Natalie Goodall, a 32-year-old from the UK, took a leap of faith to move to Dubai at 18 with dreams of a luxurious lifestyle. However, after years of relentless 80-hour work weeks, she discovered that the glittering city has its downsides — mainly the glaring absence of work-life balance.
Initially, Natalie was thrilled when she landed a golf coaching job in Dubai after completing internships at a local golf school. During her early days, she bounced between friends’ homes and family members’ places until finally getting her own space in Damac Hills.
From what seemed like a dream location, filled with celebrities like Amir Khan and The Beckhams, Natalie’s experience turned into a nightmare of long hours and exhaustion. Despite the allure of living in a city famed for its luxury, she emphasized that many newcomers might not be prepared for the reality, which the rising number of Brits flocking to Dubai might overlook.
After four years of grueling 80-hour weeks, Natalie returned to the UK in 2019, settling in West Parley, Dorset. She expressed fondness for Dubai and mentioned she’d visit again, but living there again? Unlikely.
“Sometimes I feel people move there chasing luxury and fun, only to be hit with harsh realities,” she said. “The truth is, the lifestyle is exhausting.”
Natalie now works as a self-employed PGA professional and recalled her time in Dubai: “The city was beautiful, breathtaking even. On my days off, I’d hit the beach, and when I let loose, it was an incredible time.” However, reality check usually hit hard when looking at her empty bank account. “It seemed like I was working just to survive,” she added.
In her last year, while working 12-hour shifts, she found it tough to engage with her partner, returning home nightly exhausted and drained. “I knew when my time was up,” she admitted. She navigated life as an expat, but growing weary of never quite feeling at ease left her questioning — is this worth it?
Natalie started her journey in Dubai at just 18, taking internships with a golf school, eventually landing an assistant coaching role at 21 while juggling PGA qualifications. Her living situations evolved from sharing with friends to living with her parents when they moved for her dad’s job in oil. Eventually, with a little help, she rented her own place.
Spending her lone day off every week roaming the beaches and elaborate spots in Dubai, her experiences were enriched by incredible weather and experiences like staying at the iconic Burj Al Arab. “But even with my salary around £25-30k a year, much of what people think is luxury was more survival mode for me due to high living costs,” vacated Natalie.
With mounting pressures and shifting dynamics, things became quite turbulent for her and her partner Will Coan, whom she met in Dubai back in 2017. They enjoyed life together, but Natalie began to slip mentally and physically. “Your priorities start shifting — and you ponder how I can maintain a life here?”
In September 2019, needing a change, she decided to move back to the UK, finding work in Guernsey after getting her qualifications sorted. Nine months later, Will joined her in the UK, ending his own contract.
Now, settled and happier than ever in their West Parley home, Natalie mentioned she’d consider returning to Dubai for a visit, but a socking salary would need to entice her to relocate permanently. She sees many Brits rushing to Dubai for a promising life, perhaps unaware of what awaits them.
“I see folks moving there jumping on trends, thinking rerunning holidays equate with actual living, which isn’t the case,” she shared. “There are glams but alongside real tough downsides. Consider the pros and cons carefully if the Dubai lifestyle might truly fit you because if your expectations are sky-high, you might hit rock bottom.”
