Hey everyone, happy Thursday!
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. Moving to the UAE does something to you, whether you’ve been here 6 months or 10 years. Maybe you became more spontaneous, or more patient, or you started caring a lot more about where your next meal is coming from (valid). Maybe you just learned to always, always carry a light jacket because the AC is merciless.
For me, it honestly shifted how I think about time and ambition. There’s this energy here where big moves feel possible in a way they didn’t back home. Also I now consider 38°C “not that bad”, which is a personality change I did not see coming.
So, what about you? What’s one thing, big or small, that living in the UAE has genuinely changed about you?
Oh the 38°C thing is SO real. I remember my first summer thinking it was apocalyptic, now I’m like “oh nice, there’s a breeze.”
For me the biggest shift is how I think about who I can meet and what’s possible from a conversation. Back home networking felt transactional and a bit awkward. Here you’re sitting next to someone at brunch and they’re building something genuinely interesting, and nobody thinks it’s weird to just… talk about it openly.
It made me way less shy about sharing ideas early, before they’re polished. That mindset actually changed how I approach work, not just socialising.
Also, I will never take a hot shower for granted again. The moment you step outside in July, the concept of “refreshing” is forever redefined.
What’s the thing people around you most notice has changed since you moved here?