Newcomers to Dubai share their first impressions of the city

Newbies:  Dubai is full of them, be it tourists or expatriates. Gulf News decided to take a look at how user-friendly the big city actually is for newcomers. Three fresh Dubai residents share their impression of their new home's accessibility on six basic points.

Mette Trier Kreutzfeldt

 How easy was it to find a place to live?

Mette: "Easy. My sister has lived in Dubai so she got me in touch with a family with a room available." 

How easy was it to get a visa?

Mette: "Quite hard. The company I work for is supposed to take care of it. But I haven't received it yet and I'll probably have to do a visa run." 

How easy was it to find out how to behave?

Mette: "I didn't check it before going. It's easy to sense what is considered good manners. Of course, it is always better to be a little too polite than impolite." 

How easy was it to find out what's going on in town?

Mette: "I've mainly been searching the internet but there are so many offers that it can be hard to get an overview." 

How easy was it to get around?

Mette: "I think the Metro system works really well. But the bus timetables shift all the time, so I never know where and when to get on. I'm also surprised that the taxi drivers get lost so easily." 

How easy was it to find a good phone service?

Mette: "It was simple. A colleague told me where to go. The salesman in the shop was very helpful and it didn't take long at all." 

Overall impression of Dubai:

"I feel that Dubai is approachable for international newcomers. I've experienced a lot of good service." 

Tanja Weidinger

How easy was it to find a place to live?

Tanja: "It was kind of hard. I searched on the internet but most of the rooms I found were partitioned. You really want to have your own room. But luckily in the end I found a nice family with an extra room." 

How easy was it to get a visa?

Tanja: "It's really confusing. I just can't find a Web page that tells me which visa works for what. I had to make my company figure it out." 

How easy was it to find out how to behave?

Tanja: "I bought myself a travel guide, but I have worked in Tunisia, so I knew the basic rules beforehand." 

How easy was it to find out what's going on in town?

Tanja: "The best thing is to talk to people you get to know. They can tell you where to go, and that is information you can really rely on." 

How easy was it to get around?

Tanja: "You can't really find good transport information on the internet. I didn't know that the Metro's Green Line hadn't opened yet. It's on all the maps and that is very confusing." 

How easy was it to find a good phone service?

Tanja: "I found it to be easy. I just went to the supermarket and asked them. They gave me an all-inclusive package."

 Overall impression of Dubai:

"The city has so much to offer that it seems overwhelming. I miss a place where I can get an overview."

Cameron Paul

How easy was it to find a place to live?

Cameron: "I've been looking online for apartments. The system was overall good but as a newcomer you have no idea of what is in each area. Is it a nice area or not? Is there culture and fun there? Is it near transport?" 

How easy was it to get a visa?

Cameron: "Luckily at work we've got someone to figure that out for us. I had no idea of the process before I got here." 

How easy was it to find out how to behave?

Cameron: "I just sought information from a friend who works here. It's a common misconception in Australia that Dubai is far more conservative than it actually is." 

Overall impression of Dubai:

"I think Dubai is a really exciting new city."