Dubai NY
Until a few weeks ago, all I knew about Dubai was the Palm Islands (that I saw constructed on the Discovery Channel) and the Burj Al Arab hotel where Agassi and Federrer played tennis. I knew that the city was nearly brand new, chocked full of oil money, and that’s about it.
Now, things are very different. I resigned my position as Director of User Experience of the NY office of Wunderman on Friday. I have accepted an offer for a contract position as a Technical Project Manager for the reconstruction of the website of a major international airline. The IA and creative is being done by a NY agency (that hired me) but the development is being done in Dubai by a number of different vendors, and I moving there in less than three weeks. You read that right. I am moving from NYC to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, on the other side of the planet, in just a few weeks.
This is very exciting news for me. One of the biggest regrets of my whole career is that I have not travelled nearly enough. I think I’m a smart guy, but I feel like an ass when I sit down and have conversations with well-travelled Europeans. In addition, this is a really meaty, really technical project where I think I can add a ton of value. I’ll be living in Dubai for 6 months to a year, depending on the progress of the project, and the client will be taking care of my accommodations. So, I’ll be keeping my NY apartment (though I will be selling my car) so I can move right back into my own bed when the project is complete. And, I’ll do my best to travel around the region when I get the chance.
Dubai is an unbelievable city. Probably 10 – 15% of the population is made up of westerners, Brits, Aussies, South Africans, Germans, etc. The city itself is doing everything it can to cater to the needs of these westerners to ensure they can import the right talent, and continue to build business at its incredible rate. That means they have air conditioning! and alcohol! and pork! and prostitutes by the truckload! and McDonalds! They also have indoor skiing, even in the middle of the summer when temperatures top 110 with 105% humidity. For residents, there is no income tax, though that won’t apply to me since I’ll still be getting paid by a NY ad agency. It is statistically one of the safest big cities in the world. There are beaches on one side, and desert on the other. It is literally becoming the center of the middle east, and a hub for travel throughout all of the region, including Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Australia.
So, not only will I be getting paid to work on a fantastic project, but I will be living in one of the most incredible cities in the world, and I’ll have access to travel to places like India, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon, all within 6 hours away. It’s an incredible opportunity for me, one that I could not turn down without risk of regretting it for the rest of my life.
I’ll be planning a ridiculous going away party for next week. EVERYONE will be invited, including all of the blog readers. I am just not sure where it will be yet. An invite is coming soon, so please look out for it, break up with your significant others, and generally make yourselves ready for a sick, sick time.
If you’d like to learn more about Dubai, try these places:
Time Out Dubai
Dubai Tourism
Go Dubai!
Dubai City Guide
Dubai.com
That’s awesome. Dubai is on the forefront of cutting edge.
Ohmygod! Congratulations! What a great opportunity!
I think it’s so important to travel, and I feel similarly ass-like when I think about my many friends who’ve taken the plunge – Australians are big on heading overseas and not coming back for years; it’s a long way to go, you don’t want to travel all that way only to come back after a couple of weeks! I’ve lived one year of my life out of my town of birth (I moved 300kms away), and have travelled around the USA, but other than that, I’m an ass. Next year I’m uprooting my husband and kids and we’re heading for the UK, and to be honest I’m hoping we’ll be there for a good long time. And I’m hoping to instill in my chidren a love of travel and a curiosity for the world that wont see them stuck in one place for 30+ years.
What awesome news! It is so exciting. I’m from Australia and live here now but have worked both in London and in the States – you will learn sooooo much and experience so much and you are right – Dubai really is the hub at the moment! (Trish – I don’t get why all us Aussies head away for all these working holidays when we have everyone telling us we live in the best country in the world!)
I read a blog of a Emirates air hostess who is Austraian and has lived in Dubai for years – you may want to check out some of her posts – http://adventuregirl.journalspace.com/
Have a great time and if you get down here to Australia make sure you come to Melbourne – it won’t disappoint!
Congrats and enjoy those perks…!
Awesome! Good Luck, Chris! Get out there and be a traveller!!! Lots of Good Vibes!
Congrats! Wow you must be on cloud nine right now.
That is such great news, Chris. Congratulations~!
Along the same lines as the Palm Islands, have you seen this?
http://realestate.theemiratesnetwork.com/developments/dubai/world_islands.php
Again, right on dude~!
wow, that’s awesome! Man, wish I could pick up a gig like this. Congrats!
Wow, I am somewhat envious. I know a family from Dubai that moved their from the US and are raising their two children in their mansion they built there. It is a place I would really like to travel to someday…congratulations…
ohmygodohmygod! so fantastic! I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!
NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!111!!1!!11!
I check in on your blog every now and again because we share some common interests (pixel art, tech, UI) and I’m certainly very envious of your adventure. I too feel like I’ve been missing out on travel being a rather stationary americanski. Hopefully you’ll keep up this frothy little blog during your globetrotting.
Good luck!
Wow! That is huge news and so so exciting! I can’t wait to hear about all of it, the experiences, the everything…mainly the stories. Chris, by God, there’s gonna be stories…
And CONGRATULATIONS!
here what the economist has to stay about Dubai lately:
http://www.economist.com/cities/briefing.cfm?city_id=DUB
Skip
“where the fuck is chris diclerico” was perhaps a far more prophetic post than could have ever been guessed.
Congrats, mang.
Now I want more pictures in your blog.
Yeah!!! Well done!!! We’re so happy for you, and we will do our best to visit you there… BTW, you might as well take a pit-stop in London – you’re always welcome to stay with us!
Love!
who’s gonna do soprano sunday’s now?
I guess the money’s in Dubai, rather than Paris or Amsterdam. Ohh to be young and footloose and in demand. Drink it all in. You’ll be sorely missed in NYC, but we’ll be watching and reading.
This is quite an opportunity. Congratulations. Be wary of doing pixel art of Mohammed though.
Wow! Dubai! Nice job man. You’re not only movin’ the fuck out, you’re gettin’ the fuck out!! Thats a great opportunity. Good luck with that and take a shitload of photos.
So proud of you! So happy for you! You will be missed terribly but without a doubt, this is the right thing for you to do. xo
[...] Tonight Corrie Ann and I watched this special on the Burj Al Arab, in Dubai. I’ve known of the existance of Dubai for many years (my dad has been there several times on his military funded excursions to The Gulf), but only recently heard about the new Dubai when I read that Chris DiClerico was moving to Dubai. He mentions the hotel in his post too, but I really didn’t pay it much attention then. [...]
Hey, just ended up here (i.e. your blog) … are you in Dubai yet?
and let me know if you need any help finding your way around here 
Wish you all the best in THE PLACE TO BE at the moment
PS: I worked at the famous Burj Al Arab for 3 years
I just took a look at all those websites you listed and they’re all really, REALLY bad, aren’t they? Usability-wise? My eyes hurt. Hook me up with some usability jobs in Dubai and I’ll come visit you Chris!
Good Luck to you. BTW, do look into the $80K exemption from US taxes for income earned abroad (even though your employer is in the USA and will pay you from the USA). I visit Dubai often. For those of you who have not been there and only heard about it… words alone cannot describe that place……… you have to see it for yourselves, and once you get there you will know what “shock and awe” really is…
If any one else has been there or wants to share anything re Dubai/Emirates let me know…
khanlog@bellsouth.net
Hello,
I have got a job in Dubai too. am going there. i wanted to know whats a comfortable salary to live there wiht.
how much can one save living there.
if a person earns 4000 Dhms, how much would be the cost per head of a single person and what would be the cost to a family of threee,.
kindly guide me please urgently.
John
Hi John,
I’m not sure I can help you out too much. I am earning a good salary and I am in corporate housing, so I don’t know the situation too well of the normal residents.
I can tell you that housing prices are VERY expensive. People I know routinely pay between 80,000 and 140,000 Dhms per year for their apartments. I am sure cheaper accommodation can be found but those prices are only for modest 2 bedroom apartments. One of the major problems here is that the prices also rise unpredictably. I just had good friends have to move out of their apartment because the rent was suddenly increased by 30%.
Other expenses are actually quite reasonable. Food is much cheaper than I am used to in NY but I am not sure how it would compared to your hometown. Some stuff is similarly priced, and some stuff, like pork, is MUCH more expensive.
Cars are a lot cheaper here than in the US, and gas is like $1.20 per gallon.
Shopping, like for clothes and luxury items seems very similar in price to Europe. Electronics and computer stuff as well. Both slightly more than the US, probably comparable to London.
I don’t know what else I can say. Most expats come and seem to love it. They all tell me they came for 6 months (like me) but stayed for 6 years. They do enjoy the lifestyle here, and the great winter weather. I think one other thing I didn’t mention above is that service/labor is very inexpensive, so many people here have cleaning staff 3 or 4 times per week, services for laundry, car washing, etc, all good quality and semi-reliable, but VERY affordable. I think people like that.
I hope this helps. Email me directly if you have more questions.