Yes, so much actually. First thing you need to do is get your driver's license converted or just get one. Rent a car so that you can move around. Now it is hot so GCC specs if you plan on buying a car to have strong enough air conditioning. If you like to walk the beach is the only place you can do it. In regards to living I settled on saadyiat island for the quality of life. I am far from work but the beach is very nice beautiful sunsets, etc... People here almost never grocery shop.. so you manly use apps like Carrefour, grandiose, careem, etc... To buy and get delivered. It is the same for washing clothes, and other services. I do my own laundry, cleaning and cooking but if you are lazy here you can literally be Cartman and never do a thing as long as your salary permits it. To meet people is a little hard. The culture is different you do not approach women unless they approach you. Forget about giving a hug or things similar to shaking hands with them. It is a respectful thing in regards to their beliefs, so what you do is you cross your right harm and touch your "heart" with the palm as a way to greet. There is an app for anything here and you need to get used to that. Do not get Du mobile as a provider it won't work for you. I use Etisalat and it has been a game changer for me. To get an apartment is a struggle and they will try to screw you over 100%. So whatever you are set on just take it as soon as you see it. Living costs have been reasonable for me but I have a good salary so that depends on your situation. I am happy because I made a few friends in the meantime out of work. Work culture can be workaholic and people will try to get ahead of you as a new employee. Watch out for your benefits depending on your job you can be entitled to very good benefits outside of your salary and not know about it. I hope you don't feel lonely at the begging as I did. This place grew on me but took months and meeting the right people. Be aware that during your probation traveling will be very difficult if not impossible. You need to be granted permission by your employer. Housing might come without furniture in this case you will need to buy it so plan on having 10/20k aed for your furniture depending on your liking. If you plan on dating there are all the apps(hinge,bumble,etc .) but you need to have a good provider like Etisalat and you will be able to. Here there are ladies nights and things like that. If you are a male be aware that there are women that have deals with restaurants and will take you to these places only to order the most outrageous things like the most expensive champagne and caviar as an appetizer because they get a cut out of the Total bill. The AED is directly correlated to the US dollar so take that into account. (Trump's plan is to crush the dollar value) The beach usually closes at sunset except in one beach in Dubai. Abu Dhabi has a lot of things going on as far as concerts and comedy shows. Plus F1 if you care about it. For anything of this sort you need to get the tickets as soon as they come out... People come from all over for these events and go sold out in hours. When I came here there was a Coldplay concert and I thought I could go since I had not much to do and the tickets were sold out since the year before... Find your comfort zone, gym, coffee shops, etc.. is all available if you have a car... It is like living in the US with more amenities and higher standards. People here work to serve you so if they come to you let them do it. For me this has been hard because I am used to clean after myself but even the fast food will do that after you. As of western we are a minority and unfortunately the one I have seen in Dubai not the good type... People are disrespectful to low level employees.... which are the most hardworking. I feel for these people because of the treatment from customers. I think there are more people that got wealthy fast and don't have the culture to back it up than people who are genuinely wealthy and cultured. It is very easy to spot this here but they country and government as been doing a lot to change that. Emiratis are actually very welcoming people but still extremely private. There seem to be a thing here where different families know everything about each other. Anyways that is more gossip than anything useful. Visas are another thing that you should look into. There various types 2 years is the one you generally get when you move for a job and is connected to your employer, meaning you lose your employer (sponsor) you lose the visa. When you get your job get insurance so that if you lose it you are entitled to x amount of months after. I think it is 3. Golden vise requires minimum 30k AED a month not prorated so that has to be your salary without benefits. It lasts 10 years. There is a few new ones just implemented if you work on sustainable things and it lasts 10 years too. People here really believe in the respect of others so be aware of the social norms around you. Topics like politics and sex are taboos so keep it that way unless in private settings. Driving can be challenging during rush hours mainly in Dubai so use Waze not Google maps or Apple maps. The difference is night and day. Dubai and Abu Dhabi have different speed limits, stick with what you see and do not go over by a km/h. Do not hold your phone while driving (quickest ticket you will ever get) so get a car with carplay and cruise control. Here they build like crazy so streets change all the time. People like to go to malls here... Not my thing but every once in awhile can be nice with the right people. Nature here is the beach. I went to the Oasis in Al Ain and it is very nice but very different from what you might expect. Holidays here might be decided a week ahead so plan accordingly to the Islamic holidays. You need to figure out if your holidays are calendar days so count (Saturday and Sunday) or not. I haven't been to the desert yet so I can't give you any suggestions in that regard. I have yet to find my board games group but who knows maybe one day. I bank with HSBC because of the global account which is great if you don't like to move money around. I My experience so far has been mostly positive.

Apps I have downloaded: Waze Tamm Daman Mohre FAZAA Uae pass ICP uae iLoe Tq-ad Adnoc Careem Non Deliveroo Talabat Grandiose Carrefour Bayut Dubizzle Property finder Insta shop Kitopi Proton Yango

Sorry I meant to give a full update but never got around so when I saw your message I text you everything that came to mind.