Blog - Exploring City Health: Dubai

Ever wondered how the city you live in affects your overall health and well-being? Every city has different influences on your health. In this series, I’ll explore how different factors shape health in different cities around the world that I have been to. Every other week, I’ll take a closer look at how a specific city impacts the daily lives of its residents and tourists through my own experiences and show the benefits and challenges of that city. As someone who has traveled to nearly 30 countries, I'm excited to share my personal insights and some of my images and videos, to give a more inside and exclusive look at the factors that influence mental health. Today, we’ll explore Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Dubai is a city known for its modernity and rapid development from the discovery of oil. It looks amazing, but living there can have both positive and challenging effects on mental health.

Dubai still follows a lot of rules based on their culture. These rules can feel a bit strict. You have to dress modestly and follow certain laws about things like alcohol, which can sometimes be very challenging. I even had to change my clothes sometimes just to get into certain places. It can be annoying or uncomfortable, especially when you feel like you have to do things a certain way.

With Dubai becoming a big center for business and tourism, it’s grown a lot. This has led to better healthcare, with world class hospitals available. People living there feel mentally safe knowing they have access to top medical care when they need it.

Dubai’s huge highways are a key part of the city, but they can also be pretty frustrating. The roads are wide and the city’s layout can be hard to figure out, especially for newcomers. I had an experience where I missed my exit, and it felt like it took forever to get back on track. With so many lanes and exits, it’s easy to get lost and trying to find your way can be really stressful. If you’re not used to it, staying on the right path can add a lot of anxiety.

Modern cities come with a cost, high amounts of construction everywhere

Another challenge that can affect daily life in Dubai is the ongoing construction. The city is always constantly making new projects. While this development is great in terms of growth and their economy, the construction noise and dust can feel disruptive. It’s hard to find peace in such a environment. For some, the constant noise can contribute to a sense of irritation or stress.

While The Palm is one of Dubai’s most famous spots, living there can be a bit impractical. The area looks amazing but it’s far from the rest of the city, making it hard to get to basic stores and services. When I lived there, it was hard to find essential stores and it took forever just to get groceries. The transportation options are limited, and the traffic can be awful.

Finally, there's the pressure to fit in with the city's wealthy residents. With so many people around you living in luxury and wealth, it can feel overwhelming to try and keep up. You feel like you need to maintain a high standard of living, with luxury experiences. This constant pressure to live up to the image of success can be mentally exhausting. The comparison to others can create feelings stress, as people feel they need to constantly display wealth and status. Even though it’s beautiful, living there can feel more like a hassle than a luxury.