r/DubaiCentral

Hope everyone’s staying safe. I’ll try to keep this short.

I’m based in London and have been working remotely for a Dubai-based company for the past year.

I asked my employer to sponsor an employment visa, as I’ve been thinking of relocating to Dubai for a while now. So my employer arranged a work permit at his own expense, then I signed both the MOHRE job offer and two-year employment contract. The work permit gave me 2 months to enter UAE.

My dilemma now is that the 2-month period is almost up by the end of this month. Due to unforeseen circumstances, however, I am unable to relocate anymore. I cannot travel for at least the next 6 to 9 months. I would still like to continue working in my current position, but I feel extremely guilty and need to inform my employer about the situation.

If my employer asks me to reimburse him for the expenses he incurred for the work permit, would he be legally allowed to do so? And could he terminate the employment offer or dismiss me because I am unable to relocate within the required timeframe?

I apologise for my ignorance, and would appreciate any advice. My sincerest thanks in advance.

Pigeon

Apologies if this isn't the right subreddit or flair for this

Me and a friend moved into a 2BHK in Al Barsha 1 back in 2023, and are currently on our 4th renewal. At the time, we weren't really concerned about getting a parking lot, but two years down the line, I got myself a motorbike and needed somewhere to park it, and was hence asked to park it in a largely untouched lot on the ground floor which is too tight for cars.

Problem is, I got another motorbike, and plan to keep both of them. I would have accepted this lot, but our apartment building actually has a little shortcut that connects the main road to the rear side, meaning a lot of people who don't stay in the apartment pass by said lot and have very easy access to the bikes, and I have had multiple instances where my older bike has been messed with.

I've been trying to get a proper basement lot allotted, but the agency keeps telling me my alloted slot is on the ground floor, which I refuse to accept and refuse to believe (mainly because the guy I'm dealing with is largely lazy) because of the aforementioned issues. I've been on them for the past few weeks but no dice. What's a good way to navigate this situation?

I am an international who has spent time in Dubai in the past. How would you view Dubai as a place to potentially retire? If one has saved, say, somewhere between $5 million and $10 million USD, could it be a good place to retire or retire early?

I personally think taking a place in Dubai or Ras al Khaimah and enjoying the city life, and also the centrality of Dubai from a travel perspective makes it an attractive spot. I know some of the expenses are high but if you buy your own place and manage some of the costs, could it be an attractive place to retire? What do you think?

Hi guys,

I’m relatively new to Dubai and would like to build a good professional/social network here. What are the best ways to meet people and build genuine connections in Dubai? Any suggestions or experiences?

Hey everyone,

I wanted to hear from people working in the events, hospitality, weddings, entertainment, and related industries in Dubai/UAE.

For the last 6 months or so, work has been extremely slow for me, especially when it comes to events. I’m curious to know if others in the industry are experiencing the same thing or if things are starting to pick up.

How are things looking from your side for the next few months? Are you seeing more enquiries/bookings coming in, or is it still pretty quiet?

Also, what are you guys planning to do if things continue like this? Are you switching to other types of work, exploring different industries, moving to another market, or just waiting for things to pick up?

Would really appreciate hearing honest experiences from people in the industry. I’m sure I’m not the only one trying to figure out what the next few months are going to look like.

Any couple meetups or groups here in Dubai or UAE for socializing? Or anyone interested to join if i create? DM if yes.

We're in the mid 30s.

I’m honestly a bit disappointed with Dubai and the lack of action when it comes to things like this.
I moved to Dubai with my family from Europe in May. When we arrived, I rented a car from Fleet Master Car Rental because it was one of the first companies that came up on Google, and I couldn’t find any bad reviews.

Long story short, they appear to run a scam where they take a deposit and then simply don’t return it after the rental period. They either ghost you or tell you the money has been sent when it hasn’t.
I’ve now visited their office twice over the past 3.5 months, and every time I’m told that the refund will be processed “that day.”

Today, when I went there again and demanded my money, another man came into the office but was immediately told to leave. I suspected he might be there for the same reason. When I left the office and went towards the elevators, he approached me and asked if I had also been scammed.
It turned out he was from Bangladesh, and the money meant a lot more to him than it does to me. He looked completely defeated. What bothered me even more was knowing that he probably doesn’t have the same resources or leverage that I do to deal with a situation like this.

As I was leaving the building, the receptionist asked if I had found the office I was looking for. I said, “Yes, they’re a bunch of scammers.” He then told me that he already knew and that at least 20 people come there every day trying to get their deposits back.
I was honestly shocked.
What frustrates me most isn’t even losing the deposit. It’s the feeling that, as a consumer, you can’t actually feel safe here.

When you rent a car, hire a company, buy something expensive, or pay a deposit, you should be able to trust that there are consequences if a business simply decides not to give you your money back. Instead, situations like this make you wonder whether you’re protected at all if a company decides to take advantage of you.

You start thinking twice about every transaction: Is this company legitimate? Will I actually get my deposit back? What happens if they just decide not to pay me? Who is going to help me?
That shouldn’t be something you have to worry about every time you spend money.

I did report the company to Consumer Rights, but unfortunately I was in Europe at the time and provided my European phone number. They apparently tried to contact me through a different number, couldn’t reach me, and closed the case.
I really like living in Dubai, which is why this is so frustrating. Dubai has such a strong reputation for being safe, well-run and business-friendly. But consumer safety is also part of that.
If a company can apparently have 20+ people showing up every day demanding their money back and still continue operating, it makes you question how protected you really are as a consumer.

Looking for a genuine pair of Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 in Dubai. Any recommendations for reliable/authentic stores? Also, what’s the usual price there?

Moving to or living in the UAE comes with a massive learning curve. Everyone talks about the obvious stuff—the brunch scene, the tax-free salary, or coping with the summer heat.

​But what about the actual day-to-day friction? Whether it’s navigating the unwritten rules of driving, finding actual good local services that aren't aggressively overhyped by influencers, or figuring out how to build a real social circle outside of work.

​I’ve been looking at how the lifestyle here operates and it feels like half the things that actually make life easier are gatekept through word-of-mouth.

​Curious what your take is:

​What is one hyper-specific local hack, app, or spot you swear by?

​Or conversely, what is one major "trap" newcomers fall into that you wish you could warn people about?

​Drop your thoughts—let's hear what's actually working.

how much realistically i have to make to live flashy Instagram lifestyle in Dubai

https://preview.redd.it/dewl769kh2kh1.png?width=640&format=png&auto=webp&s=1495dc86fb0f56b945dbf677439e4dc5716ca521

its too hot naah

Can anyone plz give me ideas how do I avoid pigeons in my balcony…. It’s tough to maintain it as it’s a big one.

I am really in a situation in which I can't withdraw my money or do online transaction. Do anyone know a way to make my bill payment by just tapping my card. Most of the shops and small Etisalat sales are only taking cash. Pls drop any location if you know near qusais