Making friends as an adult is hard everywhere. But in Dubai, it comes with its own set of challenges. Apart from the heat-induced introversion that kicks in every summer, many people are here for work, not connection. They’re chasing big dreams, building careers, reinventing themselves, so friendship often lands low on their priority list.
I first came to Dubai 25-years-ago on my honeymoon. Despite the August humidity that could flatten a blow-dry in 3.7 seconds, I fell in love with the place. By the following January I had moved my life here, building a solid circle of friends through work, motherhood, and the local rugby club, a crew that lasted 15 years. Then, in one heartbreaking weekend, all four of my closest friends left— school year over, contracts done. And just like that, I was starting again. And that’s the thing: in Dubai, you will start again. But the key is to stay open.
As a Master Therapeutic Coach, specializing in relationships, I often hear the same misconceptions from clients: “People in Dubai are fake,” “Everyone’s too busy,” “Friendships don’t last,” “You can’t trust people from other cultures,” “Only kids make real friends.”
Honestly? These aren’t truths. They’re self-protective mechanisms that keep people isolated and away from the richness this city offers. Having family from two cultures, lived in multiple countries, and attended 11 different schools, I’ve often been called a global gypsy but this meant that from a very young age I had the chance to learn that no one sees the world in the same way. Your “normal” is someone else’s “what on earth?” And that’s not wrong, it’s just perspective.
So how do you actually make friends in Dubai? Here are my tried-and-tested tips:
Identify Your Values
Real connection doesn’t come from matching flags; it comes from sharing values. Yet here’s the shocker— most people only know a few of their values, if at all. So, start there. Google a 400+ list of values and pick your top 20.
Then Get Out There
Attend events, say yes to coffees, get networking in person, not online. And don’t worry if not everyone clicks with you. Some friends are for a moment, some for a season, and a few for a lifetime, and that’s fine.
Diversify Your Circle
Dubai’s diversity is its magic. Yet so many people arrive and only connect with others who hold the same passport. Back home, half of them wouldn’t even make your dinner party list but here it’s often comfort over compatibility.
Like Yourself First
Most importantly: like yourself first, otherwise you’ll attract people who reflect your doubts, and in turn those protective myths will creep back in.
Just Say Yes
Connection isn’t a luxury, it’s soul food and in this glittering— sometimes isolating—city, it’s your lifeline. So go on, say yes to the awkward brunch, accept out of the way coffees, attend new activities you may never have tried back home and remember, just like you, everyone else is secretly hoping someone will say hi first.
Anne Fatima Jackson is a Master Therapeutic Coach, writer, and global nomad, who has called Dubai home for over two decades. Fluent in five languages and with a background spanning multiple cultures and continents, she brings depth, wit, and warmth to conversations around identity, connection, and emotional well-being. When she’s not coaching or writing, you’ll find her either enjoying motherhood or navigating meaningful friendships, as well as navigating the city’s ever-evolving cultural landscape – with great shoes and even better coffee.
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