Chloe Bennett, 27, was bored of British life and was ‘miserable’ after going through a break-up
A woman left behind the “cold and miserable” UK for sunny Dubai without securing a job or flat beforehand and insists that she could “never go back”. Chloe Bennett, 27, had grown tired of British life and felt “bored” during weekends, where her most thrilling pastime was browsing Home Bargains.
Following a visit to see a mate in Dubai, she became smitten with the city, handed in her notice and relocated in December 2023 with no employment or accommodation arranged. Although she initially had to accept lower wages to find work, she felt instantly happier thanks to the climate and the wealth of activities on offer.
Now, two years on, she operates her own business as a social media manager, pulling in 20% more than she earned in her previous UK tech sales position.
Chloe, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, said: “It’s so cold and miserable in the UK and there’s nothing to do in the evenings. I just worked a normal 9-5 and then spent my weekends going around Home Bargains and TK Maxx and that was the most excitement I got.
“I came to Dubai on holiday to see my friend and I just fell in love with it. It’s sunny all year round. There’s so much to do and it’s hard to be depressed when you open your curtains every day and it’s sunny.
“Now I spend my weekends going wakeboarding, visiting the zoo and staying on boats. There’s just so much more to do. I’ve started my own company here, got a puppy and I can’t imagine ever going back.”
Chloe felt “miserable” in the UK following a painful break-up and family relationship breakdown. She made the decision to leave her tech sales role after five years with the company.
“I came to see my friend in Dubai and she was having a great time and it just felt like a nudge to try something new,” she said.
However, finding work in the UAE proved challenging, as she discovered most positions there were commission-based rather than salaried.
“I tried for months to get a job, but I just decided to leave anyway with no job and nowhere to live, and just give it everything,” she said. Upon arriving in Dubai, Chloe began sharing a room with a girl she’d connected with through a rental app to keep expenses down.
She also started posting frequently on her TikTok about relocating to Dubai and was approached by a recruiter she’d previously spoken with, who offered her a position at a property firm. Before starting the role, she met a colleague from the same company and they began having lunch together daily, eventually deciding to share a flat.
The property job paid Chloe less than she’d been earning in the UK, but it didn’t matter because she felt happier. In April 2025, she decided to go it alone and launch her own social media management business, Socials with Chloe, where she now earns 20% more than her UK salary, allowing her to live comfortably despite high living costs.
Despite loving her life in Dubai, Chloe admitted that the one downside is being separated from her family. “When I left my little brother was seven and now he’s about to be 10, it’s nuts how much he’s grown”, she said. “I feel like I’m missing out on a lot, this is going to be my second Christmas away from them.”
Yet Chloe’s closest friend has recently moved to Dubai with her partner, which has eased her homesickness. Another aspect of the UK she longs for is the cuisine.
“I’m just really fussy, the McDonald’s chicken nuggets here taste so different, I don’t know what it is”, she said.
Chloe explained that Dubai boasts a thriving entrepreneurial scene and offers far more prospects than the UK.
She said: “As crazy as it sounds, I feel like you can do anything you wanted. If you want to start your own company or launch a clothing line, you can do it, people are so supportive.”
Dubai is renowned for its high costs, but following a TikTok post about Waitrose prices in the UAE, Chloe received numerous comments from Brits asserting that the UK has become just as pricey as Dubai.
“From what I hear, the prices are pretty much the same in both places now”, she said. She mentioned that she no longer does a weekly food shop, as ordering takeaways nightly works out cheaper and costs merely £3 monthly for unlimited delivery.
“You can get anything you want delivered in 15 minutes, it’s so much better than Uber Eats back home”, she said. Hailing from a small town, Chloe revealed that back home everyone was privy to everyone else’s affairs.
However, she relishes the fact that Dubai is nothing like that. “Dubai is actually really tiny and everyone know everyone, but they don’t know everyone’s business”, she expressed.
Recently, Chloe became a dog mum and now spends her weekends at a local dog beach, watching her new pup frolic in the sea. She confessed that she can’t envision ever returning to the UK, although she does have concerns about the long-term implications of living in the UAE, particularly the fact that all schools are private.
“I know a lot of people who say that they will go back, but for me personally, I can’t see it happening”, she admitted.
