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Sadeeqa Podcast Ep.1 | Life in Dubai, Making Friends, and Relocating as a Family
Guests: Maxine and Inés

I’m Sara, founder of Sadeeqa, a women’s community in Dubai that helps you make real friends and find your circle after relocating. In this first episode I’m joined by Maxine and Inés to unpack the real story of moving from the UK to Dubai, settling kids into school, navigating paperwork, choosing areas, and building meaningful friendships.

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What you will learn

✅ Relocation mindset: how to remove the pressure to get everything right on day one and pace the move in sensible steps
✅ Paperwork and timing: what to sort in the UK before you fly, and what can only be done once you land
✅ Schools and community: how proximity to school changes daily life, and the trade-offs between areas
✅ Friendship in Dubai: why women often need different social support to men, and simple ways to find your people
✅ Area talk: why Sobha Hartland works for young families, plus villa vs apartment realities
✅ Everyday life: what a typical week looks like once the holiday feeling wears off
✅ Sadeeqa events: from coffee mornings to paddle, pottery, pilates, Topgolf, and relaxed ladies’ nights

Key insights from Maxine and Inés

1. Make the move gradual. If one partner is already travelling to Dubai for work, consider a phased plan. Do as much admin as possible before flying. Accept that the first months are decision-heavy and will feel like a blur.

2. Paperwork that saves headaches. Before flying: attest marriage and birth certificates, gather passport copies and photos. On arrival: health checks, Emirates ID, visas, utilities, tenancy EJARI. Keep a single folder for everything.

3. Schools first, then housing. School choice shapes your daily map. Decide what matters most for your child and meet parents already at the school.

4. Finding real friendships. Group settings remove pressure compared to one-to-one coffee meetups. Look for mixed-style events that help conversations flow naturally.

5. Apartment vs villa. Apartments offer immediate facilities and convenience. Villas offer more space but often mean driving further. Your values decide the trade-off.

6. Cost of living vs quality of life. In Dubai pools, gyms and safe communities are accessible. Lifestyle would cost far more in the UK.

7. Dubai equals opportunity. The city’s energy is infectious and encourages people to learn, build and grow.

Practical tips you can copy

✅ Create a relocation folder with all documents
✅ Map out your school area with key daily needs like supermarket, pharmacy, coffee shop, paediatrician
✅ Use short-term Airbnb to test an area before signing a lease
✅ Join two social groups and one interest activity in your first month
✅ Keep a questions list on your phone to ask other parents at school pick-up