Dubai’s communities are an extension of our own. In a high-rise condo in Downtown, a villa community in Arabian Ranches and a waterfront development in Dubai Marina, it is guaranteed that we will meet all kinds of great neighbours with different backgrounds, lifestyles and routines. These diverse yet complementary personalities help to create what makes living here interesting, comfortable, and occasionally funny.
1. The Morning Exercise Team
In virtually every Dubai community you can find at least one ‘freak’ of fitness who has turned fitness into a way of life and not just a hobby. They are typically seen jogging in the early morning before the sun is up, cycling before it gets too hot or going to the gym while their neighbours are still sleeping.
This fitness fanatic has such an immense commitment to a disciplined daily routine that they inspire many others (probably unintentionally) to change their own fitness habits to try to match them. Even if you never take up their example, their commitment becomes an integral part of the daily cadence of your community and is oftentimes comforting in an odd way.
2. Friendly Expat Neighbour
The kind of person who will help anyone new to Dubai and help you navigate the challenges of living in a foreign country are called the “Friendly Expat Connector”. Because Dubai is an international city, it attracts many people from many countries and the Friendly Expat Connector is a person who takes an active role in welcoming newcomers, introducing them to their neighbours, and providing helpful information about all of the aspects of life in Dubai (e.g. renewing your visa, the best places to go for Saturday brunch).
3. Privacy-Loving Professional
The “Privacy-Loving Professional” is the other category of neighbour that is almost as common as the Friendly Expat Connector. The Privacy-Loving Professional most often has a demanding job that keeps them away from home during the week, they prefer to keep their business lives and personal lives separate and only occasionally have long conversations with their neighbours. Although they may seem distant or aloof at first glance, they are respectful of others by keeping their noise levels to a minimum and being polite and considerate of others in the community.
4. Family-Friendly Residents Community
In family-oriented apartment buildings, villa communities, and other types of developments that cater to families, you will typically encounter numerous neighbours who lead their lives around the lives of their parents. Families like this create an atmosphere of vitality and energy in their residence, creating frequent opportunities for social interaction on weekends (through play dates), and taking evening walks to parks with their children.
These types of families will generally play an important role in providing a sense of consistency and continuity in how residents view their community over time. As a result of this support from these types of families, these families eventually become the primary source of cultural influence in the neighbourhood, as they create schools, carpools, community groups via WhatsApp, and holiday celebrations.
5. Entertaining Families
In the cosmopolitan environment of Dubai, food is an essential component of life, and many neighbourhoods reflect the importance of food to the community by providing excellent hospitality to their neighbours. For many residents of Dubai, food is not simply a way to nourish the body but is an opportunity to extend this nourishment and friendship through open invitation to share meals with one another, provide each other with “we will try your recipes” and even gifting recipes that they have made from scratch. These families frequently serve as informal social hubs for their fellow neighbours, especially during holidays such as Eid, Diwali, and Christmas. They help us remember that we belong together through experiences; that living in a community means shared experiences, not merely sharing spaces.
The Community Advocate and Rule-Follower
Within each community, there will be at least one resident who is well-versed in the rules of the community. This includes things such as parking rules or pool operation times. This resident will generally be outspoken about the importance of preserving the rules in the community. Although some residents may view this type of resident as overly controlling, this type of resident usually has the best interests of the community at heart and is trying to maintain the community’s order, safety, and quality of life. Because Dubai is a highly structured city, these types of residents play an important role in keeping Dubai’s communities running smoothly and happy for everyone.
Final Words
The communities of Dubai are not just about the buildings and recreational activities; they also consist of the people who live in these communities. The diversity of people in Dubai and in the different communities creates a unique atmosphere that is both global and individualistic, and most residents of Dubai consider it to be their home.