion opportunities here seem quite limited. I’ve also noticed that many of the engineering practices are behind what I’d experienced in startups. Some people in leadership positions still spend most of their time coding while the management side of the role often gets neglected. It doesn’t feel like an environment where I’m being pushed to grow.

My biggest concern is long-term career relevance. I probably have another 10–15 years of my career ahead of me, and I’m worried that if I stay in such a comfortable environment for too long, my skills and experience may drift away from what the broader industry values.

For those who’ve worked in similarly stable organisations—government, public sector, or large enterprises—have you seen people become “trapped” by the comfort? Have you known people who stayed for many years, climbed the internal ladder, and then struggled to transition back into the wider job market because their skills or experience no longer matched industry expectations?
Or is this fear largely unfounded, and good engineers tend to stay employable regardless of where they work?

I’d love to hear both success stories and cautionary tales.

I’ve been a software engineer for about 7 years and have spent the last couple of years at a government-owned company. Before this, I worked at fast-paced startups, so landing this role felt like a huge relief.

The job is stable, the work-life balance is great, layoffs are rare, and the culture is generally relaxed. During my first year, it honestly felt like I got my life back. I finally had the time and energy to get my finances in order, build a consistent gym routine, cook more, develop hobbies, and invest in my relationships.

Lately, though, I’ve started feeling conflicted.

I still have ambitions to become a lead engineer or engineering manager someday, but promotion opportunities here seem quite limited. I’ve also noticed that many of the engineering practices are behind what I’d experienced in startups. Some people in leadership positions still spend most of their time coding while the management side of the role often gets neglected. It doesn’t feel like an environment where I’m being pushed to grow.

My biggest concern is long-term career relevance. I probably have another 10–15 years of my career ahead of me, and I’m worried that if I stay in such a comfortable environment for too long, my skills and experience may drift away from what the broader industry values.

For those who’ve worked in similarly stable organisations—government, public sector, or large enterprises—have you seen people become “trapped” by the comfort? Have you known people who stayed for many years, climbed the internal ladder, and then struggled to transition back into the wider job market because their skills or experience no longer matched industry expectations?

Or is this fear largely unfounded, and good engineers tend to stay employable regardless of where they work?

I’d love to hear both success stories and cautionary tales.

I’ve been a software engineer for about 7 years and have spent the last couple of years at a government-owned company. Before this, I worked at fast-paced startups, so landing this role felt like a huge relief.

The job is stable, the work-life balance is great, layoffs are rare, and the culture is generally relaxed. During my first year, it honestly felt like I got my life back. I finally had the time and energy to get my finances in order, build a consistent gym routine, cook more, develop hobbies, and invest in my relationships.

Lately, though, I’ve started feeling conflicted.

I still have ambitions to become a lead engineer or engineering manager someday, but promotion opportunities here seem quite limited. I’ve also noticed that many of the engineering practices are behind what I’d experienced in startups. Some people in leadership positions still spend most of their time coding while the management side of the role often gets neglected. It doesn’t feel like an environment where I’m being pushed to grow.

My biggest concern is long-term career relevance. I probably have another 10–15 years of my career ahead of me, and I’m worried that if I stay in such a comfortable environment for too long, my skills and experience may drift away from what the broader industry values.

For those who’ve worked in similarly stable organisations—government, public sector, or large enterprises—have you seen people become “trapped” by the comfort? Have you known people who stayed for many years, climbed the internal ladder, and then struggled to transition back into the wider job market because their skills or experience no longer matched industry expectations?

Or is this fear largely unfounded, and good engineers tend to stay employable regardless of where they work?

I’d love to hear both success stories and cautionary tales.

I’ve been a software engineer for about 7 years and have spent the last couple of years at a government-owned company. Before this, I worked at fast-paced startups, so landing this role felt like a huge relief.

The job is stable, the work-life balance is great, layoffs are rare, and the culture is generally relaxed. During my first year, it honestly felt like I got my life back. I finally had the time and energy to get my finances in order, build a consistent gym routine, cook more, develop hobbies, and invest in my relationships.

Lately, though, I’ve started feeling conflicted.

I still have ambitions to become a lead engineer or engineering manager someday, but promotion opportunities here seem quite limited. I’ve also noticed that many of the engineering practices are behind what I’d experienced in startups. Some people in leadership positions still spend most of their time coding while the management side of the role often gets neglected. It doesn’t feel like an environment where I’m being pushed to grow.

My biggest concern is long-term career relevance. I probably have another 10–15 years of my career ahead of me, and I’m worried that if I stay in such a comfortable environment for too long, my skills and experience may drift away from what the broader industry values.

For those who’ve worked in similarly stable organisations—government, public sector, or large enterprises—have you seen people become “trapped” by the comfort? Have you known people who stayed for many years, climbed the internal ladder, and then struggled to transition back into the wider job market because their skills or experience no longer matched industry expectations?

Or is this fear largely unfounded, and good engineers tend to stay employable regardless of where they work?

I’d love to hear both success stories and cautionary tales.

I’ve been a software engineer for about 7 years and have spent the last couple of years at a government-owned company. Before this, I worked at fast-paced startups, so landing this role felt like a huge relief.

The job is stable, the work-life balance is great, layoffs are rare, and the culture is generally relaxed. During my first year, it honestly felt like I got my life back. I finally had the time and energy to get my finances in order, build a consistent gym routine, cook more, develop hobbies, and invest in my relationships.

Lately, though, I’ve started feeling conflicted.

I still have ambitions to become a lead engineer or engineering manager someday, but promotion opportunities here seem quite limited. I’ve also noticed that many of the engineering practices are behind what I’d experienced in startups. Some people in leadership positions still spend most of their time coding while the management side of the role often gets neglected. It doesn’t feel like an environment where I’m being pushed to grow.

My biggest concern is long-term career relevance. I probably have another 10–15 years of my career ahead of me, and I’m worried that if I stay in such a comfortable environment for too long, my skills and experience may drift away from what the broader industry values.

For those who’ve worked in similarly stable organisations, government, public sector, or large enterprises, have you seen people become “trapped” by the comfort? Have you known people who stayed for many years, climbed the internal ladder, and then struggled to transition back into the wider job market because their skills or experience no longer matched industry expectations?

Or is this fear largely unfounded, and good engineers tend to stay employable regardless of where they work?

I’d love to hear both success stories and cautionary tales.

Ever since I discovered FIRE, investing, and long-term financial planning, I feel like I see life through a completely different lens, and it’s made it harder to relate to a lot of people around me.

I notice that many people seem focused on enjoying the present, spending most of what they earn, or making career decisions based primarily on what feels good right now. Meanwhile, I find myself thinking years or even decades ahead—how a career choice affects future income, whether I’m building valuable skills, growing my network, or making decisions that will compound over time.

It’s not that I think everyone should pursue FIRE. People value different things, and that’s completely valid. But after becoming aware of concepts like compounding, opportunity cost, and financial independence, it’s hard to “unsee” them. Every decision starts feeling like it has long-term consequences.

Ironically, this awareness sometimes makes me feel older than I actually am. I’m approaching 30, and while I’m grateful that many of the sacrifices I made in my 20s are starting to pay off, I also look at people who seem genuinely carefree and wonder what that feels like. Sometimes I’m jealous of their ability to relax without constantly thinking about the future.

The strange part is that I don’t think I could go back to that mindset even if I wanted to. Once you understand how investing, retirement planning, and compounding work, it’s difficult to stop seeing the trade-offs in every financial or career decision.

Has anyone else experienced this? Did learning about FIRE change the way you relate to friends or coworkers? Or have you found a healthier balance between planning for the future and enjoying the present?

Ever since I discovered FIRE, investing, and long-term financial planning, I feel like I see life through a completely different lens, and it’s made it harder to relate to a lot of people around me.

I notice that many people seem focused on enjoying the present, spending most of what they earn, or making career decisions based primarily on what feels good right now. Meanwhile, I find myself thinking years or even decades ahead—how a career choice affects future income, whether I’m building valuable skills, growing my network, or making decisions that will compound over time.

It’s not that I think everyone should pursue FIRE. People value different things, and that’s completely valid. But after becoming aware of concepts like compounding, opportunity cost, and financial independence, it’s hard to “unsee” them. Every decision starts feeling like it has long-term consequences.

Ironically, this awareness sometimes makes me feel older than I actually am. I’m approaching 30, and while I’m grateful that many of the sacrifices I made in my 20s are starting to pay off, I also look at people who seem genuinely carefree and wonder what that feels like. Sometimes I’m jealous of their ability to relax without constantly thinking about the future.

The strange part is that I don’t think I could go back to that mindset even if I wanted to. Once you understand how investing, retirement planning, and compounding work, it’s difficult to stop seeing the trade-offs in every financial or career decision.

Has anyone else experienced this? Did learning about FIRE change the way you relate to friends or coworkers? Or have you found a healthier balance between planning for the future and enjoying the present?

I’m wondering if what I experience is actually normal, because every month it’s the exact same pattern.

Around 3–4 days before my period starts, I get excruciating pain that begins in my lower back and radiates through my lower abdomen, inner thigh, and even down to my knee. Strangely, it’s almost always only on one side of my body, never both. The pain gets so bad that I become dizzy and end up taking 4–5 Panadols a day just to function.

I’ve tried lifting weights regularly, foam rolling, and improving my diet. Those things seem to help a bit, but they never make it go away.

The physical pain is only part of it, though.

Without fail, during those few days I get the worst brain fog, anxiety, and overwhelming sense of dread. I’ll wake up genuinely feeling like my life is falling apart. Every problem feels 100 times bigger than it actually is, and I become convinced everything is doomed. I also get really paranoid and overthink every little interaction.

I usually end up taking sick leave because I can’t function. Then I spend the whole day doom-scrolling Instagram and doing absolutely nothing. I hate being unproductive, but if I force myself to go into the office, I feel even worse. I still can’t focus, so I end up accomplishing nothing anyway—just in a different location.

I also avoid seeing friends or coworkers during this time because social interactions become exhausting, and I overanalyze everything people say.

Then the weirdest part: the day my period actually starts, it’s like someone flips a switch. The pain eases, the anxiety disappears, the brain fog lifts, and I’m back to being my normal, happy self as if none of it ever happened.

Does anyone else experience something like this? Is this just severe PMS, or could it be something else? The one-sided pain especially makes me wonder if it’s worth getting checked out.

I’m wondering if what I experience is actually normal, because every month it’s the exact same pattern.

Around 3–4 days before my period starts, I get excruciating pain that begins in my lower back and radiates through my lower abdomen, inner thigh, and even down to my knee. Strangely, it’s almost always only on one side of my body, never both. The pain gets so bad that I become dizzy and end up taking 4–5 Panadols a day just to function.

I’ve tried lifting weights regularly, foam rolling, and improving my diet. Those things seem to help a bit, but they never make it go away.

The physical pain is only part of it, though.

Without fail, during those few days I get the worst brain fog, anxiety, and overwhelming sense of dread. I’ll wake up genuinely feeling like my life is falling apart. Every problem feels 100 times bigger than it actually is, and I become convinced everything is doomed. I also get really paranoid and overthink every little interaction.

I usually end up taking sick leave because I can’t function. Then I spend the whole day doom-scrolling Instagram and doing absolutely nothing. I hate being unproductive, but if I force myself to go into the office, I feel even worse. I still can’t focus, so I end up accomplishing nothing anyway—just in a different location.

I also avoid seeing friends or coworkers during this time because social interactions become exhausting, and I overanalyze everything people say.

Then the weirdest part: the day my period actually starts, it’s like someone flips a switch. The pain eases, the anxiety disappears, the brain fog lifts, and I’m back to being my normal, happy self as if none of it ever happened.

Does anyone else experience something like this? Is this just severe PMS, or could it be something else? The one-sided pain especially makes me wonder if it’s worth getting checked out.

I’m wondering if what I experience is actually normal, because every month it’s the exact same pattern.

Around 3–4 days before my period starts, I get excruciating pain that begins in my lower back and radiates through my lower abdomen, inner thigh, and even down to my knee. Strangely, it’s almost always only on one side of my body, never both. The pain gets so bad that I become dizzy and end up taking 4–5 Panadols a day just to function.

I’ve tried lifting weights regularly, foam rolling, and improving my diet. Those things seem to help a bit, but they never make it go away.

The physical pain is only part of it, though.

Without fail, during those few days I get the worst brain fog, anxiety, and overwhelming sense of dread. I’ll wake up genuinely feeling like my life is falling apart. Every problem feels 100 times bigger than it actually is, and I become convinced everything is doomed. I also get really paranoid and overthink every little interaction.

I usually end up taking sick leave because I can’t function. Then I spend the whole day doom-scrolling Instagram and doing absolutely nothing. I hate being unproductive, but if I force myself to go into the office, I feel even worse. I still can’t focus, so I end up accomplishing nothing anyway—just in a different location.

I also avoid seeing friends or coworkers during this time because social interactions become exhausting, and I overanalyze everything people say.
Then the weirdest part: the day my period actually starts, it’s like someone flips a switch. The pain eases, the anxiety disappears, the brain fog lifts, and I’m back to being my normal, happy self as if none of it ever happened.

Does anyone else experience something like this? Is this just severe PMS, or could it be something else? The one-sided pain especially makes me wonder if it’s worth getting checked out.

I’m wondering if what I experience is actually normal, because every month it’s the exact same pattern.

Around 3–4 days before my period starts, I get excruciating pain that begins in my lower back and radiates through my lower abdomen, inner thigh, and even down to my knee. Strangely, it’s almost always only on one side of my body, never both. The pain gets so bad that I become dizzy and end up taking 4–5 Panadols a day just to function.

I’ve tried lifting weights regularly, foam rolling, and improving my diet. Those things seem to help a bit, but they never make it go away.

The physical pain is only part of it, though.

Without fail, during those few days I get the worst brain fog, anxiety, and overwhelming sense of dread. I’ll wake up genuinely feeling like my life is falling apart. Every problem feels 100 times bigger than it actually is, and I become convinced everything is doomed. I also get really paranoid and overthink every little interaction.

I usually end up taking sick leave because I can’t function. Then I spend the whole day doom-scrolling Instagram and doing absolutely nothing. I hate being unproductive, but if I force myself to go into the office, I feel even worse. I still can’t focus, so I end up accomplishing nothing anyway—just in a different location.

I also avoid seeing friends or coworkers during this time because social interactions become exhausting, and I overanalyze everything people say.
Then the weirdest part: the day my period actually starts, it’s like someone flips a switch. The pain eases, the anxiety disappears, the brain fog lifts, and I’m back to being my normal, happy self as if none of it ever happened.

Does anyone else experience something like this? Is this just severe PMS, or could it be something else? The one-sided pain especially makes me wonder if it’s worth getting checked out.

I applied for the Abu Dhabi Golden Visa through TAMM under the Skilled Professional category in March 2026, and my application has been stuck on “Under Review” ever since.

Over the past few months, I’ve called TAMM around 5–6 times, and the response has always been the same: they can’t process applications because of an ongoing ICP system update.

At one point, I even received a callback saying that my nomination had actually been approved, but they couldn’t update the status in the system because the ICP update was still in progress.

Then this week, my company’s typing center agent told me that Golden Visa processing has resumed, and that approvals are now moving again, although it may take 1–2 months.

That gave me some hope, but when I contacted TAMM myself, they still told me the same thing—that everything is still on hold due to the ICP system update.

Has anyone here:
- Received a Golden Visa approval in Abu Dhabi recently?
- Applied through the Skilled Professional route via TAMM?
- Heard anything about whether processing has actually resumed?

The uncertainty is starting to get to me. I’m currently working at a company with a pretty toxic environment, and I’ve been staying mainly because I don’t want to jeopardize my Golden Visa application. I’m now trying to decide whether it’s worth continuing to wait, or whether I should move on to another company and risk affecting the application.

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s gone through the process recently or has any updates.

I’ve been lifting weights consistently for about a year now, and while my progress has been slow, the changes are definitely noticeable.

My butt is much rounder and more lifted, my back actually has some definition now, and my arms don’t look nearly as chubby. I’m really happy with the results.

The funny thing is… I didn’t expect one of the biggest downsides to be my wardrobe.
A lot of my old work pants and skirts don’t fit anymore because my hips, glutes, and legs have grown. Shopping for jeans has become surprisingly difficult, and I’ve learned that stretchy fabrics or adjustable waistbands last much longer than rigid ones.

The physical changes are only part of it, though. I also underestimated how much there is to learn outside the gym. Getting enough protein every day, tracking calories, learning proper lifting form, meal prepping, figuring out what foods are actually high in protein… it feels like an entirely new skill set.

Sometimes it feels overwhelming, but at the same time, I wish I’d learned all of this much earlier. Not just because of how my body looks now, but because I finally understand how much strength training, nutrition, and recovery all work together.
If I could go back in time, I’d tell my younger self to start lifting years sooner.

For context, I live in Abu Dhabi, but I'm posting here as I feel like the crowd here can appreciate this more. I’ve been living here for almost 2 years now, and honestly, I’m getting tired of it.

There are a lot of things I appreciate. The salary is great, it’s safe, and I’ve been able to save far more than I could back home. My original plan was to stay for five years, build up my savings, then move somewhere else.

But lately, I’ve started wondering whether it’s worth it.

I don’t enjoy the food, the weather, or the social scene. The work culture has been the hardest part for me. It feels very top-down, and it’s a huge contrast from the more meritocratic environments I was used to. It’s frustrating watching people without the right skills make major decisions while everyone below them has to deal with the consequences.
Outside of work, I feel like I’ve changed in ways I didn’t expect. I used to love wearing colorful tank tops and cute clothes. Now, every time I leave the house, I catch myself wondering if I’m showing too much skin. No one has explicitly told me not to, but I’ve become much more self-conscious than I used to be.

I also love being outdoors and spending time in nature. Having to stay inside for several months each year because of the heat has been surprisingly difficult. I didn’t realize how much I relied on being able to go for a walk, hike, or just sit outside until I couldn’t.

The money is undeniably good, and that’s what has kept me here. But lately it feels like I’m trading away little pieces of myself in exchange for a bigger bank account.

I’ve been thinking about moving to another country, but I work in tech, and the job market isn’t exactly great right now. Part of me feels like the smartest thing to do is stay where I am. It doesn’t seem wise to make a move only to get laid off a year later. Then I’d end up with neither the financial security I’ve built nor the life I’m looking for.

Logically, staying feels like the right decision. Emotionally, it feels like I’m in the wrong place.
I used to think I could easily stay here for five years. Now I’m not so sure. I keep asking myself: how long do you keep “sucking it up” before the cost becomes too high? I’m worried that if I ignore how I feel for too long, I’ll eventually hit a breaking point and make an impulsive decision that I’ll regret.

Has anyone else stayed somewhere that made perfect financial sense but felt completely wrong for you personally? How did you know it was finally time to leave?

I’ve been living in Abu Dhabi for almost 2 years now, and honestly, I’m getting tired of it.

There are a lot of things I appreciate. The salary is great, it’s safe, and I’ve been able to save far more than I could back home. My original plan was to stay for five years, build up my savings, then move somewhere else.

But lately, I’ve started wondering whether it’s worth it.

I don’t enjoy the food, the weather, or the social scene. The work culture has been the hardest part for me. It feels very top-down, and it’s a huge contrast from the more meritocratic environments I was used to. It’s frustrating watching people without the right skills make major decisions while everyone below them has to deal with the consequences.
Outside of work, I feel like I’ve changed in ways I didn’t expect. I used to love wearing colorful tank tops and cute clothes. Now, every time I leave the house, I catch myself wondering if I’m showing too much skin. No one has explicitly told me not to, but I’ve become much more self-conscious than I used to be.

I also love being outdoors and spending time in nature. Having to stay inside for several months each year because of the heat has been surprisingly difficult. I didn’t realize how much I relied on being able to go for a walk, hike, or just sit outside until I couldn’t.

The money is undeniably good, and that’s what has kept me here. But lately it feels like I’m trading away little pieces of myself in exchange for a bigger bank account.

I’ve been thinking about moving to another country, but I work in tech, and the job market isn’t exactly great right now. Part of me feels like the smartest thing to do is stay where I am. It doesn’t seem wise to make a move only to get laid off a year later. Then I’d end up with neither the financial security I’ve built nor the life I’m looking for.

Logically, staying feels like the right decision. Emotionally, it feels like I’m in the wrong place.
I used to think I could easily stay here for five years. Now I’m not so sure. I keep asking myself: how long do you keep “sucking it up” before the cost becomes too high? I’m worried that if I ignore how I feel for too long, I’ll eventually hit a breaking point and make an impulsive decision that I’ll regret.

Has anyone else stayed somewhere that made perfect financial sense but felt completely wrong for you personally? How did you know it was finally time to leave?

I’ve been lifting weights consistently for about a year now, and while my progress has been slow, the changes are definitely noticeable.

My butt is much rounder and more lifted, my back actually has some definition now, and my arms don’t look nearly as chubby. I’m really happy with the results.

The funny thing is… I didn’t expect one of the biggest downsides to be my wardrobe.
A lot of my old work pants and skirts don’t fit anymore because my hips, glutes, and legs have grown. Shopping for jeans has become surprisingly difficult, and I’ve learned that stretchy fabrics or adjustable waistbands last much longer than rigid ones.

The physical changes are only part of it, though. I also underestimated how much there is to learn outside the gym. Getting enough protein every day, tracking calories, learning proper lifting form, meal prepping, figuring out what foods are actually high in protein… it feels like an entirely new skill set.

Sometimes it feels overwhelming, but at the same time, I wish I’d learned all of this much earlier. Not just because of how my body looks now, but because I finally understand how much strength training, nutrition, and recovery all work together.
If I could go back in time, I’d tell my younger self to start lifting years sooner.