Happier kids, better work-life balance: How Dubai life changed for residents who moved to the suburbs

After a long day at work, Filipino resident Rochelle Bautista happily makes the almost half-an-hour drive from her office to her new house at Damac Hills 2. Once there, she gathers with her husband and children in the backyard to relax and bond.

“It is so quiet and peaceful as it’s so far away from the city,” she said. “It feels like home.”

Rochelle is one among the hundreds of UAE residents who are moving away from the city into the suburban areas. “For over 15 years, I absorbed the hustle and bustle of Dubai,” she said. “Now, I enjoy the peace of my community and the fact that my children are growing up so close to nature.”

Since moving in May this year, Rochelle’s 12- and 7-year-old boys go biking in the community and she is glad they have that opportunity.

“There are not many cars, and the kids can go around the community safely,” she said. “I feel like more value has been added to our life since coming here. The price is reasonable and even though the drive is long, we are happier and more content.”