A WOMAN who ditched the UK for Dubai has returned home, after life in the city pushed her to breaking point.
Natalie Goodall, now 32, made the decision to relocate to the UAE after she was offered a golf coaching job aged just 18.
She jumped at the chance – living with a friend then various family members before renting her own apartment in Damac Hills.
Natalie lived in the seemingly idyllic and luxurious city for years until the Dubai lifestyle became too much – because the city’s “ business model” didn’t allow for “work-life balance”.
After years of working 80 hour, six-day weeks, Natalie moved back to the UK in 2019 and has settled down in West Parley, Dorset .
And, while she loved Dubai and says she’ll go back for holidays , she said she’s unlikely to relocate back there.
As swathes of Brits opt to move out there with high expectations of luxurious living and endless fun, Natalie feels that Brits going with high expectations “may be disappointed.”
Natalie, now a self-employed PGA professional, said: “I never saw myself leaving Dubai – I was working at one of the best golf schools in the world.
“And the city was absolutely stunning, on my day off I went down to the beach and when you let your hair down you could have a bloody good time.
“But afterwards you’d look at your bank balance and think ‘oh crap’.
“But the business model out there – there is no work life balance.
“I was coming home to my partner after 12 hour days, at 9pm, and I could barely hold a conversation because I’d be so tired.
“In my last year I told him ‘I can’t do this’ – you know when your time is up.
“It’s a very glamorous place and I can see moving there is a trend – but everywhere has their downfalls.”
At the time, she was making the equivalent of around £25-£30k a year – but the high costs in Dubai meant she couldn’t enjoy the full extent of the luxurious lifestyle compared to what people assume.
She said: “I was just making money to survive – in the service industry you were worked very hard.
How easy is it to move abroad?
Brexit means British citizens now have to apply for visas to move to countries within the EU. While some countries residency restrictions are easier than others, here's what you need to do at home before moving:
- Notify HMRC about your upcoming move.
- Let your local authority know and provide a forwarding address.
- Contact your mortgage and utility providers and bank before leaving.
- If you have paid enough UK national insurance contributions, you can qualify for a state pension abroad – contact the International Pension Centre .
- You can sign up to the Royal Mail’s redirection service .
- If you have outstanding student loans, contact the Student Loans Centre .
- If you have children, give due notice to childcares and schools.
“I was working six days a week and I couldn’t afford to reduce my hours.”
After meeting her fellow expat partner Will Coan, 34, in 2017, while out there, the pair lived together but Natalie began to “spiral”.
She said: “You can feel yourself, your work and time management aren’t as good, your diet goes out the window.
“
I never saw myself leaving Dubai but it’s not sustainable – as I got older, I started to think, how the bloody hell will I have a life here?
“It’s not on an individual person – it’s just the business model out there.”
In September 2019, she moved from Dubai back to the UK and got a job in Guernsey, once she had secured the necessary golf qualifications to be a coach.
Nine months later, Will, who worked in a role in food manufacturing, finished his contract and moved back to the UK as well.
They now own a home together in West Parley and are happier than ever.
