Leaving a country we had called home for almost 10 years wasn’t easy. There were so many things we needed to settle before our move, and saying goodbye to a place that had become part of our lives was one of the biggest challenges.
Dubai is a beautiful city. Over the years, it has become home to people from all over the world, making it incredibly diverse and vibrant. However, with that diversity also comes intense competition. Finding a good job can be challenging because of the large number of expatriates looking for opportunities.
Unfortunately, discrimination also exists at times, even among people of the same nationality. It’s one of the realities that many expatriates experience.
The cost of living has also increased significantly over the years. Rent became more expensive, and road traffic grew heavier as more people were able to own their own cars. Having a car eventually became more of a necessity than a luxury, especially for families living outside the city center.
Despite the challenges, we are beyond grateful for everything Dubai taught us. It gave us wonderful memories, valuable life lessons, and opportunities that helped shape who we are today.
One of our favorite things to do was visit the beach. Even though some of Dubai’s beaches are artificial, they’re still beautiful and well-maintained. Our little one loved spending time there just as much as we did.
The photo below was taken at Umm Suqeim Beach, with the iconic Burj Al Arab in the background. We visited this beach from time to time, simply to relax and enjoy the breathtaking view of one of Dubai’s most famous landmarks.
Preparing for Our Move
Aside from wondering whether we were making the right decision to migrate, we also faced another challenge… figuring out what to do with all our belongings.
Since both my husband and I were working in Dubai, owning separate cars made our daily commute much easier. We lived quite far from both the city center and our workplaces, so having our own vehicles was almost essential.
We fondly named our cars Ms. Red and Ms. Spark, and they became part of our family’s journey for several years. My husband especially missed Ms. Red because he had spent time modifying some of its parts to give it a more personalized and stylish look.
Knowing that we were moving from the hot desert climate of Dubai to the freezing winters of Finland, we also had to prepare for a completely different kind of weather.
We bought our winter clothing from Columbia because we trusted its quality, durability, and reasonable prices. Looking back, it turned out to be a great investment.
We were so excited while trying on our winter clothes for the first time that we even took photos during the fitting. Thankfully, those jackets and winter gear served us well. We still use them here in Finland, especially during the coldest months, layered over sweaters and other warm clothing.
Packing Up Our Life
One of the most difficult parts of moving was deciding what to do with everything we owned.
Some of our belongings were given to families in Dubai who needed them. Others were sold, while some were packed into balikbayan boxes and shipped to our parents’ home in the Philippines.
That’s the balikbayan box you see in the photo below. It was filled with all sorts of items that we wanted to send home before leaving Dubai.
As for our most valuable and important belongings, we brought them with us to Finland.
Packing everything into our luggage was another challenge. If I remember correctly, we had three large checked suitcases weighing around 33 kilograms each, along with smaller checked bags and several carry-on bags.
To protect our luggage, we had them professionally wrapped in plastic at the airport. Unfortunately, we later found out that the maximum allowed weight was only around 31–32 kilograms per suitcase. That meant we had to remove some heavy items after they had already been wrapped.
We only did it because our luggage was extra heavy, and we wanted to protect it during the trip.
It was a bit frustrating, and honestly, it felt like we had wasted money on the plastic wrapping!
Looking back, we probably packed too many things. It almost felt like we didn’t want to leave Dubai at all. 😅
Before our flight, we stayed in a hotel for a few days so we could finish all our remaining errands. We also had to complete the move-out process with our landlord and officially hand over the apartment before our departure.
Do We Miss Dubai?
Absolutely.
Even though the weather was scorching hot for most of the year, we truly enjoyed our life there.
We miss the food, especially the endless food choices.
We miss our wonderful friends.
We miss shawarma, chapati, karak chai, and even our favorite Asian restaurants, including samgyupsal and Dampa Seafood.
We also miss the vibrant city lights and the energy that Dubai is known for.
Dubai will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Arrival in Finland
Arriving in Finland was a huge adjustment.
The weather was much colder, the cities were quieter, traffic was minimal, and everything around us felt unfamiliar, including the language.
Before moving, we had already studied Finnish and completed several language courses. We thought we were fairly prepared.
But once we arrived and started talking to local people, we quickly realized that real-life Finnish was very different from what we had learned in class. The pronunciation, intonation, speaking speed, and even some commonly used expressions were completely different.
There were moments when we asked ourselves,
“Are we really on the right path?”
But then we reminded ourselves,
“We’re already here. Why not give it our best and see where this journey takes us?”
After all, every new beginning starts with a single step forward.
Final Reflection
Looking back, leaving Dubai wasn’t easy, but every challenge prepared us for the next chapter of our lives. Sometimes, God asks us to leave our comfort zone so He can lead us to something even greater. Looking back now, we can truly say that every step of the journey was worth it.
“Sometimes God closes one door, not to end your story, but to lead you to a better one.”
“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 (NIV)
May we always have the courage to trust God’s plans, even when the road ahead is uncertain. Every journey becomes meaningful when we walk with Him. 💙
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I truly miss Dubai. It holds so many wonderful memories for me. The friends I made there became like family, and I miss spending time with them. I also miss visiting the beautiful beaches, exploring endless places, and admiring the incredible architecture. Dubai will always feel like a second home to me.