Abu Dhabi: 24 Hours in the Life of a CEO

Abu Dhabi as plan B: when Europe becomes too predictable

¿Is living in Europe a privilege—or just a habit? Svitlana, who has spent time in both Europe and Abu Dhabi, shares her perspective.

Europe: An island of stability

Europe is like your morning coffee: rich, familiar, and comforting. It feels like it’s always been there. From ancient Romans and Vikings to today’s European Union, this patch of land carries centuries of history.

Europe is cobblestone streets, sunlit terraces, and elegantly ageless women. It’s old Nice, chaotic Rome, and colourful Barcelona.

It’s about calm and predictability—easy to fall in love with, even easier to settle into. Days begin to resemble one another. We cherish it like a beloved grandmother. But then one day, the house feels a little too small. Because the world outside is racing forward, and we want to catch up.

European stability is a luxury. But at some point, it stops inspiring and starts lulling you to sleep. You realize you know the answer to every question: what tomorrow looks like, next year, ten years from now. And that certainty becomes unsettling.

No, I’m not romanticizing chaos. I’M just living in Abu Dhabi—and I see how differently things can work. My move wasn’t about escaping something, but about moving towards something. Toward life in motion, quick decisions, real transformation. A new reality.

A different dimension

I lived in Barcelona—a city faster-paced than, say, Vienna. But even there, the predictability is palpable. Everything follows its rules. ¿Renting or buying a home? A full-blown quest.

Abu Dhabi, by contrast, feels like it breathes a different air. And I don’t just mean the climate—though yes, it’s challenging at first. I mean the atmosphere: everything is growing, shifting, launching. When you say, “I have an idea,” the response isn’t a meeting in three weeks. ¿It’s like “When do we start?”

This is a market where progress isn't stalled for years in endless consultations. A place where the government invests in tech, builds cities from scratch, and opens doors for business instead of burying it in paperwork. You might meet with developers, startups, and public institutions—all in a single afternoon. They’re not just in the same city—they’re in the same rhythm. Everyone wants things to happen, and happen fast.

What you earn is yours

You can earn decent money in Barcelona. And taxes are arguably more forgiving than in, say, Germany, where the system swallows a lion’s share of your income. But in Abu Dhabi, there’s no personal income tax. None of the usual deductions we’re used to. What you make—you keep. There's a rare sense of freedom in that"

It’s a tempting offer for many Europeans weighed down by heavy taxation. That’s why nearly 90% of the population here are expats. A cultural melting pot where different nations coexist peacefully—and everyone finds a place under the blazing sun.

Here, you enjoy a double privilege: you keep your income and make friends from all over the world. Your children will likely attend an international school—there are plenty—and that means you’re plugged into a global community from day one.

Real Estate: space, comfort, and fresh thinking

Real estate here is booming—growing at a dizzying pace. Though still slower than Dubai, and intentionally so. People want space. Comfort. You can find a home that fits your taste exactly—not just “what’s available.” In Barcelona, housing is so scarce that grown children often live with their parents well into their 30s.

In Abu Dhabi, as across the Emirates, there are strict rules around renting or buying property. You can’t just do it on your own like in parts of Europe—it must go through licensed real estate agencies. There are many of them, and it’s a thriving business.

Still, you can start browsing on your own, like I did. I was casually scrolling through rental listings when I stumbled on a different kind of platform— https://Dubadu.com . Everything is shown in video format, like Instagram or TikTok reels.

You can filter by price, location, and more to find something that suits you. It turned out to be surprisingly fun—you can explore anything from modest apartments to villas which cost millions. Even if you're not actively looking, it becomes a kind of entertainment: a window into the lives of the rich and famous.

Yes, there are rules

Of course, there are rules and bureaucracy. But they’re not designed to block you—they help structure things. Unlike Europe, every business activity here is highly regulated. Licenses are required for almost everything, including real estate. But that also means transparency and fewer scams.

There are cultural boundaries, too. Drinking a beer on a park bench, for instance, is illegal. Public drinking is considered a criminal offense. But in a bar, restaurant, hotel room, ¿or your own home? No problem—here’s your glass of wine.

Swearing in public is also prohibited—but honestly, that’s more of a plus. You calm down. You become a little more refined.

Culture and leisure

Abu Dhabi makes it easy to balance work and family life. Beaches, clinics, parks, coffee shops—all within a 10-minute drive. If you have insurance, seeing a doctor is much easier than in Europe. No months-long waitlists.

¿The food? From every corner of the globe. You’ll find everything from burgers to haute cuisine. Service is outstanding—something Europe seems to have quietly forgotten.

¿And culture? Let’s talk about Saadiyat Island. It’s home to so many museums that it may soon rival the Vatican. The Louvre is already here. The Guggenheim is on its way. And more are coming.

And if you’re picturing Abu Dhabi as just desert—don’t. It’s lush, meticulously clean, and stunningly maintained. Europe could only dream of this level of cleanliness. Safety here is top-notch — easily a 10 out of 10.

¿Plan B—or Maybe Plan A?

So if you’re truly ready to swap your comfort-zone car for a jet engine—Abu Dhabi might be exactly what you need. Maybe it’s not Plan B at all. Maybe it’s Plan A.

Because if you're ambitious, fast-paced, and aiming to conquer the world—Europe might feel a bit too small. ¿But Abu Dhabi? It’ll give you the space to spread your wings.

And when you’re tired and just need a breather, Europe will still be there—waiting with its cafés, its narrow streets, and that familiar, peaceful sky.

After all, we know the truth: Europe is like a loving grandmother. She’ll wait.