Living life to the fullest

Pakistanis in Dubai miss home, but they love the UAE and consider it a home away from home as they tell Andrea Anastasiou.

Ali Hassan Kazmi
I am 25 years old, and I currently reside in Sharjah. My family came here because they saw the potential in the country's growth, and believed they could grow with it. Life in Pakistan was hard at the time. I like living in the UAE, as life in Dubai is very cosmopolitan. It's a good place to meet different people from many different nationalities.

It's a big melting pot of cultures, which means you can learn a lot about different places and their customs. Additionally, because it is a growing country, it is a great place to invest in. The opportunities are endless. What I dislike is the growing cost of living. Many people have to return home as a result.

What I miss from Pakistan is my family and the food. I know quite a lot of Pakistanis here, and we socialise by going to watch a movie, or by bowling. I don't imagine myself returning to Pakistan; the UAE is my home. It is a safe country and a great place to invest if you have the money.

Khalid Naeem
I have been living in the UAE for seven years and I currently work for a shipping company. I live here alone as my family is back in Pakistan. The buying power of money there is much higher. I like it here as the people are very friendly. There are a lot of fellow Pakistanis here and we meet during weekends to go and play cricket. What I sometimes dislike is the fast-paced life of Dubai. Everyone is so busy and it's hard to always find time to meet my friends.

Since leaving Pakistan, I have grown more accustomed to different cultures and have become more open-minded and tolerant of our differences. I have also learnt to speak two languages. What I miss most from Pakistan is the simplicity of life. I would like to stay here for as long as possible, but given the rising cost of living I may not be able to send money back to my family.

Mohammad Majeed
I am 28 years old and have been living in Abu Dhabi for three years. I am working as an IT technician. I relocated here with my family as a friend of mine owns a company and offered me a job there. What I love about the UAE is that I have so many friends from so many nationalities. It is easy to make new friends, and the opportunities are endless. What I don't like is the fact I don't get to see my parents very often.

I return to Pakistan once a year to visit my extended family, and every time I am there I am reminded of a more simple life. I have many Pakistani friends here and our families mainly meet to have dinner parties.

Our children also socialise together. I see myself staying in the UAE as long as we still enjoy it here and I see that happening for a considerable part of the future. Life here compared to Pakistan is very fast, and more expensive.

Asma Hashemi
I am 24 years old and I have been living in Dubai for just over a year. I relocated here with my sister's family in order to get a job in the fashion industry; I am an assistant retail buyer. What I love about the UAE is the sense of freedom, the mixture of cultures and the job opportunities. I found it hard to find work back home in Pakistan.

I also love the malls and the amazing architecture. There is so much to do here, including skiing and ice-skating!

What I don't like is the traffic — I feel like I spend most of my week in the car travelling to and from work. I have some Pakistani friends here in Dubai, although I have also made friends from different countries. My favourite pastime is going to the cinema.

I don't know how long I will stay in Dubai, as I do see myself returning to Pakistan one day.

Rashid Ashraf
I am 43 years old, and I have been living in Sharjah for eight years. I relocated here to start work as a taxi driver as I could not find employment in Pakistan and the salaries here are much better. I like the UAE as it's a clean and cosmopolitan place. However, I do find it expensive today. I also miss my wife and two children who are back home in Pakistan. My parents are there as well.

Two of my brothers live here with me and are also taxi drivers. Together we socialise at the local coffee shop when we have time off together. What I don't like about it here is the traffic — it makes our job a lot harder. I will be going back to Pakistan in about a year's time, as I need to be with my family again.

However, I will miss the UAE and I am grateful for getting the opportunity to live here.