Brit explains shocking reality of living in Dubai as she works six days a week to live
A woman who swapped London for Dubai has revealed the true cost of living there.
Elbi Henshaw took the plunge in January this year after becoming fed up with the 'miserable' and 'sedentary' vibe in the UK.
The 23-year-old decided to leave London behind for good after a holiday in Dubai and a stint working in Saudi Arabia reminded her that there's a big, wide world out there to explore.
She made the huge move from Barnet to Dubai with financial help from her parents - but is now working up to six days a week to afford her lifestyle in the 'luxurious' city.
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Elbi reckons you need to earn at least £5,000 a month to 'live comfortably' in Dubai as the cost of living is so high.
"I work full time but it's hard not to just spend all your money, you'd need about £5,000 a month here to live comfortably," the personal trainer said.
"But you can pick up extra work quite quickly - at the moment, I work six days, but I'll probably end up working seven.
"Paying no tax is a perk, but the cost of living out here is so expensive that it ends up the same as in the UK.
"But here, you get the sun and a much better lifestyle...although I miss the pubs."
As well as our boozers, Elbi admitted she's also missing UK bills - as even a simple coffee can set her back up to a tenner, while she also claims a glass of wine is '£20 minimum'.
She continued: "The rent is more expensive than in the UK, and you have to pay big deposits on things like apartments and cars.
"Clothing is more expensive too, and coffee is like £7 minimum, sometimes as much as £10 a cup.
"I'd say the average salary for a normal person here is like £3k a month, but you want more like £5k to live comfortably if you want to go out for meals and buy new clothes. I try to work, work, work so that I can enjoy Dubai - there's lots of group chats and apps for companies to advertise weekend work."
Still, she much prefers it to her life in London and says her outgoings aren't that much more than what she was paying here.
There's also the added bonus of not having to pay taxes in Dubai, as well as the fact that it boasts much better weather than Britain.
Eight months on since her move, Elbi is now working as a personal trainer at a luxury gym which is beloved by 'high end clients', while she also picks up odd jobs on the weekend.
Although she believes there's a 'dog-eat-dog' culture out in Dubai as people are working all the hours God sends to make ends meet, she says it still trumps the UK.
"In the UK, I was so depressed and miserable, and everyone is so sedentary," the fitness buff said. "I wanted a more active lifestyle. Out here, everyone is happier and active, and they all want to be the best versions of themselves."
Elbi has made a host of friends, joined a local running club, and now shares an apartment with two other young women.
The cleanliness of Dubai has made her fall in love with the place even more, as she explained that 'everywhere is spotless', adding: "It makes you realise how dirty the UK is."
The only drawback of the city in the United Arab Emirates for Elbi is that it's 'so hard' to meet men.
"There's no authentic meet-ups," she added. "People don't stand in the streets around pubs; you have to schedule it in.
"And it's hard to date as everyone is so busy 24/7 that you never find the time. I do miss the sense of community and pubs in the UK. I love it, but I can't really imagine meeting someone out here and it becoming serious."
Elbi says she can seriously see herself 'building a life' in Dubai, but would consider coming back home if she's not in a relationship by the age of 27, as she wants to start a family.
But, for now, she's staying put.
Topics: World News, UK News, Lifestyle, Money, Cost of Living
Olivia Burke