New to Dubai

Hi Phernandez4!

Good Luck!
I'm sure that you'll have best time of your life!

-Tabish

Hi, welcome to Dubai!
There are plenty happenings here, so you will not lose time in socializing or meeting people, no worries.
What you should be prepared for:-
1. A massive change in the weather and climate.  It will be quite warm and humid all through Sept and most Oct.  It just begins to cool after mid Nov, then ok till April/May.  The annual rain is for a few days - maybe in Jan.  But we have plenty of water!
2. Population of local Emiratis is very low, barely 20%.  So most persons are expatriates from other countries, with Asia leading as you may expect.
3. Your Visa (perhaps now it is a Visitor visa, eventually an employment or residency Visa, depending on what you would be doing here) is all-important and all-pervasive.  No Visa means one will be required to leave the country.
4. Since more than 75% of the population is in a 'transit' mode [meaning = they do not live here all their life], hard to make any long term plans.
5. Dubai is a mixed mystery.  You see the old culture and new development side by side.  The best thing about Dubai is its tolerance to all religions, despite being in the thick of the Middle East, which is predominantly Islamic.
6. It is not cheap to live here.  House rents eat up more than 25% of your income.  Schooling or Medical (without insurance) costs are very high.  Food, transport costs are reasonable.

Dubai is also a very safe place for new and old alike, single man or woman. The Ruler and all the Government employees and Public service people are very kind and helpful to the residents.

Welcome!