The UAE is home to expats from over 200 hundred different countries – it is no wonder that it is often referred to as a melting point of cultures. Many people come here seeking a better life – warm, sunny days all year round are a treat for those who rarely ever get to see the sun, and who doesn’t want to save some extra cash that would otherwise have gone as tax? What’s more, the UAE is considered to be one of the safest countries in the world, so it is the ideal place for many to raise their kids, which draws many UAE expats into the region.
But here’s what happened at ServiceMarket: In 2015, the requests for international moving services coming into ServiceMarket suggested that there might actually be a change in the inflow and outflow traffic in the UAE. To explore this further, we looked at the data we had gathered about the international moving activity of our customers.
And here’s what we found out: Out of our sample of roughly 1500 requests for international moves, we found that the top five moving back destinations for UAE expats were Saudi Arabia, Canada, India, United States of America and the United Kingdom. Other popular moving back destinations for UAE expats were Australia, Qatar, Oman, Lebanon and France.
Check out the infographic below to find out the exact number of households of UAE expats that ServiceMarket helped in packing up and moving back to these five popular home destinations, plus the cost of shipping a 20″ container from the UAE to each destination. 
So what does this mean? Out of the 1500 requests we received for help in packing up and moving back home, 11.3% of the households we bid farewell to were moving back to the United Kingdom and almost 10% of the households were moving back to the United States. We assisted 9.8% of the households in relocating to India, approximately 7% of the households to Canada and 5.8% of the households to Saudi Arabia. In addition to this, 20.5% (that’s over a fifth!) of the households we said goodbye to were moving back to Australia, Qatar, Oman, Lebanon and France.
This got us thinking – is it really true that living expenses have gone through the roof and forced people to move back home, or has this got more to do with people yearning to be back home with their family and friends? We’d love to know what you think, so drop us a comment below! And if you happen to be amongst one of these groups moving back home, don’t forget to use ServiceMarket to assist you in finding the best international movers in the UAE.
Overall, while the UAE—particularly Dubai—continues to remain a major global hub for expatriates, shifting international mobility patterns show that many residents are increasingly exploring new destinations based on cost, lifestyle, and long-term settlement goals. Understanding relocation expenses and planning ahead is becoming more important than ever, whether it’s through resources like a detailed international moving guide or insights into international moving trends in the UAE. At the same time, practical preparation tools such as a moving to Dubai checklist, awareness of the cost to settle in the UAE, and understanding the cost of moving from Dubai all help expats make more informed decisions when planning their next move.
