Hi All,

I've been in Dubai 8 months now and is originally from a very small town called Bredasdorp but lived in Cape Town most of my adult life.
I'm 29 and work in logistics and sales & projects support for an office furniture manufacturing company with it's head office in Austria.
Really love it here and planning on staying another few years before eventually moving and settling in Australia - well that's the plan at least.

Only big problem I find in Dubai is how difficult it is to meet other people and make friends outside of work. I'm hoping this site helps a little!

My other half also lives here, works in IT which seems to be a very difficult field to find a good job in in Dubai, especially where salary is concerned.

So all the best to everyone who's new to Dubai or planning on moving to Dubai!

Welcome! I lived in South Africa long ago, in Welkom, of all places. I've also lived in Japan, and in several cities in the US. I think it is hard to make friends outside of work everywhere. First, you make 'work friends', then friends that you see outside of work. If you are lucky, those friends will lead you to friends that aren't part of your work. The hardest thing to do is to make friends that have no connection to your work. So it isn't just Dubai, but being new. Even in the US, I think it takes a whole year to settle in.

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My Travel Blog

Wow Japan - how was it, living there?
I guess you're right yes, about the making friends and being new. You don't realise how easy you meet people in your own country until you live somewhere else.
Anyway, thanks for the reply! What did you do in SA?