By Liv Clarke,Robert Harries,SWNSAmyReast Amy Reast

Copyright walesonline

A personal trainer relocated to Dubai after becoming frustrated with the “miserable” UK way of life but now must work six days a week to afford living in the UAE city. Elbi Henshaw, 23, made the move to Dubai in January following a holiday there where she realised how “depressing” her existence had become back in the UK. Having previously spent time working in Saudi Arabia, she decided to try her luck in Dubai. Elbi, originally from Barnet, North London, relocated to Dubai with financial support from her parents and secured full-time employment at a gym. Whilst she has settled well and is flourishing in Dubai – a destination that attracts British influencers seeking gorgeous weather , breathtaking scenery and upmarket nightlife – eight months later, she does long for UK pubs and pub culture, reports the Manchester Evening News . For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . Another significant obstacle is Dubai’s expensive cost of living, with yoghurt priced at £12 and coffee starting from £7. She explained it creates a “dog eat dog” lifestyle where people work six-day weeks and take on additional jobs to survive financially. Elbi adores her current location, though she acknowledges she “didn’t like it at first” as it can feel “lonely” attempting to build friendships in such an intense environment. Elbi said: “In the UK, I was so depressed and miserable and everyone is so sedentary – I wanted a more active lifestyle. Out here, everyone is happier and active and they all want to be the best versions of themselves. “I work full time but it’s hard not to just spend all your money – you’d need about £5k a month here to live comfortably. But you can pick up extra work quite quickly – at the moment I work six days but I’ll probably end up working seven. “Paying no tax is a perk but the cost of living out here is so expensive that it ends up the same as in the UK. But here, you get the sun and a much better lifestyle – although I miss the pubs.” Elbi relocated to Dubai in January – initially residing in a studio apartment before moving into shared accommodation with two other young women. Following her attendance at a local running group, she struck up a conversation with someone who put her in touch with a gymnasium manager and landed her first Dubai position as a personal trainer. She was instantly struck by the sheer volume of attractions and activities available in the metropolis – from fine dining at upmarket establishments to browsing the renowned Dubai Mall. Given that she was relocating solo, Elbi explained the initial months proved challenging whilst getting established and organising the necessary paperwork and banking arrangements. She quickly recognised the “fast paced and non-stop lifestyle” – with residents frequently putting in lengthy working weeks to afford living in the glamorous destination beloved by famous faces. Elbi explained: “The rent is more expensive than the UK and you have to pay big deposits on things like apartments and cars. Clothing is more expensive too – and coffee is like £7 minimum, sometimes as much as £10 a cup. “I’d say the average salary for a normal person here is like £3k a month but you want more like £5k to live comfortably if you want to go out for meals, and buy new clothes. I try to work, work, work so that I can enjoy Dubai – there’s lots of group chats and apps for companies to advertise weekend work.” However, she explained it doesn’t amount to significantly more in total than life in the UK – where you pay taxes – except Dubai provides breathtaking views and weather. Eight months on, she’s adoring her life there, working as a personal trainer at an upmarket gym frequented by “high end clients”. But now she has established friendships, and has no immediate plans to come back. She explained: “You have to put your ego aside and put yourself out there – I messaged other women out of the blue inviting them for coffee.” Elbi mentioned she adores the cleanliness of Dubai – as “everywhere is spotless” and “it makes you realise how dirty the UK is.” During her time off work, Elbi says she strolls around the air-conditioned shopping centre, and makes trips to Dubai’s incredibly luxurious cinemas. She spends her leisure time visiting the pool – beach clubs such as Summersalt, loved by the likes of Molly-Mae Hague and Kady McDermott, and Twiggy club, loved by Paris Hilton. However, she mentioned Dubai can be challenging as there is less of a “sense of community” for young adults – making it difficult for her to date without using apps. She explained: “It’s so hard to meet guys, because there’s no authentic meet-ups. People don’t stand in the streets around pubs – you have to schedule it in. And it’s hard to date as everyone is so busy 24/7 that you never find the time. I do miss the sense of community and pubs in the UK. “I love it but I can’t really imagine meeting someone out here and it becoming serious. People come out here who already have a partner or family, and the ones that are single are never looking for anything serious. I could see myself building a life here but if I get to 27 and I’m not in a relationship, I’ll move back to the UK as I want to start a family.”