Many people find moving to a new city a thrilling new stage in their life, particularly if it’s a place as exciting as Dubai. However, some remain hesitant about taking the leap because doing so means they have to live there on their own.

But being alone in a new city won’t automatically mean you’ll be lonely. With the right mindset and some tips from this article, buying that flat for sale in Dubai and living independently for the first time could just be the best decision you’ll ever make in your life.

This article covers eight tips to help you feel happy and content while living solo in Dubai.

1. Make Friends At Work.

Many people move to Dubai to grow in their chosen career paths. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that your workplace is only for work.

Sure, you need to prove that you deserve to be there, but being too detached from the team will only leave you feeling out of place. Plus, isolating yourself in your workplace can also affect your productivity.

To ensure that this doesn’t happen, try to engage with your teammates and colleagues in and out of the office. Be careful not to come on too strong, but make sure you pitch into the conversations.

Join a colleague for coffee or have lunch as a group. You’ll notice that most of them will be quite welcoming since they were once new to the group, too.

2. Stay Connected And Strengthen Your Relationships.

Living alone allows you to examine your relationships. It is a great chance to determine which relationships are worth nurturing and which ones don’t support your wellbeing.

Try to stick with people who enrich your life and lift you up. Going forward, stay connected with these people and strengthen the relationships, even as you live in a different country or city.

Remember: You have no obligation to spend your free time with people that make you feel bad about yourself.

3. Do Some Soul-Searching.

Solo living is a good opportunity to work on the most important relationship of all – your connection with yourself.

Many people end up putting themselves in the backseat as they focus on developing strong connections with family, friends, and romantic partners. So, when you get the chance, do some soul-searching and focus on what you want instead.

Watch shows and movies that you like, eat your favourite foods, and do things that make you happy.

Just don’t forget the deeper aspects of self-reflection. Explore your values and determine what personal goals you want to achieve in the near and distant future. Develop your sense of self and identify how your relationship with others should be based on them.

Bonus Tip: Consider writing your thoughts in a journal. This will help you sort through and keep track of your feelings and points of view. It also makes things easier when things aren’t as clear as you would have liked.

4. Start A Hobby Or Learn Something New.

You are more likely to get into a negative thinking pattern if your mind is idle, so try to find ways to keep yourself preoccupied.

Try things you’ve always wanted to do but couldn’t. Just remember not to fill your head with too much binge-watching and social media. While these may help with the boredom temporarily, they might develop to become a source of negativity in the long run.

Find hobbies like cycling, knitting, reading books, or crafting. If hobbies aren’t your thing, spend your idle time learning a new skill or improving the one you already have.

Different online courses offer valuable updates that you could use to further your career, while some provide much-needed guidance on different aspects of life.

5. Recreate Your Space Purposefully.

Whether you bought an apartment in Downtown Dubai or got a unit from Marsa Plaza to rent, another way you can feel happier and more content while living solo is by recreating your space purposefully.

This entails ensuring that the different parts of your new home serve a unique and definite purpose.

For example, you can recreate a vacant area and transform it into your exercise space. You should also have a dedicated area for your work desk, so you don’t need to work from the dining table or sofa.

6. Relish The Joy Of Silence.

The fact that you don’t have an annoying roommate who imposes their loud music to whoever is nearby or brings other friends over without advance notice is reason enough to celebrate.

Never undervalue peace and quiet, especially if you’ve spent most of your life in the company of other people. Instead of feeling bummed about the silence, relish it. After all, it’s a precious gift that not everyone gets to enjoy.

7. Enjoy Local Hangouts By Yourself.

Haven’t visited a popular shopping mall in Dubai in your neighbourhood since moving to your new place? There’s no better time to go there than now.

There’s so much to see in the best shopping malls in Dubai you might be missing out. Besides shopping for local products and international brands, you can also enjoy wonderful events, shows, and experiences there occasionally.

If you’re tired of the mall, head over to the nearest gym or swimming pool in your area.

Even if you’re not a fitness enthusiast, spending an hour or so exercising in these places will still leave you feeling better than when you first arrived. Besides the obvious health benefits of exercise, these places are also prime spots for making new friends.

Other local hangouts you can visit in Dubai include:

• Parks
• Cafes and restaurants
• Bars
• Beaches
• Cultural centres, art galleries and museums

8. Get a Pet.

If loneliness is starting to get to you, experts recommend getting a pet.

An animal companion helps you get into a routine, improving your days when they begin to feel a bit aimless. If you decide to get a dog, you can even have another reason to get out more due to their need for daily walks.

If taking care of cats and dogs is out of the question, you can also choose from other kinds of pets, including birds, fish, small mammals, and even reptiles.

Sure, these may not be as cuddly as feline and canine companions, but they still make great pets. But before you make a decision, don’t forget to research their unique care requirements first, particularly their diet, grooming needs, and lifespan.

Alone, Content, and Happy

Being content and happy while living alone in Dubai isn’t as difficult as you may have initially thought.

You only need to adjust your mindset and follow the tips listed here, and you should be more than A-okay.