In short
Dubai is not a cheap destination and does not claim to be. It is a platform: flights to everywhere, a time zone halfway between Europe and Asia, fast digital administration, complete safety.
The city is built around the car and a handful of dense districts — Marina, Downtown, Business Bay, Jumeirah.
People come for the legal and tax structure, for the air links, and for a business environment that moves fast.
What it really costs
Housing is the crushing line, and rents are often paid in one or two annual cheques — that is the real cash-flow shock for a newcomer.
Food covers both extremes, from workers' canteens to some of the most expensive addresses in the world.
The hidden costs are real: agency fees, deposit, daily transport, insurance.
Working here
Excellent digital infrastructure, quality coworking spaces, and a dense business ecosystem.
The time zone is the best compromise on this list for anyone working with both Europe and Asia.
English is enough in almost every professional setting.
What nobody tells you
Summer is unliveable outdoors: several months where life happens entirely in air conditioning.
The legal and social framework differs markedly from Europe on several personal matters; informing yourself precisely before moving is not optional.
And everything costs more than planned: the real budget for a first month almost always exceeds the initial estimate.