Home is where the heart is

Indian expats miss home but they enjoy everything that the UAE has to offer, they tell Cindy Bailey.

Nizar Abdul Majeed, 34, Sharjah
I have lived in the UAE for 13 years now. I work for Carestream Health (Near East) Ltd Dubai, as a warehouse coordinator. I moved from India to the UAE to get a better job. I will stay in Sharjah as long as my company needs my services.

The UAE has many advantages such as safety and security but I do not like the heavy traffic and the expensive rent. Since moving to the UAE I feel that I am financially settled.

I like to socialise with friends during weekends. Longer local holidays are reserved for park and beach barbecues with friends.

Ashish Dham, 31, Sharjah
I work for Emirates airline as a pricing analyst. I have lived in the UAE for 26 years, so this is home for me and I love this country. I did not live in India for very long. I was in the midst of my schooling when my parents relocated to the UAE and I have lived here since.

As a result I do not really miss that much about India. My family and all my relatives are here so I don't really miss anything at all. I have many friends here and we spend time watching movies, going camping, go-karting, and partying. Dubai has many positive attributes such as cleanliness, safety and security, but I do not like the fact that Dubai is becoming a concrete jungle.

There are not many parks or much in terms of greenery in the main city. Plus, driving on roads is not fun anymore as the traffic situation is abysmal. However, I do plan on living in the UAE for at least another 10 years.

Najeeb Palakkal, 28, Dubai
I've lived in Dubai for one year now. I relocated from India because of my job. I work as a fashion designer for The Landmark Group. The UAE is a wonderful place to live in as there is a great deal of opportunity to meet different people from different countries and backgrounds.

The UAE has a much faster pace of life compared to India. I have gained great experience through coming here, but I think I will only stay here for one more year. I miss my family terribly.

Sunaina Jabbar, 29, Sharjah
I have lived in the UAE for 24 years. What's great about the UAE is that the government ensures all the cities are kept very clean and tidy. This, combined with all advanced technologies that are being implemented, makes this a great country to live in.

However, it can get hot and humid during the summer months and the traffic here is terrible. I do miss all my relatives, especially my grandma, who looked after me for a few years.

My parents moved here in 1982. I work within the administration and am moving into a new company in DAFZA (Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority). I am not sure how long I will live in Sharjah, I cannot predict the future, but I hope to stay on for a long time.

Namrata Dham, 27, Sharjah
I'm currently working at RAK Bank. I've been in the UAE for six years now and moved here to be with my husband and his family. They have lived here for the past 25 years. Dubai's lifestyle and multicultural environment is wonderful. Living here is very safe.

Plus, you can have all the luxuries at a very good price, but the traffic can be a little stressful at times and the summers are too hot. I miss my family very much and the natural beauty of India.

The UAE is very friendly and I have many friends here. We go out for picnics, overnight hotel stays, for long drives and we try new restaurants.