Life in UAE — Why Abu Dhabi Feels Like Home

Living in the UAE is different for everyone.

Some people love Dubai, some prefer Al Ain, but for me — after living in Dubai, Al Ain, and now Abu Dhabi, I can say that Abu Dhabi is the best balance for life, especially for a normal Filipino worker like me.

Hindi naman ako high salary earner dito. Just a normal Filipino working, budgeting, planning for the future, and trying to build a life and family here in UAE.
So my perspective is not from a rich lifestyle — but from a real, everyday expat life.

Dubai, Al Ain, and Abu Dhabi — Different Lives

I lived in Dubai before, and Dubai is really nice — maraming buildings, events, restaurants, malls, everything is there.
But the problem with Dubai sometimes is it’s too fast, too crowded, and too expensive.
Pwede kang tumira malapit sa magandang places, but you will pay more.
If you live far, then travel becomes long and tiring.

Dubai is exciting, but sometimes nakakapagod ang pace ng buhay.

Then I lived in Al Ain.
Al Ain is very peaceful, very family-oriented, very quiet.
Maganda siya for family life, tahimik, simple, hindi stressful.
But the reality is job opportunities and salary growth there are limited.
If you want career growth, medyo mahirap doon.

Then I moved to Abu Dhabi, and this is where I realized something.

Abu Dhabi — The Balance of Life

For me, Abu Dhabi is the perfect balance between Dubai and Al Ain.

Life here is slow but still fun.
Hindi siya boring, pero hindi rin siya sobrang gulo.
It feels organized, calm, and livable.

One thing I really like here is everything is accessible — parks, Corniche, beach, walking areas.
You can walk by the sea, sit in the park, relax after work without spending too much money.

In Dubai, you can also do that, but sometimes it's far, crowded, or expensive.
In Abu Dhabi, it feels more open, more relaxed, and more peaceful.

The weather here also feels better sometimes, and the city is very walkable.
You can actually enjoy simple life here — walking, coffee, parks, sea breeze.

Opportunities and Life Direction

I can honestly say that Abu Dhabi connected me to a better position in life now.
This city became the place where many things started to fall into place — career, family plans, stability, future.

There are also a lot of places still to discover here, and many expats are happy, connected, and building their lives here quietly.

Hindi siya kasing ingay ng Dubai,
Hindi siya kasing tahimik ng Al Ain,
But it is balanced — and sometimes balance is what we really need in life.

For Family Life

If you are planning for family, I think Abu Dhabi is a really good place.
There are parks, hospitals, schools, corniche, walking areas, safe places, and the city is very organized.

It’s a city where you can work, build a future, and raise a family.

Sometimes we don’t realize it, but the place where God puts us is also part of His plan for our life.

“The Lord has established my steps.” — Proverbs 16:9

And maybe for me,
Abu Dhabi is not just a city where I work —
It is the city where God is slowly building my life, my career, and my future family.

From Al Ain to Abu Dhabi — A Journey of Faith and Risk

Minsan may mga decisions sa buhay na hindi mo kayang i-explain logically.

Hindi siya safe. Hindi siya practical. Hindi siya sigurado.
Pero alam mo sa puso mo na kailangan mong gawin.

That was my journey from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi.

I decided to move to Abu Dhabi to be with my partner.
But the truth is, I moved without a backup job, without a sure plan, without security.
Ang meron lang ako noon ay faith at lakas ng loob.

I remember praying this very simple prayer:

“Lord, if this is Your plan for me, help me. Ikaw na bahala.”

Within a week, I sent my email that I will not be renewing my contract in Al Ain.
Hindi pa ako resigned technically, but I already closed that chapter of my life.
It was scary.
As in sobrang scary.

When I moved to Abu Dhabi, something unexpected happened.

Immediately, I got a call from a company for an interview and they wanted me to start on Monday.
I went to the interview, everything was okay, but deep inside, my heart was not sure.
I felt like I was not meant to go back to advertising at that time.

So even if I didn’t have a job yet, I rejected the offer.
That was one of the scariest decisions I made.

Then on Tuesday, another company called me — a real estate company — saying they will send the offer letter.
I told them, “Can you wait? I still have another interview on Thursday.”
They said okay and moved the onboarding to the upcoming Monday.

Then came Thursday — the interview that changed everything.

I attended the interview in a coffee shop.
I showed my previous works, my experience, my projects.
After the interview, I walked back to the bus stop.

Then after about 15 minutes, I received a call.

They told me:

“We want you to start on Monday.”

I was shocked.
Because the salary they offered was almost double compared to the other company.
And they also gave good benefits, petrol allowance, and more.

At that moment, I knew —
This was not luck. This was God.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11

Now, I have been working with this company for almost a year.
And looking back, I realized something:

If I did not take the risk,
If I did not trust God,
If I stayed where it was comfortable,
I would have missed the blessing that God prepared for me in Abu Dhabi.

Moving to Abu Dhabi was not just about moving city.
It was God moving my life to the next chapter —
for my career, for my future family, and for the life He is preparing for me.

And now I can truly say:

When God leads you somewhere, He will provide everything you need along the way.

God provides. Always.

My UAE Driving Journey — God’s Plan on Wheels

Noong una, akala ko maliit na bagay lang ang magkaroon ng driver’s license dito sa UAE. Pero habang pinagdadaanan ko siya, na-realize ko na hindi pala siya basta license lang — it was a journey of patience, faith, and trusting God’s timing.

It took me so long to get a license, and I can say that year 2025 was my year of my UAE license. I reopened my driving file around July 2025, and after months of lessons, exams, waiting, and praying, I finally got my license on December 13, 2025. Then just a few weeks later, on December 31, 2025, I got my car.

Sobrang bilis ng pangyayari. Parang sunod-sunod na blessing.

This was actually my primary goal for 2025 — to have transportation that would help me build and prepare for my future family. Ang plano ko lang talaga noon is magkaroon ng sasakyan para mas madali ang buhay, mas makapunta kung saan kailangan, at mas handa para sa pamilya in the making.

But then something amazing happened — having a family came true after this. Parang sunod-sunod na confirmation na tama yung direction na binigay ni God.

I was planning to get a different car before, may idea na ako kung anong gusto ko.
But God had a different plan.
God gave me a car that was far from what I imagined — but now I understand why.

The car is simple, maliit ang engine, pero sobrang tipid sa petrol, easy to drive, hindi mabilis kaya safe sa road. And I realized, this car was not given for speed or porma, but for safety and provision for my family.

Every time I drive from home to work, or work to home, I always feel amazed.
Minsan naiisip ko, “Ako ba talaga ‘to? Ako na nagda-drive na dito sa UAE?”

Because honestly, I never thought that I would become a driver here, and even more surprising, I became confident driving after getting my license.

And every time I arrive home safely, I always say a small prayer:
“Thank you Lord, naka-uwi na naman ako safely.”

This verse always reminds me of this journey:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:5–6

Literal na He made my paths straight — from getting my license, to getting my car, to building a family.

Looking back now, I realized that the license was not just about driving.
The car was not just about transportation.
It was God preparing me for the next chapter of my life — becoming a husband and a father.

So today, I just want to say:

Thank you Lord for everything that You have planned for me and for my family.
I am grateful for all the things You have given me.
Every safe drive home is a reminder that You are always guiding my life.

And sometimes, God doesn’t give us what we want —
He gives us what we need for the life He is preparing for us.