Motherhood In Dubai
I often describe our family relocation to Dubai as gradual, yet sudden. Coming from a construction background, Dubai had always fascinated me. Their architecture has known no bounds; anything they imagined they could make a reality and build a city that is now one of the most visited in the world.
This made it a place I would often say I would move to if life ever took us abroad. Still, it remained just that, an idea. We spoke about it from time to time, but never truly pursued it.
So you can imagine how unexpected it felt when, after nine years of marriage, three children, and settling into what we believed was our forever home, the opportunity arose.
And it’s funny because a year before the opportunity came, we were at a prayer meeting, and my husband sent me a text saying he felt God was calling him to Dubai. I can’t lie, I was sceptical because of how settled we now were in our lives, I couldn’t imagine starting again somewhere new.
So I went to my prayer closet and asked God for a sign that this was what he truly wanted for our family- the very next day, I got a message on LinkedIn from a construction company in Dubai! And although that job prospect did not end up materialising, I do believe it was God stirring up that desire in me to want to go again.
It was a few months after that when my husband’s company told him they wanted him to help grow their operations in the UAE. Without hesitation, we embraced it.
As the eldest in my family, my only real fear was telling my parents. Growing up, there is often an unspoken sense of responsibility that makes you feel as though you cannot leave them behind. Yet when I considered what this move could offer our children in terms of safety, education, and overall quality of life, the decision felt clear.
Leaving behind everything familiar brought a mix of emotions I had not fully prepared for. In the lead-up to the move, excitement carried us through. Then came the weight of the goodbyes, especially leaving the church where I had been raised, grown, and served. It marked the beginning of starting again, new work, new routines, and new relationships.
Those first few months of motherhood in Dubai were intense. In the UK, our rhythm looked very different. I spent most days in the office while my husband worked from home. In Dubai, his schedule shifted to long days in the office, sometimes as early as 7 am to 7 pm in the evening. This meant I was supporting the children emotionally through the transition, managing homeschooling, and handling the everyday responsibilities of motherhood. It was challenging, yet deeply rewarding to witness more of their day-to-day lives.
There is now a heightened sense of awareness in how I move through motherhood. I am more intentional about creating a sense of home and holding onto our values while remaining open to new ones. I am learning to balance marriage and motherhood with greater care, making space for time together as a couple while also nurturing meaningful family time. Back in the UK, our weekends were filled with spending time with extended family. Here, I have had to recreate that sense of connection in new ways for our children. If anyone knew me in the UK, you would know I am not a ‘talk on the phone’ person, but moving here has meant that I have had to change to keep connected to friends and family.
Living in Dubai has expanded my sense of identity. Being surrounded by so many cultures has led me to reflect on what I want to hold onto and what I am willing to grow into. As an interracial family, this has felt especially important. I want my children to have a strong understanding of who they are and where they come from. Our faith also remains central to that foundation. Being in a Muslim country has strengthened my commitment to ensuring our Christian faith remains active in our lives. One of the first things I did when we arrived was research churches, as church has always been a cornerstone of what home means to us.
As a woman, I have grown in independence and adaptability. In the UK, I was very comfortable relying on my husband for many things. Here, life has required me to step into a different level of responsibility. From driving on the other side of the road, which initially felt daunting, to managing the day-to-day running of our home, I have had to stretch in ways I did not expect. As a wife, navigating this transition together has strengthened our relationship. As a mother, I feel an even deeper responsibility to raise children who are open-minded, kind, and culturally aware.
Starting again in this season feels both challenging and deeply rewarding. It has required me to release who I was in the UK and make space for growth as a mother, a wife, and a woman grounded in faith. It is about rebuilding routines, forming new friendships, and creating a sense of belonging.
This move has shown me how capable I truly am. It has reminded me that I can navigate uncertainty, that I can adapt, and that growth often comes through discomfort. It has also taught me the importance of slowing down, being present, and allowing the process of settling into a new life to unfold in its own time.
As I write this, we are also navigating the reality of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. It has required me to be a mother who does not allow her own fears to shape her children’s daily experience. I am learning to cultivate peace within our home, regardless of the chaos that appears to be unfolding around us. Taking advantage of all of us now having to be home as an opportunity to bond together as a family, potty train our youngest child and using our downtime to work out.
I am becoming a mother who leads with intention, a woman who embraces change, someone who is not afraid to accept support, and a person who understands that stepping away from what is familiar is not always easy, but it can be so worthwhile.
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