I have worked as a dentist for 20 years and enjoy what I do; there is so much satisfaction from treating patients and guiding them through the right treatment. I cannot see myself ever changing career fields.
About a year and a half ago I left my job, family and life in eastern Germany and came to work in Abu Dhabi, and it turned out to be the most difficult and demanding thing I have ever done.
I felt it was time for a change, so the only question was, where do I go? I chose Abu Dhabi for a number of reasons, not the least of which the chance to earn better money and enjoy the sunshine. After being here for awhile I found that I could really settle down and enjoy the lifestyle. You cannot just go to the beach whenever you want in Germany.
Here I take care of my health and lifestyle more. Europeans start work at 7:30 in the morning and don't stop until the evening, it's always work, work, work. Here your view changes. I can take breaks in the day and I close the practice for four hours from midday, and always take the weekend mornings off. It's much healthier than working straight through. So the way I work here is completely different to the way I worked in Germany, I'm maybe at work more, but I'm more relaxed, and where in Europe can I swim outdoors every day?
As soon as I arrived in the UAE I started working for the Government in an Al Ain hospital, but soon after had to leave because I was still registered as self-employed in Germany. It was at this point that I made the choice to stay in Abu Dhabi and set up my own practice.
Going at it alone was extremely difficult, but not impossible. To achieve what I did one needs a lot of time, patience and money. There's no doubt that persistence and determination are the most important things. The fact that I truly enjoy what I do helped drive my motivation to succeed. There has been a long, gradual improvement in life here, and as you can imagine it wasn't easy to get over the cultural and language barriers.
It is a lot more difficult opening a business here than in Europe. The policies and rules here can be real hurdles, and are very different than back home. I have had to constantly work with the Municipality to make sure that I was adhering to local rules and regulations, such as hiring the required number of staff for a small business. )
My wage here is better, though, and the health care system isn't as complicated in terms of practising my profession - there are fewer procedural constraints than in Germany. That red tape back home can be an unnecessary barrier to administering treatment to patients. For instance it is not easy to get permission from the government when an operation needs to be done. And, of course, the fact that there is no tax here means that take-home earnings here are a lot better than in Europe.
This higher income, however, hasn't affected my spending habits as you might expect, because I own my 400m sq practice and it, in turn, owns all of my money. Plus, no one else is supporting me. I am focused on my target to expand the dental centre and employ two more dentists, and to open a medical treatment centre. It makes sense to have a medical centre next to my dentistry, as my nursing assistants and administration staff can work in both. It helps to keep down the costs of hiring new staff, and by offering a wider service under the same brand I can take advantage of the the recognition and trust I have already gained with existing patients. Word of mouth and familiarity with my brand should help launch the medical centre.
My advice to those who might consider opening a business here would be to spend a bit of time getting to know Abu Dhabi's laws and procedures. I think that newcomers often either really like it here or emphatically do not; there is no middle ground. Abu Dhabi is definitely a good place to save money, and is a cheaper place to live compared to other emirates, such as Dubai. Rent in Abu Dhabi was cheaper when I moved here, and I benefit from the law prohibiting rent rises above 5 per cent a year. Because of my background and the huge responsibilities I have to my family and the centre, I am a very careful spender. I have two children, one of whom lives in Japan, so I send about 10 per cent of my income to them, and around 80 per cent gets put aside to pay for my practice and to save for future expansion. So, in truth, only about 10 percent of what I earn I keep to spend on myself, which for me is fine - as long as I have enough for occasional shopping trips and self-pampering, I am happy. My husband and I have even managed to purchase three other properties abroad - two in Germany and one in Italy.
For me, money is only important as a means to live, but apart from that it is not important to me at all. Living in this country has taught me that the most important thing in life is to be healthy, and to take care of myself.
- As told to Paul Driscoll
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
150 tonnes to landfill
50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
Who is playing New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams
Where Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States
When Sunday (start time is 3.30am on Monday UAE time)
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
We weren’t supposed to survive but we did.
We weren’t supposed to remember but we did.
We weren’t supposed to write but we did.
We weren’t supposed to fight but we did.
We weren’t supposed to organise but we did.
We weren’t supposed to rap but we did.
We weren’t supposed to find allies but we did.
We weren’t supposed to grow communities but we did.
We weren’t supposed to return but WE ARE.
Amira Sakalla
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
