UK Transplant Trades Misery for Dubai Luxury, But Pays the Price

In 2025, a 23-year-old British woman named Elbi Henshaw decided to trade the 'miserable' UK lifestyle for the glitz and glamour of Dubai. Hailing from Barnet, North London, Elbi had previously spent time working in Saudi Arabia and believed Dubai would offer her a better quality of life.

However, Elbi soon found herself struggling to make ends meet in the famously luxurious city. Despite financial support from her parents to facilitate the initial move, Elbi has had to pick up extra shifts at the gym where she works as a personal trainer, now working six days a week to afford Dubai's exorbitant cost of living.

Elbi described Dubai as a 'dog eat dog' lifestyle, with many of her peers also having to work nearly the entirety of the week just to keep up with the high prices. Even basic necessities like a pot of yogurt can cost as much as £12.

Despite the challenges, Elbi has fallen in love with Dubai's active and ambitious lifestyle, where 'everyone is happier and active and they all want to be the best versions of themselves.' She has also managed to build a solid group of friends, though she admits feeling 'lonely' at first.

Elbi does, however, miss certain aspects of British culture, such as the sense of community and the pubs. She also finds it difficult to meet potential romantic partners in Dubai, where 'people don't stand in the streets around pubs' and 'everyone is so busy 24/7 that you never find the time.'

As of 2025, Elbi remains committed to her new life in Dubai, but acknowledges that if she is still single by the age of 27, she may consider moving back to the UK to start a family.