At 6am on a Monday, some residents are already suited up and en route to the airport. By 9am, they’re stepping into a client's office in Riyadh or another GCC capital. Come Thursday evening or Friday morning, they’re back in the UAE, ready for the weekend with family and friends.
For some residents, the UAE is not just where their life is based, it’s where their weekend begins. As economic opportunities expand across the Gulf, a new kind of commuter has emerged: residents who live in the Emirates but work full-time in neighbouring countries, flying in and out each week as if hopping between city blocks.
Their routine is seamless, if unconventional. Sunday nights are for packing. Monday mornings begin on the tarmac. By now, many of them have second wardrobes tucked into hotel closets.
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'Still live in Dubai'
For Rauf Elgamati, a 33-year-old Dubai resident, he spends his Mondays to Thursdays in Riyadh leading projects for Saudi clients. On weekends, he returns to the UAE — splitting his time between Abu Dhabi, where his family is based, and Dubai, where he’s lived for over a decade.
A partner at the consulting firm Four Principles, Rauf is no stranger to life on the move. “Travel comes with the job,” he said. “Consulting is built on it. You grow faster, learn more, and build your network that way."
Rauf Elgamati
"You have to commit. I always tell my team, if you’re half in, you won’t make it. When someone has a second closet in Saudi, I know they’re serious,” added the head of Digital Transformation.
Rauf started working in the region fresh out of university, and Dubai became home by age 20. Over the years, he’s held roles at top firms like PwC and tech startups like Swvl, growing comfortable with the pace and lifestyle.
Still, the logistics aren’t always simple. “Flights, hotels, schedules — it gets hectic. But once you streamline everything — direct billing, planned bookings — it becomes manageable.”
When asked why he always comes back to the UAE: “My family is in Abu Dhabi. My friends are here. And I just never wanted to fully move somewhere else. I’ve built a life here,” he said.
Even with a packed schedule, Rauf said the UAE feels like home. “I’ve been in Dubai for over 13 years. I still say I live in Dubai, it just rolls off the tongue.”
Simple routines
For others, this lifestyle was a deliberate choice from day one.
David Fakhouri, 28, a senior consultant at Four Principles, moved to the region in early 2024 and quickly set up base in Dubai Marina. His week kicks off with a 7.50am flight to Riyadh on Monday and ends with a Thursday night return.
“It’s like a regular commute now, just with a plane instead of a car," David said.
With friends and family already in Dubai, the decision to stay in the emirate made sense. “Professionally, Riyadh is where the action is. But personally, Dubai feels like home. The lifestyle here suits me.”
David Fakhouri
Over time, he’s found ways to simplify the routine. “I only travel with my laptop now. My clothes are in my second wardrobe in Riyadh. Hotels and flights are all pre-booked through company systems, so the admin side is lighter.”
But the lifestyle comes with trade-offs. “You miss out on things during the week," he admitted. “But once I land back on Thursday, I’ve got my weekend rituals: padel, games night with friends, and trying new places. That keeps me grounded.”
Both Rauf and David pointed out that staying healthy while constantly on the move is another challenge. From trying to stick to one gym to making healthy food choices at hotels or airports, the consistency isn’t always easy. But with a structured routine, both say it’s manageable, it just takes a bit more planning.
'It's worth it'
For Arijit Nandi, who works in Riyadh’s financial sector, returning to Dubai every weekend is about more than convenience, it’s about being there for his family.
“I’ve been doing this for four years. At first, it was once every two weeks. Now I come back every weekend,” he said. “My son is growing up and I don’t want to miss it. I take him for tennis, we sit down and study together, it’s our time.”
His wife works in Dubai, and their son goes to school here. “At this stage in his life, it’s important for my kid to feel settled. He’s got his friends here, his school. My wife’s career is here, too. So for now, we keep it this way, but the long-term plan is for them to join me eventually.”
Arijit noted that he covers the cost of the weekly flights himself. “I leave the office and go straight to the airport. I book flights in advance. Sometimes I have to cancel last-minute if meetings come up, and those flights go to waste. (But I don’t mind). For me, it’s worth it.”
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Waad Barakat
Waad Barakat is a senior reporter covering lifestyle and entertainment. From fine dining and fashion...