FAMILY LIFE
How does life compare to the UK in terms of other benefits Dubai can bring? Safety is really important. I have lived in affluent areas and slightly less affluent areas and it is funny how you take things for granted when you're here. I haven't once been worried about my safety for eight years. It has never crossed my mind, and I don't know where else in the world you can get that kind of thing. There is also safety in the healthcare system here, should it ever be needed. Up until recently when I had some personal health issues, which thankfully have been resolved now. I have been so impressed with the healthcare I have received and the speed at which things get assessed, diagnosed and treated. The access you have here to top medical experts is impressive with state-of- the-art equipment.
for education here. The kids love it. All my kids went to a French nursery to start with, and it has just been the most beautiful experience. Please tell us about Stella and the Stars and your work as an interior stylist. You should love where you live. I am passionate about the big impact a beautiful new space can have on your life, and I am on a mission to inject fabulousness and fun into people’s homes. Whilst we all know some very stereotypical stylings in Dubai homes - the dark wood, the heavily patterned marble kitchen countertops, the beige tiles - I have noticed a shift in the city's design towards a more cosmopolitan European vibe. Dubai has also changed a lot in terms of sourcing unique styling pieces. Just years ago, there was no e-commerce; you had to go to the malls to find furniture physically, and you had such a limited choice between maybe four or five leading stores: the budget-friendly IKEA, PAN Home, Home Center, and then the more prominent American brands such as Pottery Barn. I now work with several local small businesses and suppliers, independent artisans who can manufacture furniture here or import it from Europe. The access now is more diverse, allowing us to always create something different. It’s great!
We are grateful to have safety and amazing health in Dubai – both true luxuries that shouldn’t be taken for granted.
You mentioned schooling, which is always a hot topic for expats in Dubai. How do you compare it to the UK? When we arrived, I only had my eldest child, who was so young at the time and had never gone to school in the UK, so I don't have anything to compare it to. But compared to my experience in France, there is a much better choice
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