I don't live there anymore, check my location for where I am now

Its a good place and I really enjoyed it. The laws are a bit dumb, but we have enough of those in the UK. About expats living together, its slightly inaccurate. If you go out there and want to bring your girlfriend out to live with you, you'll have to marry her to get her on your residents permit, or she gets a job and comes out on her own visa, else she's there on a 30 day visit visa only. Most expat singles meet someone out here and move in together, I've not heard of one person being collared for it. Don't think its actually illegal, just they would prefer you respected marriage and didn't do it.

The only problem with Dubai now is that the money isn't there now that there was 10 years ago. Sure they are building a lot, but they have no oil, hence the massive diversification, its a huge risk and things are getting so expensive, a lot of people aren't bothering and leaving to go elsewhere. Sure, its a good holiday spot, but a lot of expats are now looking for other alternative locations to earn good money.

I'd go there for a holiday again, but I'm not convinced I'd like to live there now. I left the UK because it was full of sponging wankers, the weather was shit and everything was too expensive. Apart from the weather, Dubai is the same. Much prefer where I am now.

Remember, the grass isn't always greener