Moving to a new country is a huge step, especially when you’re bringing kids along. When we moved to Dubai, I knew our family was in for a big cultural adjustment, but I didn’t realize how many questions—and fun surprises—it would bring up with my kids, Sophie and Lucas. Dubai is such a vibrant mix of traditions and modernity, and helping our kids adapt to the cultural differences in Dubai has been an enriching journey for all of us. Here’s everything I learned about navigating expat life with kids in Dubai and preparing them to settle into this unique place.
- Starting with the Basics: Explaining Dubai’s Cultural Landscape
One of the first things I did was sit down with Sophie and Lucas to talk about Dubai’s culture. Moving from a Western country, we needed to understand that Dubai has a rich mix of traditional Middle Eastern culture combined with international influences. For the kids, I simplified it as “Dubai is where East meets West”—a place where we see traditional customs blending with people from all around the world.
- Why This is Important: Helping kids grasp the basics prepares them to notice, appreciate, and respect cultural differences in Dubai rather than feeling overwhelmed.
- What We Did: We watched short videos about Dubai together, highlighting things like clothing customs, food, and even holidays like Ramadan. This got them excited and curious instead of nervous.
https://www.alifbeekids.com/en
- Respecting Local Customs and Dress Codes
Dubai has guidelines on what is considered respectful attire, especially in public spaces. Explaining this to kids can be a bit tricky, but it’s also a great opportunity to introduce them to the idea of respecting local customs. I explained to Sophie and Lucas that in certain places, like malls or government buildings, it’s polite to dress a bit more modestly than we might at home.
- Teaching Respect Through Action: To make this easier, I found it helpful to let the kids choose outfits for different situations. We would go shopping together and I’d explain which clothes might be best for certain places, like long pants or dresses for formal outings.
- Managing Differences: I reminded them that beach attire is still fine at the pool or the beach, so they don’t feel restricted. It’s all about knowing when and where different outfits are appropriate.
- Learning Key Phrases in Arabic
Though English is widely spoken in Dubai, especially in business and tourism, learning a few basic Arabic words helped my kids feel more connected to their new surroundings. Simple greetings like “As-salamu alaykum” (Peace be upon you) or “Shukran” (Thank you) helped them build confidence and even made a few locals smile.
- Why It’s Helpful: Learning the local language, even a little, makes kids feel included and respectful. Sophie took it as a challenge and enjoyed practicing “hello” and “goodbye” with anyone who’d listen.
- How to Make It Fun: We downloaded a kid-friendly language app and made a game out of learning Arabic phrases. It became a fun family project, and both kids enjoyed it!
- Adapting to Different Social Etiquettes
Social customs in Dubai can be different from what kids are used to. For instance, handshakes are the common way to greet people, but hugging is reserved for close friends and family. I explained to Sophie and Lucas that some gestures, like pointing or showing the soles of their feet, might be considered impolite here.
- Why This is Key: Understanding social etiquette can help kids avoid any uncomfortable situations and feel more at ease.
- Practical Tips: We practiced polite gestures and greetings at home. For example, I taught them to wait before offering a handshake, and how to use both hands when giving or receiving something from someone older.
- Embracing Religious Diversity
One of the most fascinating aspects of life in Dubai is its religious diversity. Although the UAE is an Islamic country, Dubai is a melting pot of cultures, and you’ll find people practicing many religions here. I made it a point to talk about Islam with the kids since we’d likely see mosques, people praying, and hear the call to prayer regularly.
- Why It’s Important: Respect for religious diversity is crucial in Dubai’s multicultural environment, and helping kids understand this early on can foster empathy and tolerance.
- What We Did: We visited the Jumeirah Mosque, which offers educational tours. It gave Sophie and Lucas a chance to ask questions and learn about Islamic traditions in a welcoming environment.
- Celebrating New Festivals and Traditions
One of the best parts of our move was discovering new holidays and festivals. We found ourselves celebrating Eid, Diwali, and even Chinese New Year alongside traditional holidays like Christmas. This was a wonderful chance to expose the kids to Dubai’s multicultural spirit.
- Why It’s Fun: Celebrating diverse holidays teaches kids about global traditions and the value of unity.
- Getting Involved: During Ramadan, we observed the tradition by not eating in public during the fasting hours, and the kids loved taking part in the Iftar dinners. They enjoyed the festive lights around the city and even helped me prepare food to share with friends.
- Exploring Local Cuisine Together
Moving to Dubai meant adjusting to new foods and flavors. Instead of sticking only to familiar dishes, we decided to dive into the local culinary scene. I took the kids to taste Arabic dishes like shawarma, falafel, and hummus at some family-friendly restaurants. We made it a weekly adventure to try new dishes together.
- Making It Exciting for Kids: Lucas was a bit picky at first, but we turned it into a game of “try one new thing” each time we went out. He ended up loving tabbouleh, much to my surprise!
- Connecting Through Food: We also tried a cooking class focused on Emirati dishes, which was a great way for the kids to feel connected to our new city and its culture.
https://gulfnews.com/food/make-these-7-emirati-recipes-to-mark-uae-national-day-1.1669122815119
- Helping Kids Make New Friends
Dubai’s international community is made up of expats from all over the world, which is a wonderful opportunity for kids to make friends from diverse backgrounds. But moving to a new country can be a bit lonely initially, so I signed the kids up for after-school activities and clubs where they could meet kids with similar interests.
- Why It’s Important: Making friends helps kids feel more comfortable and happy in their new environment. Sophie found a dance club and Lucas joined a soccer team, both of which made settling in so much easier.
- Encouraging Socialization: We also organized playdates with kids from our neighborhood. Dubai has a friendly expat community, and most parents were more than happy to help introduce their kids to new friends.
- Staying Connected to Our Own Culture
Moving to a new place doesn’t mean letting go of our own traditions and values. To keep a balance, we maintained our own cultural customs, like celebrating traditional holidays and even cooking favorite dishes from back home. This was especially helpful when the kids felt a bit homesick.
- Creating a “Home Away from Home”: We set up a family area in our house with decorations and photos that reminded us of home. This helped create a familiar atmosphere for the kids, keeping them grounded amidst all the exciting new experiences.
- Blending Traditions: We also invited some new friends over for a traditional meal from back home, which the kids loved sharing.
- Navigating Schooling and New Educational Styles
School was one of the biggest changes for Sophie and Lucas. Schools in Dubai often follow an international curriculum, which meant that while some aspects felt familiar, others were new. I took the time to talk to their teachers to understand the expectations and learning styles at their new school.
- Why This Matters: Being involved helps kids feel supported and lets you address any early concerns before they grow.
- Encouraging Adaptation: Both kids adjusted quickly after a few parent-teacher meetings. I kept an open dialogue with them about how school was going, helping them work through any issues they encountered.
Parenting in Dubai: Embracing the Cultural Journey Together
Adjusting to expat life with kids in Dubai has been an adventure in itself. There’s no guidebook that covers every cultural difference or challenge we’d face, but every experience has been a learning opportunity for our family. Watching Sophie and Lucas grow into thoughtful, open-minded individuals who appreciate Dubai’s diverse culture has made every effort worth it.