Dubai after ten years: what changed, what residents say

Dubai is a city people usually judge from a short visit or from a glossy video. This article does the opposite: it looks at what changed over roughly ten years, using official or authoritative figures, and at what people who have lived there for a decade or more say in public. It is informational, not a recommendation to move or buy.

How we researched this

We used public sources only: statistics and government releases, transport authority data, press reports and personal accounts that we opened in full and whose authors state 10 or more years in the UAE. We did not use agency or developer testimonials, and we did not invent any residents or quotes. The accounts are few and several are from 2018 to 2021, so they describe the earlier part of the decade better than the most recent years. Where a figure comes from a secondary source we say "reported".

What changed in ten years

• Population. The Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment reported that the emirate reached 4 million residents on 28 August 2025. The earlier milestones were 2 million in 2011 and 3 million in 2018, so the second million took seven years and so did the third.
• Air traffic. Dubai International (DXB) handled about 78 million passengers in 2015 and, according to trade press, a record 95.2 million in 2025, which it describes as the busiest year in the airport's history. DXB is described as operating close to physical capacity.
• Public transport. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) reports 802.1 million trips on public transport, shared mobility and taxis in 2025, up 7.4% from 747.1 million in 2024; the metro carried the largest share, 37%. The Blue Line, a new 30 km metro line with 14 stations, is under construction, with opening reported for September 2029 (RTA release, 2026).
• Taxes. A 5% VAT was introduced on 1 January 2018, and a 9% corporate tax on profits above AED 375,000 started on 1 June 2023 (reported by tax summaries; confirm on the Federal Tax Authority site).
• Personal-life rules. In November 2020 the UAE amended its laws (Federal Decree-Law 15 of 2020, as reported): cohabitation of unmarried adults and alcohol consumption in authorised places stopped being criminal offences, and inheritance can follow the law of the person's home country unless a will says otherwise.
• Long-term residence. The Golden Visa, announced in 2019, offers 5- or 10-year renewable residence without an employer sponsor. Real-estate investors need at least AED 2 million of capital and receive 5 years (official UAE portal). Our guide: Dubai Golden Visa.
• Schools. In 2024-25 Dubai had 387,441 pupils in 227 private schools, 6% more than a year earlier, according to the education regulator as quoted by Gulf News. The regulator had 23 schools rated Outstanding in 2023-24 and paused full inspections for most schools, so fresh ratings are limited.
• Rents. Reported figures from a private analytics firm show apartment rents up about 22% year on year in July 2025. The Dubai Land Department responded with a 2025 Smart Rental Index that links permitted increases to how a rent compares with the market average (DLD). In late 2026 the picture is more mixed: see Dubai rents cooling in H2 2026.

What long-term residents report

A Dubai-based journalist who had lived in the UAE for 16 years looked back in 2018 with a mostly positive account: a successful international business centre, friendships, a multicultural upbringing for children and a feeling of safety. The costs are in the same text: rent, school fees and other expenses had grown, and the author warned about a debt trap for people who stretch their budget, as well as the loneliness of living far from family. Source: Gulf News, 1 November 2018.

Another freelance journalist, about ten years in the country, described the physical change with some humour: wider roads and many more flyovers than in the early years, which he contrasted with the traffic jams and seasonal power and water shortages he remembered. His main point was emotional: after a decade abroad, friends at home have moved on, and going back is not a simple return. Source: Gulf News, 16 September 2018.

A Russian woman in retail marked ten years in Dubai on a personal blog. She describes growing from a shop manager to a visual-merchandising manager within one international retail group, while her husband also moved up. She is open about the start: culture shock and ten-hour working days with one day off a week for the first two years. Her tone is grateful for the quality of life and infrastructure, but the post does not discuss prices or regulation, so it is a personal story and not a data point. Source: LiveJournal, 4 June 2021.

We found no recent (2024 to 2026) first-hand account of ten or more years that was not commercial, so these voices do not cover the latest rent spike.

What did not change or got harder

• Cost of housing. Both the 2018 text and the 2025 data point the same way: rent and school fees are the largest pressure, and for many households they have grown faster than comfort.
• Summer heat and an urban, car-oriented environment. Residents mention it even when they are positive about the city.
• Residence is tied to a visa category: employer, family, investor or another programme. A long stay does not by itself lead to citizenship or permanent status.
• Distance from family and the question of going back, mentioned by two of three authors.

What newcomers can take from this

• Budget for rent and school fees first; they are what long-term residents say moves most. Use our Dubai property prices and buying costs and service charges articles.
• Treat yields and prices as variable: see Dubai rental yield and investment and Dubai versus Europe.
• Check which visa fits your situation before you plan the purchase.
• Visit in the hot months before deciding. Our first-visit article lists what to expect.
• Browse current offers: properties in the UAE.

FAQ

Did Dubai become more expensive over ten years? The accounts and reported data say rents and school fees rose; the exact size depends on district and year, and rents were reported to be cooling in late 2026. Check current figures for the district you want.

How fast did the city grow? Official estimates put the population at 3 million in 2018 and 4 million in August 2025.

Do long-term residents stay forever? Not always. The authors we read describe both a feeling of home and the difficulty of returning to the home country; a legal right to stay depends on the visa.

Can a property purchase give long-term residence? A purchase can qualify for a Golden Visa if it meets the official threshold of AED 2 million and other conditions; it is not automatic. Check the current rules before signing.

Is this article based on interviews we conducted? No. It is based on public pages and official data. We did not interview or invent anyone.

How we help

D.H. Realting is a trilingual platform (Russian, Polish, English) that finds properties and coordinates independent local lawyers and tax advisers. This article is informational and is not legal, tax or investment advice; rules change, so verify the current rules with the authorities and your own advisers before any decision.