One of the first things many soon-to-be-expatriates do when they accept an offer of work in the UAE is check out the dubizzle website or app. In the 10 years since it was launched, the classified advertising service has become an indispensable part of the lives of expats and Emiratis alike.
The idea was new to this part of the world at launch and it was well executed. The name plays off that of Dubai and suggests a sense of fun and fizz on top of its utility.
Over the years, dubizzle has become our first choice when buying or selling everything from an Airbus A340 aircraft to a human kidney (the latter was quickly removed – the advertisement, that is, not the kidney).
It also encourages recycling and reuse in a country where people are always on the move. Instead of throwing unneeded household items away, we post them online in the hope that they find grateful new owners.
