Woman leaves ‘depressing’ UK for Dubai and says one factor tastes ‘actually completely different’
Chloe Bennett, 27, was bored of British life and was “miserable” after going through a break-up and a family relationship breakdown – so she decided to move to Dubai
A woman abandoned the “cold and miserable” UK for sunny Dubai – without securing a job or flat beforehand – and insists that despite initially accepting a pay cut, she could “never go back”. Chloe Bennett, 27, had grown fed up with British life and found herself “bored” at weekends, where her most thrilling activity was browsing Home Bargains.
Following a visit to see a mate in Dubai, she became smitten with the city, packed in her job and relocated in December 2023 – without employment or accommodation sorted. Although she initially had to accept lower wages to find work, she instantly felt more content thanks to the climate and wealth of activities available.
Now, after two years there, she operates her own business as a social media manager – pulling in 20% more than her previous UK position in tech sales.
Chloe, originally from Eastbourne, East Sussex, explained: “It’s so cold and miserable in the UK and there’s nothing to do in the evenings. I just worked a normal 9-5 and then spent my weekends going around Home Bargains and TK Maxx and that was the most excitement I got.
“I came to Dubai on holiday to see my friend and I just fell in love with it. It’s sunny all year round. There’s so much to do and it’s hard to be depressed when you open your curtains every day and it’s sunny.
“Now I spend my weekends going wakeboarding, visiting the zoo and staying on boats. There’s just so much more to do. I’ve started my own company here, got a puppy and I can’t imagine ever going back.”
Chloe was “miserable” in the UK, dealing with a break-up and a strained family relationship. She chose to leave her tech sales job after a five-year stint.
“I came to see my friend in Dubai and she was having a great time and it just felt like a nudge to try something new,” she said.
However, finding employment in the UAE proved challenging as most jobs were commission-based rather than salaried.
“I tried for months to get a job, but I just decided to leave anyway with no job and nowhere to live, and just give it everything,” she confessed. Upon arriving in Dubai, Chloe rented a room with a girl she met via a rental app to minimise expenses.
She started sharing her Dubai relocation journey on TikTok and was approached by a recruiter she had previously spoken to, who offered her a position at a real estate firm. Before starting work, she befriended a colleague from the same company, and they began sharing meals daily, eventually moving into a flat together.
The real estate job paid less than what Chloe earned in the UK, but she didn’t mind as she was happier. In April 2025, she took the plunge and launched her own social media management firm, Socials with Chloe, where she now earns 20% more than her previous UK salary, enabling her to live comfortably despite the high living costs.
Despite her contentment in Dubai, Chloe admitted that being away from her family is the only downside.
“When I left my little brother was seven and now he’s about to be 10, it’s nuts how much he’s grown”, she said. “I feel like I’m missing out on a lot, this is going to be my second Christmas away from them.”
Nevertheless, Chloe’s closest mate has recently moved to Dubai with her other half, which has eased her feelings of homesickness. Another aspect she pines for about Britain is the cuisine.
“I’m just really fussy, the McDonald’s chicken nuggets here taste so different, I don’t know what it is”, she said.
Chloe explained that Dubai boasts an enormous business culture and offers far more prospects than Britain.
She said: “As crazy as it sounds, I feel like you can do anything you wanted. If you want to start your own company or launch a clothing line, you can do it, people are so supportive.”
Dubai is renowned for its hefty price tags, but following a TikTok post about Waitrose costs in the UAE, Chloe received countless responses from Brits insisting that Britain now matches Dubai’s expense levels.
“From what I hear, the prices are pretty much the same in both places now”, she said. She mentioned that she’s stopped doing weekly shops entirely, as ordering takeaways nightly works out cheaper and costs her merely £3 monthly for complimentary delivery.
“You can get anything you want delivered in 15 minutes, it’s so much better than Uber Eats back home”, she said. Having grown up in a small town, Chloe explained that back home everyone was aware of everybody else’s affairs, and she adores how Dubai couldn’t be more different.
“Dubai is actually really tiny and everyone know everyone, but they don’t know everyone’s business,” she said.
Chloe has recently welcomed a puppy into her life and now dedicates her weekends to a local dog beach, observing her pet paddle about in the ocean. She mentioned she cannot fathom ever returning to the UK, though noted that her sole concern about settling permanently in the UAE is the exclusively private education system.
“I know a lot of people who say that they will go back, but for me personally, I can’t see it happening”, she said.
