Tunisian planning to move from Dubai to Spain – looking for honest advice
I’m a 38-year-old Tunisian who has been living and working in Dubai for the past 13 years. I currently work as an Office Manager and have built a stable career here, but lately I’ve been seriously considering a different lifestyle and long-term future.
My plan is to move to Spain on a student visa, study Spanish for around 6 months, then hopefully transition into a job opportunity and eventually long-term residency in Europe.
The main reasons behind this decision are:
- wanting a better work-life balance
- being geographically closer to Tunisia and family
- experiencing a different pace of life compared to Dubai
- building a more stable long-term future in Europe
I understand this path is not easy, especially at my age, and I’m trying to be realistic about the challenges (language, job market, paperwork, etc.).
I would really appreciate hearing from:
- people who moved from Dubai/Gulf countries to Spain
- Tunisians or North Africans who took the student visa route
- anyone who managed to transition from studies to work/residency in Spain
Do you think this is a realistic plan?
What were the biggest challenges for you?
Would you do it again?
Thanks a lot in advance 🙏