Episode 12
How To (Move To &) Live in the UAE - w/ Kaushik
Here is an SEO-optimized YouTube description tailored for high click-through rate (CTR) and search discoverability. I have incorporated the specific details about Kaushik (NYU Abu Dhabi, PhD background) to make it authentic.
First moves to steal
- (Move To &) Live in the UAE - w/ Kaushik
- We often hear about the tax-free salaries and luxury lifestyle, but what is it really like to move your entire life to the UAE in 2025?
- Cost of Living• Safety, Healthcare, and the "Habibi" Lifestyle• How to navigate the Visa Process and moving logistics 🔗 Connect with Kaushik: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaushik-sunder-0906/ • Research/Work: About the Podcast: We explore the real stories behind high-agency individuals—from researchers to entrepreneurs—who are building the future.
- We don't sell you "lottery ticket" advice; we show you the practical first steps so you can find your own way forward.
- readysetdopodcast.com #MovingToDubai #UAEJobs #LifeInDubai #AbuDhabi #PhDLife #NYUAbuDhabi #TaxFreeLiving #ExpatsInUAE #KaushikSunder #IndianExpats #CareerAdvice #StudyAbroad Timestamps: (00:00) Intro + Background (02:29) What prompted a move to the UAE?
- Experience at NYU Abu Dhabi (08:09) What is it like to live in UAE - Kaushik’s favorite things (10:56) Contrasts in education across India, US & UAE (13:19) Contribution of the strong NYU brand towards Kaushik’s experience (15:49) Some struggles/challenges around a move to the UAE (18:53) Stipend and savings during PhD life (21:29) Job prospects in the UAE after graduation - Work visas (24:59) Companies/industries offering employment - fastest growing region in the world (27:29) Indicators that UAE is the fastest growing country to be (30:59) Culture, Language & Safety - Emirati hospitality (34:53) Healthcare (37:43) Extravagant displays of wealth (40:25) Nostalgia catch-up, LinkedIn and adult friendships
- here that system isn't there as of they just have something called Golden Visa this is where the most growth is at...
- to build upon in terms of how they can establish companies what are one's prospects once they graduate I mean if you if...
Transcript-backed moments
A few lines worth stealing before you hand over the full hour.
financially would you say that it's pretty sustainable to be there on a as a pretty sustainable to be there on a as a PhD student I'm probably one of the top 1% of the PhD students in the globe to
1% of the PhD students in the globe to be saving money during a PhD but have you seen any extravagant displays of wealth What's the culture like in the U I'm like what am I what is this is this
I'm like what am I what is this is this is this like some kind of royalty drawbacks for me in the US was lumps some amount of taxes that they on you so some amount of taxes that they on you so here that system isn't there as of they
here that system isn't there as of they just have something called Golden Visa this is where the most growth is at level of advancement that the UAE needs to build upon in terms of how they can
to build upon in terms of how they can establish companies what are one's prospects once they graduate I mean if you if you're broke it's just that you don't know how to manage your financial
Show notes
Here is an SEO-optimized YouTube description tailored for high click-through rate (CTR) and search discoverability. I have incorporated the specific details about Kaushik (NYU Abu Dhabi, PhD background) to make it authentic.
Is the "Dubai Dream" actually real, or is it just Instagram hype? We often hear about the tax-free salaries and luxury lifestyle, but what is it really like to move your entire life to the UAE in 2025?
In this episode, we sit down with Kaushik Sunder, a Global PhD Fellow at NYU Abu Dhabi, who moved from the US to the UAE. He breaks down the unfiltered reality of living in the Middle East—from the massive shift in work culture to the truth about the job market for expats.
If you are considering moving to Dubai or Abu Dhabi for work, education, or just a better quality of life, this conversation is your reality check. Kaushik compares the US vs. India vs. UAE education systems, reveals the real cost of living, and answers the biggest question: Is the UAE economy actually booming?
🚀 In this video, we cover:• The truth about the UAE Job Market for Indians & Expats• PhD & Education in UAE: Is it better than the US?• The reality of Tax-Free Salaries vs. Cost of Living• Safety, Healthcare, and the "Habibi" Lifestyle• How to navigate the Visa Process and moving logistics
🔗 Connect with Kaushik:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaushik-sunder-0906/• Research/Work:
About the Podcast:We explore the real stories behind high-agency individuals—from researchers to entrepreneurs—who are building the future. We don't sell you "lottery ticket" advice; we show you the practical first steps so you can find your own way forward.
readysetdopodcast.com
#MovingToDubai #UAEJobs #LifeInDubai #AbuDhabi #PhDLife #NYUAbuDhabi #TaxFreeLiving #ExpatsInUAE #KaushikSunder #IndianExpats #CareerAdvice #StudyAbroad
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro + Background
(02:29) What prompted a move to the UAE?
(04:39) Experience at NYU Abu Dhabi
(08:09) What is it like to live in UAE - Kaushik’s favorite things
(10:56) Contrasts in education across India, US & UAE
(13:19) Contribution of the strong NYU brand towards Kaushik’s experience
(15:49) Some struggles/challenges around a move to the UAE
(18:53) Stipend and savings during PhD life
(21:29) Job prospects in the UAE after graduation - Work visas
(24:59) Companies/industries offering employment - fastest growing region in the world
(27:29) Indicators that UAE is the fastest growing country to be
(30:59) Culture, Language & Safety - Emirati hospitality
(34:53) Healthcare
(37:43) Extravagant displays of wealth
(40:25) Nostalgia catch-up, LinkedIn and adult friendships