Spot the difference: life in the United Arab Emirates vs life in Austria
I lived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for ten years, from 2009 to 2019. Since moving back to my native Austria, 18 months ago, I’ve gone through my personal version of reverse culture shock – slowly but surely wrapping my head around the many contrasts between how life was and the way things are now.
I have no regrets about leaving but wouldn’t say it was easy either. Looking back, it’s clear that even though so much has changed, ultimately, the essence of “home” shines through. Here are eleven image comparisons that sum up the many ways my old reality (pictured left) diverges from the new (on the right).
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
Looking back, I’ll always feel a pang of guilt about this aspect of life in the UAE. High levels of convenience come with a backdrop of terrible employment practices and human rights abuses. As a white European, I benefited from all kinds of unfair privileges during my time there. I knew all this. And still, I stayed.
Overall, my decade in the UAE changed me on many levels. For one thing, it made me feel like somewhat of a hypocrite (see previous paragraph). But my time in the Emirates also showed me the true meaning of the words “tolerance” and “multicultural”. It helped me to see Europe, “the West” and the rest of the world from a new vantage point. It allowed me to see a little bit beyond tired cultural tropes and divisive hyperbole. And yes, it taught me to enjoy and value my rights and duties as a member of a democratic society, more than ever before.
Sometimes, I miss my old life. The hotchpotch of cultures, the humour and generosity of Emirati culture, the desert, the beaches, the people I was lucky to call my friends and colleagues. Not going to lie here, I do miss having help around the house. And yes, sometimes I even miss the heat.
Of course, Austria is by no means free from inequality, racism and questionable social, cultural and religious norms. Injustice, ignorance and incompetence are global blights. The question is, how common, visible and easy-to-get-away-with are they?
I moved to Abu Dhabi – and stayed there for a decade – because of the opportunities, adventures and lessons that city has to offer. The global financial downturn also had a little to do with it. But one of the key reasons I chose the UAE, and specifically Abu Dhabi, was that – across government, the economy, media and culture – a new generation of leaders had started coming to the fore and seemed keen to bring positive change. In the end, I left for personal reasons, because I wanted my daughter to grow up surrounded by family, greenery and progressive values. For me, my life in the UAE will always remain an eye-opening, heart-expanding, soul-searching experience that made me more perceptive of inequality, more grateful for forward-thinking leadership and less tolerant of intolerance. If I could go back to 2009, I’d probably do it all again.